Bruins score in bunches, have things 'to work on'

Sylvan Hills running back Deon Youngblood (7) fumbles after he is hit by Pulaski Academy defensive tackle Ephraim Su (62) on Friday at Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood.
Sylvan Hills running back Deon Youngblood (7) fumbles after he is hit by Pulaski Academy defensive tackle Ephraim Su (62) on Friday at Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood.

Record-setting senior quarterback Layne Hatcher threw five touchdown passes, including three to senior wide receiver Tra Johnson, in Pulaski Academy's 49-21 5A-Central victory over Sylvan Hills on Friday night at Bill Blackwood Field in Sherwood.

The three-time defending state champion Bruins (7-0, 4-0 5A-Central) won their 19th consecutive game and extended their conference winning streak to 52.

Pulaski Academy, which never trailed, led 28-7 at halftime and invoked the Arkansas Activities Association's sportsmanship rule with 6:35 remaining in the third quarter when Hatcher threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Brett Lynch and kicked the extra point to make it 42-7.

A week removed from a state-record 757 passing yards against Little Rock Christian, Hatcher completed 31 of 45 for 316 yards against Sylvan Hills.

[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]

Pulaski Academy scored touchdowns on 21 of 22 possessions the previous two weeks against Beebe and Little Rock Christian, but it wasn't nearly as sharp Friday night, particularly in the first half when it failed twice to convert on fourth down. Another possession ended with an interception.

"The last two weeks our offense has played almost perfect, and guys tend to stop listening a little bit," Bruins Coach Kevin Kelley said. "They're like, 'Coach, we're good.' It does give you something to work on, something to focus on, mistake-wise."

Hatcher threw first-half touchdown passes of 25, 5 and 28 yards to Johnson, who finished with 9 receptions for 132 yards. Sophomore tailback Jayden Kelley ran 59 yards for a touchdown on the game's fifth play from scrimmage.

Hatcher also threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to junior Hudson Henry with 11:12 remaining in the third quarter to make it 35-7. Lynch ran 12 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Hatcher's five touchdown passes moved him to No. 2 on the state's all-time list with 156. He trails only Rhett Lashlee, who threw 171 touchdown passes from 1999-2001 at Shiloh Christian.

Sylvan Hills (3-4, 1-3) was led by senior tailback Deon Youngblood, who ran 19 times for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Pulaski Academy finished with a 419-204 advantage in total yardage.

Sports on 10/14/2017

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