Welcome to the 6A State championship Game, Alaska Academy and Greenwood getting ready to kick it off here in the capital city.

Hello everybody.

I'm Wes Moore, joined by RJ Hawken.

Little Rock is very proud.

Will be hosting the state championship games again.

And tonight we've got a good one, too of the story programs.

Two of the top programs in the state of Arkansas meeting for the 6A title.

Pulaski Academy moving up from 5:00 AM to 6A, and tonight they get Greenwood and RJ.

When the news first came out months and months ago that Pulaski Academy was moving up to 6:00 AM, many people thought, oh, we finally get that PA Greenwood game and we get it.

A rematch in the state championship game.

You go back to week nine of the regular season.

And I think that it pretty much if you keep up with high school football in the state of Arkansas, you looked that regular season match up between Greenwood and Pulaski Academy and which Pulaski Academy went to Greenwood and everybody said you know what, this is going to be a just knockout drag out fight.

You're going to see 70 to 71.

You know the type type football game, it was quite the opposite.

You saw defense in the game, but you also saw two quarterbacks, starting quarterbacks that didn't get to finish those games.

And so it kind of left people with a little bit of hunger.

They were like what if if Kel Busby played in this game 100 Houston.

Playing this game, what would it have looked like?

Granted, they played a lot of the game, but what would it have looked like?

If you get to the fourth quarter?

And so now tonight at War Memorial Stadium, you're gonna see that.

You're going to see both quarterbacks.

You've got two teams that are extremely healthy and playing some of the best football they have all year.

Yeah, I'm expecting an offensive explosion tonight.

I think this could be a long football game.

I know we complain sometime about the length of football games.

I think we could be in store for a long 3 hour game, maybe 3 hour plus.

I got to think there are going to be a lot of points.

Board tonight, let's take a look at how these two teams got here.

They both got a first round bye said the only played two games in the playoffs for Greenwood.

They knocked off Russellville 42 to 7 in the first round.

Then they beat Benton last week 3124 and that was a fourth quarter comeback for Greenwood.

Some key plays in that game.

Hunter Houston making a fourth down play to pick up first down.

They were tested by the bitten Panthers in the semifinals.

Now for Pulaski.

Academy.

They knocked off Mountain Home 52 to 33 in the first round of their first playoff game.

Interesting note.

Kale Busby was knocked out of that game.

Brandon Cobb came in and played really, really well for Kyle Busby.

Brandon's kind of gotten his feet wet and has become a much better quarterback.

And then last week, right here at War Memorial Stadium, Pulaski Academy knocked off Catholic 5442.

Did you hear those scores from PA 52 in the first game?

50.

That's 51 points per game.

They averaged 49 a game during the regular season.

But they are upping it up just a little bit in the postseason.

And you know I watched both the semifinal games with Greenwood and Benton and Pulaski Academy in Little Rock Catholic and they, they easily could have been state championship games.

The Greenwood Benton game came down to the last 10 seconds of the game.

Greenwood went on a drive and and really the, the wide receiving core for this Greenwood team is something special and that's what won it for him in that Benton game on the other side with Pulaski Academy in Little Rock Catholic, that was just a back and forth.

Barrett Pulaski Academy got out big in that ball game and Catholic came roaring back like they have all season long.

And so I really do expect in this game, Wes, that you're gonna you talked about the offensive explosion, but both of these teams have been battle tested a little bit in the postseason now.

And so coming here after knowing what they saw in week nine, I think it's going to be a dandy of a ball game.

Two experienced teams, they're used to playing here for championships.

They're not going to be intimidated by the moment.

We'll take a break.

When we come back, we'll get you set for kickoff.

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There's something for everyone with passport on the PBS video app back at War Memorial Stadium for the six eight times game Pulaski Academy in Greenwood.

The captains are at midfield.

The coin toss is about to happen.

Let's take a look at some of the players to watch in this game.

Key players and we'll start with Pulaski Academy.

RJ got to keep an eye on the quarterback.

Yeah, and you know kill Busby for Pulaski Academy?

He's thrown for over 3700 yards, 41 touchdowns this year.

With 12 interceptions.

But the best part about Kel Busby, he's a 65% passer on the season.

Not only can he do it with his arm, but he can also do it with his leg.

If he gets in trouble, he can run a little bit and that really this offense runs through him.

They're most proficient when he's in the ball game.

And I looked to see a big game out of him tonight on the Pulaski Academy side.

West.

On the other side, Greenwood.

They've got another good one with Hunter Houston.

Yes, this quarterback makes this offense go.

They've thrown for over 4000 yards this season.

They ran the ball for 1500, so you can tell there are passing.

Team Hunter Houston has thrown for 3300 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

He's also ran the ball for 178 yards and nine touchdowns on 4 on the season.

That's 39 touchdowns, 100 Houston is responsible for.

Let's meet the third member of our crew, Dorian.

Kraft is down on the sideline.

Dorian.

That things was.

Head coach Anthony Lucas told Pulaski Academy after their week nine loss at Greenwood that the Bruins would see the Bulldogs again in December.

Lucas said in the first matchup he thought offensively.

At times they tried to stretch the field at inopportune moments.

The game plan tonight is to take what Greenwood's defense is giving them.

He told me prior to kick off that the Bruins have something to prove.

Meanwhile, for Greenwood, head coach Chris Young said the goal is just to play Bulldogs football.

Young said the challenge of playing against Pulaski Academy.

Is that they can cause you to second guess yourself and you find yourself chasing points early.

Young reminded his team that this is a long game to stay composed and to go out and to play Bulldog football for the next 48 minutes.

Thank you, Dorian.

That is one of the things about Pulaski Academy football.

They're long games.

Yeah, I mean, because there's a lot of scoring and there are a lot of emotions.

There are a lot of big plays.

There's the onside kicks.

There are two point conversions.

There are fourth downs.

I mean, a fourth down can be a big play in just a normal game game, but PA does that every single drive.

Going forward on 4th down, so the emotions, the roller coaster, it can be a very long game as you see the Bruins come out onto the field.

Pulaski Academy that last match up.

I looked this up because we were talking about the 23 points they were held to against Greenwood.

You had to go back to 2018 to find when PA scored fewer than 23 points in the game and that was 22 against A-Team from Texas.

And I tell you what that Bruins offense, I think they're going to come out with something to prove tonight.

Some keys.

To the game.

4 Pulaski Academy, coach Lucas told us.

They're going to have to take advantage of what Greenwood gives them.

I know he just told Dorian craft that.

You know what, maybe we went in and tried to go deep a couple of times.

Well, Greenwood's giving it.

They're going to do that, but they can't make any turnovers.

They got to win the turnover battle.

Now you're exactly right and you gotta play almost mistake free football in the Greenwood side.

You gotta recover the onside kick.

Every team that plays Pulaski Academy has to struggle with during practice, you don't normally go and, you know, work on recovering the onside kick.

That's one thing that they're going to do to be successful today also.

Stop that.

Two point conversion.

Pulaski Academy almost all the time goes for that two point conversion to extend the lead and if they can stop that tonight they will be a successful team.

Greenwood recovered every onside kick against Pulaski Academy in their first match up and they also did a good job on the two point conversions.

Our weather here in Little Rock, it's 46 degrees, it feels even colder.

It's 43 out there with a little wind chill, just a small window, 5 mph, good football weather, it's not going to affect these teams.

They're going to be getting up and down the field.

For that, 46 won't be bad at all.

Maybe a little chilly in the stands, but I tell you what, with all the action, there's gonna be a lot of cheering and that'll keep everybody warm.

There's a kickoff for Greenwood Pulaski Academy returner picks it up at the 10.

He gets out to about the 25 yard line, knocked out of bounds by Brandon Scott.

Brandon Skaggs for Greenwood.

Kyle Busby will go to work with Kenny Jordan in the backfield and what a great job.

We haven't mentioned Kenny Jordan but Kenny Jordan taking over for Joe *****.

He has been outstanding this year.

2300 total yards, 15 / 1500 rushing 800 receiving 29 touchdowns.

Kenny Jordan has been outstanding.

It is lined up to the left of Busby, brings a receiver in motion.

That's John Mark charette.

Gonna give it to Jordan.

Over the right side, spinning Jordan almost a first down.

Give him 9 yards on the 1st play for the Bruins.

Yeah, that was a great run that time.

And you know that's one thing you always think about the passing attack with Pulaski Academy, but the fact that they can stretch it out with the running game and really be a 2 headed monster in that aspect.

You just saw it right there.

Reeled off 8 yards.

Jordan's going to go in motion.

Busby in the backfield all alone.

Low snap, he gets it quick pass out to McKinney.

Mckinney's got the first down, he's got a little bit more.

You see the Bulldogs.

Trying to rip that ball out, but McKinney picks up the first down before Evan Williams brings him down to the ground.

Now, working quickly, that's what Blaski Academy's gonna do West and and you know the tempo for this offense, that's what makes them successful is just keeping tempo throughout the ball game.

Busby all alone in the backfield.

Looking to his right balls tip it's up in the air.

It's picked off.

Greenwood has the first big play of the game.

That's Josh Allen with the interception.

The ball was tipped by a defensive lineman and Allen picks it off well.

You know we talked about don't turn over the football and you know that one was just a tip football at the line of scrimmage and you can't blame kill kill Busby for that but.

Nice job by the defense.

Keeping your head on the swivel.

Knowing where the football is and Alan comes in and gets the first turnover the ball game.

What times they teach that tackle though to go low, make that defensive end, get to the ground so he can't get his hands up.

Of course that end got his hands up, they're going to go to the air.

Houston throwing deep.

He's got a receiver, overthrows his receiver just by a hair.

Greenwood going for the jugular early.

Grant Carnes was the intended receiver well, and you know he had a step on the corner that time and.

If the ball is placed where it is at, that's a touchdown all the way just because of the Nice move.

He gave a little shoulder shrug at the line of scrimmage to to get that space.

2nd and 10 balls at the Bruins, 35 following the turnover.

Houston looking to pass.

Houston looking has time now.

Scrambles picks up about four yards before he starts his slide.

Bruins secondary did a really good job.

I was looking back in the backfield, just not a whole lot there for Houston.

So he took off and decided to run with it.

How about the offensive line for Greenwood?

Doing a great job.

Gave him time in the pocket just to sit there and examine the field.

This is a big offensive line for Greenwood.

Third five fake.

The handoff rolling right has this receiver.

It's caught at the 25 down to the 20 to the 15th.

That's a first down for Greenwood.

Aiden Kennan on the reception.

Yeah, Kennon is gonna be a guy, you're gonna call his name quite a bit out of the backfield or or just ruining those intermediate routes.

He when they need four or five, six yards, he's going to be a guy that they go to a lot.

Bulldogs with the ball at the 14.

1st and 10.

Bruins bringing a little pressure, they pick it up.

Receiver open.

That's LJ Robbins Robbins inside the five to the four.

That's gonna be close to a first down Preston span on the tackle for the Bruins.

Bulldogs get to the line of scrimmage in a hurry.

They're gonna stop play.

They're gonna look at this and see if it's a first down.

They're looking all the way across the field.

You you know, you're looking through players and everything like that.

And as they put the ball on the sideline and either way, they gave green with the first down.

Rob it's just stopped short.

Houston finds him.

Easy throw, easy catch.

They had the first down, 1st and goal from the four.

Handoff up the middle, fighting across.

Is he in waiting for the signal?

There it is.

Touchdown Bulldogs Jake Glover.

Gets in for the Bulldogs.

Yeah, you know, and Glover is a guy you know.

He's run for 11.

That's his 12th touchdown on the season.

He ran for over 790 yards this year and he's a guy that he's not going to just.

He's not just gonna just wear you out with the with the running game but and he he's just gonna be you know, Mr Efficient.

They switch running backs on us.

They put in Brayden Davis for that short yardage situation and Davis gets the touchdown.

Greenwood kicks the extra point.

It is 7 to nothing following the turnover by the Bruins, so the Bulldogs strike first.

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Greenwood strikes First, Bulldogs get a turnover and they cash it in for seven points.

They leave Pulaski Academy 7 to nothing.

Just starting this game.

Bruins one drive, turnover, Bulldogs one drive, touchdown.

Now the Bruins getting ready to return this kick, and I got to say, PA's been successful on some kickoff returns this year.

They've got some speed.

Mckinney's done a good job.

Jordan's done a really good job.

They've had some kickoff returns.

For a touchdown.

So this is, I know, something Greenwood's been focusing on this week.

Good high kick that sends a returner down to about the 9 yard line.

That's McKinney with it.

And great coverage from the Bulldogs.

Grant Carnes, the receiver is there to push McKinney out of bounds.

That's receiver on receiver.

Yeah, I am.

You know what they're going to do is they're going to try to kick that thing as close to the sideline as they can so that you're going to have essentially like that extra defender that you're going to use to, to push him to the sidelines and not allow for him to to get upfield and make a big play on you.

Alright, Busby back out there.

2 receivers to the right, two to the left.

Got Kenny Jordan in the backfield.

Looks like green was just daring him to run the ball.

That middle seems wide open.

Busby quick out pass, he connects, good completion.

That's good for a first down.

McKinney picks it up, takes it across the 30 yard line down to the 32.

Landon Nelms makes the tackle.

And you're right, Wes.

So you look at the down lineman for Greenwood, they've got one down lineman that they've got two guys standing up that were bunched into the formation.

Really they're, they're, they're selling out to the past right now.

Look at the wide splits from the linebackers.

Areas wide open right there in the middle.

That's where Jordan was running afterwards to maybe try to pick up a a easy catch.

But it's McKinney is instead on the outside.

Isaiah Arrington makes the tackle.

Short gain for Pulaski Academy.

Yeah.

And you know if you're Greenwood, what you're getting out of this Pulaski Academy offense, they're going to throw it, they're going to throw it a lot.

And you know by that what you're seeing, you're seeing just a bunch of guys that are going to be able to go in and find a zone and and defend the pass.

Jordan's going to run it this time.

Board gets to the outside, he's got room to run across.

The 40 makes a great cut to the 50 to midfield for Kenny Jordan.

He picks up 13 on the play.

Tackle is made by Brady Mackie and that's one thing that you're gonna see when you sell out to the pass like that.

It's gonna allow for big chunk yards in the running game, and you know that's the second time so far that we've seen a big running play out of Pulaski Academy.

Bruins 1st and 10th from midfield.

Jordan again, Jordan attacks the middle, keeps his feet moving, picks up five.

Good job from the Bruins line.

The Bruins on that previous play, I love that.

I guess it would be the left tackle, the blind side tackle.

The job that he did, Christian rose on sealing it off.

Bosnian shotgun formation going to give it to Jordan again.

Jordan up the middle.

It's time he is tackled and brought down.

After a 2 yard gain.

A helmet flies off one of the Bruins.

It was Jordan who lost his helmet.

And kill Busby was asking for a penalty flag.

He thought somebody grabbed his face mask and pulled it off.

And you know, interesting formation.

So they stacked the receivers up on the top side and Greenwood, rather than matching receivers, they put four guys in a diamond formation on the top side to defend the pass.

Tanner Mccusker with the tackle for Greenwood.

Busby all alone in the backfield.

Third down, quick out pass to McKinney.

McKinney needs to make a man miss.

He does McKinney down the sideline out of.

Bounce at the 34 yard line, he picks up the first down.

Move the sticks.

Bruins on the move.

Boy, that is just not a fair matchup.

You've got Isaiah Arrington for Greenwood going up against McKinney in the open field, and McKinney won that battle as you see right here.

He just put a move on him and gave him a stiff arm and he was able to get the extra yardage.

And he had to to get the first down.

But good job from McKinney making the play handoff.

Now we got a new running back in there as Charlie Controls and Charlie in for Kenny Jordan and controls picks up 12.

They'll move the chains again.

You know, controls.

He got 47 carries this year for Pulaski Academy.

Ran for a little over 350 yards.

Doesn't get used a whole lot, but he's kind of changed back or change of pace back.

Gets a little breather for Katie Jordan.

That's John Mark Charette going in motion.

Busby's gonna give it to controls again.

Controls right up the middle and he's got eight on 1st down that middle.

They're attacking that middle.

If you'll take a look, when they line back up, those Greenwood linebackers are split out wide.

They only have 3 defenders.

And those linebackers are trying to help in coverage and they're just daring PA to run the ball in the middle.

And you know what the PA says, OK, we see what you're doing.

We'll run it up the middle.

We don't have a problem with just taking a small gains.

Check that Adam Thrash, the offensive coordinator.

Carter's gonna do it again.

Right up the middle.

Another first down inside.

The tin breaks the tackle controls down to the three.

Got a little help from his offensive lineman, but Cadros coming in providing a little spark for PA well, I think it's also a scheme thing.

Greenwood sees controls in there.

They don't think they'll give it to him three times in a row.

Jordan in now.

Jordan wants the touchdown.

Jordan up the middle.

Jordan got the touchdown.

PA response, it is 6 to 7.

That's a great run by Kenny Jordan.

As you know, he was able to hit the hole and then.

He went off the right side and just gave that second effort to get into the end zone and now makes it a one point game.

And of course Pulaski Academy as we talked about they go for two most every time.

Love what Adam Thrash, the offense coordinator, PA did on that.

John he just said look you're going to give it to us, we're going to take it.

That's what they did.

They just ran it, ran it, ran it.

They're gonna try to run it on the two point conversion.

But Greenwood made a little bit of adjustment that time.

They had more of a goal line defense and lined up across the line, stopped the two point conversion and Kenny Jordan thrown for a loss.

No.

Good.

