By TOOD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
North Pulaski will be trying to make up for a backward step or two when it opens 5A-Southeast Conference play at West Helena this week.
The Falcons were shut out in their opener at Searcy, showed signs off offensive life in a 36-12 loss to Pulaski Oak Grove, but failed to reach the end zone in last week’s 14-3 loss to Little Rock Christian.
Part of the problem was a thumb injury to starting quarterback Shyheim Barron that forced the Falcons to go to backup Marvin Davis.
“That didn’t help,” coach Terrod Hatcher said. “It was a coaching mistake and we didn’t have our backups ready to play. That’s a coaching loss right there.”
Hatcher set out to correct the situation during the week, getting Davis more repetitions in practice while awaiting a doctor’s decision on Barron. If cleared to play, Barron will line up at running back and in the secondary.
“There’s no way we can’t have him on the field,” Hatcher said. “And it actually might help us because it frees him up and he’s going to start as safety this week so it’s going to help us defensively.”
North Pulaski’s only points last week came on Spencer Johnston’s first-quarter field goal while Falcons quarterback Marvin Davis threw an interception that led to a touchdown and was sacked on third and 15 after North Pulaski had crossed midfield.
North Pulaski twice got inside the Christian 5 and came away with no points.
The Falcons’ defense, meanwhile, had its moments as it kept the team in the game.
Schyler Spencer sacked Logan Hays to end one scoring threat and the Falcons got an interception that led to Johnston’s field goal. North Pulaski grabbed two turnovers in the first half and Christian only ran five plays in Falcons’ territory in the first two quarters.
But offensively, Hatcher said, the team went backward.
“We had good plays,” Hatcher said. “We had a couple big ones get away from us and that’s what we can’t let happen when conference starts.”
After playing at home just once in the opening three-game stretch, North Pulaski (0-3) hits the road again to play West Helena.
“We’re not focused on where we’re playing,” Hatcher said. “We’re just trying to get where we need to be and playing football. We’re just focused on conference and we think we can shock a few people and actually pull it together come conference time.”
West Helena is picked to finish second behind 5A-Southeast favorite Watson Chapel. West Helena went 6-5 and reached the playoffs last season, bowing out in the first round to Pulaski Academy.
West Helena has a strong-armed quarterback in Markeith Jacobs, 5-10, 175 pounds, and a power back in DeKeathan Williams, 6-2, 200. Coach Russell Smith has touted receiver Aubrey Garner, 6-3, 195, as one of the best in the state.
