SPRINGDALE — Shiloh Christian, welcome to the big time.
The Saints, coming off their second consecutive Arkansas Class 4A state title and a top 25 finish in the USA Today national prep poll, have been invited to participate in the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series next fall in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Their opponent will be defending Texas Class 5A Division I state champion Euless Trinity. Kickoff is set for 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 6, in the first of a four-game extravaganza at the $1 billion home of the Dallas Cowboys. The game will be televised by Fox Southwest Sports.
“We wanted to put together a great schedule and play top competition,” Shiloh coach Josh Floyd said. “It doesn’t get much tougher or better than the Texas 5A state champion.”
The Saints, who went 13-1 in 2009, return seven offensive and eight defensive starters. A number of those returners are being recruited by a host of Division-I colleges, including quarterback Kiehl Frazier (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) and linemen Samuel Harvill (6-1, 260) and Travis Bodenstein (6-5, 290).
Frazier, one of the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback prospects, accounted for more than 4,500 yards of total offense and 62 touchdowns as a junior. He has received offers from a number of Division-I colleges, including Arkansas, Auburn and Oklahoma State.
“We’re excited, the kids are excited to get a chance to play at Cowboys Stadium against one of the top teams in the country,” Floyd said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Although the final schedule has not been completed, two other Texas powerhouse programs have also accepted bids to play in the Herbstreit event. Denton Guyer will take on Cedar Hill, which spent time last season ranked No. 1 in the country in several polls.
Trinity, located just outside of Dallas, won the state’s largest classification title in Texas in 2009 and returns a number of key players. The Trojans have won three state titles in five years under coach Steve Lineweaver.
Ilain Moeakiola leads the Trojans defense and was named the Dallas Morning News Newcomer of the Year after recording 108 tackles and 15 pass breakups in 2009. Tevin Williams (6-0, 185) also returns as the team’s top running back after missing the playoffs with an injury.
Williams gained 1,100 yards as a sophomore and more than 800 as a junior before the injury ended his season. Trinity defeated Austin Westlake 41-38 in overtime for the Division I title.
“This should give our guys plenty of motivation heading into the offseason,” Floyd said. “We have a lot of guys back and we’ll get Garrett Harper back, which will help a lot.”
The Saints have finalized their 2010 nonconference schedule. They will take on Class 6A Watson Chapel in the season opener Monday, Aug. 30, in the Hooten’s Arkansas Football Kickoff Classic at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
After the Trinity game, the Saints will be off until Sept. 17 when they host Greenwood in Champions Stadium.