So it's 7 to 6.

Greenwood with the lead.

Well they took Busby out of the backfield and left Kenny Jordan all alone.

And so they essentially go out of the Wildcat and allow Kenny Jordan to take it.

And Greenwood was not they were not fooled by any of it and they essentially sent the house after Kenny Jordan.

Caleb Garner was in the backfield as soon as Kenny Jordan caught the yeah yeah I know.

You're exactly right and so yeah it's one point game.

But you know and and we're I would imagine we're going to see many more points from both these teams as this game goes on.

We've got.

647 left here in the first quarter and it feels like you've almost played 1/2 a game so far.

It's a, it's a ratio for the two point conversion.

You wanna stop more than half.

Yeah, you know, if they get half, it's just like kicking an extra point every time, but if they get more than half, then they're gonna add up those points a little bit.

EPA lining up for the onside kick?

The Bruins have John Mark Charrette kicking the onside kicks.

Looks like he's aiming over there to that right side towards the PA bench.

Greenwood loaded up over there with six players to try to recover this ball.

Well, you know, Pulaski Academy's got about five different types of onside kicks that they can run.

It's one of them.

They fake it, they're coming back this way.

Ball is on the ground, it's loose and Greenwood gets it.

That was close.

He he got it right at the 50 yard line.

Number 11 for Greenwood jumps on top of it.

That's LJ Robbins, the receiver.

And you know when when Kevin Kelly was in charge of Pulaski Academy, I mean I I think that he he probably had 10 or 12 different types of onside kicks.

And Anthony Lucas has kept that playbook and institutes it for each each game.

Houston runs with it and Houston doesn't go anywhere because Preston Span is there.

Span the leading tackler for Pulaski Academy, 77 tackles on the season he had 17 1/2 tackles for a loss.

He didn't quite get a tackle for a loss there, but he did a good job.

Stuffing that play before Houston could go anywhere.

2nd and eight.

Receiver in motion?

That's LJ Robbins.

Houston fakes the handoff.

He's looking over the middle and just overthrows his intended receiver.

That was 18 Kennon he was looking for.

He kind of ran off of the umpire there in the middle.

It's almost like using him as a screen.

Yeah, jumps up, just couldn't quite pull it in.

You know the pick move is illegal in in football unless you use the the umpire.

3rd and eight.

It's Robinson motion again.

Houston under pressure, scrambles left.

He has room to run.

Flag is down.

This will probably come back, probably a holding call.

Houston slides down just short of the 40 and that would be short of the first down.

But I think PA is going to want to take this holding call, push Greenwood back instead of 4th of 1, they're going to create a 1/3 and about 18.

Yeah, I think they got the holding call on Ashton Stein, the offensive lineman, and he had a good chunk of shoulder pad from one of the defensive lineman.

On the earth ends 10 yard penalty from the spot of the foul.

We will replay third down.

Yeah right.

I mean and he just yanked him around by his shoulder pad and that's gonna back up Greenwood and.

Look, right here I mean.

Look down the right hand side of your screen.

There's actually they're gonna call that on 66.

Excuse me.

And yeah, he just took the Pulaski Academy.

Peyton Adams, the defensive lineman, he just took him to the ground.

Big #33, got tackled.

So third and 18th.

Houston to his right, back across the middle.

He's got a wide open receiver, finds it, tackles made short of the 40 tackles made by Jet Smith.

So it's going to be 4th and about 2.

Well once again middle of the field wide open and it allowed for 100 Houston just to see it and easily get it to the wide receiver to get a nice chunk.

Chunk, chunk of yards, 4th down.

Play Houston under pressure but he gets it off and gets it completed to his receiver.

That's a first down for Greenwood Hunt Harrison, the linebacker coming in to make the the stop and quickly boy you you see the chunk of yards green was able to get back in a very short amount of time.

Quick handoff to Glover.

Glover.

Picks up a couple of yards there.

He's across the 30 to the 27 yard line.

Bring up second down and six, five minutes to go in the first quarter.

Houston quickly throws it out to the side Hazard receiver, but it's knocked away.

Good play by the Pulaski Academy defensive back Walt Smiley.

Walt has eight passes broken up on the season and three interceptions.

That time he got there close quickly hit the receiver as he was trying to bring it in and force the incomplete pass.

Well, you know he was playing about 5 yards off the plane and his closing speed that time to come in and knock the ball away was what was impressive.

And as you talked about, he he's been known this year for breaking up passes.

And right there just did a great job on the receiver's third and six Houston talking.

To his line.

Now he's in the shotgun formation.

Couple receivers to his left.

He sends Glover in motion.

Looking towards Glover, fakes it coming back to the left trying to set up a screen.

They got two lineman there.

Big play for the Bulldogs, knocked down at the five to the one first and goal for Greenwood.

That's grant Carnes.

KJ Colin brings him down, but not until he picks up a first down and gets it first in goal.

Well, and you thought that tunnel screen was getting it torn up, but Greenwood right back at it.

Yep, they try a quick dive on 1st down.

Nothing there.

Bruins, defensive line stuff that.

He couldn't even take off and try to jump over the pile they were in.

The backfield actually lost the yard there, that second goal from the two.

Houston hands it off over the right side into the end zone as Jake Glover.

Glover scores the second running touchdown for the Bulldogs.

That's 13 to 6 and and.

You know, they're making it look easy right now, passing on this Pulaski Academy defense.

And you know, you gotta give it up to hunters Houston.

He's been hanging out in the pocket and you know, the pressures been coming from Pulaski Academy, but he's stepped up and made an accurate throw every time.

Now for the extra point.

Bulldogs trying to get to 14.

Good snap, good hold.

It's good.

14-9 Greenwood.

4 minutes, 29 seconds to go in the first quarter.

Let's go down the sideline and check in with Dorian Kraft.

There was very excited Greenwood sideline down here, energy is super high.

We talked about how Greenwood felt they had a really good opportunity to come in, sweep the series this year against Pulaski Academy and it has been nothing but energy down here over on the bulldog sideline.

Thank you, Dorian.

And you know what I I would coming into this game, Wes, I was sitting here thinking, you know, both these teams have had success in state championship games.

What would the atmosphere be like?

And boy, the Pulaski.

Academy crowd has shown up in full force and this one, Greenwood, I mean as normal, they brought a whole bunch of folks down from Northwest Arkansas.

So we got probably one of the bigger crowds that we've had all weekend here at the stadium.

That's great atmosphere for Saturday night.

Not perfect weather.

It's it's cold out there for the fans and so for them to bundle up and come to War Memorial Stadium and shows a lot of their love for the program kickoff.

Little shorter this time McKinney gets it at the 10 McKinney to the 2025 forced out of.

Browse the mark him out of bounds right at the 30 yard line, maybe the 31.

So that's where Kyle Busby and Kenny Jordan and the crew will take over trying to get back and maybe tie this thing up with the two point conversion.

OK you know after Greenwood scored you thought you just kind of had that feel that Greenwood had a a big lead.

But you just look at the scoreboard, it's you.

You get a touchdown in two point conversion.

This thing's tied up right now.

They only stop by defense was the tip ball for an interception each time.

The offense has had the ball.

They've scored.

Busby with Jordan in the backfield.

He fakes it to him.

Trying to set up the screen, he gets it to Jordan Jordan with two blockers.

George, still going 4045, moves his feet, falls down at the 49, so that's a pick up of 18 on the play.

Good play by Pulaski Academy on 1st down.

Yeah, and that was a great job by Busby holding in there, setting up the screenplay.

They he looked like it was gonna be a middle screen and then Jordan comes out of the backfield and is able to get a big gainer out of it.

Busby with Jordan to his right.

He rolls to his right.

Busby looking deep down the field.

He's got a receiver there and he connects.

What a pass, what a grab.

Inside the 20 to the 15 yard line, the Bruins.

Will Hawkins makes the catch.

Hawkins playing with a broken hand.

RJ, I mean he's had a cast on his hand for much of the season.

He's lost the cast for this game.

He goes up, makes the grab.

The senior, gets the Bruins to the 11th and I can't tell you how hard but throw that is rolling out.

Throwing on the wrong throw.

Throwing a dart on the run.

Jordan inside the 10 to the six.

They'll mark him down.

Gain of about five on 1st down.

Look, there's a reason why Kyle Busby is thrown for over 3700 yards this year.

It's not just he's dinking and dunking and letting his receivers do the work.

I mean now the throws that he's made so far in the game, those are big time throws on the run and down the field.

They're not just lobster, he's throwing darts second down from about the six and a half 7 yard line.

They can't get to the one to get a first down handoff to Jordan.

Jordan.

Nothing there.

That time I thought he was gonna bounce it back outside RJ and come to the near sideline.

He had some room to run, but he decided to hit that middle that I'm sure they're preaching that, hey, the middle's wide open.

Greenwood's giving it to us.

Let's attack there.

Let's attack there.

That time Greenwood makes a tackle.

No gain there on 3rd down.

This is a big, big area for Greenwood.

They had a lot of success in Greenwood stopping PA inside the red zone.

And now that's what they're thinking right here.

Busby's gonna keep it.

He rushes right up the middle, Busby to the one stretches he is knocked down short, they're gonna mark him down short of the goal line.

It could be enough for a first down.

It's gonna be very close.

Depend on the mark.

I would imagine, Wes, that you're going to, you're going to see something similar to that on this down right here because once again the three down lineman for Greenwood, it's really allowing for the entire middle of the field and really a 3 to 4 yard gain every time it is first.

And goal.

Busby's keeping it right up the middle.

Buzby is met and gets across for the touchdown.

What a collision at the goal line.

Busby ran into the Greenwood Bulldog defensive lineman coming crashing in and he won that big battle with Brady Pettigrew.

Bounces off of him, gets him for the score.

Now PA will go for two to tie it up.

That is the 10th rushing touchdown of the year for Kel Busby.

Crosby has Jordan to his left.

Stack formation.

Going to give it to Jordan.

Jordan trying to plow into the end zone.

It's close.

I'm gonna say no.

He is now over two or two point conversion.

Yeah he got right down to the half yard line and you know Greenwood give it up for him.

You know they they've been playing the past, but they're really stepping up and when it matters the most they're stopping the run and for minimal gaining and you gotta like what they're doing.

Well, this is a huge part of the game and and Dorian, we were talking earlier, Greenwood has to stop these two point conversions.

Yeah.

Head coach Chris Young said that defending 2 point conversions is a crucial part of playing Pulaski Academy.

It was a key part of practice this week and he admitted that it's easy to hang your head for a few seconds after Pulaski Academy Sports.

And that's how the Bruins capitalize against a lot of their opponents.

So the emphasis for Greenwood tonight, anytime they give up a touchdown, shake it right off and get right back and play that next snap and they've done it twice already.

Well, not only do you have to bounce back, get right back up, stop the two point conversion, then you have to bounce up, get right back up and try to get the on side.

Yeah, yeah.

I mean it's it's twofold.

You're you, you know.

We talked about our keys to the game, recover the onside kick and stop the two two point conversion to be successful.

They've done both so far in this game.

With two stops on the two point conversions, one recovered onside kick.

Last time we saw PA kind of trick everybody or try to trick everybody with the onside kick.

John, Mark Charette, he's gonna kick it.

This time looking for the bounce.

He gets the bounce.

PA could not come down with it that time.

Wes for Pulaski Academy, Tyson Mccarroll, he was standing right there at the 49 yard line waiting on the big hop to get it, but it just hopped a little too high and went out of bounds.

That's what you're looking for.

You're wanting that big hop like that so one of your receivers can go up and catch it.

And Tyson Mccarroll's a tall receiver for PA.

Here's a look at the replay.

There's the big bounce right there just off the fingertips of Mccarroll.

Yeah, yeah, Blaski Academy thought they got that when Mccarroll, I think, thought he had it well with the one hand grab.

So the Bulldogs take over at the 49.

Houston out there, they lead by two.

Still have two minutes, 2 1/2 minutes to play in the first quarter.

Quick out.

It is caught but not much there because KJ colon is all over the receiver.

Looked like a little tighter coverage that time.

RJ because we've seen a little a buffer between the corner and the wide receiver but not on that point.

Well, Carnes is their best wide receiver that for Greenwood and you can see the press coverage at the line of scrimmage.

Now the guys on the right side of the formation, they're playing a little bit farther off, but you can see they're not allowing for Karns to.

To to really get much space early on.

Fake the handoff.

Houston looking to throw.

He's looking over the middle.

Nothing there.

Now he's going to scramble.

He heads towards the sideline, breaks one tackle, gets out of bounds, picks up the first down, so they will move the chains.

Romela Bell knocks him out of bounds.

They'll mark him out at the 39 yard line.

The Bruins defense trying to get their first stop of the game.

Greenwoods had it twice and scored twice.

3 receivers go in motion.

That's Robbins, one of them.

Aiden Kennon, looking their way now, comes back to the left.

He's got his running back, Jake Glover.

Glover's got plenty of room to run running the room and he's in for the touchdown.

That was just a great designed play.

Looked like they were going to the right.

They come back to the left, toss it, little screen, and basically Glover walks in well and give it up to the receivers and the offensive lineman that were out there blocking.

They sealed it up to give him a running lane and it was it was just a.

Is he picking all the way to the house?

And you know it's easy when those tunnel screens work, when you've got good blocking and once again, Greenwood on the scoreboard.

Extra point, good snap, kick is up and it's good.

So Greenwood takes a 21 to 12 lead.

It's now a 2 possession lead because of the failed extra points or failed two point conversions for PA well, well, you know how we talked about in week nine between these two teams?

Everybody thought the scoreboard was going to run out of run out of numbers, right?

We're getting that here in the state championship game and that we're still in the first quarter and so far 33 points have been scored at Greenwood's on pace to score 84.

Yeah, I mean it's, it is pretty impressive.

We've got a minute 40 left here in the quarter and it has been back and forth so far.

Bruins sent 2 receivers back to return this kickoff.

That one thing we know about the Bruins Aiken score and and they've been behind before and that's one of the reasons they play these non conference games that they play because they like to be tested and they're getting tested tonight by this Greenwood team.

Well and and for Greenwood you know the two losses that they had this year one was to Stillwater OK and the other one was a Little Rock Christian last week of the season McKinney again attacking that right side McKinney gets out to about the 30 they'll mark.

I'm out of bounds and the Bruins will take over.

It looks like it is about the 29.

You know outside of the interception by Busby earlier in the game.

I mean really neither one of these teams have been stopped so far.

I mean that and that was I go back to that buzby interception.

It was it was a tip pass that caused interception.

It's not like he just threw it to somebody.

And you know this has been a track made so far in this one.

The Bruins are two for two on 3rd down.

They haven't had to try a fourth down yet.

Greenwood is 2 for three on 3rd down and they converted their only 4th.

Umm.

Busby looking over at the sideline.

He's getting the sign in from coach thrash.

It's got Kenny Jordan to his left.

3 receivers to his right.

They're gonna attack the middle again.

He breaks the tackle.

Kenny Jordan moves the ball across the 35 to about the 36.

Give him 7 yards on 1st down.

You know, I'm sitting here thinking W with all the state championships.

You and I've called him.

I don't, you know, I remember Greenwood being on the home sidelines before, but I don't remember a game where Pulaski Academy has used that visitor sideline in that visitor locker room for a state championship game.

As many times as they've been here, I'm sure they've been on that side.

It does seem strange.

Give it to Jordan again.

Jordan had a big hole.

Jordan up the middle.

Jordan across the 50 to the 4035 fighting off the tackler.

Jordan finally brought down at the 31.

Kenny Jordan having a great first quarter for the Bruins.

He had 55 yards before that carry and give him what, 142034?

He's going to be close to 90 yards in the first quarter and and right there.

Now look at the power struggle you've got Tully gildon or excuse me, not Tully gilden.

You've got.

Landon nelms.

Buzby quickly.

They're moving the ball fast.

Busby finds his receiver.

That's McKinney.

McKinney inside the 20.

They're close to the red zone.

You can't hardly get a word in right now, less it's going so fast.

It's like a basketball game.

You know when you get one of those fast-paced basketball games to color guys?

Almost unnecessary because there's no time to do it.

I'll go get his coffee.

You need anything?

I got about 1/4 cup left.

But at the pace of this game, I may need some coffee later on.

Barsby has Jordan to his left.

He's gonna give it to Jordan again.

Jordan up the middle break soon.

He's at the 10 to the six yard line.

How patient was he on that right?

I mean, that was incredible.

He's gonna have 100 yards rushing in the first quarter.

He had 88 before that run.

He picked up a first down.

So he's right at 100.

He's got to be tired.

Either that or he's amped up and he's just ready for the second quarter.

Busby they're gonna give it to him again he's to the five.

But once again Wes I mean Greenwood is allowing for that because they're playing the pass the the defense right now is set up to defend the pass by a not they've got three down lineman that are spread way out.

The linebackers are playing off and and the corners are are waiting on that slant pattern.

By the way Kenny Jordan's over 100 yards rushing in the first quarter but PA Trails 21 to 12 because Hunter Houston Stone for 122 yards it's Greenwood.

41 Pulaski Academy, 12 you are watching the Centennial Bank State Football championships on Arkansas.

PBS sports.

Hi, I'm Susie Everett.

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I'm Susie Pulaski Academy knocking on the door.

Let's head down the sideline and check in with Dorian craft.

Running back Kenny Jordan is a quiet guy that makes a lot of noise with his play.

Head coach Anthony Lucas said the coaches caught glimpses of the player Jordan could be last year playing in spots for Joe Heyman.

