Shiloh Christian can lock up a playoff berth on Friday when it travels to Clarksville in 5A-West Conference action.
But the Saints will do it without senior quarterback Daniel Shimer, who was lost for the season with a knee injury. Shimer hurt his left knee in a noncontact drill in practice last week.
Prior to the injury, Shimer was putting together what Saints coach Josh Floyd called, “as good a seven games as I’ve ever seen in high school football.”
Shimer had rushed for 1,155 yards and 17 touchdowns, and was 83 of 163 passing for 1,265 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was on pace for the rare 1,000/2,000 season.
The Saints now turn to senior Dillon Sharp (6-foot, 185 pounds) to lead the team. Sharp helped the Saints to their fourth straight conference win last week over Greenbrier.
“He’s our guy,” Floyd said. “He’s put in a lot of work in the offseason and now he’s got his opportunity.”
Senior Chris Cox will also see time at quarterback, Floyd said.
The Saints (5-2-1, 4-1) can wrap up a playoff berth with a road win Friday night at Clarksville. Last season Shiloh Christian did not make the playoffs in its first season in Class 5A.
This year’s seniors adopted a motto TBF, which stands for Take Back Fridays. That has been the team’s focus since last season’s 4-6 campaign.
“It’s been a goal of the seniors to get Shiloh football back to where it should be,” Floyd said. “Last year we had a rough year. This year’s senior class wanted to leave a legacy for the program.”
—Chip Souza
@nwachip
LINCOLN
Wolves Changing Their Image
Lincoln continues to make progress in changing its losing image in football.
The Wolves improved to 7-1 with a 41-7 victory over Gravette at Wolf Pack Stadium. Lincoln will have at least three more chances, including a playoff game, to break the school record that was set in 2011 when the Wolves finished 7-4.
Lincoln will host Ozark on Friday before ending 4A-1 Conference play at Farmington. Ozark is 2-6 on the season while Farmington is 6-1-1 after its 39-23 victory over the Hillbillies. Lincoln’s only loss is to Prairie Grove, which is undefeated in league play.
Lincoln provided plenty of offense against Gravette after losing 6-0 to the Lions last season. Dalton Simmons intercepted a pass with 41 seconds left in the second quarter to set up a score that produced 34 consecutive points. The Wolves took advantage of the turnover when Danny Cavillo caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Drew Harris with four seconds remaining before halftime.
“That (interception) by Dalton got us going,” Lincoln coach Brad Harris said. “Drew then squared his feet up with the throw and Danny Cavillo made a huge catch in traffic. That gave us momentum and we just talked at halftime about playing harder in the second half.”
Harris threw three touchdown passes and Tyler Cummings scored three touchdowns for the Wolves, who dominated the second half against Gravette.
— RICK FIRES
@NWARICK
GRAVETTE
Lions Know Importance Of Berryville Game
Ask a football coach about the most important game in his team’s season, and the most likely response is simply “the next one.”
Gravette coach Bill Harrelson really meant it when he referred to his team’s 4A-1 Conference game Friday at Berryville. The Lions (2-6, 2-3) need a win over the Bobcats to greatly enhance their hopes of earning a playoff bid for the seventh straight year.
“There is no looking ahead for us right now,” Harrelson said. “Berryville has our attention right now, and this game has become ultra-important. We have two wins, and we really need three to get into the playoffs.”
Harrelson has been impressed with his players’ attitudes after Gravette’s loss to Lincoln, the only conference game this season that hasn’t gone down to the wire. He said the Lions played a good first half, then self-destructed with fumbles that put the game out of reach.
“I like the way the seniors have stepped up this week,” Harrelson said. “Players like Ryan Bolduc, Cody Robinson and Tyler Kerley do not want to break the playoff streak, and it’s important to them that we go again.
“We feel like we’re two or three plays away from being 4-1 in the conference. Sometimes, you just have to play with the hand you’re dealt with, and this time, we need a four-quarter effort.”
— HENRY APPLE
@NWAHenry
ELKINS
Elks Still In The Hunt
Elkins missed a chance to stay atop of 3A-1 Conference standings with last week’s 27-22 loss at West Fork. But even with the setback, the Elks are still very much in the chase for a conference title.
“Our guys, they understand it,” Elkins coach Thurman Shaw said. “If we can beat Greenland then we’ll be right in the hunt. With playoff positioning and things like that, there’s still a lot to play for.”
Both Elkins (5-3, 4-1 3A-1) and West Fork scored on their first possessions last Friday. The Elks’ defense then buckled down the rest of the way, but had too many lost opportunities to put the game away.
“We had a pass go right through our linebacker’s hands, and the West Fork receiver was just there behind him and scored a touchdown,” Shaw said. “Then we also turned the ball over on a fourth and 1.
“There was a lot of little things like that, but it was a great ballgame.”
Elkins hosts Greenland on Friday, then closes out the regular season with Senior Night at home against conference leader Green Forest.
“It’s in our hands,” Shaw said. “If we can win out we win a conference championship.”
— VERNON TARVER
@NWAVernon
PEA RIDGE
Hawks Look To Finish Strong
Pea Ridge played one of its best games of the season last week in a 35-28 loss to Prairie Grove, and Blackhawks coach Tony Travis is looking for a similar effort Friday at home against Farmington.
“Tough to get so close, and being a couple of plays away,” Travis said. “It was tough to lose, but I was proud of our guys. We came out of that lockerroom with our heads held high.”
Junior running back Shane Ivy rushed for 108 yards and quarterback Seth Brumley threw for more than 240 yards against the Tigers. Receiver Logan Rose also had a good night catching the football.
“Logan Rose continues to impress at receiver,” Travis said. “The last few weeks, he is having the type of season that we thought he would have. He continues to get better, and I don’t know if there is a better receiver in the conference.”
Pea Ridge is out of the postseason hunt, but the Blackhawks can play spoiler this week as Farmington is battling for seeding to the Class 4A playoffs.
“We are looking to build off last week with, hopefully, two more strong performances,” Travis said.
— Paul Nielsen
@nwapaul