Minutes after Pulaski Academy defeated Farmington 51-21 on Friday night in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs, Coach Kevin Kelley’s thoughts shifted toward Magnolia and the quarterfinals.
Magnolia was in the process of defeating Greenbrier 76-55. That game was still in the fourth quarter with Magnolia leading 69-55 when Kelley began thinking about the Panthers.
It was a year ago when Magnolia traveled to Pulaski Academy for a first-round game under first-year Coach Mark King and a new Flexbone offensive scheme. Pulaski Academy won last year’s matchup 63-34, which was Kelley’s 200th victory as a head coach.
But this season, Magnolia has won eight games, including a 52-49 victory at 2019 5A-Central champion Little Rock Christian on Sept. 11.
The Panthers (8-2) from the 5A-South Conference have Kelley’s attention, especially after they piled up 539 yards of offense against Greenbrier.
“That’s a tough matchup,” Kelley said. “When you see it [the option] once a year, that’s tough. We haven’t seen it this year. They make you play disciplined football. Their one-on-one guys are pretty good. They played us good last year.
“They know how to run that offense in their second year. I went to college with Coach King [at Henderson State University]. He’s a great football coach.
“This is a tremendous matchup. I think Magnolia is one of the top four or five teams in the state.”