Greenwood’s Archer aces PA road test

It’s rare for a team to travel to Little Rock and take down powerful Pulaski Academy on its home field.

Greenwood did it last week with a sophomore at quarterback.

Kane Archer accounted for eight touchdowns to lead Greenwood to a 58-33 win over Pulaski Academy, who lost at home for the first time since 2013. Archer completed 18 of 28 passes for 274 yards and 5 scores. He also ran 13 times for 76 yards and 3 touchdowns.

For his effort, Archer is the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Player of the Week.

The stakes were high for last week’s showdown at Joe B. Hatcher Field in Little Rock between Pulaski Academy, the defending state champions in Class 6A, and Greenwood, the state runner-up. Pulaski Academy rallied from a 23-7 deficit in the first half and closed to within 30-27 less than 2 minutes into the third quarter.

But Greenwood maintained its composure and pulled away again when Archer threw touchdown passes to Isaiah Arrington, Grant Karnes and LJ Robins for a 51-27 lead.

“[Archer] has been on an unreal pace these last three weeks, especially for a sophomore,” Greenwood Coach Chris Young said. “He’s doing an unbelievable job of taking what the defense gives him and then being special when things break down. He’s keeping us balanced with his ability to run and pass.”

The win kept Greenwood unbeaten heading into Friday’s conference final against Little Rock Christian, another contender for the Class 6A state championship in December.

Much has been expected of Archer, who is the latest in a long list of standout quarterbacks at Greenwood that include Tyler Wilson, Connor Noland and Peyton Holt. Archer has lived up to the hype but he and his teammates still have plenty of work to do starting with this week’s game against Little Rock Christian, which improved to 8-1 after whipping Greenbrier 55-7 last week.

“We know we’ve got a challenge with Little Rock Christian,” Young said. “They’re as good as there is in the state. Just like PA, they’re going to be ready to play.”

(Special to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Stephen B. Thornton) Greenwood quarterback Kane Archer (8) is wrapped up by Pulaski Academy defender Miles Ward (29) during their game Friday in Little Rock. Archer accounted for eight touchdowns in Greenwood’s 58-33 win.