Jordan is a slippery guy, can get between the tackles, keeps his feet moving like we saw there on that last run.

And Lucas saw that.

The bigger the stage, the brighter the lights, the better that Kenny Jordan plays.

And he's playing big tonight, guys.

Kenny Jordan with 104 yards rushing in the first quarter, that's Will Hawkins, gets the ball down to the one.

Got Charlie controls in the game right now, but Busby's gonna keep it.

Busby's going to score.

Busby puts his head down and PA back on the board their third touchdown of the game.

It's 2118 and Busby's now what's what's he got two on the game that's his second touchdown.

Yeah so he's got 11 rushing touchdowns on the season now.

Kenny Jordan with the three yard run, Kyle Busby with the one yard touchdown run and now another one yard touchdown run for Kale Busby.

So it's PA getting it done on the on the ground.

Although you look at the numbers and we'll talk about the numbers after this two point conversion attempt.

Must be with it.

He's rolling to his right looking to his right now back to his left pointing has the receiver.

Please overthrown.

He was looking for John Mark Charette.

John marks a big receiver, but he could not pull it in Busby incomplete.

So PA oh for three.

Well, two point conversion.

And here's the thing, that's what makes Busby good.

Look at this throw.

First off, that's a great throw.

But he looked down the defensive players.

He he looked right in his, held his position and then at the very last moment came back across the middle of the field to find his wide open receiver and just overthrew it a little bit.

That was the first pass from.

Kyle Busby, that wasn't caught.

Yeah, he was seven of eight.

Now the one year completion was the tip ball that Greenwood took back and then technically was caught and he has been on target.

You think about he has been throwing the ball very well.

Jalen McKinney, 5 catches for 44 yards for Greenwood.

Grant Carnes leads the way with two catches, 100.

Houston with seven of 10 in the first quarter for 122 yards.

PA is racking up a lot more yards because Greenwood always has a shorter field to go with after the onside kick recoveries.

PA's been usually taking over about the 30 after the kickoff returns from McKinney, so they've had 70 yards to go down the field three times.

So their yards are starting to rack up, but the scoreboard shows Greenwood up by 32118.

The only stop in the game was that interception on Sidekick is recovered easily by Greenwood.

They want to do something with it.

They got a chance to do something with it.

There is room to run down the sideline finally pushed out of bounds as Grant Carnes, the receiver catches it and he was.

Thinking much more than just recovering the onside kick, well, that went a little bit deeper than what they're used to, that being Pulaski Academy.

They like to keep that thing right there at that line of scrimmage and it went deep and so it allowed for corns to get a little running room and they set up the convoy on that outside to to make the corner.

And now Greenwood's got really good field position.

Yeah, John Mark Charette actually pushed him out of bounds.

So Greenwood at the 33 yard line pass across the middle, caught in stride, brought down by the Brewers.

That Jeff Smith on the tackle?

Yeah, Jeff brings him down, but they pick up 8 on 1st down.

That was a good throw from Hunter.

Houston hit the receiver right in stride as he was cutting across the middle second and two.

Houston's going to keep it.

The play is blown dead.

I think that we had some movement before the play, before that was really, they're gonna say false star, but boy, that was a really, really late late.

Prior to the snap.

False start on the offense, 5 yard penalty.

Replay second thing.

You know, here's the thing.

I'm gonna blame the late whistle on it being cold.

It just kind of got frozen.

And so he he couldn't find the flag.

Therefore, I'm telling you what I I maybe I just, I'm just different.

But I I respect everybody standing out there right now because I do not do the cold.

The penalty pushes Greenwood back to the 30.

It's second and seven PA jumps.

Greenwood gets the five yards back.

Yeah, and and jumping for Pulaski Academy.

That was Peyton Adams approachment.

Just the Defense, 5 yard penalty.

Still, second down, that was just a hard count.

Everybody on Greenwood's offensive line knew what was about to come, and the quarterback gave him a little heart count, shoulder shrugging, and that got Adams to jump.

So back to 2nd and two.

Houston has two backs.

With him, there goes LJ Robbins in motion.

Houston's gonna give it to Glover.

Glover gets the first down.

Glover keeps his feet moving down to the ground violently by the Pulaski Academy defender.

That's hunt Harrison.

Hunt just picked him up and threw him to the ground.

I mean, you know, we this entire weekend we've seen some big time hits and collisions throughout all the classifications and it's, you know, I enjoy seeing the defense 1st and 10th.

Robbins was in motion, he looks bottles.

I thought tip hop may be partially tipped, but hunt Harrison's there for another tackle.

They'll get the ball to inside the 15.

They'll mark it right about the 14th pick up of eight.

Greenwood back over the ball they're hurrying.

They give it to Glover.

Glover keeps his feet moving.

He picks up the first down, balls down at the 8 yard line.

Looked like he was gonna be tackled for a very small gain, but he broken cap tackle and kept his feet moving more.

Glover is a good looking back and you know what's impressive to me is that you know he's going against a four man front against Pulaski Academy and they're still able to run.

Houston, with Glover to his left, gives it to Glover this time.

Hunt.

Harrison's there.

He can't quite wrap him up, but he held him long enough for his teammates to come in and bring him down.

No game that time.

It may have lost a yard.

Yeah.

And our three, they're going to mark him all the way back to the 11th.

And that's a great job by Pulaski Academy.

They they shot the gaps and they they sold out to the run that time.

And I would imagine you're gonna see right now, Greenwood's going to come back with those slants.

Yeah, Hunt Harrison fired in there.

Wrapped him up and then Romello Bell finished him off.

2nd and 11.

Looking to pass across the middle.

Has a receiver.

Good catch at the one PA, wraps him up, pushes him back, but they're gonna mark him down about the one yard line.

That was great cars and they're quickly going to get up over the ball.

It's third and goal from about the one just outside, the one grant Carnes is playing with half a shoe on right now.

They're gonna hand it off and hunt.

Harrison does it again.

He meets the running back as he's getting the handoff.

Big play from Harrison that's going to create 4th and goal.

4th and goal from about the five.

Look at Hunt on the replay that time it's a standoff.

Glover was trying to push him away with the face Mask Hunt had to hold of the jersey wasn't letting go.

Big play coming up 4th and goal from the five.

Bruins defense looking for their first stop of the day.

Houston talking to his line.

Look at those linebackers W they're playing so far up.

Looks like the Bruins are going man on man, one-on-one coverage.

Look like the linebackers are coming.

They want to force some pressure.

They gotta.

They got a call a time out.

The play clock hit zero but the coaches were running on the field.

They're gonna give him the time out.

So no delay of game, Greenwood timeout.

But I mean this here's the thing, this is a big play but because you know you're going to keep pace if you if you score this football.

And so right now it's it's punch, counter punch.

And Greenwood's been the aggressor so far.

And if you don't get this right now you give the shot to Pulaski Academy to try to go down and try to take the lead with a touchdown.

So this 4th down is a big deal.

If you don't kick the field going, you're going for the touchdown.

For those who watch the Greenwood Pulaski Academy game earlier this season, this was the difference in the game.

The defense has got stops down in the red zone, both defenses, and that was the difference.

Again.

That's why it did not become that high scoring game.

The defense has stepped up at the most opportune times and made some very big plays.

Just like you saw there with Hunt Harrison.

That was a big time play.

Now the Bruins need one more stop or the Bulldogs.

Get back in the end zone and.

Increase their lead.

You're gonna have a tight formation for Greenwood this time.

And those linebackers are playing right at the line of scrimmage now.

They're gonna spread things out.

They send Robins out, they send Kennan out.

Rolling right looking, throws it in the corner of the end zone.

Well covered, incomplete.

The Bruins defense gets a stop.

Yeah, and I mean.

Watch it right here.

But I mean, I thought the ball partially got deflected.

Yeah, it did.

That was a great play that time by Jet Smith.

Jet got a fingertip on it and and knocked it away.

I thought he had thrown the perfect pass and it was going to be caught and you could not tell.

You know, we're way up.

That's a far corner of the end zone from us.

And I thought them, well, maybe he just dropped it.

Nope.

Jet Smith, fantastic play.

First and goal.

Our first down for the Bruins at the five.

They have 95 yards to go.

Going to hand it off something.

We've seen a lot of Kenny Jordan.

He picks up five, he was trying to bounce it outside and if he got out there there was a lot of room to run.

Bruins fans have seen Kenny Jordan with some long runs, like 95 yard runs.

This wouldn't be nothing different, but the shirt tail, they got him by the shirt tail and able to slow him down first, first down, gain of five yards.

You're going to give it to Jordan again.

Jordan over the right side, he's got a first down and more Jordan across the 20 before he slips.

Down to the 22 yard line and Wes, I just don't understand what Greenwood's doing defensively.

You know they've got these three down lineman that that are spread out.

The linebackers are cheating into the middle.

So now you're trying to defend the middle of the field and allows for Jordan to break it outside and pick up games.

Busby Quick pass out to McKinney.

Mckinney's got a block from John Mark Charette.

McKinney still on his feet.

He gets to the 29 yard line.

And I understand the greenwoods, you know, they're wanting to defend the pass because that's what Pulaski Academy does a lot.

But right now, Pulaski Academy season, they're saying, hey, look, if you're not, if you're going to give us the run, we're going to just bounce it outside with Jordan or or if you let the middle open, we're going to run it back up the middle one.

PA being very patient, they'll take the run.

Jordan goes in motion, but she's gonna run it this time.

Busby breaks through the line, slides down.

He's still hit, not much of a hit.

And so sometimes you see that quarterback slide and then he hit that flag, comes flying, but they're just going to move the chains.

They'll play on 1st down for the Bruins, 7 minutes to go in the first half.

Bruins trail by three.

Busby all alone in the backfield.

It's got 2 receivers to his left, 3 receivers.

It was left to the right.

Must be looking to pass.

He's going to go deep.

He's going to throw a deep.

Busby has his receiver there, which John Mark Charran, he catches it at the 25, gets down to the 21 yard line.

That's just the big receiver going up and making the play and that's a great job because he had to come back to the football and he was going up against Braden Skaggs that time and Skaggs was thinking he was gonna get an interception and Charette just came over the top of him and got the got the reception.

I couldn't tell you how many times we've had to highlight like that on fearless Friday of John Mark Charette.

Just going up.

Busby has all the trust in the world over him.

He knows he's a big receiver.

He knows he's going to fight for that ball.

So if it's one-on-one, I'm going to give him a chance to go and win the play handoff.

That time it's Charlie.

Cut controls in there, controls, kicks, his legs taken out from what?

A textbook tackle that time by Greenwoods defense.

Here's the catch.

The again, West of by Charette.

Look at them.

I mean all the time in the world.

Throw comes back, right?

Say he comes back to the football and just goes up and it goes over the top of Skaggs.

Brady Mackey, the tackle there's a good look at Mackey.

Mackey made the tackle and Charlie Cottrell just goes in, wraps up his legs and throws him back.

Loss of three.

So it's second and 13.

Bosby.

Scott time.

Now he's gonna run buzzby up the middle, past the 20, down to the 15 yard line.

It's a gain of about 8:00 or 9.

They're gonna say he's down at the 16th.

So they get some of that back that they lost on 1st down, but once again the middle is just wide open.

They had a spy there, they had won the linebackers there, but buzz, we made a little move on him and was able to pick up some more yards, third and five.

Busby's all alone, 4 receivers to his right.

He's gonna keep it.

He's gonna run with it.

Goes off tackle.

Busby makes one one man miss and he's close to the first down.

He's gonna be marked down at the 11.

He needed to get to the 11.

It's close.

I can't tell from this angle.

They'll have to eyeball it and see.

We've had officials going in.

He's looking and he says it's 4th down.

It's about 1/2 yard shine.

You know that time for the Greenwood defense, as you said, they've got a linebacker that's spying Busby, but because of how far they were playing off, it's allowing buzby to get 5-6 yards.

For Tommy, run 4th and about a foot bust.

Be all alone.

I bet Busby takes it.

Goes up the well, he fakes it.

Trying to draw him offside, nothing there.

So now he's looking over the coaches 7 seconds on the play clock.

Looks like Greenwood linebackers ready to come in.

Busby keeps it.

Busby's got the first down and more Busby inside the 10 to the eight.

They'll move the chains, stop the clock with 4 1/2 minutes to go in the first half.

I mean, there's just, there's nothing special about it.

You buzzby gets it and he either goes left or up the middle, right?

And the linebackers are cheating up now.

The closer to the end zone that they're getting, they've cheated up to play that that run by Busby, Kenny Jordan back in the backfield with him now.

It's a tight formation.

Give it to Jordan.

He's going over the right side.

He's got blocking and a room to run Jordan to the goal line.

Jordan is going to be marked down at the half yard line.

Yeah, I mean, that's a heck of a run.

He was dragging.

He was dragging defenders to try to get in the end zone and got right down through to the half yard line.

I love how PA had that bunch formation and they just send him out wide.

Use that speed, that power.

He's right there.

Oh, so close.

Right, PA. Well, they're gonna stop play right here.

I think we have a time out.

Could we have a?

A replay.

We have a review I was after I saw the replay right there was like he may have scored that was close the here's the challenge on that though so there's a camera right above the scoreboard that they're gonna have an angle on they've got two cameras up on the the tower.

Do you have an angle right there at the goal line to be able to see if he's in that.

That's the question because you're going to have to have you're going to have to have clear evidence that he was able to get in the end zone now I think that you know and we'd have to see it.

I don't know if we would have access to it but.

That that camera on top of the scoreboard is the one that you're gonna kind of look right, right there on top of it.

And we haven't had too many reviews so far.

Here's here's a good look right here.

Gotta have clear evidence it's a touchdown.

Boy, that's close if you look at it from that angle.

But you can't see where the ball is.

You can't see if if it's a knee down.

Yeah.

What hits the ground first?

And when it does, where is the ball?

He's down there and where's the ball?

Yeah.

Here's another look I I don't see anything clear.

And we've told, been told before and we've told everyone watching.

You have to have clear evidence.

Yeah.

Obvious video review the ruling on the field stands.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And the problem is, is you don't have to go on camera.

We need the camera right down the goal line or you're not even that.

But if you had the the advantage of a high camera from the end zone to be able to see that as well.

Those, those are the two things.

But hey, once again it's high school football.

The fact that we have replay in the 1st place, pretty awesome.

That's very nice.

So second and goal Ball isn't about the foot yard line.

Just a question is buzz we're going to run it up the middle or is it going to be Kenny Jordan, it's Jordan, he's up the middle and he scores.

It's probably the easiest.

Counties overhead goes over that left side of the Pulaski Academy Bruins line.

A good chance for me to give them a little love.

Alan Thomasson.

He is a big left tackle, very smart.

He's going to play college football, maybe Ivy League.

I'm not sure if he's made a decision yet.

Trevor Duke, the center, Corey Park in there, shant, Shannon McDaniel, that offensive line paving the way as PA.

It's now going to try an extra point, which you don't see this very often now they've kicked a little bit more at this year's extra point is up and it's good.

We've got a flag on the play, so let's see what that is.

Walt Smiley has made 19 extra points this year now.

Through its score live, it may seem like ohh, wow, that's a lot of 19 extra points.

But when you score, I don't know how many total touchdowns they have this year.

It's in our stats somewhere that penalties on Greenwood and they're going over to coach Lucas and ask him what he wants to do.

The other thing is unsportsmanlike conduct that they would address at the kickoff.

Probably don't need to get into assuming penalties that personal foul roughing the snapper against Greenwood?

Bless you academies elected to have the penalty enforced on the ensuing kickoff.

The try is good roughing the snapper.

You don't.

You don't.

Never.

I've never heard of that.

But do we have a replay?

Can we see what they did to this?

Because it had to be something to.

I mean, when he snapping you, there's something you can't do.

Well, you know, when the Snappers got his head down, you know, he's looking between his legs when he snaps that thing.

And so you're not, you're not supposed to line up over the top of the snapper and make contact with him.

So he's got his head between his legs and they come and push him backwards.

That's totally illegal.

You can't do that.

You can't even hit the sniper.

You can't.

Not.

Supposed not.

You're not supposed to be able to rush the snapper like that.

I want to be in the snapper if you can't hit.

Yeah, I mean, because, I mean, here's the deal.

You got it.

He's got his head between his legs and so he's trying to get the get the ball off.

We gotta take a break.

OK, you're watching the Centennial Bank State Football championships on Arkansas.

PBS sports.

Coming up at the half, we show you a heartwarming story about maybe the greatest fan in all of Arkansas student All-Stars from all the high school classification, and we'll have a look at a former NFL player coming back to coach in the Delta.

It's all coming up on the halftime show.

See you then.

Thanks, George.

Appreciate it.

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Take their first lead of the game.

It is 2521.

They're getting ready for the onside kick and after the 15 yard penalty, PA will kick off at the Greenwood 45.

Did you see that number on Kenny draw show you here in just a second, Greenwood recovers the onside kick and they had a chance to break it.

They have shoestring tackle or you're going to have a touchdown for Greenwood.

That was Aiden Cannon who recovered it.

He took off running.

Look at this graphic, Wes.

129 rushing yards for Kenny Jordan.

He's got two touchdowns.

Greenwood as a team, they've got 26 team rushing yards and Greenwood hasn't ran the ball very much.

In fact, Houston hunters are leading rusher 4 carries, 14 yards.

Jake Glover, 6 carries, 8 yards.

Brian Davis had that touchdown run.

One carried 4 yards, first down from the 50.

Houston hands it off.

They're going to try to run it.

Nothing there.

The Bruins defense did a good job.

