PA extends 5A reign; Wynne falls 55-16

LITTLE ROCK — Weather conditions favored Wynne, a non-passing team, in the Class 5A championship game Saturday.

Then again, not even Mother Nature can offer adequate protection against Pulaski Academy.

Layne Hatcher passed for 405 yards and six touchdowns as the Bruins trounced Wynne 55-16 on a rainy, 44-degree afternoon before 4,975 at War Memorial Stadium. Pulaski Academy (13-1) won its third consecutive 5A title, also beating Wynne in the 2014 title game, and sixth since 2003.

Ray Jackson caught four touchdown passes and Jaren Watkins two from Hatcher, who completed 18 of 35 and overcame two interceptions and five sacks. Jackson had nine receptions for 279 yards with scoring plays of 53, 23, 42 and 74 yards. Hatcher and Jackson connected for 74 yards early in the fourth quarter, Hatcher’s extra point ending a 27-0 run for the Bruins.

Pulaski Academy led 28-0 with Watkins running one yard for a score and taking a nine-yard touchdown pass. Wynne pulled within 28-16 on touchdown runs of 3 and 11 yards by TaVon Hicks plus a pair of twopoint conversions.

Pulaski Academy responded with touchdown passes of 23 and 42 yards to Jackson in a third-quarter span of 1:29. It was 48-16 after Hatcher found Watkins for 42 yards with 6:45 left in the period.

The Bruins set a championship-game record with 692 yards, averaging 9.9 yards per play. Watkins carried 15 times for 156

yards and had three catches for 79 yards. RJ Anderson ran 49 yards for Pulaski Academy’s second touchdown and finished with three carries for 66 yards.

Wynne gained 339 yards, all on the ground, with the Yellowjackets suffering an interception and four lost fumbles. Hicks carried 42 times for 228 yards.

Both teams finished 12-1, Pulaski Academy losing a Week 2 game at Salt Lake City East in a nonconference schedule against teams from Oklahoma, Utah and Kentucky. The Bruins defeated Magnolia, Forrest City and Batesville in the playoffs. Wynne downed Morrilton, 2015 runner-up Little Rock McClellan and Watson Chapel en route to the championship game.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Stephen B. Thornton VICTORY LAYNE: Under wet conditions, Layne Hatcher passes for 405 yards and six touchdowns as Pulaski Academy wins its third consecutive Class 5A championship Saturday, defeating Wynne 55-16 at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Stephen B. Thornton IT’S CATCHING: Pulaski Academy’s Ray Jackson (18) celebrates one of his four touchdown receptions in the Bruins’ 55-16 rout of Wynne in the Class 5A championship game at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium.