Sylvan Hills made the plays when it needed them Saturday at the Garrett Uekman 7-on-7 Memorial Tournament.
The Bears defense came up with a stop in overtime, and their senior quarterback handled the rest.
Sylvan Hills stopped Jonesboro on the first possession of the extra period, and Tra Doss threw a game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Jordan Washington to give the Bears a 26-20 victory over the Hurricane in the third annual event at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Sylvan Hills, which plays in the 5A-Central, went 4-1 in pool play and beat Little Rock Catholic's junior varsity team and Episcopal Collegiate to advance to the championship game, where it knocked off Class 6A member Jonesboro.
"I didn't think we played as well as we could have at times, but I thought when we played good teams, we played well," Coach Jim Withrow said. "When we had to play well, we played well. There's a lot of things we need to work on, especially defensively."
Doss threw four touchdown passes, including two to wide receiver Marlon Clemons. Doss' second scoring pass to Clemons tied the game at 20-20.
"I thought Tra threw the ball well," Withrow said. "He's a three-year starter. He's matured as we've evolved our offense, just his patience and reads. His footwork has gotten 100 times better. To his credit, he's worked on it and worked on it."
Elijah Sowards also caught a touchdown pass for the Bears.
Jonesboro quarterback Carson Coats threw three touchdown passes. Lamar Haynes caught two scoring passes for the Hurricane and Ke'dren Brunson had the other.
"Carson played outstanding today," Jonesboro Coach Randy Coleman said. "I can remember two picks he threw and they were on conversion plays when everything is condensed down there. I'm very happy with the way he's progressing."
Defending champion Pulaski Academy lost to Jonesboro in the quarterfinals. Bruins Coach Kevin Kelley used his junior varsity team Saturday in place of his varsity team. Several varsity players were on the field coaching the junior varsity team while Kelley and his assistants sat in the east side stands.
Uekman, who starred at Little Rock Catholic, was a redshirt freshman tight end at Arkansas when he died unexpectedly Nov. 20, 2011, from an enlarged heart. He was 19.
Proceeds from the 7-on-7 tournament and Saturday night's dinner/silent auction at Pavilion in the Park in Little Rock are earmarked for the Garrett Uekman Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to raise funds for heart disease research and education and to fund scholarship for deserving student-athletes.
Sports on 07/13/2014