No gain on the play.

They're gonna actually say he lost a yard on the play.

Bruins defense Preston Spann stepping up, making the play in the backfield.

Maybe that's why they don't run it much Greenwood.

2nd 11.

Since the receiver motion, they fake it to coming back to the left side.

We saw this play earlier and it came.

It was a huge play, but this time grant Carnes just can't get going.

The pursuit for the Bruins defense was excellent.

Yeah, that time on the tackle for Pulaski Academy, Romelo Bell came in and he sniffed out the the screen all the way and just kind of stayed in that lane to find out who was coming in there.

3rd and 7th Bulldog fans weren't happy.

They saw something they didn't like.

They're booing.

Bruins defense trying to get another stop.

Back to pass.

He's got under pressure and I think it was tipped or the pressure caused him to throw it way behind.

It had to be tipped.

Yeah, well, Peyton Adams came and he applied the pressure and he gave him a hit as he was throwing it.

I think it was partially tipped at the line of scrimmage, but a lot of it came because of Adam's pressure.

He shot through there like he was untouched.

He was on the quarterback so fast Houston had to unload it and I think it was tipped and the Bruins get another stop.

Greenwood's going to punt 4th and 7th.

On the broom 47, there's only 2 1/2 minutes left in the quarter, so they want to make the Bruins have to drive.

And it is a Shank sky high punt that went about 8 yards.

Got a good Greenwood bounce, it's still only going to go about 16 yards.

Will take over at the 3334 yard line.

Arkansas PBS has the perfect, perfect keepsake for the game.

Download all the photos from the game and my arpbs.org back slash photos.

Alright, so the Bruins have 65 yards to go.

Plenty of time for them.

Two minutes and 23 seconds.

Bunch formation.

We saw this formation earlier and they gave it to Kenny Jordan.

He ran over the right side and picked up a lot of yards.

They're gonna try it again.

That time the Greenwood defense did a great job of sealing off the outside.

Bryce Williams, the defensive lineman, kept Jordan from getting outside and so Jordan had to try to cut it back up the middle and the Bulldogs stopped it.

Loss of three on the play, so it's second and 13.

The clock is ticking under 2 minutes to go.

No need to rush yet.

Buzzby with it.

3 receivers to his left.

He's gonna give it to Kenny Jordan.

They're gonna try the right side again.

Jordan.

Out to about the 38 yard line.

So Jordan gets back to yards.

They lost, picked up six, but bring up third down.

Bruins are being patient here.

They don't give Greenwood anytime just in case they can't get this.

3rd down and look at the defense how spread the middle of the field they gotta ones.

They got a single safety standing at the 50 yard line.

Now the middle of the field is wide open but they do have two down lineman now on the defensive front.

They bring a linebacker in Busby's rolling to his left.

Now he's trying to find his receivers just out of the reach McKinney had.

I think McKinney may have dropped it.

McKinney put his hands on his head like it was his fault.

Coach Luke is looking to McKinney.

It says something funny like catch the ball.

Yeah, it hit off his hands that time.

But you know that's a great job by the Greenwood defensive coordinator knowing, you know, lining up the play and and let it all.

He let it all flow to that right side, 4th and 7th.

This is interesting because they don't get the first down.

Greenwood has great field position.

Busby rolling to his left.

Busby throws it to John Mark Charette.

He has the first down.

What about the confidence there?

4th and 7th, crucial play they still could.

That's the PA way they're going for it.

But at times you think.

You know in at the half here just just be safe.

Just punt the ball.

Yeah man.

They're like we're gonna get the first down.

We're going to move the chains.

We're going to keep this drive going and we're going to score and increase our lead before the end of the half.

Yeah.

Pulaski Academy is gonna call a timeout with a minute 8 left here in the half.

And I think what's more impressive was the receiver knew exactly where the market was to get he was right.

I mean he was 1/2 yard pass the sticks and was able to get the first down and and you talked about that trust because.

The defense was really good that the pressure on the receiver was good because immediately when he made the catch he was he was knocked down.

So it's not like it was a a bad defense or anything.

It's just you've got that receiver quarterback trust going on and and the knowledge of the receivers of where to be on the field in order to get that first down when it's 4th down and the timing of the play.

I mean PA's probably ran that play 1000 times just between Busby and John Mark Charette with seven on 7 and different times they they've done that over and over and over and that's why they do.

Have that kind of confidence to run it on 4th and 7th at a crucial moment in the game.

So Bruins have a new set of downs first and 10.

The balls on the 46.

3 receivers to the wide side of the field.

Bulldogs have moved their two linebackers up to the line of scrimmage like they're coming on a blitz.

They dropped back in coverage, but we tried to set up the screen, just nothing there.

They almost had the right play cold and there wasn't there one intentional grounding to say there wasn't receiving and Kenny Jordan right there he was at the line of scrimmage.

I I get it and I understand why you wouldn't call it.

That's why the officials are going to talk right now and they are going to deem it was that Kenny Jordan was there but he was a little bit farther away than but he was in the area.

In the area, yes, 2nd, 10.

Minute 5.

Greenwood, their defense backing up a little bit.

They don't wanna get beat deep.

John Marsh, John, Mark Charette there, lead blocker, Kenny Jordan.

Nowhere to go that time.

That's a couple of the offensive lineman and Busby talking to each other.

Well, what we what happened here, well, that's a great job by the Greenwood defense and coming in.

That was Williams of Savoy Boda.

And you know, he just came in and made the stop.

OK, 40 seconds left, third and 12.

PA is going to send 4 receivers to the right.

Maybe when when one of those is Kenny Jordan, maybe one of those.

Throw it to Jordan.

Get a little screen pH.

Gonna call it timeout.

Right here.

They wanna talk about it real quick.

Greenwald's fans are upset.

They're booing.

I think they're still mad about the intentional non call for intentional grounding.

Well I think that and I believe they they also thought on that last play when some laboda came out with the the ball I think that they thought there should be a strip fumble on that as well.

And so quick whistle they were upset with the quick.

Yeah they thought that he blew it down a little too soon and in fact the the officials are going to come over and talk to Chris Young and and and talk to him.

About why they they blew it dead and you can tell the Greenwood fans are not happy right now.

Good crowd here tonight.

A lot of fans from Greenwood made the trip to Central Arkansas.

Of course, Bruins and a lot of fans from Little Rock come to this game because it, I mean this is a game people have been wanting to see for years because these are two teams year in and year out or at the top of the standings, whether it's five or 6A.

And I think a lot of people, just high school football fans have always thought, well what do PA was playing in six, eight, would they still be that good?

Could they still win championship?

So I think there's that.

Curiosity for fans to come out and see this game, and I think that's why you have the attendance like what we're seeing.

4 receivers to the right of Busby, one receiver to the left.

It is third and 12th.

Busby's looking to his right.

Got time to throw.

He's looking deep over the middle.

Goes up from McAllen.

The safety almost picked it off and went through the safeties hands.

And then I think it went through Mccarroll's hands.

I think the safety distracted Mccarroll and he he didn't bring it in.

I'm surprised that wasn't intercepted.

I mean watch this right here.

He set up boom and just went right through his hands.

And I don't think Mccarroll was expecting that to happen.

It was thrown behind him.

But still, you know, you you have that safety if they're kind of blocking the view of the ball and it just kind of.

Came on him pretty quick.

Yeah, and it was behind Michael.

I don't know if he could have caught if that safety may have actually touched it a little bit and deflected it, slowed it down a little bit.

So it's 4th down, PA going forward, 24 seconds to go.

Busby with it, looking for the first down.

He's got his receiver right at the sticks.

It will depend on the market.

They're going to give him the first down.

They'll stop the clock to reset the chains, move those chains.

Is that Kenny Jordan on the reception?

Was that two or five?

Here's a look at the replay.

It's a good throw from Busby.

And he hits McKinney, McKinney and stride.

PA will use their last timeout, 17 seconds to go in the half.

So the Bruins have a first down right at the 43 yard line now, and he gave them a yard pass.

Pass the sticks, they're they marked it down at the 43.

And that's a Pulaski Academy is gonna call a timeout and and has there's 17 seconds remaining in this first half and well but once again Wes you see a receiver you've got four down and long and a receiver that's going to have a a crossing pattern right at the sticks.

Like you know that a lot of times you'll see receivers that may end up a yard shy the sticks and they work their way back up but they work it right at the sticks and know exactly what you know what yard marker to get to.

That was an impressive throw from BuzzFeed.

He stepped into it and delivered it right to McKinney when he was making that move or making that cut, and McKinney is able to catch it in stride.

And even though he he was tackled immediately, he's able to fall forward and get that first down.

And the officials are still talking with Chris Young.

That's why it's taking a little bit longer out of time out.

I don't think they're gonna make him happy.

Yeah, I I don't think they they're gonna he's gonna change their their opinion either.

Nope.

Alright.

Bruins have 17 seconds.

Bobby has one receiver to his left, four to his right.

He's all alone in the backfield.

Busby under pressure, heaves it up, throws it deep.

It's a jump ball and it's picked off.

Greenwood picks it off at the 15th to the 20, the 25 across the 30 finally brought down by Mccarroll.

Some ball loose.

It seems like a little scramble.

No, he still has the ball picked off by Greenwood.

They stopped the Bruins drive, Bruins failed to score, and that time Greenwood with no clock.

The time left on the clock comes up with the big play.

Yeah, that's gonna do it.

And Dorian craft is gonna catch up with Anthony Lucas.

The officials are think they're trying to say there was more time on the the clock.

But now?

Greenwood's headed to the locker room.

Brady Mackie, by the way, came up with that interception.

I've said Brady Mackey's name several times and he came from that safety spot.

He was reading buzz, but he knew Busby wanted to go deep because there's not a whole lot of time, not a lot that they can do right there.

He was reading the quarterback and stepped in there, picked off the pass and so we will go to the half.

Pulaski Academy leading it, 2521 Dorian Kraft has coached Lucas.

Great caucus is still meeting with the team but I see Dorian there at the goal line we'll see if we can't Yep and now she has coach Luke historian coach your defense came up with a couple of key stops there.

How did that 4th and five goal line stand change the momentum of the second quarter.

It was big for us it was really big for our defense hung in there and and we we thought we we had what we knew they were going to run right there.

So our defense stood up there and and held them and that was big forcing the laws to come back down.

Offers to come back down and score.

But we gotta do a better, much better job on offense, though, in the second-half, they get the ball coming back out, and we're gonna have our defense ready to go.

It's gonna be a dogfight.

Nobody said it was going to be easy, coach.

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

Dorian.

2521 Bruins leading that the half.

I tell you what, their offense was pretty good.

They they were stopped on the tip ball and then right there and then they scored every other possession.

Now maybe what they're talking about is the two point conversions.

Stick around halftime show coming up.

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Hey, everybody, David Basil, here it is.

Halftime again at War Memorial.

That means we have a little more time to share with you some of the things we've been working on here in Arkansas.

PBS's coming up, and Leon is going to catch you up on some of the really cool stuff going on here at Arkansas PBS.

Then Ashley King is going to introduce you to some student athletes who are bringing it both on the field and in the classroom.

And we'll visit with one of the coolest.

And nicest guys you could ever meet, superfan, Kane and Sandy.

But first, years ago, a young kid in the delta went from the football field in Claredon to the SEC and then to the NFL.

Now his journey brings him back to the field where it all started, this time as a coach.

Take a look.

When I came to claimed I was like there there was like a great person that walked these halls and it actually had a chance to go to college from the offering you know, Cedric Houston, you legend.

Come on.

That's actually what encouraged me to be a running back.

It was said like he had the most rushing yards, he scored the most touchdowns.

So it was like, so now that he's coaching me, I'm gonna try to beat his record.

Like a legend like Cedric Houston from Clarendon High School, a small town.

I actually jumped for joy.

Why in the world?

And said you were coming back to Clarendon, AR.

It's a small town and he was away from here.

My name is Cedric Houston.

I'm from Clarendon, AR.

Growing up here was probably the funniest man just going out and we didn't have much to do.

But we walked around town, played pick up basketball or baseball wherever we can do that, and picked up football.

Around the 7th grade.

I started playing and a lot of people telling me I was pretty good and I didn't know if I was good or not.

But we played Barden.

I think I was an eighth grader and Frank McClelland pulled me to the side after the game.

I think he's like here she going to play professional football one day.

And hell, I didn't know professional football NFL was like, what you mean festival?

He's like, you gonna play in the NFL one day?

So I kind of brushed it off.

I was like, I don't know, this old man don't know what he's talking about.

And then he reminded me again my my senior season when they played us.

He said, you remember I told you in 9th grade that she's going, he's going to be playing pro ball one day?

He said, you getting a whole lot closer, aren't you?

I was like, yes Sir.

And we both smiled and walked off.

Handoff against Cedric Houston running left Houston sophomore, junior and senior year.

I started, so I started for three years at the University of Tennessee.

I finished fifth on the Tennessee rushing list, so I was fifth all time in Tennessee.

Russian history was a, which was a huge accomplishment.

So during my senior year, I was always tired.

Like after a few plays I was like, oh man, I'm tired.

He's like, what you tired for you in tip top shape.

I was like, man, I'm tired.

And I mean, I didn't know what it was for or from.

And after that, I got invited to the NFL combine and they did blood work on me there.

And they found out I had a hyperthyroid.

So before that I had a prior draft grade to price second round.

I probably be a second rounder, early 3rd rounder.

Then after that my agent was like man said, I don't know.

Who's gonna take a chance on you?

Who's gonna draft you if you're getting drafted?

So we didn't know after to come by.

We didn't know if I was getting drafted or not, and we didn't know how serious the thyroid condition was or what I had to do for it.

It just took a chance on me and I went six round to the New York Jets.

To me, I think he just wanted to come back to his hometown where he get his experience to other players so they could try to make it too.

He knows what it what it takes to get that, so I feel like it's a good event.

Coming up playing football and having great coaches through high school and then having great coaches through college made you be a better man.

I knew I want to eventually get into coaching and influencing kids.

Chuck the whole yard.

Just being in this area and and some guys not having father figures in their lives.

You got these coaches around that's doing the right things and and may not seem big but that that's huge for guys in this delta area and just from these areas he he's basically a good running back but like.

Like a father figure to me.

He teach you right and wrong.

If you ain't doing your work, I hear pull you to the side and tell you what to do and like help you out.

When you get the notification, he's actually a good person.

He knows how to do his job and I'm saying keep keep smiles on everybody.

He's a good old person for playing.

Don't tell him I said that.

A great story, exciting things in the future there in Clarendon.

Let's turn now to the student athlete with emphasis on the student part.

Ashley, what do you have for us?

Thanks, David.

Yes, once again this year we reached out to schools across the state of Arkansas to find out about those athletes who not only excel on the field, but in the classroom too.

Here's the Arkansas PBS student All-Stars class of 2022.

We're going to start with our eight man honoree, Jackson Martin.

Jackson is a senior quarterback for the WOODLINE.

High school bears.

He has a 3.5 grade point average.

He plans to attend college and become a coach or a study to be a real estate agent out of two a lets me Luke King.

Luke is a senior quarterback and linebacker for the Hazen High School Hornets.

He maintains a 4.0 grade point average and wants to play college football and ultimately become a dentist.

Moving on to three a here's Sawyer Huskins with the Melbourne High School Bearcats.

This senior offensive and defensive linebacker is a four year starter who holds a 4.2 GPA.

He also scored an amazing 33 on the ACT exam.

He plans to become a pharmacist.

Our foray All Star this year is Jalen Dupree.

Jalen is a junior running back and linebacker for the Malvern High School Leopards.

He has a 3.5 grade point average.

Following high school, Jalen plans to play college football and major in physical therapy.

Coming around to five a we have tavion Haney of the Parkview High School Patriots.

Tavion is a senior cornerback and has a 3.5 grade point average.

He has received the outstanding.

Academic Excellence Award and has won all conference and all state honors.

He plans to continue playing football while seeking a degree in engineering or learning a trade.

The six a representative this season is Hayden Webb, the senior offensive lineman for the Greenwood High School Bulldogs, maintains a 4.0 GPA and scored a perfect 36 on the ACT exam.

He plans to attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville after graduation.

And finally we wrap up with our seven All Star Abe Owen.

Abe is the senior quarterback.

The Cabot High School Panthers.

He has a 4.0 GPA.

After high school.

He plans to go to college and medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Congratulations to all the honorees and way to go.

We might see some of those faces again in April right here in this very studio for Chrisbo make a middle note to watch quiz bowl.

This year, some of the sharpest high school students in the state meet up right here in square off not only for bragging rights, but for some pretty big checks too.

And it is live right here on Arkansas PBS.

Now Ed, Speaking of what is on Arkansas PBS, there are some more things that you want to fill us in on, right?

Yeah, I have a few things.

Ashley, we've got a lot going on here at Arkansas PBS.

You've seen a lot of football today, and we've got basketball state finals right around the corner in March.

And then there's baseball and softball in May, and this year we added volleyball back in October.

Now why?

Why is Arkansas PBS doing sports?

Well to us and to the student athletes and their families, it's a lot more than just sports.

Take a look.

Final game World Championship weekend here in Hot Springs.

It's a sold out crowd.

Here we go.

Tip off a set back with a right hand tie ball game.

When you gonna wake up?

Y'all gonna wake up when the season over that's swung on.

Lifted high to right field.

He's going back to the warning track.

It's out of here.

I can kind of look at people and tell if they doubt me.

You know, you can kind of see their entire expression kind of change right when you make it.

Wedding in Saline County and we've got 4A baseball a titles on the line.

