McClellan facing PA pressure tonight

Little Rock McClellan lost its 5A-Central Conference opener Sept. 23 at Sylvan Hills.

From that point, the Crimson Lions have not looked back and are starting to look like the team that advanced to the Class 5A state championship game last season.

Pulaski Academy at LR McClellan

WHEN 7 p.m.

WHERE Lions Stadium, Little Rock

RECORDS Pulaski Academy 7-1, 5-0 5A-Central; Little Rock McClellan 6-2, 4-1

RANKINGS Pulaski Academy No. 6 in Overall Top 10, No. 1 in Class 5A; Little Rock McClellan No. 5 in Class 5A

COACHES Pulaski Academy: Kevin Kelley; Little Rock McClellan: Maurice Moody

McClellan (6-2, 4-1 5A-Central) has won four consecutive since losing to Sylvan Hills 41-20. The Crimson Lions' other loss was at North Little Rock 52-20 on Sept. 9.

"I told our guys, just continue to get better each week and you'll be in position to win the conference and have a good seed," McClellan Coach Maurice Moody said. "We're right where we want to be."

Senior running back Pierre Strong has been the Crimson Lions' bellcow.

Strong has rushed for 1,315 yards and 24 touchdowns on 127 carries. He had 200 yards and 3 touchdowns on 22 carries in McClellan's 42-14 victory last Friday at Little Rock Christian.

On his first carry, Strong rushed 69 yards for a touchdown. He also had scoring runs of 5 and 37 yards.

But it was his 69-yard run that Moody said helps a team get going on the road.

"It jump-starts you," Moody said. "It gives you momentum. It gives you a sense that you can move the football. After that run, we were going to move the football against those guys."

Strong rushed for more than 2,000 yards in 2015. Moody said he's continued to be McClellan's go-to player offensively.

"He's been playing consistent football every week," Moody said. "He's been a leader for us. He's been doing everything for us."

Strong has also been playing defense for the Lions. When Tyrse Lair was injured earlier this month, Strong asked Moody to put him in the secondary.

"He said, 'I'll do whatever it takes to win football games,'" Moody said of Strong.

McClellan will face Pulaski Academy (7-1, 5-0) in a rematch of last year's Class 5A state championship game won by the Bruins 50-30 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

The Bruins, led by junior quarterback Layne Hatcher and senior running back Jaren Watkins, have averaged 49.6 points per game. Hatcher has passed for 2,520 yards with 33 touchdowns while Watkins has rushed for 1,097 yards and 11 scores.

"They look extremely good," Moody said. "They put so much pressure on you.

"It's going to take a perfect game to beat them."

If McClellan wins and Sylvan Hills defeats Little Rock Parkview today, both teams and Pulaski Academy will be in a three-way tie for first place in the 5A-Central Conference. So Moody and the Lions know what's at stake today.

"Our mindset is if we take care of this ballgame, greater things are to come," Moody said.

Sports on 10/28/2016

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