The second quarter belonged to Pulaski Academy and it helped set up the showdown it wanted the day after Thanksgiving.
The defending Class 5A state champions used a 35-point second quarter en route to a 78-44 Class 5A second-round victory over Hope on Friday night at Joe B. Hatcher Field in Little Rock.
Friday's victory sets up a semifinal matchup between the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's top two teams in Class 5A, the top-ranked Bruins (12-0) and second-ranked Little Rock Christian.
Pulaski Academy is the No. 1 seed from the 5A-Central and and Little Rock Christian is the top seed from the 5A-West, respectively, but the Warriors are on the top line of the bracket.
"As you go further through the playoffs, it's supposed to get more difficult," said Kelley, who has led the Little Rock private school to four state championships in his tenure (2003, 2008, 2011, 2014). "Looking at them, they're 12-0, they're undefeated.
"They're going to be tough. ... But offensively, we're going to keep doing what we're doing."
The Bruins' offense was on point again.
Sophomore quarterback Layne Hatcher completed 24 of 42 passes for 424 yards with 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Junior running back Jaren Watkins rushed 16 times for 278 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver Zack Kelley led Bruins receivers with 12 catches for 219 yards and 3 touchdowns. Classmate Tre Bruce caught 9 passes for 141 yards and 2 touchdowns.
"We have to get it to our big three -- Zack, Jaren and Bruce," Kevin Kelley said. "You get it those to three guys, Tre, Jaren and Zack can take it from anywhere on the field. They're big weapons."
It was 14-14 entering the second quarter when Pulaski Academy showed why it's been the top team in Class 5A this season.
Watkins' 61-yard touchdown run gave the Bruins a 22-14 lead with 10:49 left in the quarter.
On the Bobcats' next drive, junior quarterback Austin Stubber was intercepted by Bruins senior defensive back Justin Charette and Pulaski Academy started at its 4 after an 82-yard return was called back.
It took two plays to go 96 yards. Hatcher threw a 47-yard pass to Zack Kelley, then Watkins finished the drive with a 49-yard touchdown run for a 28-14 lead with 7:51 left in the first half.
Pulaski Academy recovered the first of two onside kicks in the quarter, and Kelley scored on a 2-yard catch to make it 35-14.
Stubber threw his second interception of the quarter, this one to Austin Marotti. Kelley caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Hatcher for a 42-14 lead. The Bruins recovered their second onside kick of the quarter, and sophomore Tra Johnson caught a 62-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to make it 49-14 with 4:41 left in the first half.
Hope pulled within 49-21 with 17 seconds left in the half when senior McTelvin Agim, who has orally committed to the University of Arkansas as a defensive end, threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Stubber.
Bobcats Coach Jay Turley said he felt his team went toe to toe until the second quarter.
"You can't give up the onside kicks and we did," Turley said. "It was the difference in the game. The momentum switched. It's a hard hill to fight off."
The Bruins invoked the sportsmanship rule with 11:49 left in the fourth quarter when Watkins scored from 14 yards out to make it 71-36.
Stubber completed 28 of 47 passes for 321 yards and 2 touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Kadarius Munn led Hope's receivers with 9 catches for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Sports on 11/21/2015