Rester gives it off right side.

10/5 walk the dog touchdowns is so important to this state and the fabric of the state.

And I appreciate Arkansas, PBS doing all the state title games.

And I can only think of the kids in small towns and this is the biggest moment maybe in their sports careers.

And they have that keepsake of having that game on TV to have with them the rest of their lives.

The set tapped over.

And the big Panthers are the 2022 state champions.

You know we are your Arkansas PBS.

These sports broadcasts give us a lens through which we can tell stories of inspiration, stories of determination.

Your stories.

Arkansas stories.

Take a look.

Life I've been waiting for.

And Arkansas adventure like never before.

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To be sustainable farm, you have to make investments for the future.

And I hope they found a lot of good stuff.

I hope they feel love.

Hello and welcome to talking country.

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Some microphones here you do a little little sum for us.

Ohh the code of many colors.

Which one you pick?

You pick in my coat of many colors.

That's right.

But in its own right, a beautiful form of art.

We got to taste a new guy or this ain't going to be around much longer.

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There is something on Arkansas PBS for every person in our natural state.

It's our mission to ensure that, and we want to let you know how you can join our family.

Scan that QR code on your screen if you're enjoying these high school championship games, whether it's football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball or quiz bowl, and then sign up and become part of our team, that QR code will take you where you need to go and sign up and we'll get updates to you and let you know what's coming up so you don't miss a thing.

Alright, I think we've got time for one more story, Baz.

Yes, we do add a matter of fact.

This story is very close to my heart.

Kane and Sandy has risen from humble beginnings in the small Arkansas town of Cave City to be named to the ESPN Fan Hall of Fame.

Take a look.

This isn't your attention to the 50 yard line.

Call tonight.

There's no hands.

And Sandy 3.

2.

1. Who is Kane and Sandy, whom pig racing back?

Kanan he's he's just a champion.

It's 100 miles an hour wherever he is.

You know his enthusiasm is contagious.

Kaylan's personality is way bigger than Kanye.

That just kind of made him one time and you know him the rest of your life.

Arkansas is all about the Razorbacks.

There's nothing else.

If you're in Arkansas and you're sports fan, you're for the Razorbacks.

They say that back when he was three months old took him to the Razorback game.

Three weeks later, he had to have open heart surgery.

I'm not any illness or birth defect that he didn't have to conquer it one way or another.

He was born with a VSD in his heart.

He was born with an intestinal blockage and he was born deaf.

There was nothing.

They gave us no hope that we were going to get to keep him.

They all fought for him, just like he was going to be a superstar one day.

It's my room.

I got a big hammer oxi Hamet right here.

It is my favorite all time.

This is a copy of the picture that is in ESPN's Courtyard in Bristol, CT, ESPN Hall of Fame.

That, hey, we weren't surprised at all.

Soon as they come up with a fan Hall of Fame, what bigger fan is there than Kane and Sandy of the Arkansas Razorback?

Good, bad, ugly.

It didn't matter.

He's always there, always cheering.

Famer and it says honor the two most famous people in Cave City or Ricky Medlock who played for the Razorbacks.

And then even more famous is Cain and singing.

They had called us and said we want Kanan to do, we're going to do a two point conversion and kanan's going to run the ball in everything.

We're standing on the sideline.

All of a sudden news crews start running and they go, what's going on?

They said coach Bielema has decided he wants a 50 yard touchdown with Kanan, but they go running down the field and the only thing I hear is one of the Sid give cannonball to shove it in his hand.

They said don't you dare drop this ball in front of 30,000.

People.

Yes, that's good, right.

Let's do it.

I love this.

It's important.

Kanan and ambulance.

When when the golf, the dreaded gallstone thing, he called me, he said, mom, I don't feel good.

And he was in the bathroom and I said, well, let's get to the couch.

And I got him to the couch.

He quit breathing.

Each turned to completely blue.

He fell over on the couch and his eyes just fixed and I just panicked.

I think it really resonated to her that you know, how fragile his health was.

They've just been.

Everything taped together and they had fought for each other for in so many ways.

And we went through rehab and and things, so we're probably got back what we're going to get back, but it's good enough.

Peg so Kanan always followed all the commits and it was like one one week we said hey so and so is playing Friday night and football game.

Let's go and watch him play.

These guys come be a Razorback and I promise you that has made an impact.

And I mean, that's special.

I don't know anybody else that does that in the country.

He's back in full force.

He sure is.

Mr Cannon said his love.

You know Kanan loves people and we love Kanan, his most honest.

Outgoing, loving person I guess I've ever seen he impacts so many people's lives.

It's a great example of what one person can do, yeah.

They say he can bring so much joy to the people across the state of Arkansas is, I mean, it's immeasurable what that means.

Say.

Canaan is the product of other people's life.

OK, that's fair.

The people of Arkansas have retaliated with their love, and they're the ones that have made came as famous.

Canon didn't do it.

I didn't do it.

They made Canon famous because they just poured their love into him.

It's because they're so good and they've just opened their hearts to him.

It is amazing to me how much traveling that Ginger and Kanan Sandy do in state and out of state.

That's right.

They go watch recruits in high school games.

Of course, all of the Razorback games.

It's incredible.

Yeah.

What a great story, by the way.

It's like more than a sports story.

That is a human story.

Those are great people.

Yeah.

Kane has got the biggest heart and the world needs a lot more Kane and Sandies, for sure.

Well, that's it for us on the halftime show.

Thanks for watching.

Now let's send you back to War Memorial Stadium for the second-half action right here on the home of the high school football state finals.

Arkansas PBS.

The electric cooperatives of Arkansas over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops powering homes, farms and industries somewhere across Arkansas.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas power and people.

We're back at War Memorial Stadium, getting ready for the second-half of the 6A Championship game between Greenwood and Pulaski Academy.

A fun battle in the first half.

Greenwood, first possession for PA, Tips the pass, intercepts Kel Busby's pass.

They go down and score.

And then it was kind of back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

And then the Bruins got a goal line, stand a stop on 4th down.

They marched down score.

They had two scores in the in a row.

They lead at 2521.

You know he was really all Greenwood there in the the first quarter.

I mean they were dominating dominating and you thought the momentum after the the Busby interception was gonna really switch to Greenwood side.

But Plaski Academy just kept doing what they do you know they they missed two point conversion after two point conversion and and and really just stayed with what they did and and you saw the defense start picking up and they got better as the game went on and so I'll be interested to hear what Chris Jones or Chris Young.

So let's head down the sideline.

Dorian Kraft has greenwoods coach.

Is that final drive and the interception to catapult momentum into the second-half well gives them something to build off of.

You know our defense been so strong all year and Pulaski Academy so talented you got to cover the whole field.

But I think our guys will come out and play better in second-half.

I think that gave them a you know something good to to lean on at halftime and our coaches made some adjustments right there.

So I expect our defense come out play better.

Thank you Coach thank you.

The adjustment I wonder if they if they make is going to be the adjustment of those linebackers.

Because as we talked about so often, when Pulaski Academy had the ball, they had three down lineman, Green Greenwood did.

They had two linebackers and they had their linebackers out wide almost pat.

They were.

They were passed the the the widest defensive lineman and that was just inviting PA to run up the middle.

That's what they did.

Kenny Jordan had 19 carries, 131 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

Kyle Busby ran the ball 7 times for 30 yards.

So PA combined to run it for 100.

Oh well.

And then you throw in Charlie controls, they ran the ball for over 170 yards in the first half.

Well and I was talking with a high school coach up here in the press box and I I said you know for as good as this defense for Greenwood.

He is why why are they leaving the middle of the field open.

Why are they spreading their defensive lineman out?

And you know what he would he's he thinks that Chris Young and his staff were thinking that Pulaski Academy was really going to hit him hard with the passing game.

A lot of slant patterns, a lot of crossing routes.

And so they were prepared.

They weren't going to get beat by Busby.

Warm and so they prepared for that.

What they didn't prepare for is the the running game and how good can Jordan has been here in the first half.

A BuzzFeed completed 12 of 17 passes for 178 yards.

So he still got his yards.

There were two interceptions.

One was the interception that was tipped.

The other one was there at the end of the half where he was trying to to go deep.

Here's a couple of the highlights from the first half.

That's how Greenwood got on the board 1st.

And then it was Kyle Busby with the short touchdown run.

And then the Greenwood Bulldogs hit them with a little screen.

And they jump back out on top and then Kenny Jordan with those short touchdown run and PA is right there.

It was the two point conversions that fell.

Failure to make those two point conversions.

That's a big catch from John Mark Charette that moved the ball, flipped the field for Pulaski Academy.

There's a replay of the interception at the end of the half.

There were, I don't know what, about 10 seconds left on that play.

So Plastic Academy was just looking for the big play heap to dig deep and the Greenwood picked it off.

That's a look at the first half.

Numbers in PA, 355 total yards.

And here's the thing that is totally misconceiving because of the fact that you know, PA does so many onside kicks that you know, you're starting with a short field for Greenwood and so the the opportunity to get the yards is just not there.

But I mean you look at it right here the the interceptions and really I think the biggest thing for me is the rushing yards.

You've got 177 for Pulaski Academy and only 25 for Greenwood, even though you're in a short field, the lack of.

The running game that Greenwood shown so far that I think that's really kind of the difference in the ball game.

To me, it's four to three pH scored four touchdowns.

Greenwood scored three PA spelled on 3/2 point conversions and that's why they have 25 instead of 28 points or more points.

But the Bruins will kick off or they will try an onside kick.

Greenwood is back.

They have one deep.

Returner 10 players around the line of scrimmage.

They kick off from the 40 so the ball has to get to the 50 before PA can recover it.

They're showing a bunch formation right now.

The Bruins.

Waiting for the whistle.

There they go.

Now they'll spread out.

They got 5 to the right, five to the left.

They're gonna kick it deep.

Something you don't see often.

Bruins kick it deep.

Greenwood at the 20 to the 25.

The Bruins bringing down three or four.

Bruins bringing down, you know, and I wonder they go to Greenwood.

They didn't get a single onside kick.

Yeah, they didn't get a single onside kick in the first half.

They're giving Greenwood a short field.

The defensive starting to play better.

I wonder if they thought, you know what, let's kick it deep and make them drive 75 yards and see if our defense can't get a stop.

Let's put a little faith in our defense.

I'm getting it done now.

You're exactly right.

You know, they gave him a short field on every possession.

We'll compare the quarterbacks here in a moment.

But I mean they, they were doing a great job of giving them that short feel.

They said let's try.

Let's see what the they got if they can go to the length of the field.

Houston, Houston.

Handoff to Glover.

Glover picks up about four on 1st down.

Look at this comparison of the quarterback battles.

I mean you've got kill Busby with 30 yards rushing.

You got Hunter Houston with 14.

That look at the completion percentages, both with a very high completion percentage and both passing the ball very well, right.

Now these two teams are here 2 quart good quarterbacks.

That's why we highlighted these two quarterbacks to start the game.

Houston since his receiver in motion.

Houston looking to pass short pass across the left side completed for the first down.

They'll mark him down at the 37th.

They'll stop the clock and move the chains.

Both these teams that hey you think about quarterback play over the years.

I mean both teams have great backups.

You got Kane Archer who's over at Greenwood.

You know both are in great situations to if they're starter goes down they've still got a good backup at quarterback.

Brandon Cobb has played well for Pulaski Academy.

Quick pass out to LJ Robbins.

Robbins moves the ball across the 40.

Down to the 41 short gain on the play.

He'll give me 4 yards, bring up second and six first drive of the second-half.

Greenwood failed to score in their last two drives.

PA's defense feeling good.

Little pressure gets rid of it and gets it to grant cards.

Cards, breaks one tackle, gets the first down, trips up, moves the ball to midfield.

Yeah, it just great job by carns.

Carns is by far their best wide receiver and you know he's a playmaker.

He gets in space.

He's gonna find a way to get a first down, get that extra yardage to get up to up the field and and drive his team to the end zone.

Cards only a sophomore Houston looking across the middle, throws across the middle.

He's got his.

Receiver open tripped up inside the 30 yard line big game for the Bulldogs.

They moved it from the 50 to the 27.

Well, right there Jet Smith was on coverage.

He fell down in the round and that's why the receiver was so wide open to allow for the big game.

Noah Chaser on that catch.

Houston since his receiver out.

Little pressure has to get rid of it.

Gets rid of it quickly and he finds Chaser again.

Now there's a flag but it just fall out of this pot.

I think he just fell out of his pocket.

He well no there's one here on the sideline and was a late hit out of bounds.

I he's not he didn't blow his whistle so I think it fell out of his pocket.

It just fell out and so but what a great throw right there.

I mean he's under pressure and he found the one guy that had a little bit of space to catch his football and he got it to him.

Houston feeling it goes deep in the end zone, corner route is there.

It can't bring it in.

LJ Robbins had it, juggled it and could not bring it in.

I mean, that's a tough catch to make, you know, going over your shoulder to the back corner of the end zone.

But he's probably made that catch, you know, 15 times this year.

2nd and 10 what a good throw.

Almost had it.

It was a great route.

He was open.

Andrew, Kenneth going out to the left, 3 receivers to the left.

That's a great stat.

6 receivers with 15 plus receiving yards.

There's a bullet that just dropped.

That was a just a bullet to cars.

Cars was coming back for it.

That's hard sometimes when you're coming back to the ball and he throws a laser at you, so you're running to it.

Ohh it's tip two.

I think it was kind of wobbling.

Think somebody on that defense got their hand up and tipped it just a bit and then started wobbling and made it difficult for Karns to catch it.

Third and 10 Bruins defense trying to get the stop.

He's got time to throw trying to set up the screen.

The Bruins did a great job with reading that screen and they come in and make the tackle.

Yeah, coming in right there, you know, it was a defensive lineman who actually came in and made the tackle.

And that time for Greenwood on the reception that that was Jake Glover who had his sky.

54 watch this I mean, he had to go way up for it and there was just no way to to gain yards after the fact that Miles ward, the junior making the tackle for PA comes back, makes the tackle.

It's 4th and nine, just a gain of 1 on that screen.

Houston looking to his left now, looking across the middle.

Now he's under pressure and he's brought down Romelo Bell with the big play for the Bruins.

That is a huge play in Houston.

He was trying to step up in the pocket and and when he did that actually gave the defender extra extra space to get his arms on him.

And once he locked on, he wouldn't let him go for Melo Bell.

5 sacks on the year, that's his 6th.

8 tackles for a loss and Bell gets a hold of him and slings him down.

So the Bruins defense gets another stop.

I think that's three in a row now for this.

They had the goal line stopped and they got another stop.

Force the punt at the end of the half and now the 1st Dr of the second-half.

The Bruins with the ball on their own 26.

Busby to Jordan.

Jordan's gonna try the middle.

Jordan stopped, pushed forward to about the 30 and that time where she saw the linebackers cheat up a little bit.

And you can tell there was a halftime adjustment that they're going to play a little bit closer to that line of scrimmage to not allow for the big chunk yards.

That Jordan, they were real offer that he did in the first half.

But now you got to stop the run.

Yeah, the second-half you're behind.

And if you let him keep running the ball and just run the clock, it's going to be difficult.

Bring John Mark Charette in motion.

They're gonna give it to Jordan again.

He's got a couple of blockers.

He's following the blockers.

Jordan almost to the 40 yard line.

He's got the first down.

Just following his blockers, they pulled two of the lineman and you can see it here.

And look at that John Shannon McDaniel, he was following big.

Shannon McDaniel just riding his hip pocket.

You know those offensive lineman love to run block because they can get downfield a little bit.

3 receivers to the right.

Bringing the safety up, here comes Jordan attacking the middle again still fighting.

Fights forward to the 45 yard line.

That's a gain of six.

I mean if they're gonna give him that pH just gonna take 567 yards keep the clock running.

They they they don't have an issue with that right now averaging 6.9 yards per carry any.

It really hasn't broken the big 133 yards is his biggest one and I mean that's that's a lot but I'm used to seeing Kenny Jordan go for 80 on on a.

Way.

That's the kind of talent and speed he has.

They're bringing Cotroceni believe that time.

Yep, that was Charlie Cottrell's with the rod.

Short game moves it to just about the yeah, they didn't give him anything.

We're gonna have an official stop.

Somebody hurt?

Is there somebody hurt we can't see in that huddle?

Yeah, here come the PA coaches and the staff, the trainer.

We're blocked by the players.

It looks like maybe John Mark Charette.

That's who it is.

He's down to one knee right now.

And.

He's walking off under his own power.

You like to see that.

But pH already lost one receiver, I'm told tonight and Will Hawkins.

I have not seen him in the game tonight.

That was number 10, but will was hurt in the first half and I was told he would not be back in the game.

So that's a second receiver for PA.

Here's a look at the replay and.

Charrette.

His head bounced off the back of the turf as he was getting pulled down.

And I mean.

And Doran's gonna go over there, I think, and and check that one out and see what?

See what if he's gonna be OK 4 receivers to the right, one to the left, Busby all alone in the backfield.

Safety creeping up?

Yep.

Busby's just gonna keep it.

He's gonna run forward trying to get a push from the offensive line, Busby to about the 49 yard line.

That's going to be a gain of four.

That's close to the marker.

I think it'll be about about a yard shy.

Wes, look at that spot though and Jay, that's a good spot.

I think he's very close.

Yeah.

I mean, and they're looking at it from across the field.

Yeah.

They're gonna give him the first down, yeah.

That's just a simple play.

They spread out Greenwood and you got Busby all alone.

