Pulaski Academy stamped its third consecutive 7-on-7 title in 2014 with a defensive play Saturday in the Shootout of the South.
Senior middle linebacker Reid Rickenbach intercepted Fayetteville quarterback Taylor Powell with less than a minute left, earning two points on the play to break a 28-28 tie and the Class 5A Bruins beat the Class 7A Bulldogs 30-28 at Mighty Bluebird Complex in west Little Rock.
Pulaski Academy won the weather-shortened Sonic Air Raid on June 7 in Searcy and beat Fayetteville last Saturday in the North Arkansas Shootout in Harrison. The Bruins are 21-0 this month in 7-on-7 competition.
The Bruins went 5-0 Saturday, beating Afton, Okla., 43-24 and Lake Hamilton 37-16 in regional play and knocked off Mayflower 40-21 in the quarterfinals and Greenbrier 44-37 in the semifinals.
Fayetteville took a delay of game before the interception, prompting Pulaski Academy Coach Kevin Kelley to get his offensive unit ready to go if the Bulldogs scored.
But Powell was intercepted on the next play by Rickenbach, who was mobbed by his teammates coming off the sideline. Pulaski Academy ran out the clock to clinch its fourth Shootout of the South title in five years.
"I already called in our offense and said, 'This is what we're going to do and this is what we're going to do to get the two-point and win the game.' We were going to go for the win," Kelley said. "But then I turn around and look and Reid Rickenbach is standing there. He broke on the ball and made a play.
"Before the last game, I asked who was going to make a play to win this thing. Four of five guys did. I was so proud."
Pulaski Academy, which lost to eventual state champion Morrilton in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs last season, trailed 28-21 with 5:30 remaining. Quarterback Will Hefley, a Tulsa commitment, threw a touchdown pass to Zack Kelley, the coach's son, to tie the game at 28-28 with 4:00 left.
The Bruins also came back from a 37-36 deficit against Greenbrier in the semifinals to advance to the championship game.
Kevin Kelley said that the Bruins' ability to come back in the final two games is an important development, even in June.
"It's something I'll take with us the rest of the summer and I'll take it into the season at halftime of a game we're down in this year," he said.
Hefley threw four touchdown passes, including two to Zack Kelley. Tre Bruce and Will Hastings also caught touchdown passes for Pulaski Academy.
Fayetteville, which went 10-0 before losing in the championship, was led by senior tight end C.J. O'Grady, who caught six passes and scored three touchdowns. Quarterbacks Jack Lindsey and Powell each threw two touchdown passes.
"Our kids competed and played hard. We played a lot of good football teams," Fayetteville Coach Daryl Patton said. "It's a great tournament. We didn't finish the way we wanted to, but PA is a good team. Every time we played them, it's 32-30, 30-28. It's always a nailbiter. Kevin does a great job.
"It was good for our kids to be in this atmosphere. It will pay off later."
Kevin Kelley said he wants to funnel the Bruins' 7-on-7 success into the season.
"We want to win everything we do," he said. "We want to compete because we want everybody to go away and think, 'PA is always good in everything they do.' "
Clinton beat Hot Springs Lakeside 32-21 in the consolation final.
Hefley won the Top Gun Award as the tournament's outstanding quarterback. O'Grady was named the tournament's top receiver, while Pulaski Academy's Justin Charette earned the defensive player award.
Sports on 06/22/2014