SPRINGDALE — Drew Tyler said he wasn’t nervous early in Friday’s game in Champions Stadium.
It would be understandable if he had been, given that someone who’s still two years away from legally driving a car was suddenly handed the keys to Shiloh Christian’s offense.
Tyler found his comfort level midway through the first quarter and the freshman scored two rushing touchdowns, leading the Saints to a 49-14 mercy-rule win against Gentry in 4A-1 Conference action.
GameBreaker
SHILOH CHRISTIAN 49, GENTRY 14
WHY THE SAINTS WON
Shiloh Christian freshman quarterback Drew Tyler accounted for three touchdowns, including two on the ground in his first varsity start.
WHY THE PIONEERS LOST
Gentry had two turnovers and an 8-yard punt that led to 21 Shiloh points in the first half.
“I just knew I needed to come out and get the ball to my playmakers and let them do what they needed to do,” Tyler said.
Basically all Tyler needed to do was get the ball to the person he shares household chores with, his older brother David Tyler. A veteran of past state championships with the Saints, David Tyler played a key role in the first half to help Shiloh (4-3, 3-1 4A-1) pull away. He was big in the passing game with four catches for 58 yards, including three key receptions in the first half.
Drew Tyler’s rushing touchdowns helped the Saints erase a 7-0 deficit. As the game wore on, he gained more confidence in the passing game and finished the first half completing 15 of 23 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown. His only mistake was an interception trying to make a play near the sideline, a pass he said he’d like to have back.
“I just tried to force it in there,” he said.
Turnovers were costly for Gentry (0-7, 0-4), which started out moving the ball and making plays behind senior running back Tanner Coy. The Pioneers led 7-0 on Coy’s 20-yard scoring pass from Dylan Ochs, and later tied the score at 14-14 on Ochs’ 27-yard pass to Jarod Cousins after a lengthy Coy kickoff return.
But things went south for the Pioneers when Coy fumbled twice and an 8-yard punt gave Shiloh another short field. The result was three Saints touchdowns and a close game turned into a rout.
“You ask any coach about this game and what kills you, and turnovers and field position are in the top three or four for sure,” Gentry coach Brian Little said. “When you’re struggling like we are with some other issues, like depth and injuries, you can’t allow those things.”
Shiloh coach Josh Floyd said starting quarterback Michael Slone was injured this week in practice, but is expected to return. But Drew Tyler certainly proved that he’s capable of running the offense, Floyd said.
“Drew is a guy that we feel like is a pretty good dual threat for us,” Floyd said. “He threw the ball really well and you could see on that option read where he scored that he has some explosiveness.”
The Saints host Gravette next week in a key conference game with a logjam at the top of the standings with five teams all with one loss.