Doing the expected: Pulaski Academy easily wins third consecutive title

Pulaski Academy players hold up the championship trophy after the Bruins won their third consecutive state title by knocking off Wynne 55-16 in the Class 5A fi nal on a cold, rainy Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Pulaski Academy players hold up the championship trophy after the Bruins won their third consecutive state title by knocking off Wynne 55-16 in the Class 5A fi nal on a cold, rainy Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

It's a three-peat for Pulaski Academy, albeit a wet one.

photo

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Receiver Ray Jackson (18) celebrates with Pulaski Academy teammate Jacory McMillan after Jackson made a touchdown reception during the second half of Saturday’s Class 5A championship game against Wynne at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Jackson tied a championship game record with four touchdown catches as the Bruins won their third consecutive state title.

photo

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Pulaski Academy quarterback Layne Hatcher was named the game’s most outstanding player after he passed for 405 yards and tied a championship game record with six touchdown passes.

The Bruins, led by junior quarterback Layne Hatcher's six touchdown passes, overwhelmed Wynne 55-16 on a rainy Saturday afternoon in front of an announced crowd of 4,975 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

Pulaski Academy (13-1) became the first team to win three consecutive state championships since Junction City won three Class 2A titles in a row in 2012-2014 and 15th team overall. The Bruins earned their sixth state championship since 2003, all under Coach Kevin Kelley.

Kelley credited his senior class of 21 players.

"It's a commitment," Kelley said. "You hate to see them walk off the field in their last game losing because it's like, 'Golly, all that time and work and we got so close.' But they never had to do that.

"They always got to walk off the field as a champion."

Said senior running back Jaren Watkins: "It's so surreal. It's the best feeling in the world."

Hatcher, named the game's most outstanding player, completed 18 of 35 passes for 405 yards with 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He finished the 2016 season with 4,645 yards, 58 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

With Saturday's victory, Hatcher is the only Pulaski Academy quarterback to win consecutive state titles.

"I expected this out of us," Hatcher said. "I knew we were capable of it the day we stepped in there in January. I'm very happy for us. I'll probably be thinking about a fourth one next week."

Despite Saturday's weather, Hatcher was on target for the Bruins, who have not lost to an Arkansas high school since the 2013 Class 5A second round against Morrilton.

"You have to do your job perfect every time," Hatcher said. "If you make excuses for the weather, then you're not going to win anyways."

Pulaski Academy outgained Wynne 692-339, forced five turnovers and recovered two onside kicks. Wynne Coach Chris Hill wasn't going to blame the weather for his team's turnovers, though.

"They're a good football team," Hill said of the Bruins. "They caused a lot of our problems."

Senior wide receiver Ray Jackson tied a state championship record with four touchdown catches, finishing with 9 receptions for 275 yards. Watkins rushed for 156 yards and 1 touchdown on 15 carries and caught 3 passes for 79 yards and 2 scores.

The Yellowjackets were averaging 51.4 points per game and scored 77 points in a semifinal victory over Watson Chapel on Nov. 25, but Saturday was Wynne's lowest score of the season.

"They came out and did their job and got stops," Kelley said of his team's defense. "Our offense went down and scored. Then we got onside kicks. That's a powerful combination no matter who you play."

Pulaski Academy took a 20-0 lead in the first quarter. Hatcher had a 53-yard touchdown to Jackson, RJ Anderson scored from 49 yards out and Watkins added a 1-yard run. Watkins' touchdown was set up Wynne quarterback Luke Chapman fumbled and Pulaski Academy's Cameron Fonseca's recovered.

The Bruins made it 28-0 with 10:04 left in the second quarter on Hatcher's nine-yard touchdown pass to Watkins. Wynne got on the scoreboard with junior running back Ta'Von Hicks' 3-yard run and Chapman's two-point conversion run to pull within 28-8 with 5:12 remaining in the half.

Wynne cut the lead to 28-16 early in the third quarter with Hicks' 11-yard run.

That was as close as the Yellowjackets would get.

Hatcher threw four touchdown passes in the second half. He had scoring passes of 23 and 42 yards to Jackson and a 42-yarder to Watkins in the third quarter and a 74-yard pass to Jackson in the fourth quarter.

Hicks led Wynne offensively, rushing for 228 yards and 2 touchdowns on 42 carries.

Sports on 12/04/2016

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