Look at him and he just catches it and as soon as he catches, takes off, put his shoulder down, then gets a push from his offensive line, he falls on the Greenwood defender, so he's not down until right there.

I think that was a good spot.

I thought it was generous until I saw he was on top of the defender so he wasn't actually down.

Looks like ringlets bringing some pressure.

At some point they're gonna have to tighten that up and not give the middle Kenny Jordan nothing there.

That time they did, they took it away.

And look at Greenwood, they they're fired up after that one and they should.

They've been given a big run after big run after big Run.

You gotta do something about it.

And Evan Williams did something about it.

And West, they haven't really shown a lot of pressure tonight.

And you see right there that it's going to take away the run.

They they put six guys in the box at that time and really just sold out to it.

I think you're gonna need to see more of that to slow down this rushing.

Jack of Pulaski Academy.

But as we back to throw, he's under pressure, scrambling, just buying time.

He's trying to set up the screen and he's got a receiver over there.

You see Mccarroll was right there.

Well, they were trying to get it to Tyson Mccarroll, trying to set up the screen and he was standing on the about the 40 yard line.

They're talking about it.

And the line judge who usually calls that because he'll usually stand at the line of scrimmage, they dropped the ball.

There it is.

Yeah.

Let's see the replay of this.

Let's see.

How close in the vicinity is it?

They gave it to PA one time and I wonder if it's almost like, alright, we gave it to him once, so I don't know if everybody's booing us.

We better, we better to call it this time.

Still grounded I guess.

Plaski Academy, the five yard penalty from the spot of the foul.

Bring up third down, West side.

You know, the first time I agreed with it by giving it to him, I think this one was intentional grounding.

So you seem dropped back.

Dropped back.

There's not anybody within 15 yards and you can't really see where it is.

But there's not anybody with this material right there within 7 yards.

Yeah, I mean, what do you want?

Well, I I get that vicinity.

It's not.

You gotta throw it to him.

You gotta throw it in his area.

That's seven yards.

And I understand.

But he was not even attempting to come back and make a a play on.

That's my thought.

Well, it's not about the receiver making the play.

Alright we all times all kinds of time to throw.

He throws it behind the receiver and it's picked off that one was going to Mccarroll.

He throws it behind the Carroll and now it's ruled incomplete.

It's incomplete.

Did not catch it.

That was Josh Allen trying to bring it down.

So to bring up 4th down and very long for the Brewers and they can really you know coaches challenge to replay it.

They are to review it.

They can do that if they think that he caught the football and they're everybody's looking up the at the big board right now.

Yeah.

Well, yeah.

I'm telling you what.

I don't know if I'm gonna be caught.

I think the ground that helped aid it at the very end.

You see the backside.

He had possession and then he got it.

Yeah, he caught that.

Now, did he jump?

That's like, dropped it there.

Yeah.

Yeah, he had it.

The NFL.

I hate this.

He did not complete the catch.

He had it at the beginning, but then lost and they hit the ground.

Here comes Greenwood coaches.

They want to challenge if they didn't get it in time and PA with the punt.

Yes, you heard me right PA with the punt and it gets a great roll down to the 35 yard line.

It was fourth and 35 you know I think it's that that's you have but you never hear that and here's a look from the front side on that interception.

So he had it right there and then as it was coming out the ball eight or the ground aided him from pulling it in.

So yeah that was a good call by the officials.

Yeah they got it right.

He almost made a great one handed catch.

I thought the beginning he had it the first look but then at the end it kind of.

Bounced off the ground and he lost possession.

Then he fell out.

So good job by the officials, they got that one right.

First down at 10 for Greenwood Ball at the 35 Bulldogs trying to take the lead.

Custom Quick pass out.

The flat has a receiver running in motion and the Bruins drag him down.

Make a good play out there Miles Ward.

Again, Ward has been showing up here in the second-half.

Several good plays.

The gain of about a foot.

2nd and 9.

Greenwood S Since 3 receivers to the left, Glover in the backfield with Houston.

Gotta flag, false start.

That'll push Greenwood back 5 yards.

5:50 to go in this third quarter to this now start on the offense.

5 yard penalty remain second down.

Be second down and 14.

Well, push that ball back to the 31.

The clock is ticking.

Here's some looking to pass coming across.

The middle throws it high.

It is caught.

It's caught by carns.

Carns gets the five yards back.

So it'll bring up third and nine.

Yeah, and.

Now so now you're in a situation you got 1/3 down and long for Greenwood and you know that it's going to be a passing down I agree was not run the ball very well.

So you know if you're Pulaski Academy you can you're gonna play man on man at this time and and try to prevent the the first day you gotta have those heels right at the 45 yard line.

Robinson motion looking towards the right looking across the middle.

Now he's looking deep he's looking for Robbins.

Robbins has to go off his hands.

Robbins had a step on on the defender.

Look like that was hunt Harrison packing coverage.

Yeah it was hunt way back there in coverage.

Great job from him.

He plays a lot closer to the line of scrimmage, but that time it deep into coverage and he is a trailing the play.

Houston puts that ball pretty much on the money and Robbins just over his outstretched hands.

Well that's too big misses for Robins, you know he had the one in the back corner of the end zone that he didn't wasn't able to get in that time.

That would been a big third down conversion, Greenwood lining up to punt.

They do punt it.

PA does not ever send anyone back.

They just content to get the ball and and play from there.

And there are occasions like this where I like, yeah, if you had somebody back even a little deep, just all you got is catch and fall on it.

Just don't let it roll for 20 yards.

We'll take a break.

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How about the defensive coordinators?

They've made some adjustments in this game.

We had a shootout in the first half, 46 points scored in the first half, and we're scoreless here in the third quarter.

He ate with the ball 1st and goal front or first down from the tent.

They pitch it out to Jordan.

Jordan gets the first down, he's out of bounds.

He was hit out of bounds.

But I love how the the the green would he didn't mean to.

I mean just kind of ran into each other and he he bumped into him, knocked him off balance and he he tried to catch him.

And there's Brady Mackie.

He's had a heck of a game and just the sportsmanship they showed there.

Just trying to keep Jordan up from falling to the ground.

You know one thing that's impressive is is those outside tackles for Pulaski Academy sealing off the edge and allowing for Jordan every time he gets after he turns on a second gear and is able to turn on the closing speed first, the 14.

Nothing.

On the outside that time and Jordan just scrambling back to the line of scrimmage, they were trying to, they didn't toss left when they were gonna toss right.

Nothing there that time.

That Bulldog defense was all over it.

So he cut it back and got tripped up and falls down right at the line of scrimmage.

So to be second and 10.

Busby all alone in the backfield, rolls to his right, throws to his right.

It's caught by McKinney that time McKinney can't break the tackle and get up the field.

He's tackled right away.

That was storm shirt cherry with the tackle.

That was a good tackle by Storm and McKinney very small gain on the play.

Picked up 4, three or four yards for these two defenses.

Really playing well here in the third quarter.

Not a points been scored here in the third quarter so far.

Third and six.

Who's trying to get a first down?

Quick look right nothing there.

Looking all kinds of time to throw.

Now he's gonna throw it deep and he has a receiver running down the field unable to complete it.

That was Andrew Pfizer.

Pfizer into the game because Will Hawkins was knocked out in the game and I was told Hawkins will will not be back.

So Andrew Pfizer in he tries to turn it up the field make a one handed catch it good.

That's the way the corner ran into him.

He could have and especially in front of that PA bench.

You can see some of the PA assistance there yelling for a pass interference.

They didn't get it I think.

But the more impressive thing was the amount of time that Busby had.

I mean he sat back there and he pumped once, pumped again and then kind of thrown off balance throw because he wasn't.

He didn't fully commit 4th and 6th.

I think he's going to punt it.

Yep he does.

He backs up and PA punts for a second time.

In this game.

That ball is going to roll inside the 40 to the 3536 yard line.

So.

PA I gotta talk to somebody from PA when's the last time the Bruins had possessions in with back-to-back punts?

I mean, First off, apparently both coaches talked to the special teams coordinators and the defensive coordinators because we have had an uptick in defense and special teams so far in this game.

How about the respect there?

That's that's mad respect.

They'll back up Busby and punt the ball.

Look at this.

31 total offensive yards in the second quarter, 55 yards so far here in the third.

PA defense stepping up.

I think that's four straight stops for the Bruins defense.

Now they're gonna try to run the ball.

Nothing there.

Hunter Houston took off with it.

I mean, we've seen kill Busby do it time after time after time.

Yeah, that time Houston tried to take a page out of the the Bruins book, but nothing doing.

Pick up one.

Jake Glover in the game now.

Fake it to Glover Houston.

Stolen right across the middle.

He's got a receiver there.

He was wide open.

LJ Robbins, great round, still in his speed across the 50.

Finally taking down at the blue and 49.

Well that makes up for the two drops that he had so far in the game.

He get a first down a little bit, a little bit of confidence on that crossing pattern.

Robin Wright ran a great route.

I mean he went down, put his foot in the ground, coming right across the middle.

He was wide open across the middle.

Going to try a little reverse, going to try to throw it PA's back.

Looking for it.

Bad pass.

Had a little pressure on the was that the they got it back to the quarterback who was talking about I believe throwing it was was a brain Skaggs that that threw at that time.

No no it's actually a hunter Houston I thought it couldn't get much on it and it almost looked like the ball wasn't.

He didn't have a good grip on the football and it just kind of fluttered out there.

The Bruins had it covered pretty good and just couldn't get to the ball to pick it off.

And when the ball was in the air I thought there was a chance for the Bruins to pick that off.

2nd and 10th, Houston.

Look deep across the middle.

He's got a receiver wide open.

Just overthrows him a little bit.

I mean, this takes it.

If you take a touch off of it, that's a touchdown all the way.

And you know, you get a little amped up.

You see a receiver streaking down the middle of the field.

He beats a double coverage and you want to get it to him, you want to score and he just put a little too much umph on it.

That was eight.

And cannon.

64 catches on the year, 2 touchdowns and man when he broke up and he had to be thinking this has got a chance to be a touchdown here.

3rd and 10th.

Bulldogs at the Bruins 49.

Bruins trying to get after him put a little pressure, throws it short of the sticks.

Tackle made right away to bring up 4th down at tackle, made quickly by Walt Smiley.

I don't think there's going to be much decision here.

I think yeah, they're going to go for it here on 4th down and there's about 3 yards.

Well, they say they moved it back to it's about four yards.

They gotta get to inside the 39.

There we go, throwing it outside.

The pass is caught right around the 40.

It's gonna depend on the mark.

Well, I think he may be short.

Well, he's walking in at the 39 yard line.

It all depends on where the spot is.

The spot down here, he is short.

The spot where he's putting.

It's going to be close.

Here take a look at he catches it.

Ohh he catches it just inside the 40 and hey he's short.

He was short on review and he's short in real life.

They already looked and said he a ball.

Yeah and I mean he needed about 1/2 yard more and he gets the first down.

Got to credit the PA defense for making the tackle as soon as he caught it.

And once again the West another defensive stop.

I mean we we have seen a ton of defense here in the third quarter.

Not we had 46 points scored in the first half.

Not one points been scored here in the 3rd.

7 touchdowns in the first half, yeah.

EPA takes over right inside the 40.

Busby looking to pass, all kinds of time to throw and it's almost picked off.

They were trying to get the ball down Jalen McKinney, but Mackie is there once again.

I mean Mackie stepped in front of the throw and and you know that that's that was on, that could have been an easy pick six because he's rolling on the right side and there was just nothing but open field.

2nd intent.

All around the 40.

Busby.

Got a little pressure in his face.

He lets it fly, throws deep to his receiver.

Mccarroll.

Mccarroll can't bring it in.

And once again, great coverage.

You had three guys converge on the on the wide receiver that time and he and Busby just stood in the spot.

Only his receiver was gonna get to it, but it was just a little short.

Yeah, I think that was a it was a good throw.

You you said it right?

He threw it where only mccarrell could come up with it.

When he first threw it, I thought he threw it into maybe double coverage and that was a poor decision.

But he that was a good smart throw.

Where he put it gave his receiver a chance third and 10.

Busby rolls right now he's going to try to throw back left, setting up a screen to Jordan.

Jordan's got room to run Jordan to the 50 to the 45.

He's got a first down and much more Kenny Jordan down to the 30 yard line.

That is a big play of 30 yards for the boys.

I mean, he's doing it all for the Bruins in this game, running, catching passes.

But to look at his all-purpose yards for this game because he is having a big night, that's a second catch of the game.

The first catch went for 18 yards.

That one gets the ball down to about the 30.

They're gonna hand it off to Jordan.

Jordan ran right into the defensive lineman when he's tired.

I always wonder about that.

Running back has a big plank.

Runs all the way down the field.

They're gonna get back to get over the ball.

Hurry, let's go.

And they give it right back to him.

Yeah, yeah.

Hey, hey.

He's been doing that all year.

He's in shape.

He's ready for.

I think he's gonna check out for just a moment.

He does check out and they'll bring in Charlie controls to give him a little bit of a break second and 1053 seconds to go in the quarter.

Bruins trying to get a.

Elite or increase their lead.

Busby Quick pass out those that to McKinney, McKinney across the 25.

And now we've got a penalty flag down here at the 23 yard line.

The Greenwood fans started clapping.

I'm not sure it was at a a hold on.

Charrette, I I don't.

And he was right.

He was right there at the collision.

So.

And Greenwood Sands against Pulaski Academy.

We'll hear from him and see the replay and see what it was.

Only, yeah, on the offense.

Continue on penalty from the end of the run.

Replay second down.

That may have been on 4 John Mark Charette.

We'll see a good look here.

There's four right there now we can't see he's out of the picture.

Well he had is you know just on that one it looked like he had his his.

You know, usually you want to keep those those hands on the inside of the shoulder pads and looked like he kind of had that that right hand pushed him outside of it.

Great vision there from the sideline ref to be able to see that while he was watching the hit on McKinney he could see two things at once.

There's a brick broken tackle is that Busby.

Yeah, I was both, but yeah.

Busby breaks the tackle, gets back to the 25, gets the ball back to where it was.

It was fun.

It was watching the ref and he's watching.

McKinney very stepped out of bounds.

He reaches for the flag and throws it for a penalty that was on down the field.

That's going to be the end of the third quarter.

I think some of those Greenwood coaches were telling, yelling at him right there what, what?

What was going on, what he couldn't see.

We got a great fourth quarter coming up.

You're watching the Centennial Bank State Football championships on Arkansas PBS sports.

Hi, I'm Susie Everett.

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season with our busy lives today we often forget the greatest gift of Christmas, for unto you is born this day in the City of David, A Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

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Thank you.

You know, I think athletics are really important for young people.

It teaches you to not only trust others, but to help others when they need a pick me up for nothing.

High school athletics do a great job of saying, hey, I can lead you, I can show you how to do something, or I can follow your example.

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Night his *** that you think about.

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Alright, we're getting ready to start the fourth quarter.

Pulaski Academy leads at 2521.

Here's how we got here.

Greenwood scored first.

Brayden Davis, a four yard touchdown run made it 7 to nothing.

Later on they added a Jake Glover run.

They were up 14 to 6 and the Bruins got going.

He had a short touchdown run from Kale Busby.

Then you had a nice play from Jake Glover.

A little screen tunnel pass, 39 yards.

Kale Busby, Kenny Jordan.

Caps off the scoring.

Made it 2521, right?

Here's a great pass to John Mark Charette there in the first half.

2521 was a score at the half.

2521 is the score right now.

Nothing's happening in the third quarter, at least when it comes to the scoreboard.

And the defenses have been the story in the third quarter, just gotta say that the adjustments that the defensive coordinators made at halftime have been outstanding.

Yeah, well, I mean, they, they have really stepped up their game here in the second-half like we talked about a minute ago, 46 points in the first half and we've yet to have a point here in the second-half so far.

And so, it's been because of the defensive performances.

Third and five Bruins marching, Kenny Jordan coming back the other way, Jordan breaks a tackle.

That's the first down inside the 20 down to the 19.

He picks up seven there.

Kenny Jordan will go over to about 168 yards rushing on the night.

Kyle Busby with 220 yards passing and he's having he's having an MVP type of night that's for sure he's he's doing a really good job of of seeing the seeing the field you know the vision so far in this one and and and he is having an exceptional night.

John Mark Charette in motion.

Let's see him back in there.

Quick pass to Charette.

Charette hit the mediately.

He'll lose the yard on that play.

Excellent job by the Greenwood Bulldogs at that time.

Josh Allen coming up making the tackle.

They're gonna say forward progress leaves the ball at the 19th, so no gain on the play.

Second down, just starting the fourth quarter, Busby with Jordan in the backfield.

Busby rolls to his left, Busby looking at the receiver.

Good pass, good catch.

Say he stepped out of bounds at about the 12 yard line.

Here in a moment, let's go down the door.

And she's got something on Evan Williams.

Who are they?

Say did catch that?

Looks like I thought he.

I could tell that's on the far sideline.

Incomplete.

I'm getting the signal that's incomplete.

But Dorian's got something on Evan Williams, who made a tackle moment a moment ago.

So here in a little bit, we'll go down to her ruins.

Third and 10.

Three receivers, 4 receivers to the left.

Just one receiver.

That's Kenny Jordan, lined up to his right.

Busby calling for it.

Busby's just going to keep it.

He's going to run up the middle.

Breaks one tackle.

Can't get past the linebacker, he'll get it down to the 16 yard line.

Short gain on the play.

So that's gonna bring up 4th down for the Bruins.

Well, you know it's good.

Go for it.

Time for the Bruins.

