Pulaski Academy took Little Rock Christian's best shot in the first half.
The Bruins then overwhelmed the Warriors in the third quarter.
Pulaski Academy, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's No. 1 team in Class 5A and four-time defending Class 5A state champion, rolled to a 56-14 victory over Class 5A No. 2 Little Rock Christian on Friday night at Joe B. Hatcher Stadium in Little Rock.
The Bruins led 21-14 at halftime, then scored 21 points in the third quarter to take a 42-14 lead.
The Bruins' defense forced two turnovers and got two fourth-down stops in the third quarter.
Pulaski Academy Coach Kevin Kelley credited his defensive players as well as co-defensive coordinators Madison Taylor and Jason Wyatt.
"I asked our defense to keep playing like they were," Kelley said. "Our defense was playing extremely well. I told them if they came out and do that [in the third quarter], then we'll make some plays. We stopped them and got some turnovers. Then, we finally clicked on offense."
With 8:25 left in the third quarter, junior quarterback Braden Bratcher threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Hudson Henry for a 28-14 lead.
On the Warriors' next possession, sophomore quarterback Colin Cooper -- who was starting in place of senior Justice Hill (hamstring) -- was intercepted by Bruins junior linebacker Chris Connell. The Bruins took advantage, as junior Mason Kolb scored from 1 yard out with 5:42 left in the quarter to extend the lead to 35-14.
After Little Rock Christian junior running back Kendel Givens was stopped after a 4-yard run on fourth and 8, junior running back Jayden Kelley ran 67 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown to stretch Pulaski Academy's lead to 42-14 with 3:14 left in the third quarter.
Cooper was intercepted for the second time in the third quarter on the Warriors' next possession, this one by senior linebacker Bennett Perkins.
Little Rock Christian Coach Eric Cohu said the Warriors fell apart in the third quarter.
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"They executed very well in the third quarter and made a lot of plays," Cohu said. "Our offense sputtered a little bit, and our defense started fatiguing."
The Bruins added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter with Kolb's 13-yard pass to senior wide receiver John David White, and sophomore Nolen Bruffett's 22-yard pass to senior wide receiver Jack Polk.
Bratcher accounted for 305 yards Friday. He completed 14 of 28 passes for 142 yards and 3 touchdowns and rushed for 163 yards and 1 score on 20 carries.
"It's a fine line as a quarterback in our offense with running and throwing," Kelley said. "You don't want to run him too much because he's so valuable in what we do. But in a game like tonight and the playoffs, he's going to be asked to run the ball.
"He's getting better and better at quarterback throwing the football. But when you can do both of those things [passing and running], it makes it tougher on defenses."
White caught 7 passes for 74 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jayden Kelley rushed for 84 yards and 1 touchdown on 6 carries.
For Little Rock Christian, Cooper passed for 85 yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions.
Junior running back Corey Platt had a 5-yard touchdown run, and senior wide receiver MJ Loggins caught a 6-yard scoring pass for the Warriors.
Sports on 09/29/2018