Junior quarterback Layne Hatcher completed 15 of 23 passes for 327 yards and 6 touchdowns -- all in the first half -- in two-time defending Class 5A state champion Pulaski Academy's 49-21 victory over Magnolia in a first-round playoff game Friday night at Joe B. Hatcher Stadium in Little Rock.
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The Bruins (10-1) have at least one playoff victory in 18 consecutive seasons, highlighted by state championships in 2003, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2015 under Coach Kevin Kelley.
Kelley's 40th playoff victory at Pulaski Academy was among his easiest.
Senior Jaren Watkins returned the game's opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown, and Hatcher followed with touchdown passes on all six of Pulaski Academy's first-half possessions for a 49-0 halftime lead.
The Bruins limited the Panthers (5-6) to 24 total yards on 25 first-half plays, recording 11 tackles for loss.
"We needed a been there, done that," said Kelley, 162-25-1 at Pulaski Academy since 2003. "We talk about a perfect half. We want to stop them every time and score every time. Jaren, to start us off with that kickoff return -- you really never know how it's going to affect a game. They get their heads down a little bit. You come in with all these thoughts about starting a game, and the first kickoff's a score. You don't expect us to do that."
Hatcher threw touchdown passes of 73 yards to junior wide receiver Tra Johnson, 18 yards to junior wide receiver Brett Lynch, 8 yards to junior wide receiver Hayden Cobb, 18 yards again to Lynch, 2 yards to junior tailback RJ Anderson and 50 yards to senior wide receiver Ray Jackson.
Hatcher's touchdown pass to Johnson -- on Pulaski Academy's second play from scrimmage -- was the 100th of his career.
Hatcher's touchdown pass to Jackson gave Pulaski Academy a 49-0 lead with 1:10 remaining in the second quarter.
The Bruins led 21-0 after one quarter.
Kelley cleared in his bench in the second half, played with a running clock under the Arkansas Activities Association's sportsmanship rule.
Magnolia scored touchdowns on a 41-yard run by senior slotback Quantraius Martin in the third quarter and a 3-yard run by senior slotback Mikosky Jones and 40-yard fumble return by junior defensive lineman Tyler Brown in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore fullback Kadyn Roach, who entered with 1,355 rushing yards this fall, finished with 60 yards on 16 carries. Roach had only 34 yards on 13 carries in the first half.
"They won the football game tonight," Magnolia Coach John Panter said. "They made plays, so I give their coaches and players an incredible amount of credit."
Pulaski Academy, which has won nine consecutive playoff games, will host Forrest City in the quarterfinals next week.
Sports on 11/12/2016