The Briarwood Lions scored early and often Friday night as they soundly defeated Pleasant Grove, 43-23, and advanced to the second round of the AHSAA 5A playoffs.

&8220;I was pleased with almost every aspect of the game,&8221; Briarwood head coach Fred Yancey said. &8220;We played well early and it paid off all game for us.&8221;

The Lions erupted in the first quarter for three scores, with no one player shining brighter for Briarwood than quarterback Barrett Trotter.

Trotter completed three touchdown passes in the first period to receiver Nathaniel Carlson and Bo Walters in the first 12 minutes of play, with Carlson reeling in TD catches of 57 and 33 yards and Walters finding the end zone on an eight-yard pass play.

Trotter completed 14-of-19 passes for 201 yards in the game and no interceptions.

&8220;Barrett tends to play very well every game,&8221; Yancey said of his star slinger. &8220;And he makes good decisions and takes care of the ball in the process.&8221;

Pleasant Grove was able to get on the board in the second quarter on a six-yard pass play from quarterback Chase Patterson to receiver Frank Warren, but Trotter responded before halftime with a two-yard run to bring the score to 29-6 at halftime.

Briarwood’s defense took over in the second half, scoring twice on turnovers.

Andy Dennis recovered a third-quarter fumble in the end zone for the Lions, and Lance Coggins intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 55 yards for a score.

The Lions (10-1) travel to face B.C. Rain (7-4) in Mobile this Friday night in the second round.

Yancey said he doesn’t believe the three-plus hour trip to the coast will have any effect on his players.

&8220;I think we’ll be ready to play regardless of where we are at,&8221; he said