SEARCY — Pulaski Academy delivered a golden performance.
The Bruins’ gold team, made up varsity players, held off Conway 35-33 to win the Air Raid 7-on-7 passing tournament Saturday afternoon at Harding University’s First Security Stadium.
Pulaski Academy Gold finished the 16-team tournament, the first major 7-on-7 event of the season, 7-0 to give the school its second consecutive Air Raid title and third in four years.
In the title game, Pulaski Academy’s three quarterbacks - junior Jack Snider, junior Fredi Knighten and sophomore Lawson Vassar - threw a combined five touchdowns.
The Bruins were clinging to a 28-27 lead when they covered the length of the field in one play - Knighten’s 40-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Garrett Lamb with 4:32 remaining in the 25-minute game.
Knighten then threw a pass from the 5 (worth one point) to senior Zac Reyna to extend the lead to 35-27.
Conway drew within 35-33 on a 1-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Tyler Langley to senior wide receiver Desmond Cox with 1:50 remaining.
But an attempt to the tie the score with a two-point play from the 10 failed when senior wide receiver Tristan Eddings was stopped at the 5 on a reception in the flat.
Pulaski Academy Gold then ran out the clock.
Snider opened the game with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Lamb.
Knighten - again on first down - threw a 40-yard touchdown to junior wide receiver Kendall Bruce on Pulaski Academy Gold’s second possession.
The Bruins regained the lead, 20-15, when Vassar, playing with a protective boot because of a fractured bone in his right ankle, threw an 11-yard touchdown passto Reyna with 15 minutes remaining.
Conway took its final lead, 21-20, on a 40-yard pass from Langley to Cox with 14 minutes remaining.
Snider followed with an 11-yard touchdown to sophomore wide receiver L.J. Wallace to give Pulaski Academy Gold the lead for good, 28-20, with 10:32 to play.
“This wasn’t a surprise for our skill guys,” Bruins Coach Kevin Kelley said. “Last year, we had one returning starter back on offense. This year, we’ve got everybody back, except our quarterback.We felt good about what our skill guys could do. I was really worried about our quarterbacks, shuffling them in and out trying to find one.”
Pulaski Academy Gold finished pool play 3-0 after beating Lake Hamilton (21-20), Greenbrier (30-20) and Watson Chapel (28-20).
Pulaski Academy Blue, made up of junior varsity players, went 2-1 in pool play.
In winner’s bracket play, Pulaski Academy Gold advanced to the championship round by beating Searcy (28-8), Lonoke (34-20) and Lake Hamilton (34-14).
Conway, which needed to beat Pulaski Academy Gold twice to capture the title, reached the championship round with a 25-14 victory over Lake Hamilton.
“I’m proud of the kids,” second-year Wampus Cats Coach Clint Ashcraft said. “Big difference from what we did here last year.”
Greenbrier beat Watson Chapel 19-0 in the consolation bracket final.
Junior quarterback Neal Burcham threw three touchdowns in the game, including two to senior Hunter Winston.
Pine Bluff finished pool play 0-3, the Zebras’ first competitive event since the graduation of All-Arkansas quarterback Claude Johnson, who started every game in his career.
Pine Bluff Coach Bobby Bolding said it appears Johnson will play baseball at Arkansas State.
Sports, Pages 31 on 06/06/2010