High school report

— Only pass keeps title in reach

Now, two Little Rock schools are in position to claim the 7-4A title.

Pulaski Robinson kept its title hopes alive with a 30-28 home victory over Nashville before an overflow crowd Friday night at Charlie George Stadium.

The Senators won on a 23-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Cole Bulloch to senior wide receiver Evian Hill, who dived into the end zone with five seconds remaining in the game.

Robinson drove 81 yards in 10 plays in the final 90 seconds for its game-winning score.

The touchdown was the only pass Robinson completed during the game.

“That was a heck of a ballgame to watch and be a part of,” Robinson Coach Todd Eskola said

Robinson (7-1, 4-1 7-4A) can pull into a first-place tie in the conference standings with a victory Friday night at Pulaski Academy (7-1, 5-0).

Robinson finished with more than 400 rushing yards against Nashville, led by senior tailback Jaalen Watkins, who carried 24 times for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Senior fullback Dylan Sanders ran 10 times for 95 yards.

“Anytime you have over 400 yards rushing, you’re doing something right up front,” Eskola said.

“The offensive line was outstanding. And then Evian, he just makes big plays.

The last touchdown was incredible.”

Nashville was led by senior quarterback Cole Moore, who completed 17 of 26 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown.

Leading 24-21, Robinson was driving for the clinching touchdown before coming up inches short of a first down at the Nashville 16 with 5:24 remaining in the game.

The Scrappers then regained the lead when sophomore Tesean Green ran 9 yards for a touchdown.

But Robinson used its “hurry-up run game” to set up its winning touchdown pass.

“I think, basically, that the kids are learning how to handle adversity a little better,” Eskola said. “Theyhadn’t quit. When high school kids don’t have things go just right, sometimes that ball goes downhill and it’s hard to stop it. This group of kids is just real resilient.”

The loss was only the seventh for Nashville in its past 91 games.

GLEN ROSE

Kehner update

Glen Rose senior tailback Steven Kehner surpassed5,500 career rushing yards in Friday night’s 54-18 victory at Centerpoint.

Kehner ran 14 times for 295 yards and 5 touchdowns (37, 40, 50, 92 and 6 yards).

It was the 14th consecutive 100-yard rushing game, and 30th overall, for Kehner, who has 5,672 career rushing yards.

Kehner has carried 142 times for 1,777 yards and 29 touchdowns this fall.

Kehner’s father, Glen Rose Coach Mark Kehner, said recruiting interest continues to pick up for his son and that about all of the state’s Gulf South Conference schools have offered scholarships.

Steven Kehner is on pace to become just the eighth player in Arkansas high school history to rush for 6,000 yards.

Second-ranked Glen Rose (8-0, 5-0 5-3A) hosts Cutter Morning Star on Friday night. NORTH PULASKI

Milestone victory

North Pulaski broke a 13-game losing streak Friday night at home against Crossett 38-13.

It was also the first victory for the state’s youngest head coach, Terrod Hatcher, who was hired at 23 in July.

Hatcher had previously been North Pulaski’s offensive coordinator.

North Pulaski (1-7, 1-4 5A-Southeast) hadn’t won since beating Little Rock McClellan 35-13 on Sept. 25, 2009.

GREENWOOD

In mix again

The Bulldogs are rightback in the thick of the 5AWest Conference title chase.

Greenwood moved into a tie for first place in the conference with its 49-21 victory Friday night at Vilonia. Greenwood (6-2), Greenbrier (7-1) and Alma (6-2) are tied atop the conference standings at 4-1.

Greenwood hosts Greenbrier on Friday and wraps up conference play with a home game against Alma.

Coach Rick Jones said Friday night’s victory was huge going into the final two weeks of the regular season.

Greenwood used another huge night from running back Justin Sunde and its offensive line to beat the Eagles. Sunde ran for 233 yards and 5 touchdowns, bringing his season totals to 858 yards and 12 touchdowns on 98 carries.

Sunde ran for 179 yards and two touchdowns in the first half as the Bulldogs scored on four of their first five possessions and built a 28-7 lead going into halftime. Vilonia never recovered as Greenwood’s line controlled the line of scrimmage the rest of the game.

“I think we average about 197 pounds a man [on the line], which by today’s standards is tiny, but they work well together and they communicate well,” Jones said.

- Steve Goff

Sports, Pages 33 on 10/24/2010

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