Greenwood wins 58-33 against Pulaski Academy
Like the lottery here are some numbers to remember, 3-86-13-8, those numbers again are 3-86-13-8. It took three hours to have Pulaski Academy’s 86 game winning streak, that started in 2013, to be snapped after an eight touchdown performance from Sophomore Kane Archer. The Bulldogs overcame the unique Pulaski Academy strategy of no punts and onside kicks to beat the Bruins 58-33.
The Bruins received the opening kickoff, and could not get going after several incompletions. Two plays is all it took for Greenwood to get on the board with a Kane Archer 14 yard run. A fumbled snap on the point after attempt kept the score at 6-0. Pulaski would get down the field on a long pass of their own for a touchdown with the point after was good making it 7-6 Bruins. Greenwood recovered the onside. Kane Archer found Junior Isaiah Arrington for the touchdown, the Bodey Steinfeldt kick was good 13-7 Bulldogs. The Bruins next drive would be halted just short of midfield and they would punt the ball away. A catch by Arrington, brought the Bulldogs inside the Bruins 20. Next play Archer would run it in the end zone for the touchdown. Point after attempt was good making it 20-7 in the 1st quarter. Constant pressure from Seniors Brendan Chick and Brady Pettigrew, and Junior Cash Archer kept the Pulaski Academy QB Brandon Cobb moving all night. On the Bruins drive they would punt again from their own 23. Cash Archer blocked the punt with Senior Landon Nelms recovered. Penalties stalled the Greenwood possession forcing the Bulldogs to settle for a Bodey Steinfeldt Field Goal making it 23-7 in the 1st quarter. Pulaski would run out the clock in the first quarter.
A long pass had the Bruins setup within striking distance, a few plays later they punched it in. Point after attempt was good making it 23-14. Kane Archer would find a wide open Senior L.J. Robins for the touchdown, point after attempt was good 30-14 Bulldogs. Penalties stopped the Bruin drive at midfield turning the ball over on 4th down. Greenwood traded a punt right back to the Bruins on their next possesion. Pulaski marched down the field and got a touchdown, on the point after Brady Pettigrew broke through and blocked the kick. 30-20 Greenwood. Greenwood ran out the clock on the half and score remained 30-20 at halftime.
Pulaski recovered the onside to open the 3rd quarter then drove down and got a touchdown. The point after made the score 30-27 with just a little time off the 2nd half clock. Answering back, Kane Archer rolling to his right, throws the ball on the run to Isaiah Arrington in the end zone for the Touchdown. Point after was good 37-27 Bulldogs. Pressure again on the Bruins forced them to punt from their own 11 yard line. Starting from the 46-yard line, Senior Brayedan Davis got the Bulldogs down to the 26-yard line. On the next play, Archer finds Junior Grant Karnes on the right side for a leaping touchdown. Point after was good 44-27 Bulldogs. A fumbled kickoff by the Bruins turned the ball back over to Greenwood with Junior Zach Edwards on the recovery. An almost copy of the previous Touchdown, had Archer throwing to L.J. Robins for the score. Point after was good making the score 51-27 in the 3rd quarter. Pulaski would get intercepted by Senior Josh Allen on their possession. Greenwood punted on their next drive with the Landon Nelms kick pinning the Bruins on their own 5-yard line. The Bruins were intercepted again on their next drive with Senior Caden Nelms with the catch. On Greenwood’s next drive Brayedan Davis got the Bulldogs down to the 5-yard line. Kane Archer took it into the end zone for the score, the point after was good making the score 58-27 with 1:36 left in the third quarter. Pulaski would drive down the field as time expired in the 3rd quarter.
Pulaski could not convert on 4th down giving the Bulldogs back the ball. Greenwood playing a bit more conservative to run the clock down, could not convert on 3rd down and punted the ball down to the Pulaski 10-yard line. On the Bruin possession, Cash Archer would pick up his 14th sack on the season. With Zach Edwards applying pressure, Bruin QB Brandon Cobb throws his 3rd interception of the night with Braden Skaggs on the catch. Greenwood turned over on downs. The Bruins drove down the field on their next drive and scored the point after was no good making it 58-33. Greenwood ran out the clock in the 4th Quarter to end the game.
“Playing here is tough. There is a reason they have won 86 in a row. They do a great job, you got to tip your hat to what they have been able to do here and accomplish here.” Head Coach Chris Young said after the game. “Our kids battled, we hadn’t played a full game all year. We got a challenge coming up this week.”
With the win this sets up a collision course for the two top teams in the 6A. Little Rock Christian handled Greenbrier just up the road from Pulaski Academy 55-7. With the Conference Championship on the line and the all important number 1 seed in the playoffs which includes a first round bye. In the last meeting, the Warriors of Little Rock Christian jumped out to a 21-0 lead that the Bulldogs tried to recover from in Little Rock. Just as the Pulaski Academy game was a redemption after the State Championship loss, the upcoming matchup holds the same weight as the Warriors beat Greenwood 49-35 to end the regular season.
Kickoff is slated for 7pm at Smith-Robinson Stadium in Greenwood.
