BEEBE -- Pulaski Academy scored on every offensive drive in a dominating 58-21 victory over Beebe Friday night at "Bro" Erwin Stadium in the second week of 5A-Central Conference play.
PA (5-0, 2-0) extended its win streak to 17 games dating back to last season's loss at Utah's East High School, and the Bruins have now won 50 consecutive conference games since its 41-21 loss at Little Rock Christian Academy on Nov. 6, 2009.
Bruins Coach Kevin Kelley, who famously plays the percentages of football like a Vegas card counter, was pleased with the main statistic of the first half: PA scored touchdowns on each of its six possessions while Beebe only scored touchdowns on two of its five possessions.
"What you're looking for is 100 percent efficiency," said Kelley, who is 170-25-1 since becoming the Bruins' coach in 2003. "Sometimes you don't score every time, and I guess most teams probably don't. But we actually can, and have a lot of times, and when you can do that, and your defense gets you a little lead, you're going to win a lot of games."
[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Live updates and scores from tonight’s games]
PA junior quarterback Layne Hatcher completed seven passes that went for 20 yards or more during the first half, and by halftime he had completed four touchdown passes to four receivers.
Hatcher, who had 316 passing yards at halftime, ended the game 25 of 29 for 356 yards and 5 touchdown passes.
"We had the ball eight times, and we scored eight times," said senior receiver Tra Johnson, who led the game with 8 receptions, 130 yards and a touchdown. "That's what we call a perfect game."
For Beebe (2-3, 0-2), much of the game wasn't perfect -- particularly when its offense faced fourth down.
On its first drive, down 8-0, Beebe faced a fourth and 1 at the PA 41, and senior quarterback C.J. Cauldwell was stopped short on a quarterback sneak to turn the ball over on downs. PA's Hatcher threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Biagoni a few plays later to go up 14-0.
On the following drive, Beebe junior running back Taylor Boyce received a toss to the left side of the field on fourth and 7 and gained 25 yards to the PA 11. Boyce scored on a five-yard run a few plays later to make it 14-7 with 2:59 left in the first.
Boyce scored the Badgers' only other touchdown on a 15-yard reception at the start of the second quarter, and led the game with 15 carries, 93 yards and a touchdown.
Behind 38-14 with 5:43 left in the first half, Beebe converted a fourth down which eventually set up a third and 13 at the PA 15, where PA senior defensive back Brooks Walton recovered the fumble he forced when he sacked Beebe's Cauldwell.
PA's Hatcher follwed up by completing two 38-yard passes to Johnson, then a one-yard pass to Johnson for the touchdown that put PA up 45-14 at the half.
"I think that ended their chances, pretty much," said Kelley, who said Walton had been sent on a blitz.
The three possessions Beebe had in the second half weren't enough to field a comeback, although junior running back Jacob Lloyd scored a nine-yard touchdown run on the team's final drive.
Beebe has now lost three consecutive games to teams which were undefeated at the time (Wynne and Little Rock Christian). The Badgers will play at Parkview on Oct. 6.
"It doesn't get a whole lot easier," Beebe Coach John Shannon said. "We're in the hole, 0-2, so from here on out, we've got to have a sense of urgency and take care of business or we'll be sitting at home during the playoffs."
PA will host Little Rock Christian on Oct. 6.
Sports on 09/30/2017