SPRINGDALE — Rivers of sweat rolled down Kiehl Frazier’s cheek as the sun baked the synthetic turf in Champions Stadium.
It was early September and Shiloh Christian was staring at a 10-point deficit in the third quarter against Shreveport (La.) Evangel in the season opener. And it was looking like it was going to get worse.
The Saints rallied for a pair of touchdowns to retake the lead, lost the lead again, then regained the lead with just 18 seconds left. At the end, somehow junior defensive back Zann Jones avoided a pair of blockers and made a game-saving goal-line tackle on the final play of the game to preserve a 37-36 win for the Saints.
Shiloh (12-1) used that signature victory as a springboard, and 4 months later the Saints are back in Little Rock playing in their fourth consecutive state championship game. There were some bobbles along the way, including a 54-51 loss to Greenwood.
The Saints also overcame a 35-0 deficit to Nashville in the third round before staging perhaps the biggest comeback in Arkansas playoff history for a 51-49 win.
The Saints will take on Lonoke (11-3) in today’s Class 4A State Championship game in War Memorial Stadium. Shiloh is the defending state champion and also won the 3A state title in 2006.
Lonoke is making its first finals appearance since 1994.
Shiloh coach Josh Floyd said the key for the Saints today is stopping Lonoke running back Brandon Smith (6-foot-1, 210 pounds), who has rushed for 1,813 yards and 23 touchdowns.
“It starts with their running back. Brandon Smith is a really good football player,” Floyd said. “Their fullback (Morgan Linton) is really, really good. They are pretty balanced on offense. They run and throw it pretty well.”
Lonoke coach Doug Bost, who has led the Jackrabbits to the state final in his first season after being promoted from junior high, said stopping Shiloh’s high-powered offense would be a challenge unlike any his team has faced this season.
“With Shiloh, you just pick your poison,” Bost said. “If you sell out to stop the quarterback and running back, Frazier can throw 60-yard bombs off his back foot.”
Lonoke also has a solid passing game with quarterback Michael Nelson, who has thrown for more than 2,600 yards. Todd Hobson is Nelson’s favorite target with 54 catches.
Frazier, a 6-3, 215-pound junior, is a dual threat. He’s compiled more than 3,500 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, plus 635 rushing yards. During the regular season Frazier did not run much, but that has changed in the postseason.
Shiloh’s offense is built behind a dominant offensive line, led by junior Travis Bodenstein (6-5, 290) and senior center Josh Salsbury, a four-year starter.
“Those guys are huge,” Bost said. “They are strong and it’s hard to get pressure on the quarterback. And when they run, they just pancake people.”
Lonoke’s secondary is experienced and will present a challenge. Hobson has eight interceptions, while Darius Scott and Wes Plummer have combined for 10 picks.
The Jackrabbits have gone on the road to win three straight playoff games. Today’s game will be the closest to a home game Lonoke has had since the first-round win over Clarksville.
“I’m sure they’ll have a big crowd,” Floyd said. “But the game will come down to execution. Once the whistle blows, it will come down to which team executes the best.”