Pulaski Academy 56, Sand Springs (Okla.) 21

Junior quarterback Layne Hatcher completed 22 of 35 passes for 396 yards and 6 touchdowns in Pulaski Academy’s season-opening victory over Sand Springs (Okla.) Page before an overflow crowd Friday night at Joe B. Hatcher Stadium in Little Rock.

Pulaski Academy, the two-time defending Class 5A state champion, stretched its winning streak to 28 and has scored at least 35 points in 41 consecutive games.

The Bruins struck on the fourth play from scrimmage — an 88-yard touchdown pass on fourth and 25 from Hatcher to junior wide receiver Tra Johnson — led 43-14 at halftime and applied the Arkansas Activities Association sportsman rule with 5:48 remaining in the third quarter.

Pulaski Academy reached the 35-point second-half score differential (leading to a continuously running clock) on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Hatcher to Johnson to make it 50-14.

Johnson finished with 7 receptions for 225 yards and 4 touchdowns (88, 22, 80 and 3 yards).

Pulaski Academy’s up-tempo, no-huddle Spread attack amassed 625 total yards against the Sandites, a suburban Tulsa school who compete in Oklahoma’s highest classification and played for a state championship last fall in 6A Division II.

“I’m shocked,” said Pulaski Academy Coach Kevin Kelley, who has led the Bruins to 153 victories and five state championships since 2003.

Hatcher also threw touchdown passes of 13 yards to senior utility back Jaren Watkins and 44 yards to senior wide receiver Jacory McMillan.

Watkins, whose scoring reception came with 8:28 remaining in the first half, finished with 127 rushing yards on 17 attempts.

The Sandites were limited to 279 total yards.

One of Page’s three touchdowns was an interception return by junior defensive end Kris Edwards following a deflection near midfield with 15 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Pulaski Academy scored touchdowns on 6 of 7 other first-half possessions.

Sand Springs trailed 20-14 after one quarter, but Pulaski Academy blew the game open before halftime on a 44yard touchdown pass from Hatcher to McMillan at 4:37 and junior tailback RJ Anderson’s 33-yard touchdown run at 1:34.

Hatcher was 18 of 30 for 376 yards and 5 touchdowns in the first half. Johnson had 5 receptions for 220 yards and 3 touchdowns.

“We just got beat by a better opponent tonight,” Sandites Coach Dustin Kinard said. “We just got outmatched. We tried to prepare as much as we could for this style of play. Next year when they come to our place — not saying we’re going to win — hopefully, we’re prepared more for the atmosphere.”

Pulaski Academy’s final touchdown came on a 10-yard run by senior tailback Trey Adams with 4:29 left in the game.