SPRINGDALE — Football coaches will readily admit statistics don’t lie. They don’t always tell the truth, either.
The statistics Shiloh Christian senior Jake Scott has put up this year have been steady but not spectacular. His 32 receptions for 702 yards and 11 touchdowns are very good, make no mistake about that. But it’s the kind of plays the slot receiver makes that often don’t translate on the stat sheet.
Quarterback Kiehl Frazier said Scott often bails the Saints (9-1) out of busted plays because he knows how to find seams in the defense.
“If a play is busted, I’m always looking for Jake because he knows where to go to get open,” said Frazier, who’s passed for almost 3,000 yards and 40 touchdowns. “He’s just a phenomenal athlete and it just shows this year with all the touchdowns he’s had.”
There’s no stat column for keeping drives alive, or getting 11 yards on third-and-10. There’s no real way to measure that kind of contribution other than this: Scott has never seen a season end on any field other than War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, where all state championship games are played.
And he’s determined to keep that streak alive as the Saints host De Queen (7-4) tonight in Champions Stadium in the second-round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
“It’s been the most fun year I’ve ever had,” Scott said. “It’s just kinda weird I have like four games maximum left in my life. It’s just kinda hitting me now, but I want to make the most of it.”
Scott was a freshman on the 2006 Shiloh team that won the 3A state title. That unit is held in high esteem today with players like Crosby Tuck and Matt Simpson. The following year the Saints lost a heartbreaker to Glen Rose in the 3A final, but bounced back last year to win the 4A state title over Pine Bluff Dollarway.
“In ninth grade, when I came in I was with the ’06 seniors and they were all amazing,” Scott said. “And I never thought we’d get back to that level. This year I think this could be one of the best teams Shiloh has ever had.”
Shiloh coach Josh Floyd credited this year’s seniors with leading the team.
“We have a great group of seniors that have been through this and they know what to expect,” Floyd said. “They do a great job of leading.”
Frazier said he and Scott worked hard in the offseason to build chemistry. And that work has paid off for both.
“Last year I didn’t really know what I was doing and this year Jake really brought me into the system and told me where to go,” Frazier said. “He makes a lot of plays with his feet.”
For Scott, who also starts on defense, he knows his days on the football field are rapidly coming to an end.
“Hopefully that will be in Little Rock and we’ll be holding up a trophy,” Scott said. “And I’ll just try and soak it in and enjoy it because it will probably be the last game I ever play.
He also has baseball season to look forward to after helping the Saints reach the 4A title game last spring. Asked to pick a favorite, the outfielder made one of the few bobbles of the season.
“I don’t really have a favorite,” Scott said. “I guess whichever one is in season. I love them both.”
Comments
To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Please read our comment policy.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Registration is required to make comments. Click here to LOGIN.
You can register for FREE to post comments and receive alerts.