LITTLE ROCK, Ark — In 2022, Pulaski Academy won the 6A state championship in their first year in the league, and seemed poised for a repeat run, with their star running back, wide receiver, and quarterback set to return.
For a variety of reasons, none of those three are playing now, but the Bruins still have their hopes set squarely on a return to War Memorial— thanks in large part to a new leader who’s an old familiar at Joe T Hatcher Stadium.
“Basically as young as I can remember being alive," said Brandon Cobb.
Cobb grew up on the Pulaski Academy football field
“Both my brothers had been in the high school program since I was in second grade, so I’d been water-boying, ball-boying since I was 7 or 8," he added.
Last season, Cobb backed up his friend, star QB Kel Busby. Though after last year’s state title, Busby decided to focus on his baseball career
"Kel told me that he wasn’t coming back, so since February or so I’ve been preparing with my guys, getting extra reps, so we were ready for it. Love Kel no matter what," he explained.
Almost a decade after first stepping foot on Rector Field, Cobb now leads the Bruins onto those hallowed grounds on Friday nights
“It’s been a dream you know, ball-boying for Braden, Nolan, Layne, Charlie, seeing how role models they were and leaders for those teams, just to be that guy means a lot, and it’s an honor," Cobb said.
And lead them he has, as the Bruins currently sit at 7-1 on the season and Cobb has thrown for more yards than any other quarterback in the state. Oh, and he’s done that with a cast on his non-throwing hand since he suffered a thumb injury in a scrimmage.
“Going down and hurting his thumb, having to sit out one game, it really focused him,” explained head coach, Anthony Lucas.
“When you hear the word surgery it’s pretty scary, but my doctors got me healed up pretty well," Cobb said.
“We say that he’s been better since he got the big cast,” laughed Lucas.
“You don’t get laces as much,” said Cobb.“Getting used to it is tough but you just gotta play through it.”
That toughness endeared Cobb to his teammates just as much as the gaudy stats and big wins
“We always knew he was tough,” said Lucas. “He’s the only junior who’s a team captain.”
“They let the players vote, so to hear my name called really shows how the guys look at me, that I have to be a leader in and out of the locker room,” Cobb said.
Senior Patton Whicker said sees it too.
“It’s definitely a tough role to fill, but he’s done a good job of stepping up and doing it," Whicker added.
Cobb and the Bruins are set to host Greenwood this Friday night in a rematch of last year’s 6A state title game.