BY TODD TRAUB
Leader sports writer
Cabot coach Mike Malham said both teams’ systems worked Friday night.
But it helped Cabot that it borrowed a little bit from the system favored by Pulaski Academy.
Cabot matched its Dead T running game against the empty backfields and multiple-receiver sets of Pulaski Academy and came way with a 35-34 victory in Little Rock that wasn’t clinched until the Panthers recovered a late fumble and ran out the clock.
At times each team pulled off what it does best.
Cabot turned in a pair of clock-consuming touchdown drives, one in the first half and one in the second, and held the ball for 9:48 of the third quarter, while Pulaski Academy took a 14-0 lead on quick-strike touchdown passes of 87 and 43 yards.
“What they did worked; they put up 34 points, and what we did worked,” Malham said.
The difference may have been the onside kicks. Pulaski Academy, nationally known last year for never punting, continued to go for it on fourth down against Cabot and attempted onside kicks after each score.
The Panthers started near midfield on the two scoring drives that pulled them within 20-14 at halftime. They started at their 50 to open the secondhalf and drove for their first lead, then scored on two straight possessions to go ahead 35-26.
The Panthers’ final score came after they surprised Pulaski Academy with an onside kick of their own and Chase Boyles recovered at the 50.
“We said ‘Let’s see if we can get us a break’ and it worked out,” Malham said.
But the drama didn’t end with Cabot’s 11-point lead. Lawson Vassar completed a touchdown and conversion pass to pull Pulaski Academy within 35-34, and after Boyles recovered yet another onside kick, Cabot quarterback Zach Craig fumbled and the Bruins recovered at the Panthers 40.
But with two quarterbacks in the game, Fredi Knighton tried to lateral back across the field after taking a pass from Jack Snider, and Snider couldn’t hang on to the lateral.
Linebacker Riley Hawkins recovered for Cabot and the Panthers finally hung on for the victory.
“We tried to give it back with another turnover there at the end,” Malham said. “But the defense did step up when it had to.”
Cabot fumbled four times and lost three in the first half as it fell behind 14-0. Fullback Spencer Smith fumbled on his first carry but went on to rush for 186 yards and all of Cabot’s touchdowns.
“He had a good battle at fullback,” Malham said. “I didn’t like the time he put it on the ground. The offensive line, I think, did a good job.”
Unless someone was counting heads on the sidelines, it was hard to tell Cabot and Pulaski Academy come from different classifications. Cabot is a large-school, 7A member of the 7A/6A-Central Conference while Pulaski Academy plays in the 7-4A.
“They might not have as many but they’ve got some good players,” Malham said.
Malham said the Panthers’ matchup with the Bruins was valuable because of the experience the Spread offense gave his defensive secondary.
“That was good for our defense because they hadn’t seen a passing game like they’ve got,” Malham said. “They do a lot of stuff and they do it well, they’ve got some kids that can run and catch. I thought our D-backs, we’ve got three new ones back there, and I thought they did a pretty god job.”
While not much of a passing team themselves, the Panthers play in the summer 7-on-7 leagues to hone their pass defense, and the experience, plus games with teams like the Bruins, should help Cabot in conference play.
The Panthers play their last non-conference game and first against a 7A opponent, when Springdale Har-Ber returns to Panther Stadium Friday. It was Har-Ber that edged Cabot from the state semifinals last year with a touchdown pass with less than two minutes left.
This year, Har-Ber has beaten El Dorado, the top team in 6A, 42-13, and it also took down Stillwater, Okla., 63-20. Har-Ber is ranked No. 1 in 7A and is No. 10 in the USA Today national high school poll.
“It only gets tougher,” Malham said. “Now after PA we get to look forward to Har-Ber coming in.”
