SPRINGDALE — Josh Floyd hopes his Shiloh Christian Saints can take care of Nashville without all the drama this year.
Shiloh Christian, which overcame a 35-0 deficit to defeat Nashville in the Class 4A quarterfinals last year, will square off against the Scrappers in the same round when the teams meet again Friday night at Champions Stadium in Springdale.
“It was the most unbelievable game I’ve ever been a part of,” said Floyd, the Saints’ seventh-year coach. “There were so many emotions going back and forth.”
The Saints began clawing back midway through the second quarter and finally caught the Scrappers late in the game. They used the victory as a springboard to their second consecutive state title and third in four years.
“The ball bounced their way a few times, but our kids were able to stay mentally tough,” Floyd said. “We were just trying to get it to where the mercy rule didn’t start at halftime. If it had, we would’ve never had time to catch up.”
Shiloh Christian (11-1), which is ranked No. 1 in Class 4A and fourth overall, is seeking its third consecutive state title and seventh overall.
The Saints have a loaded senior class with at least eight college prospects, including quarterback and Auburn commitment Kiehl Frazier, defensive tackle Samuel Harvill (Kansas State), offensive tackle Travis Bodenstein (Kansas), running back Garrett Harper, wide receivers Zann Jones and Jon Hawes, linebacker Colt Thomas and defensive lineman Troy Goss.
Frazier accounted for seven touchdowns against Nashville last year. He completed 17 of 33 passes for 4 touchdowns, scored twice on 31 rushing attempts for 106 yards and returned an interception for a touchdown.
Frazier has been just as productive this season with 34 touchdowns passing, 15 touchdowns rushing and just 4 interceptions. Harvill, who had three sacks and a safety against Nashville last year, has 31 tackles for losses this season, including 10 1/2 sacks.
Harper missed most of lastseason with an elbow injury, including all of the playoffs, but he is back and has turned in a solid season with 1,557 yards and 22 touchdowns combined rushing and receiving.
Billy Dawson coached Nashville to three consecutive state titles (2005-2007), but Dawson stepped down after last season.
New Scrappers Coach Tim Perry watched last year’s Shiloh Christian-Nashville game from the stands while on a recruiting trip as an assistant coach with Harding University. Perry has the Scrappers at 10-2 and ranked No. 4 in Class 4A, but he isn’t putting too much into last season’s game.
“We’re not the same team we were last year,” Perry said. “We’re not going to spend a whole lot of time talking about last year. That game is over. We just want to get as prepared as we can for this year’s Shiloh team.”
Nashville lacks the Division I college prospects Shiloh Christian has, but the Scrappers do have a talented senior class.
Like the Saints, Nashville runs a Spread offense, with running back Devencio Hawthorne (1,100 yards rushing) and quarterback Cole Moore leading the way. Moore’s top targets are fellow seniors Reggie Wright, Trais Marshall and Alan Copeland.
Perry said his team won’t be intimidated Friday night at Shiloh Christian.
“Their team is very impressive and well-coached,” he said. “We have a great deal of respect for their entire team. We have to play extremely well, but you expect that in this round of the playoffs.
“You can’t give them anything, and you can’t help them out by making mistakes.”Nashville vs.
Shiloh Christian WHAT Quarterfinals WHEN 7:30 p.m. Friday WHERE Champions Stadium, Springdale RECORDS Nashville 10-2; Shiloh Christian 11-1 RANKINGS Nashville is No. 4 in Class 4A; Shiloh Christian is No. 1 in Class 4A and No. 4 overall SEEDS Nashville is No. 3 from 7-4A; Shiloh Christian is No. 1 from 1-4A
Sports, Pages 29 on 11/25/2010