Pulaski Academy's 35-23 victory over Sylvan Hills on Friday night at Joe B. Hatcher Stadium in Little Rock didn't come easy.
[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]
The Bruins, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's No. 7 team overall and No. 1 team in the Class 5A Super Six, committed three turnovers and trailed in the third quarter, but they held on for their 45th consecutive conference victory since the 2010 season thanks to a blocked punt and a defensive touchdown.
Coach Kevin Kelley said he didn't coach his best game. However, Pulaski Academy (6-1, 4-0 5A-Central) topped its 5A-Central Conference rival in Sylvan Hills (6-1, 3-1) for the fifth year in a row.
"This is the worst job I've done in years of getting my team ready to play, especially on the offensive side of the ball," Kelley said. "But I started thinking after the game, great teams win somehow. Sometimes, it's on special teams. Sometimes, it's on offense. Sometimes, it's on defense. Tonight, it was on defense."
Pulaski Academy trailed 21-17 with 8:12 remaining in the third quarter and forced Sylvan Hills to punt from its own 32.
The snap went over the head of punter Ryan Lumpkin who finally corralled the ball, but Pulaski Academy senior Will Osment blocked the attempt and senior teammate Zack David recovered at the Bears 4.
Senior running back Jaren Watkins scored from there to give the Bruins a 21-17 lead with 8:05 left in the third quarter.
Pulaski Academy extended its lead to 28-17 with 6:55 left on junior quarterback Layne Hatcher's 3-yard touchdown pass to classmate Brett Lynch.
Sylvan Hills attempted to pull closer, but senior quarterback Jordan Washington's pass was intercepted by Pulaski Academy senior defensive lineman Will Hart, who returned it 44 yards for a touchdown and a 35-17 advantage with 5:28 left.
Washington found senior wide receiver Jamar Lane for a 32-yard touchdown with 4:27 left to pull Sylvan Hills to within 35-23 with 4:27 left. The Bears recovered their own onside kick, but Washington was intercepted by Pulaski Academy senior defensive back Dylan Nosler with less than two minutes remaining to end the Bears' rally.
Washington had 225 yards offensively, including 123 passing. He accounted for all three Sylvan Hills' touchdowns, two passing and one rushing. Lane had 4 catches for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns and sophomore Tito Mendoza made a 29-yard field goal.
But for Sylvan Hills Coach Jim Withrow, the Bears could not close out the Bruins when they needed to Friday.
"We made too many mistakes," Withrow said. "Our kids fought and played hard. I think we learned what we can and cannot do in a big game. It's stuff we talk about all the time.
"There's a lot of meat left on that rib, son."
Pulaski Academy led 14-10 at halftime behind two touchdown passes by Hatcher to senior Ray Jackson for 51 and 45 yards, respectively.
Hatcher completed 16-of-32 passes for 318 yards with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Watkins finished with 58 yards and 1 touchdown on 16 carries and caught 4 passes for 64 yards.
Jackson led Pulaski Academy's receivers with 5 catches for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Kelley came away impressed with Sylvan Hills, which was the No. 3 team in Class 5A entering Friday, and was glad his team came away with the victory.
"Sylvan Hills is a very good football team. They're good. They're darn good," Kelley said. "In the end, when you win a game when it seems like everything's going wrong and the other team is good, that does a lot for you in the postseason."
Sports on 10/15/2016