ÐÔÊӽ紫ý

Three interceptions – two of which were returned for touchdowns – and a Luis Hernandez Gomez field goal were enough to lead the Plainview Bears to a 24-7 Class 3A, Region 7 victory.

Senior Will Kirk picked off Sand Rock quarterback Caleb Kasinger twice and returned both for touchdowns. Senior Ben Williamson added another interception to help give head coach Dustin Goodwin his first win at Plainview (1-3, 1-2).

“ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý a huge win for our guys,â€� Goodwin said. “ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý tough for them, the tradition we have here at Plainview. Coming out 0-3, they could have folded the tent and gone home, but we’ve got a resilient bunch. They have a lot of pride and they don’t stop fighting. I couldn’t be more happier for our guys.â€�

Sand Rock (2-2, 1-2) also had a strong defensive effort, but its offense could never consistently get on track. Part of the reason was the Wildcats were missing one of their top players in senior running back Jared Blackwell, whoÐÔÊӽ紫ý recovering from a foot injury he suffered last week.

“It (BlackwellÐÔÊӽ紫ý injury) hurts us with our depth on both sides of the ball,â€� Sand Rock coach Steven Chesnut said. “HeÐÔÊӽ紫ý also a good defensive player and a good special teams player too. We’ve got to have guys step up and make plays. We’ve just got to have the next man up mentality. We’ve got to step up and do our job and do the best we can.

“Our defense has played their butts off the past two weeks, but we’ve just kept putting them in a bind. ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý just like last week (at North Sand Mountain). We’d get something good going, then we’d shoot ourselves in the foot. ThatÐÔÊӽ紫ý partly my fault as a play caller. I need to get better on that.â€�

After a scoreless first quarter, Kirk picked off a Kasinger pass and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown. Hernandez GomezÐÔÊӽ紫ý extra point was good, giving Plainview a 7-0 lead with 11:50 to go in the first half.

Sand Rock tied the game at 7 with 1:38 remaining in the half on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Kasinger to a diving Joel Brock in the corner of the end zone. Josh Sarratt connected on the extra point.

The Bears had just enough time to score before the first half ended. They marched to the Sand Rock 37 with five seconds left. Hernandez Gomez booted the field goal for a 10-7 Bear lead.

Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter, but Plainview had a chance to increase its lead with a substantial drive to open the fourth quarter. The Bears marched down to the Sand Rock 2-yard line, but on fourth-and-goal, running back John Martin was stuffed for a 1-yard loss, giving Sand Rock the ball at its own 3.

One play later, Kasinger was picked off a second time – this one on a tipped ball that fell into the arms of Williamson – who returned it to the Sand Rock 10.

Running back Samuel Mueller then took a handoff, went to his right, then reversed field and scored with 8:13 left in the game. Hernandez GomezÐÔÊӽ紫ý extra point gave Plainview a 17-7 advantage.

Another Sand Rock drive stalled after the Wildcats went for fourth down in their own territory at the 14. Sand RockÐÔÊӽ紫ý defense yielded just seven yards on PlainviewÐÔÊӽ紫ý ensuing drive, forcing another field goal. This time, Sarratt blocked Hernandez GomezÐÔÊӽ紫ý 23-yard attempt at the 6:56 mark of the fourth quarter, giving the Wildcats the ball back at their own 11, still trailing by 10.

Two Kasinger passes fell incomplete. His third pass was picked off by Kirk again, who returned it for the game-clinching score.

Kasinger was 8-for-22 passing with 66 yards. His counterpart, Phillip Dukes, finished 11-of-16 for 117 yards.

John Martin led the Bear rushing attack with 64 yards on 18 carries. Mueller added 57 yards on 16 totes and a touchdown.

Alex McMahan led Sand RockÐÔÊӽ紫ý ground game with 35 yards on seven carries.

Sand Rock plays a non-region game at Crossville on Friday.

“We’ve just got to get better at the little things,� Chesnut said. “We’re just going to use this to get better. Hopefully we’ll pick ourselves up.