SPRINGDALE -- Reigning 4A state champion Booneville stole the show in Monday's three-team scrimmage, but Shiloh Christian salvaged some momentum with a win over crosstown foe Springdale High to cap the evening.
Senior Doug Burke hit a 24-yard field goal with 2 minutes, 24 seconds left to lift the Saints to a 10-7 win over Springdale in a 25-minute, running clock game.
Booneville, which was reclassified to Class 3A this season, beat Shiloh 19-0 and topped Springdale 7-0 in the first two mini-games of the evening, but Shiloh's win over Springdale allowed the Saints to finish the night with some momentum while competing without 11 sick or injured players.
"I felt like the players played with a lot more passion in the second game, had a lot more energy," first-year Shiloh coach Jeff Conaway said. "It was more of a Friday-night environment."
Shiloh sophomore running back John Marcus Carruthers was a workhorse with the Saints missing two senior backs. He ran for 54 yards on nine carries against Springdale and caught a 30-yard screen pass that moved Shiloh deep into Bulldogs territory on the game-winning drive.
"He stepped up and played real big for us," Conaway said.
Springdale picked up a quick first down on its ensuing drive after the field goal, but turned the ball over on downs near midfield with less than 30 seconds left. The Bulldogs were up-and-down in both scrimmages, stalling several drives with penalties and struggling to tackle at times on defense.
"I think a lot of it comes back to our mindset coming into the game," Springdale coach Shane Patrick said. "I've got to do a better job of getting them mentally ready to play. I don't think we played near as well as we could. And it showed. And it's not taking anything away from these two teams. They were ready to play."
Shiloh scored first when receiver Matthew Solomon won a jump ball thrown by quarterback Ben Olsen and raced down the sideline for a 63-yard score. Springdale answered after quarterback Fuller Chandler's 30-yard run on a read option led to Kenneth Lane's 2-yard touchdown run.
Booneville 7, Springdale 0
Booneville's only pass of the night was James Ray's 30-yard touchdown throw that provided the difference in the Bearcats' 7-0 win over Springdale.
Ray lofted a pass to wide-open Matt Berry for a score on a rare passing play for the triple-option offense. That was all the cushion the Bearcats needed, as their defense prevented Springdale from crossing midfield.
Springdale came up with a fourth-down stop deep in its own territory late in the game, but the Bulldogs gave the ball right back after losing a mishandled snap, a turnover that effectively sealed the game.
Booneville 19, Shiloh Christian 0
Booneville broke three long touchdown runs and controlled both lines of scrimmage in an impressive 19-0 win over Shiloh.
Bryson May scored on a 40-yard touchdown run on Booneville's first drive, Josh Smith broke a 64-yard run for a score on the second and Matt Berry dashed 75 yards for a touchdown on the Bearcats' third drive. Booneville rushed for 273 yards on just 15 attempts and ended its fourth and final drive by taking a knee in the red zone.
Shiloh struggled on offense, picking up just two first downs in three drives. The Saints had trouble blocking Booneville and were also plagued by penalties.
Sports on 08/26/2014