CLASS 5A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME CAPSULE

[BarclayAlmanac]

CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, December 6, 6:30 p.m., War Memorial Stadium
PULASKI ACADEMY vs WYNNE

PULASKI ACADEMY BRUINS (12-1)
Head coach: Kevin Kelley
(137-24-1 overall in 12 years and at Pulaski Academy)
Playoff appearances: 23
Playoff record: 45-19
State championships: (3): 2011, 2008, 2003
State championship games: (6)
2011 defeated Malvery, 63-28
2010 lost to Shiloh Christian, 61-40
2008 defeated Helena-West Helena, 35-32
2006 lost to Greenwood, 56-55
2003 defeated Rivercrest, 64-32
FEARLESS FACTS: Pulaski Academy has won at least one playoff game every year for the last 16 seasons. ... The Bruins have not punted this year, converting 31 of 58 fourth-down attempts. ... They have attempted two field goals, making one, and have scored 59 touchdowns in 68 red zone trips inside the opponents' 20-yard line. ... Pulaski Academy beat Wynne, 43-42, in the semifinals in 2006. ... Quarterback Will Hefley has committed to the University of Tulsa. ... Hefley leads the state in passing with 4,374 yards and 58 touchdowns this season, completing 290 of 400 passes. ... His .725 completion percentage is the highest single-season for a quarterback with at least 400 attempts. ... Hefley has thrown for 9,336 yards and 121 touchdowns, which is seventh most in career history. ... Will Hastings has caught 99 passes this season for 1,802 yards and is within reach of becoming just the second receiver ever to reach 2,000 yards in a season. ... Pulaski Academy has scored 666 points and are within reach of becoming just the seventh team in history to score at least 700 points in a season.
QUOTABLE: "These seniors when they were in ninth grade were 4-5. This year is when everybody thought we might not be there as a football team. These guys decided that they didn't want that to be on them so they worked real hard for last three years to get here. It showed." – Kelley.

WYNNE YELLOWJACKETS (12-1)
Head coach: Chris Hill
(113-77-1 overall in 18 years, 41-7 in 4 years at Wynne)
Playoff appearances: 31
Playoff record: 39-27
State championships: (3): 2004, 2001, 1986
State championship games: (5)
2004 defeated Greenwood, 28-26
2001 defeated Stuttgart, 34-33
1986 defeated Rivercrest, 20-7
1980 lost to Alma, 24-15
FEARLESS FACTS: Hill also took Morrilton to the state championship game in 2005, losing to Greenwood, 35-32. ... Wynne is Hill's eighth stop as a high school head coach, not counting a short summer stay in Newport and including stops in Tennessee and Louisiana. ... Wynne's only loss was to 5A-East foe Batesville, which lost to Pulaski Academy last week. ... Quarterback Ross Trail has thrown for 4,912 yards and 50 touchdowns in his career, including 2,839 and 29 touchdowns this year with 1,626 yards and 15 touchdowns last year at Olive Branch, Mississippi, and 447 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore at Wynne. ... Trail has thrown for 686 yards and seven touchdowns in three playoff wins this season. ... Trail originally committed to Louisville but changed it to Cincinnati when Louisville head coach Charlie Strong left for Texas. ... Trail was ruled ineligible by the Mississippi High School Activities Association last September due to a residency violation, but a judge issued a stay which allowed him to play his entire junior season. ... Wynne's defense is known as the Delta Swarm, which held five opponents to a touchdown or less with two shutouts.
QUOTABLE: "We take a lot of pride in our defense. We're not very big, but we have a lot of guys that can run. I've been a lot of different schools but not where the kids are as committed as they are at Wynne. During the summer, we have 100 percent of participation. They take great pride in playing football at Wynne. It's a great situation." – Hill said.

[MDXPHD]

Thanks for all of the information and statistics. Good to see the prestige of both programs.  It should be a good game Saturday.

[PA Dad]

I did not realize that Hill is 41-7 in 4 years.  Great record.

[MDXPHD]

I did not realize that Hill is 41-7 in 4 years.  Great record.

Those 3 losses to Batesville really inflate that side of the record. Hope, Marion, Marion, Greenwood, CF. Looks lie 8 losses.

[tmycjy]

Yes he went

9-3
12-1 in my book now I still say be beat Viloina that year
9-3
12-1 fixing to be 13-1 lol lol lol just joking but I hope so

42- 8

[WPWells]

Impressive!

[Jayepea]

I was at the game in Vilonia that night & y'all wouldn't have beat Vilonia.

[Uncle Ivan]

I was at the game in Vilonia that night & y'all wouldn't have beat Vilonia.

That game where Vilonia wouldn't leave the locker room?

[the voice]

Thats the one, hey Ivan what was the score at half time? Cause Im pretty sure it was on its way to a yellow jacket rout,

[Uncle Ivan]

14-0.  Headed toward mercy rule.

[Lions84]

GO Yellow Jackets and that Delta Swarm D!

[JacketDad]

14-0.  Headed toward mercy rule.

If I am not mistaken, it was 14-0 after the first quarter.

[Jayepea]

I knew that would get y'all fired up! I believe it was 21-7 with bout 9 min to go in 2nd qrt. when it was called. Ether way a win is a win & we'll take it.

     Go Jackets