Staff Reports 

SPRING GARDEN – Spring Garden senior quarterback Chaz Pope had a hand in five touchdowns in leading Class 2A, No. 4 Spring Garden to a 48-19 Region 6 football victory over Locust Fork on Friday.

Pope gained 156 yards on 12 carries with three scores. He also completed 5-of-7 pass attempts for 94 yards and two touchdowns – both to senior receiver Cooper Austin.

Pope connected with Austin on a 37-yard touchdown for the game’s first score. Larry Rogers added the extra point for a 7-0 Panther lead with 10:03 remaining in the first quarter.

Cam Welsh added a 20-yard touchdown run with 2:49 left in the opening quarter to provide the Panthers with a 14-0 advantage.

Locust Fork (1-2, 0-2) got on the board on a 78-yard touchdown pass with a minute remaining in the first quarter. The extra point cut Spring Garden’s lead in half at 14-7.

Pope closed out the first-quarter scoring with his 81-yard touchdown run, pushing the Panther lead to 21-7.

Andrew Floyd accounted for the only touchdown in the second quarter on a 12-yard touchdown run with 1:42 left in the first half. Floyd’s score gave Spring Garden a 28-7 edge at halftime.

Pope opened the third-quarter scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run, providing the Panthers a 35-7 advantage.

Locust Fork had a 14-yard touchdown run with five minutes to go in the third quarter to cut the Panther lead to 35-13, but Pope answered that score with his 3-yard touchdown run to put Spring Garden in front 42-13.

A Pope-to-Austin 35-yard scoring connection accounted for the final Panther touchdown late in the third quarter. The Hornets had a 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth for the final.

Connor Bates led the Panther defense with seven tackles. He also recovered a fumble.

Cade Williams added six tackles. Pope and Landon Gowens had four tackles apiece. Chapel Pope had an interception, and Welsh recovered a fumble.

Spring Garden travels to Cleveland on Friday.