CLASS 5A SUPER SIX: NO. 1 Pulaski Academy

No ifs, ands or buts

PA’s approach: ‘We know we’re going to win’

FILE — Pulaski Academy Coach Kevin Kelley
FILE — Pulaski Academy Coach Kevin Kelley

Defending Class 5A state champion Pulaski Academy is reloading.

Even with the graduation of quarterback Will Hefley (now at Tulsa) and wide receiver Will Hastings (Auburn), the Bruins remain the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's No. 1 team in Class 5A heading into the 2015 season.

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Democrat-Gazette file photo

Senior Tre Bruce lined up at wide receiver, running back and quarterback last season for Pulaski Academy and accounted for 1,145 all-purpose yards.

CLASS 5A SUPER SIX

TEAM;2014;CONFERENCE

1. Pulaski Academy;13-1;5A-Central

2. Batesville;11-2;5A-East

3. Camden Fairview;8-4;5A-South

4. LR Christian;6-5;5A-West

5. Beebe;8-5;5A-Central

6. Hot Springs;7-5;5A-South

Pulaski Academy

COACH Kevin Kelley

CONFERENCE 5A-Central

2013 RECORD 13-1 (won Class 5A state championship)

KEY RETURNERS WR Tre Bruce, 6-0, 185, Sr.; WR Zach Kelley, 5-7, 140, Sr.; RB Jaren Watkins, 5-4, 150, Jr.; OL Caden Haws, 6-3, 285, Sr.

2015 SCHEDULE

DATE;OPPONENT

Sept. 4;at Dallas Highland Park

Sept. 11;at Wynne

Sept. 18;Warren

Sept. 25;Jennings, Mo.

Oct. 2;at LR McClellan*

Oct. 9;Beebe*

Oct. 16;at Jacksonville*

Oct. 23;at Mills*

Oct. 30;LR Fair*

Nov. 6;at Sylvan Hills*

*5A-Central game

Senior wide receiver Tre Bruce, senior offensive lineman Caden Haws and junior running back Jaren Watkins are back from a team that won the Class 5A state title last season, the school's fourth under Coach Kevin Kelley.

Pulaski Academy won its first title in three seasons by beating Wynne 38-28 last December. It also won titles in 2003, 2008 and 2011.

Even though the Bruins also will be without senior receiver Zack Kelley (torn ACL) until at least Week 4, Coach Kevin Kelley is confident the Bruins won't miss a beat.

"I always say there are three types of teams," Kelley said. "Those that think they're going to win, those that walk out there and hope they're going to win, and then there's us. We know we're going to win.

"That sounds arrogant, but that's the confidence you want your kids playing with."

Bruce, 6-0, 185 pounds, may be the Bruins' most dynamic play-maker and can line up at wide receiver, running back or quarterback. The three-year starter had 824 receiving yards and 8 TD receptions last season to go along with 321 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. He also completed 15 of 29 passes for 243 yards with 4 touchdowns and 1 interception while compiling 1,145 all-purpose yards.

With Zack Kelley (67 catches, 1,013 yards, 20 TDs) out, Bruce will be needed more at wide receiver early on, Kevin Kelley said.

Sophomore Layne Hatcher takes over as the starting quarterback for Hefley, the 2014 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's All-Arkansas Preps second-team quarterback who passed for 4,897 yards and 62 touchdowns.

Hatcher, 5-10, 170, was Pulaski Academy's junior high quarterback in 2014 and led the Bruins to 7-on-7 championships at the National 7-on-7 tournament in Virginia, the Shootout of the South in Little Rock and at the Sonic Air Raid in Searcy.

He threw for 381 yards and 6 touchdowns in a mop-up role behind Hefley last season.

"Layne has done a really good job," Kevin Kelley said of Hatcher, who won a 5A-1A state wrestling championship last season in the 170-pound weight class. "Layne can run a little bit, but I can put Tre at quarterback for a run-pass option. It gives defenses even more to prepare for."

Watkins, 5-4, 150, emerged in his first season with the Bruins. He was the team's second-leading rusher behind Myles Fells, running for 517 yards and 9 touchdowns on 78 carries. Fells (94 carries, 807 yards, 11 TDs) transferred to Pulaski Robinson in the offseason.

Haws, 6-3, 285, leads an offensive line that returns four starters. He has received scholarship offers from Air Force, Army, Navy and Brigham Young, among others. Seniors Jess Alguire, 5-9, 255, and Jackson Ward, 6-0, 235, and junior Seth Martin, 6-0, 215, also return up front.

"For the first time in a long time, I can say that the offensive line is the strength of our team," Kevin Kelley said.

Senior safety Justin Charette leads the defense after grabbing six interceptions a year ago.

Senior Robert Ator, 6-3, 205, is the only defensive lineman who weighs more than 200 pounds, Kevin Kelley said. Ator has received offers from Rice, Air Force, Army and Cornell.

Pulaski Academy opens the season Sept. 4 at Highland Park in Dallas before facing Wynne on Sept. 11 in a rematch of Class 5A championship finalists from last season. The Bruins return to Hatcher Field on Sept. 18 to face defending Class 4A state champion Warren.

Kevin Kelley said it's often difficult following a state championship season because players can feel content, but he said the Bruins developed a new mentality just weeks after winning the title last season.

"You start talking about the target being on your back," he said. "You use that championship to motivate in two ways. One, you want to be there again because that feeling was great. Then two, now everybody's gunning for you. Everyone's already gunning for us, but they're really gunning for us now."

Sports on 08/28/2015

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