Pulaski Academy scored touchdowns on its first seven first-half possessions en route to a 56-20 victory over Memphis Ridgeway on Friday night at Joe B. Hatcher Stadium in Little Rock.
The Bruins (2-0) led 49-6 at halftime behind senior quarterback Layne Hatcher, who completed 20 of 26 passes for 258 yards and 5 touchdowns before being pulled in the closing seconds of the second quarter.
Pulaski Academy outgained Ridgeway 407-97 in the first half.
The second half was played with a running clock under the Arkansas Activities Association sportsmanship rule (a lead of at least 35 points at halftime).
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"We still made a lot of mistakes, but I am proud," said Coach Kevin Kelley, who has led Pulaski Academy to three consecutive Class 5A state championships. "They're not a bad squad. Our guys came out and were disciplined."
Hatcher threw touchdown passes of 5 and 49 yards to junior slot receiver Hudson Henry, 6 yards to senior wide receiver Tre Johnson, 4 yards to senior wide receiver Brett Lynch and 14 yards to senior wide receiver Hayden Cobb.
Ridgeway (0-4) was within 14-6 after junior quarterback Quincy Casey threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Cameron Comeaux with 4:53 remaining in the first quarter.
But Hatcher answered with his 127th career touchdown pass -- a 6-yard play to Johnson on a crossing route -- to extend the lead to 21-6 with 3:53 remaining in the first quarter.
Pulaski Academy's next possession ended when Henry took a fourth-and-1 shovel pass from Hatcher and ran through a defender near the goal line to complete a 5-yard score.
Henry, 6-4, 230, rumbled 49 yards for a touchdown on another shovel pass, and Pulaski Academy led 49-6 with 1:29 remaining in the first half.
Pulaski Academy's prolific Spread scheme added 149 rushing yards in the first half, highlighted by scoring runs of 11 yards by sophomore tailback Jayden Kelley and 28 yards by sophomore tailback Ej Anderson.
"It's hard to simulate what they do, and they do it well," Roadrunners Coach Duron Sutton said. "It's not like they are just trying things. This is what they do. It's just hats off to their system and what they do. At the end of the game, I told Coach Kelley I appreciate the opportunity, and I vow to give them a better game next year."
Ridgeway played without standout senior wide receiver Kundarrius Taylor, an Oklahoma oral commitment, because of a hamstring muscle injury, Sutton said.
Sports on 09/09/2017