Sylvan Hills didn't have a problem moving the ball against Pulaski Academy, but stopping the high-flying Bruins was nearly impossible.
Senior quarterback Will Hefley completed 18 of 24 passes for 376 yards and 5 touchdowns as Pulaski Academy celebrated homecoming with a 50-20 victory over Sylvan Hills before an overflow crowd Friday night at Joe B. Hatcher Stadium.
The victory clinched an outright 5A-Central championship and a No. 1 playoff seed for the Bruins, who have won 35 consecutive conference games.
Pulaski Academy (9-1, 7-0 5A-Central) also has won five consecutive outright conference titles.
"It's a testament to our coaches and kids," Bruins Coach Kevin Kelley said.
Pulaski Academy will host Blytheville in a first-round playoff game next week.
Sylvan Hills (8-2, 5-2) could have earned a share of its first conference championship since 2004 with a victory. It will open the playoffs at Wynne.
The second half was played under the Arkansas Activities Association's sportsmanship rule (a near-continuously running clock) after Pulaski Academy led 43-6 at halftime.
Hefley, who has orally committed to Tulsa, completed 17 of 23 passes for 364 yards and 5 touchdowns in the first half. He also scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 58 seconds remaining in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 36-6.
The Bruins scored touchdowns on all six first-half possessions before Kelley began mass substitutions in the final 24 minutes.
Senior wide receiver Will Hastings caught 9 passes for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns (21, 40 and 96 yards) -- all in the first half.
Hefley also threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Zack Kelley, the coach's son, with 9:26 left in the first quarter.
Junior utility back Tre' Bruce caught a 46-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds remaining in the first half and directed the Bruins to a touchdown on their seventh possession, covering the final 8 yards on a keeper with 11:44 to play in the game.
Pulaski Academy's final possession ended when it ran out of downs at the Sylvan Hills 32 with less than 30 seconds remaining.
"We wanted to have a perfect half," Kevin Kelley said, referring to the first two quarters. "That doesn't mean every play is perfect, but score on every possession. We wanted to have a perfect half against them -- a great football team -- because it will give our kids a lot of confidence going forward. We did that."
In his first career start, Sylvan Hills sophomore quarterback Jordan Washington ran 14 times for 116 yards and completed 9 of 18 passes for 106 yards and 2 second-half touchdowns.
But Washington, who replaced senior standout Tra Doss (who only played defense because of a broken hand), was intercepted three times in the first half.
Junior safety Justin Charette ended two scoring threats with interceptions in the end zone and at the Bruins' 4.
Hastings' 96-yard touchdown reception, which gave Pulaski Academy a 28-6 lead with 9:22 left in the first half, came two plays after Charette's second interception.
Bruce's 46-yard touchdown reception came one play after junior linebacker Corbin Witham's interception near midfield.
Sylvan Hills, which trailed only 12-6 late in the first quarter, also ran out of downs at the Pulaski Academy 8 with 5:25 left in the first half.
"I thought we would have to score in the 40s to have a chance to beat them," Bears Coach Jim Withrow said. "We had to score with them. We left too much meat on the bone."
Sports on 11/08/2014