As we're bringing in a whole different personnel, this is strange.

Is this a field goal unit?

I think it is, RJ, yes.

Yeah, they've got the holder out there.

He's counting the yards.

He's lining up the kicker.

Let's go to the kicker so we can see the kicker.

That Bruins going for the field goal.

This will be about a 33 yard field goal.

Kick is up.

It is line drive kick and it is good the Bruins kicked the field goal to increase the lead to 2821 John Stephen Goodwin with the field goal.

That I mean you know what's normally conventional and normal.

Football is very unconventional tonight for Pulaski Academy.

They're putting it.

They're kicking field goals.

They're kicking off all the way downfield and.

Hey look, they've now grown that lead to 28 to 21.

Yeah, hindsight is 2020.

What a smart decision by coach Lucas and his staff to kick the field goal.

They obviously had faith in the kicker.

Look, I've I've seen them kick more extra points and I have in years past, and it wasn't the prettiest.

But you know what?

That ball went in between the goalpost and that's three points.

Let's head down to the sideline.

Dorian craft.

Big player on that drive was linebacker Evan Williams, who's been getting praise from none other than.

Former Razorback in Jacksonville Jaguar Grant Morgan Morgan told Harold Mcilvain of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette that you can tell how much the game means to Williams by the way that he flies around saying I love how he shows up angry to the ball.

The dude just flies around.

Of course.

Williams followed Morgan's career at Greenwood.

Colin Morgan an inspiration and said that Morgan is someone he really looks up to.

Thank you Dori, and the Bruins look like they're going to kick it off and they do for a second time.

They kick it.

Greenwood Fields the kick at about the 19 yard line.

The Bruins make the tackle right around the 30.

So the Bruins playing field position, they don't want to give Greenwood the ball and the you know 50 yard line and have a short field.

Well you know smart move by Anthony Lucas you know to to get away from what he does normally to kick the field goal because now you've got a one touchdown game.

So if Greenwood were to go down and drive the field now we've got a tie ball game potentially and so that's just thinking ahead by Anthony Lucas.

Shows a lot of faith.

He's like, you know what, our defense is playing well.

We've stopped him now I think five times in a row.

Let's let's see if the defense 100% can't win the game.

It's kind of like Brad Bolding said at halftime of the five, eight state championship game when they were off at the half, he said, you know what?

If they don't score again, yeah, we win.

Yeah, 100%.

But it's got to be thinking the same thing.

They don't score again, we win.

Gain of four on 1st down, 2nd 6.

Houston checking with the sideline.

Grant cards down on the near sideline.

They got 3 receivers lined up right.

LJ Robbins in the slot.

Now Aiden Kenneth comes in motion.

He's going to line up come he's an H back.

Pearson's gonna take off, run with the start, pulls up, hits his man, Carns Carns spinning across the 50.

What a heads up play that time from Houston.

I thought Houston was gonna take off and start running with it, but the Bruins had somebody there and he stops, pulls up and throws a bullet.

And you know what's impressive for Grant Cardone?

I mean, the kid is only a sophomore and what he does when he gets the football's impressive ruins all over that handoff.

I think it was Miles Ward again.

Miles ward into the backfield.

Gets on top of Glover and slings him down to the ground.

You can see Glover, his stature there and it's walking with a little bit of a lamp.

It may have may have stepped on that ankle from brief moment.

So he's gonna go over the sideline, take a breather.

Second down and 10.

PA bringing some pressure.

Linebacker trying to come, they stop him.

Quick pass to kitten over the middle kinda makes a move, gets across the 40.

I think he picked up a first down with that move.

Yeah, he's the official standing right there.

The long road between the 40 and 42 and they are going to call the first down.

I think it's going to be short when he fights off the tackle.

And then when the Bruin the second help came, I think it knocked him forward.

He got the first down.

Greenwood looking deep, trying to go deep.

They got a receiver.

Diving catch isn't made cards.

Couldn't bring it in.

The Carnes gave it everything.

They're coming out.

Donnie had it.

He had a diving effort into the end zone and just couldn't quite come up with a good effort that time.

Here's a look at the replay so close, stretching out for it.

And he had it briefly and hit the ground and it came out almost a spectacular.

Grab my cards.

2nd and 10 fake going deep again.

He's got a receiver, he's got it this time.

Touchdown, they'll J Robbins.

Well, that you won't talk about redemption for LJ Robbins.

He missed the one in the end zone on the other end and then he made the he missed the big play down here to the 30.

But it's redemption time as he's one point away now from tying this ball game.

LJ Robbins brings it in, had his man beat and scores now the important extra point.

Good snap, good hold.

Kick is up.

It is good.

We're all tied at 28.

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Appreciate it.

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There it is, the time score.

Hunter Houston to LJ Robbins.

We're knotted up at 28 with eight minutes and 20 seconds to go.

We thought this was going to be a good game.

I don't know how many people stopped me and said this is gonna be the best game of the weekend.

Don't you think so?

I think so.

I don't know.

I mean, this is a great weekend.

Got Bryant playing Pittville, Hazen, Carlisle, quick.

Parkview was taking on Shiloh.

Christian.

Well, today's game.

You know, we, we had the 5A game.

Earlier today, it was a good one.

And so today has been a fun day of high school football.

Kenny Jordan Fields that one.

He makes one guy miss, gets across the 30 down to the 31 Bruins will take over there again.

Jordan is doing everything.

He's returning kickoffs.

He's he's catching passes.

He's he's running the football.

Kenny Jordan's got 27 carries, 168 yards, 2 touchdowns.

He's caught two passes for 48 yards.

So yeah, he's done a little bit of everything.

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Bruins coming out on the field.

See John Mark shared out there.

There's fizer.

Kenny Jordan goes in motion.

Kill bosby.

He's got time to throw.

He's stolen across the middle.

Deep over the middle.

Kenny caught that.

What a catch.

Wow.

I mean, he's got two guys right there.

You think that, you know, somebody's gonna go make a play.

There's no way that's gonna happen.

And Kerry goes to the highest point he can get to to make this catch.

Look at that.

Wow.

Jaylin McKinney moves the ball inside the 40.

Katie Jordan can't break away that time.

PA trying the run game.

He's that's the second time they pulled him down by his T-shirt or his jersey.

It's like a dirt.

Can we can we tuck that in?

And so they can't, they can't pull you down.

That's a dura shirt because usually that thing would be ripped by now.

Well, that's a jersey.

I'm I'm telling Kenny tuck that in.

Ohh, grabbing your jersey anymore, that's the second time.

Jordan's gonna take it again.

He's going over the right side, bounces it back inside to the middle.

He gets to the 31 yard line.

Short game, they'll give him three.

That'll bring up third and 7th.

We've got injury timeout.

Looks like something else.

He he hopped up.

So the trainers going back out, they're checking on him, making sure you're OK. Looks like he's OK.

They're gonna keep the clock ticking.

They're not stopping play.

Kenny Jordan lined up wide left, 4 receivers to the right, third and 7th.

Busby Quick pass out couldn't block the defense of Batman, but Kenny breaks through through.

Looked like they were gonna blow that play up for a big loss.

McKinney made he didn't make anything.

He lost the yard, but he could have lost about five.

Yeah, and you know that that could have been really bad.

That the Bruins were trying to set up almost like a wide receiver screen for McKinney, but the Greenwood defender slipped that you know that blocker 4th and 8th.

We got a timeout looks like on the the Greenwood side.

Yep they call it timeout.

So the Bulldogs, they they know this is a big play.

They saw how PA lined up.

They want to talk about it maybe didn't like how they lined up and didn't feel good about things.

So it's 4th and 8th big play here PA on the 31 yard line.

The Bulldogs are the ones trying to get a couple of stops now.

Yeah and you know this 4th down and eight situation you you wonder what Anthony Lucas is going to dial up right?

Here, because you know they they love going with the crossing patterns, especially in the short, you know, when they need 8 yards, receivers get to the sticks.

I I would suspect you're going to see something like that.

I can't imagine you're going to line up with Kenny Jordan in the backfield and just hand it to him.

I would almost venture to say you see empty backfield with you know, five wide in the formation.

We've seen him go to McKinney on 4th down, we've seen him go to John, Mark shared.

On 4th down.

The Bruins on 4th down are three for three.

They've done a really good job on 4th down.

They got four wide on this side with one on that top side.

McKinney goes in motion, but it's being with a little pressure, roll says.

Right.

He's gonna throw it deep into the end zone for McKinney.

Mickey goes up for it and it's picked off.

But there's a flag.

I think they're gonna get defensive pass interference or often no defensive pass interference.

McKinney goes up to catch it and the quarterback just never turned around and grabbed him there in the end zone.

But I think it was the safety that was going to have a chance to pick it off.

I mean there was three defenders in the area, pass interference defense, 15 yard penalty from the previous spot.

This is makes the first down Busby just heaves it deep into the end zone to give McKinney a chance.

However, he did have it was they're calling it on 6, not 4.

The fans were booing because you know, you had four there.

That was making a great play.

I thought he was going to pick it off.

That was Brady Mackie again.

I don't know how many times I've called his name, but the penalty wasn't on him.

They called it on scag.

Yeah, Skaggs and actually kind of gave, gave him a push and that's what got the call.

What a cut by Kenny Jordan.

Jordan took a 1.

Kenny Jordan in for the score.

Touchdown, Bruins.

Wow.

Another great run from Kenny Jordan.

He met the defender at the Warren.

Credit to that Greenwood Bulldog defender.

He stood him up.

It was a battle of him and Jordan.

I didn't think Jordan was going to score, but then it was one of his teammates that came and pushed him in.

Watched this collision right here.

Yeah, that's a.

That's a great job going pulling the ring.

And then it was just a melee of players that came and gave a push.

That was Alan Thompson that pushed him in for the touchdown.

We need to give Alan A and it blocked.

The extra point is blocked, so that could be huge.

That's a 6 point lead now for the Bruins.

The Bulldogs can score, get the extra point and go up by one.

Yeah that that that is big right there and you know it's your Pulaski Academy.

You kind of gotta usually you're you're 1 to go for two every time and now they just kind of settle for extra points and I'll tell you what that that could turn out to be a big time play.

That was a big time play.

That was a 43 for Greenwood that broke through there.

Got his hands up.

Evan Williams once again, I don't know if you guys could see it on TV, but this Greenwood sideline is furious.

They gave the officials a chewing from about the 10 yard line all the way to the 40.

The head official came over.

Coach John was livid.

He is still living.

They are furious with what the non call.

For the call, they felt like it should have been a non call for pass interference and the Bruins take advantage by scoring on the next play.

Kenny Jordan, by the way now has 188 yards rushing and three touchdowns on the ground.

Bruins lining up for the extra for the kickoff, they're going to kick it deep again.

It's a good deep kickoff by the Bruins since the Greenwood will return her to the 10th.

He cuts across the 20.

The Bruins bringing down at the 25 we'll go down the sideline check in with.

Crap.

No roller coaster of emotions here over the last couple of seconds on the Greenwood sideline.

You were right.

Head coach Chris Young incensed over that pass interference call and he was still giving it to the referees as they went back down the field.

But Evan Williams coming in and blocking that extra point, it was like the light switch all of a sudden.

There is energy back over on this Greenwood sideline and that blocked extra point could end up being huge.

Houston, across the middle, has a receiver who's picked up the receiver.

Couldn't catch it.

They went through his hands, the Bruins make it the catch and they're returning it back inside the 10th.

What a change of events, what a play through the receivers hands.

The Bruins pick it off.

It was similar to what happened in the first half and Patton Wicker picks it off.

Wicker with his sixth interception of the year.

Patton Wicker with the biggest play of the game.

Well and actually if you go on the pre snap, wickle was lined up on the outside and one of the linebackers totally moved back towards the middle and so he wouldn't even fully set.

Because he was running back towards the middle, talk about right place, right time.

He was there to get the interception.

LJ Robbins had a huge play to tie this game up.

This time the ball goes through his hands right into the hands of Wicker.

Bruins have the ball inside the ten first and goal at the 9619 to play in this game.

Kenny Jordan, they fake it to Jordan.

No they give it to Jordan.

Jordan over the right side.

Jordan jumps over his offensive lineman.

Jordan still moving the power forward.

The offensive line pushing Jordan forward.

Still moving, they finally blow it dead.

Jordan gets the ball to about the five yard line inside the five.

That's a pickup of five Bruins marching less than 6 minutes to play in this game.

They are up six.

Yeah, clocks rolling under 6 minutes now and well, Plaski Academy.

Rather than than just getting the game going, they ought to run some time off the clock.

Well, they are now.

They kind of break the huddle.

15 seconds on the play clock.

Bring John Mark Charette in motion.

Busby rolls left.

Buzz is just going to keep it Busby into the end zone.

Bruins score.

They take a second possession lead 2 possession lead for the Bruins, 40 to 28.

Now do you go for two here?

You're up 12.

Do you try to chase that blocked extra point and go up 14?

If you get the 2.2 version, it's gonna say.

You probably do and and get back to the way you play your game because now you have the two score game and you can make it a 14 point game.

Bugs me with the big touchdown that is now 3 touchdowns rushing for Busby.

He's also, yeah, you know what?

Busby hasn't thrown a touchdown yet, has he not?

He has not.

But he's run for three and he's thrown for 254 yards in the game.

2 picks, right?

Yeah, 18 of 29.

The 1:10 pass.

Yeah, the second interception, it was kind of at the end of the first half with 10 seconds left.

He threw it up.

I think.

I I don't really fault him for that.

But this is a good, tough run for Busby gets into the end zone.

It's 40 to 28.

We got a time out here.

They're gonna discuss this.

Bruins want to get on the same page.

I love this camera by the way.

Yeah, sharp is this camera.

You know, they, they brought this I guess last year into the championships and it's kind of like a point of view focused camera.

I can't remember where the camera, what they call it, but boy, it is a nice.

I love the shots that it gives and really, really stepping their game up here at Arkansas PBS, they add something every year to try to make these broadcasts a little bit better.

Call it it's not your daddy's camcorder.

No.

No it is not.

That's not.

I don't think I I don't use my iPhone.

It doesn't do anything like that in the portrait mode.

Alright, two point conversion for the Bruins trying to go up 14 points Busby with Kenny Jordan to his right.

Receivers go in motion, they'll reset.

Now Jordan.

He's going to take the direct snap.

Jordan.

Nothing there.

Jordan makes one guy miss and Jordan fights his way, gets into the end zone.

That was all kidding, Jordan.

Kenny Jordan looked like he was stopped on two different occasions, sidestepped a couple of tackles and found a way to get into the end zone.

Yeah, he was dead to rights.

And when he when he put that left foot in the ground and came back is when he got in the end zone.

Nothing there makes that guy miss.

Looks like he's going to be stopped.

Wills his way in, falls into the end zone.

That's a big play.

The Bruins go up 14 with 5 1/2 minutes to go.

Greenwood's got two timeouts left, so they're gonna have to March down the field score pretty quickly.

You know, you gotta think within two or three minutes.

So there's about 2 minutes left in the game.

Yeah, then you're gonna have to either onside kick it or get a stop.

You got two timeouts.

So there's a chance even if they can get three and out use two of their timeouts get the ball back.

They still got a chance.

Yeah they still got a chance saying look as quickly as Greenwood can score.

I mean yeah, yeah look I don't think a 14 point game is is out of reach by any stretch of the imagination and they've shown that tonight.

You know the both defenses have started playing a lot better here in the second-half.

But look I don't underestimate 100 Houston and his abilities and these receivers.

Kick off goes deep.

This time they send grant cards back to returning cards across the 30 cards to the 38 yard line.

Good return from Carnes.

They've had Arrington back there and that time they switched it out.

Put cards.

The parents return gives them a kind of a boost with the return out to the 39 yard line.

Well you're gonna get you got great field position to start this drive and you're gonna see a lot of vertical passing right now because they're gonna they're gonna go four and five wide throughout this drive.

Houston brings LJ Robinson motion.

Houston looking to his right.

Houston finds his receiver, goes across midfield, picks up the first down, they'll stop the clock, move the chains.

That's a great job by Noah Chaser for Greenwood.

He just went, found a curl route, got on it and came back and made the play.

Got the first down chasing.

They've been doing a lot to chase her here in the second-half.

He's got a receiver striking over the middle.

LJ Robbins touched on just like that.

That's a Boston coverage, those two.

Right.

I mean we just talked about how quickly they can score and LJ Robin St down the middle of the field and you've got a two play drive and it's A1 score game again.

That's the last thing in the world that the Pulaski Academy defense could do.

Yeah, they they needed to force them to drive down the field methodically, slowly work that clock, the the only thing they could do.

That could prevent them from winning the game is give up the big play and that's just what happened.

You're exactly right.

Here's the extra point to make it a 7 point game.

Stop.

It's good.

It's getting exciting.

3542 Bulldogs strike back just like that.

LJ Robins waits on it, catches it and sprints forward for the touchdown.

I love how we we had no points in the third quarter.

None.

And now we're up to 30 points here in the fourth quarter.

Actually 31.

Yeah, they haven't put the extra point on there yet.

So yeah, 31 points in the fourth quarter.

So they just needed a breather.

They need an extended halftime to let the defensive play a little bit and then the offense has got.

Out again.

5 minutes, 10 seconds to go.

Yeah, I see the PA playing like prevent onside kick and there's no need for Greenwood kicking onside kick here.

No, I wouldn't give the Bruins the field position.

You you got plenty of time with 510 remaining.

You get a stop and you've got, you can go down truck title login.

