LITTLE ROCK — The Batesville Pioneers controlled the line of scrimmage and played keep-away from Pulaski Academy, dealing the Bruins a 40-21 defeat in the Class 5A state semifinals Friday in Little Rock.

Jose Rodriguez, normally a starting linebacker, stepped in for injured tailback Phillip Archuleta and ran for 144 yards and four touchdowns behind Batesville’s powerful offensive line, as the Pioneers rushed for 259 yards and chewed up the game clock.

“That absolutely was the difference,” Batesville Coach Dave King said. “Our starting tailback goes down in the first half and we have a middle linebacker running the football. A lot of running the football is offensive-line play, and those guys played well.”

The Bruins (10-3) failed to recover an onside kick, and their strategy of eschewing punts did not pay off. Batesville stopped Pulaski Academy on downs four times in the first half, including three times in Pulaski Academy territory.

Batesville (10-3) forced three additional turnovers on downs in the second half, including one at the Bruins 22 with 5:50 to play. That led to a field goal by Osvaldo Eepericueta that set the final score.

“Getting those stops in the first half was huge,” King said. “You can’t let them play 7-on-7 or they’ll kill you. We practiced [onside kicks] all week. [Special teams] did a great job.”

The Bruins got off to a fast start, as Lawson Vassar scrambled and connected with Daniel Vogel for an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first snap of the game. Batesville recovered the ensuing onside kick, but turned it over on downs.

Vassar was intercepted on his next pass, and Batesville’s Wesley Rudd returned it to the Bruins 26. Two plays later, Rodriguez ran in from 22 yards out to pull Batesville within 8-6.

Batesville dictated the pace from there, running Rodriguez, Elijah Childress and others with success. The Pioneers ran down the play clock before every snap, keeping the Bruins’ Spread offense off the field.

Rodriguez scored from the 1 on the second play of the second quarter. The two point pass from Jacob Hardin to Jonathan Hendrix made it 14-8. Pulaski Academy answered with a quick score, needing four plays to reclaim the lead. Vassar found L.J. Wallace down the sideline for a 44-yard touchdown and a 15-14 lead.

Batesville recovered the onside kick at its 46, and aided by a key pass interference call, moved in for the go ahead score. Rodriguez’s third touchdown gave the Pioneers the lead for good. His fourth touchdown sent Batesville into halftime with a 27-15 lead.

Batesville’s defensive front repeatedly harrassed Bruins quarterbacks, totaling six sacks and numerous other hurries courtesy of Brett Bell, Javier Rodriguez and others.

“We knew coming in that we were going to be outsized,” Pulaski Academy Coach Kevin Kelley said. “That was our biggest concern. They definitely controlled the line of scrimmage. A lot of times I’ve seen big plays in football and it goes the other way quick. That didn’t demonstrate what it was going to be like at the line of scrimmage.”

Eepericueta booted a 37-yard field goal to cap Batesville’s drive to open the second half. A fumble ended one PA drive deep in Batesville territory, and the Bruins came up short on fourth-and-22 from their 25. Kenton Crawford sprinted into the end zone from 18 yards out and Batesville led 37-15.

A 1-yard touchdown run by Hunter Henry pulled the Bruins closer, but the Pioneers recovered the onside kick at the end of the third quarter. They then moved deep into Pulaski Academy territory. Eepericueta missed a 35-yard field goal, but the Pioneers successfully ran off nearly half the fourth quarter clock.

Vassar completed 24 of 40 passes for 332 yards and 2 scores in a losing cause. Hardin attempted nine passes for Batesville, including just two after halftime as the Pioneers kept working the clock.

Sports, Pages 31 on 11/24/2012