Unbeaten PCA faces unique challenge with option-happy West Memphis

Published 12:00 am Friday, September 19, 2008

Porters Chapel Academy coach Randy Wright is ready for just about every option-based formation imaginable tonight when the undefeated and top-ranked Eagles battle West Memphis, Ark. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with homecoming festivities planned for 6:30.

“They run a ton of option and he runs it very well,” Wright said of West Memphis quarterback Preston Pugh, the coach’s son who accounted for five touchdowns in a 49-0 victory last week. “He rides the fake to the fullback really well. It looks like a true read-option and he literally has to make the decision whether to give it to the fullback or pull it out and run with it.”

Wright estimated that Pugh is about 70 percent of the Black Knights’ offense and fullback James Chong accounts for about 20 percent. A pair of running backs, Keenan Sykes and Redd Smith, account for the final 10 percent.

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Not only does West Memphis run the option, the Knights run it out of several different offensive alignments, Wright said. On one play, the Knights will be in the wishbone, then on the next in a flex-bone with runners on the wings, and on the next play they may have three receivers split wide and run the option from it. Rarely will the Knights throw, however.

Wright said scheming against the offense is difficult because it is something the Eagles have not seen this year.

“We have to have a lot of trust on the defensive side of the ball and we stay home, take care of our responsibilities and don’t overpursue,” Wright said. “We have to take care of our own responsibilities on the defensive side of the ball.”

Porters Chapel, ranked No. 6 in the Associated Press statewide poll behind larger classification schools, is coming off a 43-7 blistering of Veritas last Friday night. The double threat of quarterback Clayton Holmes and Josh Perry in the backfield and tight end Reed Gordon have the Eagles off to a 4-0 start.

For the second straight week last week, Holmes returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. On the year, PCA has returned three kicks and one punt for scores, and also have the leading kicker in the county. Jason Greer has connected on 17 of 19 extra points and a field goal.