McJoy, Holt score twice as Conway overwhelms Pulaski Academy
Conway 56, Pulaski Academy 7
LITTLE ROCK — Atraio McJoy Jr. caught two touchdown passes and Dereon Holt scored on a run and a kickoff return as Conway defeated Pulaski Academy 56-7 Friday night.
The Wampus Cats turned two early short fields into a 14-0 lead, scored four touchdowns in the second quarter and added two more after halftime. Conway improved to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the 7A-Central. Pulaski Academy fell to 2-6 and 1-4.
Conway took over at the PA 24 after stopping the Bruins on fourth down during the opening possession. A double-pass play freed McJoy in the end zone for the opening touchdown with 9:18 remaining in the first quarter. The successful kick made it 7-0.
The Wampus Cats recovered a fumble on the next PA possession and returned it to the 7. Holt needed one carry to finish, lowering his shoulder on a run up the middle with 7:55 left. The Bruins prevented another score later in the quarter when Sam Hurtado recovered a Conway fumble in the end zone for a touchback.
Conway stopped another fourth-down attempt early in the second quarter, then drove for a 2-yard touchdown keeper by Ryder Cook. Holt supplied several runs on the possession, and Elijah Collum caught a pass for a first down. Cook scored with 9:49 left in the half, extending the lead to 21-0 after the kick.
PA answered on its next offensive play. Myles McDaniel took a handoff, moved toward the edge and threw to Bryce Gittens, who caught the ball near midfield, outran the pursuit and used a stiff-arm to complete an 81-yard touchdown. The extra point cut the deficit to 21-7 with 9:29 remaining.
Holt immediately erased that momentum. He gathered the ensuing kickoff, followed a block and broke free for a touchdown. Just 13 seconds had elapsed on the game clock between the two scores, and Conway led 28-7 after the kick.
Cook then found Collum for a touchdown with 6:10 remaining. Jeremiah Carey had kept that possession moving with a third-down catch and a tackle-breaking run after the reception. Later in the quarter, Cook faked a flip to Carey and threw to a wide-open McJoy for his second touchdown catch. Conway carried a 42-7 lead into halftime.
Dillan Mabry added a rushing touchdown on the first Conway possession of the third quarter. A blocked PA punt provided another short field, and Jacquez Joshua scored on an 11-yard run on the next snap. Both extra points were good, completing the scoring at 56-7. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Scoring summary
First quarter
9:18 — Conway: Atraio McJoy Jr. touchdown reception on a double-pass play (kick good). Conway 7-0.
7:55 — Conway: Dereon Holt 7-yard run (kick good). Conway 14-0.
Second quarter
9:49 — Conway: Ryder Cook 2-yard run (kick good). Conway 21-0.
9:29 — Pulaski Academy: Bryce Gittens 81-yard pass from Myles McDaniel (kick good). Conway 21-7.
9:16 — Conway: Dereon Holt kickoff return (kick good). Conway 28-7.
6:10 — Conway: Elijah Collum pass from Ryder Cook (kick good). Conway 35-7.
Conway: Atraio McJoy Jr. pass from Ryder Cook (kick good). Conway 42-7.
Third quarter
Conway: Dillan Mabry run (kick good). Conway 49-7.
Conway: Jacquez Joshua 11-yard run (kick good). Conway 56-7.
Players who stood out
Atraio McJoy Jr., Conway — Two touchdown receptions, including the opening score on a double-pass play.
Dereon Holt, Conway — A 7-yard touchdown run and a kickoff-return touchdown.
Ryder Cook, Conway — A 2-yard touchdown run and touchdown passes to Elijah Collum and McJoy.
Elijah Collum, Conway — Second-quarter touchdown reception from Cook.
Dillan Mabry, Conway — Third-quarter rushing touchdown.
Jacquez Joshua, Conway — An 11-yard touchdown run following a blocked punt.
Bryce Gittens, Pulaski Academy — An 81-yard touchdown reception.
Myles McDaniel, Pulaski Academy — Threw the 81-yard touchdown pass to Gittens after taking a handoff.
Sam Hurtado, Pulaski Academy — Recovered a Conway fumble in the end zone for a first-quarter touchback.