SPRINGDALE — Drew Estes didn’t get a lot of chances to shine offensively for Vilonia.
Defensively it was a different story.
Estes intercepted two Shiloh Christian passes, the last with under a minute left to preserve a 35-32 victory Friday night in Champions Stadium.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pound junior stepped in front of a Casey Paraday pass as the Saints were driving, sealing the Eagles’ 5A-West road win to improve to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference.
While Estes’ interceptions were key, the Eagles’ double-wing offense was just as effective, draining huge amounts of time in piling up 388 yards on the ground. Houston Cotton had 179 yards and one touchdown, and Michael Atkinson had 122 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown.
So effective was Vilonia’s offense, that Shiloh got just six offensive snaps in the third quarter.
Gamebreaker
VILONIA 35, SHILOH 32
WHY THE EAGLES WON
Vilonia pounded the ball on the ground, and backs Houston Cotton and Michael Atkinson each rushed for more than 100 yards.
WHY THE SAINTS LOST
Shiloh Christian turned the ball over four times, including three interceptions. The Saints also ran just six offensive plays in the third quarter.
“This was a tough game,” Vilonia coach Jim Stanley said. “We had to play our hearts out.”
Shiloh Christian (1-4, 0-2) trailed 7-0 early before striking for two quick first quarter touchdowns to take a 14-7 lead. Paraday hit Ryan Michaelis on a 44-yard scoring pass, then after Shiloh’s Matt Hansen recovered a Vilonia fumble, Paraday hit Chandler Smith one play later for the lead.
Paraday was 21-of-37 for 334 yards and four touchdowns, but also had three interceptions.
“They didn’t do a whole lot different defensively in the second half,” Shiloh coach Josh Floyd said. “We just just ourselves with turnovers.
“But they did a great job of keeping the football away from us. They dominated the entire third quarter.”
Vilonia rallied for a pair of touchdowns to take a 27-14 before the Saints closed the gap to 27-24 at halftime on Seung Jae Lee’s 42-yard field goal.
The Eagles simply drained the third quarter, limiting the Saints to just six plays. The Eagles, following a Shiloh interception, marched 65 yards — all on the ground — capped by Atkinson’s 23-yard burst with just 49 seconds left in the quarter for a 35-24 lead.
Shiloh closed to within 35-32 when Chris Cox hauled in a Paraday 40-yard scoring pass, then Paraday hit Michaelis for the two-point conversion with 5:11 left.
Vilonia drove to the Saints’ 40 but turned the ball over on downs, giving Shiloh the ball at its own 20 with just over two minutes left.
The Saints drove out to their own 35 before Estes came up with the late interception.
“The defense has just taken care of us,” Stanley said. “I’ve got the best defensive coordinator there is (Bill Buckner). He does so many different coverages and he tries to keep them off balance. He just does a great job with them.”
Shiloh junior quarterback Daniel Shimer saw his first action of the season after suffering an ankle sprain in summer practices.