Greenwood coach Rick Jones doesn't mince words when it comes to describing the Shiloh Christian Saints.
“I don't think it's one of their better teams, I think it's their best team,” Jones said. “This group has been together for eight years. They've been looking forward to this year since the eighth and ninth grade.”
Shiloh seniors have played in three straight state championships, winning the last two. Receiver Zann Jones, two-way lineman Samuel Harvill and offensive lineman Travis Bodenstein started as freshmen in the 2007 state championship game. The next season, quarterback Kiehl Frazier transferred from West Fork.
Frazier is headed to Auburn, while Harvill is headed to Kansas State and Bodenstein, who is 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, is going to Kansas.
Then’s there is Jones, who is within reach of the all-time record for receptions this season, and Garrett Harper, who returned a kickoff for a touchdown on Labor Day against Euless (Texas) Trinity, although the Saints were hammered 80-26.
Today’s 8 p.m. game will be nationally televised by ESPNU, which will be the first between Arkansas teams.
“I think it's great that it will be two Arkansas teams,” Shiloh coach Josh Floyd said. “I'm excited for the fans, the players and the coaches.”
The game ends a brutal three-game nonconference gauntlet for the Saints. Shiloh Christian opened the season with a win against Watson Chapel prior to the Trinity game in Cowboys Stadium.
“Our guy's spirits are good,” Floyd said. “We're disappointed that we didn't play very good football that day. Obviously, (Trinity) had a lot to do with that. We played a team that might be the best in the country.”