PINE BLUFF -- Ladarius Skelton and David Beasley have been terrorizing defenses since they were sophomores.
Pine Bluff's senior quarterback and his favorite target conspired to keep their high school careers alive for another week Friday night against Russellville.
Skelton found Beasley for three touchdowns as the Zebras defeated the Cyclones 42-21 at Jordan Stadium to advance to the semifinals of the Class 6A state playoffs.
Pine Bluff (11-0) will travel to Jonesboro next week with a trip to the state final on the line.
Skelton completed 10 of 12 passes for 192 yards with 3 touchdown passes -- all to Beasley -- and added another on the ground. Beasley caught five passes for 144 yards.
"Those two have been doing that for three years together," Pine Bluff Coach Bobby Bolding said. "Beasley requires people to have two [defenders] over there. If there's not two over there, you're going to get in trouble with him. ... Those two are dynamic for sure."
Pine Bluff, the defending Class 6A state champion and winner of 14 consecutive games, did all its damage in the first half. The Zebras scored 28 points in the final nine minutes of the second quarter to build a 42-7 advantage and ensure a running clock in the second half.
With the help of two turnovers by Russellville (5-7), Pine Bluff scored three touchdowns in the final four minutes of the half to turn a comfortable lead into an insurmountable one. The final scoring drive covered 71 yards in three plays and took less than 45 seconds. It ended when Skelton found Beasley for a 15-yard touchdown in the corner.
"One thing tonight I found out: If we can hurry up and go fast, we can get points on the board in a hurry," Bolding said. "With two minutes we got the ball, and I look up and we scored and there's 1:25 on the clock and we went the length of the field."
Nursing a 14-7 advantage, Pine Bluff seized control. Running back Romar Reades, who finished with 92 yards rushing, scored on an 8-yard run at the 9:10 mark of the second to make it 21-7.
Following a quick stop, the Zebras struck again. Skelton scored on a 12-yard run and added a 27-yard strike to Beasley after a Cyclones fumble.
Beasley's other touchdown catch -- a 55-yarder -- came in the first quarter.
Russellville quarterback Cale Fulsom finished 14-24 for 194 yards and tossed touchdown passes to Caleb Stokes and Ryan Meador. Josiah Woodard also reached the end zone.
JONESBORO 34, ALMA 27
JONESBORO — Jonesboro’s one-two punch of senior running backs Kylon Tate and Princeton Pitts was too much for Alma. Tate had 16 carries for 167 yards and 1 touchdown and Pitts carried 22 times for 140 yards and 2 more scores to propel Jonesboro (8-3) past Alma (7-5). Senior quarterback Alex Beneux accounted for three touchdowns for the Airedales.
Sports on 11/21/2015