But as the key is getting stopped and they've not been able to do that so far, really here in the fourth quarter, they're going to kick it deep.

Kenny Jordan fields it inside the 20.

Jordan to the 25, bounces it outside to the 30.

Big hit.

He's blasted out of bounds.

That fires up the Greenwood sideline.

And for Greenwood that was Aiden Kennon who came in and and he delivered the big blow and looks like there's a blasty Academy player down on the field that Zach Edwards should not.

Zach Edwards that's.

Looks like Alex zeldin.

So we got a time out on the field.

Be able to take over at their 30.

You know Kenny Jordan, we talked about this briefly.

Kenny Jordan's done a great job this season.

Joe ****** at Northwestern, he was an all state player for three years for the Bruins.

But I know, Dorian, you've been very impressed.

With what?

Kenny Jordan's been able to do this season.

Ohh yeah Kenny Jordan's been able to take over for Joe Heyman and really filling in that need different runner than Joe Heyman.

Jordan much more of an all-purpose back, but we saw flashes of it last year in spots when Heyman wasn't available.

But he is really grown in head coach Anthony Lucas.

Just so impressed with how Jordan has been able to fill that gap left by Joe Heim in the season.

You know we're seeing Charlie Controls in the game sometimes.

Sometimes, you know when Kenny George gets winded, needs a break.

Well that was Kenny Jordan's role last year for Joe Heyman.

Sometimes Joe Heyman just needed a break and you would see Kenny Jordan come in and you'll see flashes.

You're like, whoa, yeah.

Stop working.

Go.

I think PA's gonna be OK at running back next year when Joe Heyman leaves.

Now look, it's tough to fill those shoes with Joel Heyman.

He was a guy that was rushing for 2000 yards and having 1000 yards receiving.

Well, you know what?

Kitty Jordans come kind of close to that with 1500 yards rushing and 800 yards of balls on the ground.

That was Jordan that let it go and that was almost a disaster.

Kill Busby falls on it.

It's going to be a big loss, but this happened last week against Catholic twice.

They put the ball on the ground on the quarterback running back exchange.

And it happened once again.

No, this time he had it.

Kenny Jordan had at the linebacker, came blitzing in and knocked the ball out of Kitty Jordan's hands.

That's just a great play from that linebacker coming in.

Yeah, that's a great job.

And really, you're starting to see the pressure.

Look, Greenwood's got now four guys on the line of scrimmage where they they had three previously, but they put four now at the line of scrimmage.

McKinney goes in motion.

They're going to throw it out quick to McKinney.

Mckinney's got a blocker out there.

McKinney makes one guy miss.

He gets to about the 30 yard line.

He picks up the close to the 9 yards they lost on that fumble, so that's gonna create 3rd and manageable 3rd and level.

And you know you say manageable for Pulaski Academy team, for Greenwood team, for most teams starting 11 you're saying, well that's third and 3rd and long.

We may have something to discuss after this play, but for now it's third down Busby with it.

He's rolling right.

Busby under pressure, those at side arm, he can't connect with his receiver, Jalen McKinney.

So now we got a decision.

RJ, it is 4th and 11th.

You have the ball on your own 29.

Yeah.

And we've seen Anthony Lucas punt the football a couple times so far in this game and like you, it's A1 score game.

You you've got 11 yards to get to and I think they're gonna punt.

I think you have to punch.

Yeah.

Greenwood doesn't have anybody back.

Busby's lining up.

Busy backing up.

He's going to punt it snap, quick punt.

That's a good punt.

Spiraling punt.

Lands inside the 35, gets a great PA bounce.

That's inside the 20 coming back.

The Bruins will down it at the 20.

That's going to be a 4151 yard punt.

Net punt.

I think the blooms will sign up for that any day.

Yeah, but now, OK, so you got 402 left.

We saw this Greenwood offense go two points in a touchdown on their last possession.

They're down a touchdown you don't have to get it all in in one or two plays you've got 4 minutes to get down and try to tie the ball game plenty of time PA Defense Greenwood offense has been a battle tonight 3542 Bruins coming trying to bring suppressions across the middle tip and falls to the ground hundred Houston he reared back and unleashed that football and it was just it was a bit high but he he fired a fastball in there that time 8 Ken and.

Went up, try to bring it down, just couldn't do it.

We've seen one go through a receiver's hands and PA came up with the interception.

That's how they got their two touchdown lead that time.

It just falls to the ground.

Second and 10.

Fake the handoff.

Looking right.

Throws it right.

Great coverage.

But Greenwood makes a great catch.

That was grant Carnes.

I tell you what.

That PA defender was all over him.

He he read the route.

KJ Colin was with him.

The cards makes the catch, picks up seven.

It's third and three.

And I can't.

You know I've said it a couple times tonight but this car's kid is.

I mean, he he's got to have a special career at Greenwood.

If he keeps this up, he he's had a great night tonight.

Houston all alone since receiver motion.

We got a flag false start.

That'll push Greenwood back five.

Proud of the snap false start.

I guess Greenwood 5 yard penalty remains third, down be third and 8th.

Greenwood facing.

A huge play here.

Malls on the 22, they need to get it to the 30.

A time I I thought I saw eight in the game.

I still still see eight.

That's Kane.

Archer.

Is he not coming off the field right now?

Is that not eight?

Yeah, they were trying something.

I knew I saw eight out there.

I wonder what was going on now.

Green.

What's calling time out?

There was all kinds of confusion.

I thought I saw eight on the play before and I was like well, I haven't seen 8 at wide receiver on yet.

This is strange.

Well, they they had Archer in there and at the very last moment he came running off and they put Jake Glover back in the game.

But I think he was in the play before, is what I'm saying.

Yeah.

And then he was staying in, then at the last minute came out.

And it may be something they're setting up.

Or then again, he may play a little higher decoy.

I don't know.

Yeah.

But I'm sure now that he's been in the PA, coaches are killing me.

And you know, they're like, whoa, what is hate doing?

OK, now they're alerting them, hey, if eights in there look for a double pass, look at something where they're, they're trying to, they got a second quarterback in there that can throw it.

So they're alerting everybody.

Now it's not no see Kane, Archer, he's coming off, he's standing around the 25 yard line.

So a timeout with the Bulldogs, they've talked it over trying to figure out what they want to do.

It's third and 10 and it could be decision time for them if they don't get a first down here.

324 left in the game.

Now we got a another whistle.

Official time says timeout.

PA Bruins maybe using their last timeout.

Where you know you just punch Counterpunch right now and and if you're Pulaski Academy you wanna drop the right defense on this third down and and you know the scoreboard says third down and 10 but the where the down marker is it's inside the inside the market it's saying about third down and eight.

So yeah you're right they they need to get to the 30 yard line.

I remember that pot rolling dead right at the 20 yard line.

Remember it was short.

It was going to be about third and three.

Yeah after the the great catch from cards and then they had the false start that pushes them back to 3rd and 8th.

The scoreboard just off here at the stadium then on on our TV screen.

So alert everybody that it's third and 8th and they they need to get them all to about the 30 yard line.

And they've got the ball squarely there on the 22.

You see some of the booing fans there in the crowd.

They're excited.

This is a big play, big play.

There's three down lineman to Glasgow.

Again.

They're split out wide.

They know pass is coming.

Little pressure at the last minute and it's down.

I think they're going to say through it.

That's got to be an incomplete pass.

Yeah, yeah, there they go.

They're on the sides.

They're saying incomplete passes.

Looking at the officials in the backfield, they weren't, they weren't saying anything.

They were doing anything.

But here comes the late pressure on Houston Romello bills coming.

They also say that was Josh.

Either way, the Parliament came in there, yeah, that was Harlem.

And they came in and applied the pressure, made him get rid of it.

So fork down, it's 4th and 8th, they're going for it.

So this is it.

This could be the ball game.

PA gets to stop.

We're going to save LJ Robbins outlook wide to the right, looking across the middle.

We're looking deep, deep across the middle of the Robinson.

Wanna play from the SPAD defense knocking it away at the last second.

Jets Smith with a huge play.

How about the senior going up getting the hand up and knocking it down on 4th and 8th and he was running step for step with LJ and and just at that last moment came up with the right hand and was able to knock it away.

To have a turnover you have to really have a turnover on downs.

Jet Smith with two interceptions on the year with five passes broken up but that's the biggest P BU of his life.

Right there to go up and knock it down on 4th and 8th.

So Bruins take over first and 10 on the 22314 to go.

They have a 7 point lead.

They're gonna wanna work some clock.

Busby may just keep it running.

That's what he's gonna do.

Follows his line, puts his head down, gets the ball inside the 20 yard line.

They'll mark him down at the 18th.

And Greenwood's only got one time out left with three minutes left here in the fourth quarter.

So you know you're going.

They're going to need to get a stop for sure if they want to and it's going to be a most likely a fourth down stop if they're going to.

Try to get this one done.

It was a good look at the replay right there, the pass broken up by Jet Smith.

Just goes up.

Both hands.

I liked how he did both.

He just went up.

He's gonna make sure to get a handle on that ball shot.

The play clocks down to 5 seconds.

Bruins milking that play clock.

Busby calls for it with one second, gives it to Kenny Jordan.

Jordan think it ran into his own offensive lineman, kind of knocked him sideways, but he got the ball inside the 19 yard line.

So again, there are.

They'll get it to about third and two, third and three.

We've got 2 minutes 10 seconds left in the game.

25 seconds on the play clock so the Bruins can get it inside 2 minutes without taking a snap.

3rd and two.

One sideline getting excited.

That's the noise.

You can hear the cheerleaders, the student section.

They sense it.

4 receivers to the left.

Kitty Jordan out to the right.

I bet Busby keeps it.

Runs right up the middle.

Busby right up the middle.

Busby's gonna be stopped short of believing the first down.

Yes, he's short.

That was a great job by the Greenwood defense right there.

They they sniffed it out.

They had it.

They they knew what was coming.

Look if I'm smart enough to figure it out they knew what was coming too.

But they made the tackle give credit to those linebackers stepping up and and tackling Busby short and we saw it earlier.

W where?

Pulaski Academy.

The third down, they ran it with Busby, they split four wide to the left side and then they came back on 4th down and did it again on 4th and short.

So I mean if you're black, if you're Greenwood, I I think I you, you put four down lineman and and stack your your linebackers in there a little bit because there's a high probability Busby's going to take it himself again.

Well, I was about to say what what do you do here if you're Anthony Lucas, it's 4th down and about.

It's a long one.

There's a minute 36 left.

If you get the first down games all game.

Yeah, you can take some knees.

Hmm.

Or you can try field goal.

They try to field goal earlier.

They they kicked the field goal.

It was a how far was it?

The.

I don't have it here on this sheet.

Yeah, now.

I mean, so they they've done the field goal before.

Can they do it again?

Would they do it again?

That's my point.

Yeah, I I just.

I think you, you, you put the nail in the coffin.

If you're Pulaski Academy, you've got the opportunity.

Your game is to go for it on 4th down.

And that's what they're gonna do right here.

They're gonna go for it on 4th and one.

But I'm gonna say right now, Busby don't be surprised if he takes himself.

Katie Jordan with it right up the middle.

Jordan with the push.

They got it with the push.

The offensive line got behind Kenny Jordan and pushed him across to the 11 yard line.

Pulaski Academy.

A-Team known for throwing it all over the field.

A-Team known for onside kicks.

A team known for not punting the ball.

PA just won this game by running the ball right up the middle.

Yeah and you know I said I said you see Busby possibly running.

But good job by Anthony Lucas to let his let his workhorse go get that that first down and.

He just handed it to him.

So they go get this thing.

Kenny Jordan, that was his 35th carry of the night and his most important carry of the night.

He has 192 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Kenny Jordan, you're MVP.

They haven't voted on it yet.

They haven't handed me the slip.

But if it's anybody besides Kenny Jordan, we're going to have a a conversation around here.

They just gave me the 9 Katie George nod.

Yeah.

Be a letting that clock run right now, less than 10 on the play clock.

They'll take it.

Just take a knee, Greenwood.

No timeouts.

There's nothing they can do.

The Bruins are about to win their state championship.

4th State championship in a row, but their first in 6A.

Yes, Anthony Lucas right there.

He's he's yelling into the celebrations about to begin.

They'll be getting the Gatorade here soon.

That's a good look right there that their offensive coordinator, Adam Thrash.

He's done an outstanding job of calling the game tonight.

42 seconds left.

With 10 seconds left on the play clock.

Busby takes the snap beneath and that is it.

The Pulaski Academy Bruins can celebrate because they've just won another state championship, this time at the six, eight level.

A lot of people said they couldn't do it, but the Bruins have pulled it off, winning another state title.

That's two and two years for Anthony Lucas and two different classifications.

I mean, Anthony Lucas say he's a class act, but you said it.

Class act.

He was just yelling at his team because they were off celebrating.

He said get in here behind me.

Come shake their hands.

Yeah, and that's what his team, they heard what he said, and they're in line shaking hands.

We're going to come back here from coach Lucas.

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Hey, hey, hey, hey, cool.

That's me everybody.

Here comes Lucas story and craft has coach Lucas.

Now let's head down there coach two programs that are known for their offense and it came down to a defensive stand.

What did you see on that 4th down with 3 1/2 minutes to go that allowed you to get the turnover?

First of all, I want to give on to God.

All glory go to God.

Next, Greenwood is a phenomenal football team.

They got a not a team.

They got a great program and coach Young has done a great job.

I told our defense to just keep fighting and just give us one more time.

You know, I say the pregame when we turn the ball over offensively, I feel like we owe our defense and we owed our defense and they they just hung in there and fought the one thing that that worries me, you know, with us all year.

Here we go in at halftime and we're up, but then we come back out.

We don't stop.

We let teams score and I think that that happened here and but these guys, they just kept fighting and I'm just so proud of our kids.

So happy for our seniors and our and our program.

Can't you tell me before kickoff you had something to prove.

What did your team show you tonight?

They proved it tonight.

They came out and they fall back.

You know there was talk that we we were soft early early on when we went to green.

We played in Greenwood.

On October 28th, our kids took that to the heart and they wanted to come out and prove something that, you know, that we're better, we're not solved.

You know, we're Pulaski Academy and we play hard.

And I told them after the game we played up there is that coach, your kids outplayed us.

They played hard.

And that second-half up there in Greenwood and we, you know, we lost Kyle and stuff, but there's always next man up, but tonight.

Mr Pulaski, Academy Bruins tonight coach, congratulations.

Great shot of Kenny Jordan there hugging.

He was awesome.

Kenny Jordan is the MVP.

35 carries, 192 yards, 3 touchdowns.

That's not soft.

No, 35 carries, 192 year old white.

By the way.

He had a couple of receptions, 2 catches, 48 yards.

So well over 200.

Well, it's 240 total yards of offense.

Well, and here's the thing, Kenny Jordan not only did have he averaged 5 1/2 yards a carry, I mean the the kid was, he was all over the place tonight.

There's your burlsworth award winner in this one.

And.

Well, that's just good day, man.

This was this game lived up to the hype.

You know, we we talked about games all all weekend.

Which one was going to be the best?

Which one was you know going to live up to it.

This one of all of them.

It lived up to the hype.

You had the shootout, you had the defensive performance in the third quarter and then it just all, all offense broke loose in the fourth quarter.

Yes, 31 combined points in the fourth quarter, 17 for Pulaski Academy, 14 for Greenwood after neither team scored in the third quarter.

In the end, it's the Bruins.

There they are celebrating.

Their 8th state championship in nine years.

That's four in a row, but it's now eight and nine years for Pulaski Academy.

That is a heck of a run.

We saw a run yesterday that continued for the Bryant Hornets winning five straight or this is four straight for the Bruins in the 6A and their players.

One of the things that's always impressive to me.

Their players know to run and go get the benches off the sideline because we're going to take some pictures on the field after winning a state championship and we need the.

Those need the bleachers or we need the benches over there so people can sit down and stand on top of them so everybody can be on the picture.

Well, they've done it so often.

It's like a machine.

They know how to celebrate at the end of the game.

Well, and you're right, Wes, and this is I I think also really the impressive thing.

You went from A58 classification to A68 classification to get this done.

You know, I mean, you played in a really tough 68 count.

I mean, think about this, W we were talking about the likes of Benton Lake Hamilton.

Little Rock, Christian Little Rock Catholic.

I mean this was not an easy conference to play in and Pulaski Academy went from 5A up to 6A and not only did they win the five eight last year but now I've come in and won the 6A title with all that competition that has been at 6A.

You gotta, you gotta tip your cap to Anthony Lucas in that entire Pulaski Academy team.

Heck of a season for the Bruins is they take some pictures and celebrating.

Is that 88 fingers up is that what they're doing?

Is that eight fingers looks like.

8-9 years or four in a row, that's four in a row is what they're doing.

That's four straight titles for the Pulaski Academy Bruins coming up next, we're going to take a little bit of a break.

We need it after three great days of War Memorial Stadium.

We will be back here next Saturday for two state championship games and it's going to be a lot of fun.

The four a title, Harding Academy knocking off Arkadelphia in the last seconds with a field goal to walk it off.

They will take on Malvern.

In the 48 state championship and we've got a rematch just like this game.

In the three eight time we'll have Boonville taking on Charleston.

Charleston won the first game.

But I'll tell you this move will had some players out, some key players out in that game and they feel like like PA Yep, they can lose the first one, but when the one that matters.

So that'll be next Saturday here at War Memorial Stadium.

What a night, what a day.

2 great games.

Thank you for watching for RJ Hawk.

I'm W 4.

Have a great night, everybody.