PINE BLUFF — One tough opponent down. One much tougher opponent to follow.
Senior quarterback Kiehl Frazier led a jaw-dropping first-half offensive display in nationally ranked Shiloh Christian’s 54-22 victory over Watson Chapel on Monday night at Arkansas-Pine Bluff ’s Golden Lion Stadium.
It was the 12th consecutive victory for Shiloh Christian, the two-time defending Class 4A state champion and No. 25 in USA Today’s Super 25 rankings.
The Saints amassed 431 total yards on just 35 plays in the first half and scored on all six possessions to lead 40-8 at halftime.
Frazier, one of the nation’s top recruiting prospects, ran 10 times for 101 yards and 3 touchdowns (55, 6 and 2 yards) and completed 9 of 12 passes for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns in the half.
Senior running back Garrett Harper ran 5 times for 77 yards, highlighted by a 55-yard scoring burst on the game’s second play from scrimmage.
Senior wide receiver Zann Jones had touchdown receptions of 11 and 4 yards.
Watson Chapel, No. 1 in Class 5A after advancing to the playoff semifinals the past two years in Class 6A, offered little resistancein the opening 24 minutes after an early special teams flurry.
Saints Coach Josh Floyd said his team couldn’t play much better offensively than it did in the first half.
“We’re very excited with the way our guys played,” he said.
The competition needle moves to extreme levels Sept. 6, when Shiloh faces Euless (Texas) Trinity, ranked No. 1 by USA Today.
Euless, which competes in Texas’ largest classification, has won state championships three of the past five seasons.
Frazier f inished 13 of 24 fo r 19 8 ya rd s and 4 touchdowns.
In the second half, he threw touchdowns of 24 yards to Jones and 19 yards to senior running back Jason Schisler.
The Saints finished with 339 rushing yards on 35 attempts.
Watson Chapel was led by senior halfback Aaron Lagrone, who rushed 14 times for 126 yards and 2 second-half touchdowns (36 and 22 yards).
Watson Chapel actually led 8-7 with 11:13 remaining in the first quarter after Lagrone returned a kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown and senior quarterback Kyle Coleman followed with a two-point run.
But the Saints scored the final 33 points of the first half.
Shiloh needed only two plays to regain the lead.
Frazier weaved 55 yards on a scramble for the touchdown with 10:47 remaining in the first quarter.
Frazier then scored on a 2-yard run with 7:36 remaining in the first quarter and on a 6-yard run with three seconds left in the first quarter.
On their next possession, the Saints covered 97 yards in nine plays to score again - an 11-yard pass from Frazier to Jones with 6:31 remaining in the first half.
The lead grew to 40-8 when Frazier found Jones, wide-open in the end zone, for a 4-yard touchdown with 2:12 left in the first half.
High school results
MONDAY’S GAMES
At War Memorial Stadium Vilonia 42, Sylvan Hills 14 Pulaski Academy 59, CAC 33 At Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lonoke 38, Star City, 29 Shiloh Christian 54, Watson Chapel 22
TONIGHT’S GAMES
At War Memorial Stadium Mills vs. LR Parkview, 5 p.m.
Cabot vs. Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m.
At Arkansas State, Jonesboro Greene County Tech vs. Jonesboro, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
At University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Charleston vs. Clarksville, 6 p.m.
Helena-West Helena Central vs. Rogers Heritage, 8 p.m.
Junction City at Rison 6 p.m.
Colcord, Okla., at Gentry, 7 p.m.
Sports, Pages 18 on 08/31/2010