5A-CENTRAL

At 60 and counting, Bruins add to streak

Pulaski Academy tight end Hudson Henry (right) tries to pull in a pass against Little Rock Parkview defender Gaaiylon Finley (11) during the third quarter of the Bruins’ 43-14 victory over the Patriots on Friday. For more high school football photos, visit arkansasonline.com/galleries.
Pulaski Academy tight end Hudson Henry (right) tries to pull in a pass against Little Rock Parkview defender Gaaiylon Finley (11) during the third quarter of the Bruins’ 43-14 victory over the Patriots on Friday. For more high school football photos, visit arkansasonline.com/galleries.

Behind four touchdowns from senior wide receiver John David White, four-time defending Class 5A state champion Pulaski Academy recorded its 60th consecutive conference victory, 43-14, over Little Rock Parkview, on a rainy Friday night at Joe B. Hatcher Stadium in Little Rock.

Pulaski Academy (7-1, 5-0 5A-Central) never trailed, leading 22-0 at halftime and 28-14 after three quarters. White set the final after catching a 60-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Braden Bratcher with 3:29 remining. Parkview (3-5, 3-2) had a 32-18 advantage in total plays in the first half, but its four possessions ended on downs at the Pulaski Academy 10, 5, 38 and 48.

"It's the same thing they did last year," Bruins Coach Kevin Kelley said. "They're trying to keep the ball away, run the clock, grind it out. They've got a big line and two really, really good running backs. That was their game plan. It was their game plan last year. They did a really nice job and came closer to beating us than anybody."

Parkview nearly ended Pulaski Academy's long conference winning streak in 2017 -- Coach Brad Bolding's first season at the school -- before falling 43-40 in the closing seconds.

White finished with six receptions for 195 yards. Junior tailback Jayden Kelley ran for touchdowns of 80 and 2 yards, the latter stretching Pulaski Academy's lead to 36-14 with 10:10 remaining.

Bratcher completed 17 of 27 passes for 308 yards. Bratcher also threw touchdown passes of 18 and 20 yards to White, whose first score came after taking a lateral from senior wide receiver Hudson Henry and racing 80 yards into the end zone with 5:32 remaining in the first quarter. Bratcher threw for two points and an 8-0 lead.

[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Click here for more scores, recaps and photos]

Parkview junior fullback Thomas McCauley ran 19 times for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns.

After forcing a rare Pulaski Academy four and out, Parkview only had to travel 18 yards for McCauley's second touchdown -- a 1-yard run that made it 28-14 with 32 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The Patriots had opened the second half with a four-play, 53-yard drive capped by McCauley's 39-yard run. Parkview finished with 222 rushing yards on 52 attempts.

"We left points on the field," Bolding said. "I thought at times we played really well. We didn't help ourselves with penalties. But this is a process of building a program. We're right in the middle of it, man. We're going to get there. It's just going to take some time."

Pulaski Academy hasn't lost a conference game since the 2009 regular-season finale, 42-21 at Little Rock Christian.

Sports on 10/20/2018

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