PINE BLUFF -- On a night where the wind ruined its original game plan, Pine Bluff turned to its ground game to keep its season alive.
The Zebras piled up 380 yards rushing and got a strong effort from their defense to defeat Russellville 40-21 on Friday in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs at Jordan Stadium.
"We had to change things up a bit," Pine Bluff Coach Bobby Bolding said. "That wind was pretty tough, but whenever [Russellville] had it at their backs, we really tried to keep the ball on the ground and keep it away from them. When we had it, we were able to open it up a little bit.
"But we really ran it well at times, and that was key for us."
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Sophomore quarterback Tyler Foots ran 27 times for 190 yards with 2 touchdowns and completed 7 of 11 passes for 105 yards with 2 touchdowns for Pine Bluff (10-1), which advanced to the Class 6A semifinals for the ninth consecutive season. The Zebras will host fellow 6A-East foe Searcy, which beat El Dorado 38-21, next week for a spot in the state title game. A victory would put Pine Bluff back in the final for the third time in the past four seasons.
Senior running back Kylen Williams added 70 yards on 16 carries for the Zebras, who finished with 485 yards of offense. Junior running back Braylon Moody ran 11 times for 56 yards before leaving in the third quarter after slightly twisting an ankle. Sophomore running back Kerry Hadley chipped in with 60 yards on eight carries, while senior wide receiver Jyrimee Thompson had 5 catches for 80 yards and caught both of Foots' touchdown passes.
The defense also played a major role for Pine Bluff, which also beat Russellville in the postseason en route to the state title in 2015. The Zebras sacked Cyclones quarterback Ryan Talley seven times and hurried him on several other plays. Talley finished 19 of 30 for 222 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Senior utility back Josiah Woodard added 175 yards of total offense and 2 touchdowns.
"Pine Bluff did a really good job of disguising things," Russellville Coach Jeff Weaver said. "We hadn't seen the exact looks they were giving, but I've seen them enough in the past to have an idea of what Coach Bolding might do. We were prepared in a lot of ways, but it's tough to prepare for their size and athleticism."
The defending 6A champions trailed 22-0 at the half and 28-0 in the third quarter but sliced their deficit to 28-14 after an 81-yard touchdown from Woodard on a hook-and-lateral. But Pine Bluff answered with a 23-yard touchdown run from Hadley on its next series to close off Russellville's momentum and pull away.
Foots got Pine Bluff untracked on its first possession. The sophomore finished a 12-play, 71-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Thompson to give the Zebras a 6-0 lead with 6:33 left in the first quarter.
The defense accounted for Pine Bluff's next points after defensive tackle Kevawn Goins sacked Talley in the end zone on the third play of the Cyclones' following drive. Foots then capped a 7-play, 46-yard march with a 6-yard touchdown run at the 2:51 mark to push the Zebras' margin to 14. He later added a 1-yard score with 7:22 remaining in the second quarter to give Pine Bluff its 22-point halftime lead.
Junior safety Dyllan Ashley added another score for the Zebras' defense when he intercepted a Talley pass and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown with 6:38 left in the third quarter.
The Cyclones battled back with scores on consecutive possessions to get within 28-14 with 2:34 left in the quarter.
Sports on 11/18/2017