No Shimer, No Problem For Saints

SPRINGDALE — Dillon Sharp didn’t have much time to think about starting in the biggest game of his high school career.

He found out late Wednesday afternoon that he would be running Shiloh Christian’s offense, after starter Daniel Shimer tore the ACL in his left knee in a non-contact practice drill.

Sharp, with basically one day to prepare for the start, led the Saints to a 42-25 win over Greenbrier by completing 12 of 22 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

“Just a testament to Dillon Sharp,” Saints coach Josh Floyd said. “We have tried to groom him for three years, but even from May until now, he’s had a ton of reps. We’ve prepared for this moment. Obviously, you don’t ever want it to happen. But I think he came out here and played really well.”

The Saints (5-2-1, 4-1 5A-West) turned to a powerful run game behind Chandler Smith, Chris Cox and Matthew Solomon. That trio combined for 345 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

Sharp, a senior, was 4-of-5 for 64 yards and fired a 35-yard touchdown pass to Adler Goode on his opening drive to give the Saints a 7-0 lead. The teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter with the Saints holding a 14-12 lead.

Greenbrier (3-5, 2-3) trailed 21-12 late in the first half, and were driving before quarterback Harold Ross was intercepted at the goal line with under a minute left. Ross was replacing starter William Drewry, who was also out with a knee injury.

“Right before the half, that was a big turnover,” Greenbrier coach Randy Tribble said. “I thought we left some things there. But they did a better job of executing than us. I thought we played with some passion, but we just didn’t execute well enough.”

Shiloh Christian put the game away late in the third quarter when Cox broke an 85-yard touchdown run to extend its lead to 35-12.

EXTRA POINTS

• The Saints executed a pair of key fourth-down plays in the first half to keep drives alive. The biggest was Solomon’s 35-yard run on fourth and six that set up Smith’s 29-yard touchdown.

• The Shiloh Christian defense came up with three key turnovers, intercepting three passes. The Saints also held Greenbrier to just 97 yards rushing.

• Ross was 22-of-34 for 252 yards for the Panthers and fired three touchdown passes.

• Goode caught 5 passes for 86 yards for the Saints.

UP NEXT: Shiloh Christian is on the road next week at Clarksville. A win would likely secure a state playoff berth for the Saints, who missed the playoffs last season in their first year in Class 5A.

HOW THEY SCORED

Shiloh Christian 42, Greenbrier 25

Greenbrier^12^0^0^13^—^25

Shiloh Christian^14^7^14^7^—^42

First Quarter

Shiloh — Goode 35 pass from Sharp (Hale kick), 8:54.

Green — Buchanan 26 pass from Ross (kick fails), 6:52.

Shiloh — Smith 29 run (Hale kick), 5:22.

Green — Matthews 9 run (kick fails), 4:13.

Second Quarter

Shiloh — Lowe 3 pass from Sharp (Hale kick), 4:11.

Third Quarter

Shiloh — Smith 12 run (Hale kick), 9:27.

Shiloh — Cox 85 run (Hale kick), 1:23.

Fourth Quarter

Shiloh — Smith 1 run (Hale kick), 8:20.

Green — Patton 9 pass from Ross (Burchfield kick), 6:56.

Green — Williamson 58 pass from Ross (pass fails), :45.

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