SPRINGDALE -- Keats Calhoon and Jacob Hicks have played a lot of pass and catch over the years.
On Friday night the Victory Christian combination dominated the second half in a 41-27 win against Shiloh Christian in Champions Stadium.
How They Scored
Victory Christian 41, Shiloh Christian 27
Victory Christian^13^7^14^7^—^41
Shiloh Christian^7^6^7^7^—^27
First Quarter
Shiloh — Goode 61 pass from Reece (Freeman kick), 10:28.
Vict — Calhoon 7 run (Karasanyi kick), 6:44.
Vict — Redmond 2 run (kick fails), 3:59.
Second Quarter
Shiloh — Carruthers 1 run (kick fails), 7:52.
Vict — Calhoon 25 run (Karasanyi kick), :38.
Third Quarter
Vict — Wehrli 10 run (Karasanyi kick), 10:40.
Vict — Hicks 80 pass from Calhoon (Karasanyi kick), 3:58.
Shiloh — Freeman 5 run (Freeman kick), 1:27.
Fourth Quarter
Shiloh — Solomon 71 pass from Reece (Freeman kick), 5:51.
Vict — Hicks 92 pass from Calhoon (Karasanyi kick), 5:25.
Shut out in the first half, the two could not be stopped in the second, as junior left-hander Calhoon connected with the senior Hicks five times for 252 yards and a pair of touchdowns that covered 80 and 92 yards to keep the Conquerors (3-0) undefeated.
"They have played together since the eighth grade," Victory Christian coach Brent Marley said. "In junior we knew they were going to have a special connection. And they have the last several years. They were on their A game tonight and made several big plays. We missed a few times, but for the most part, right when we had to have it, it seemed like those two came through."
That was never more evident than late in the fourth quarter. After the Saints (1-2) had scored on a huge 71-yard pass from Connor Reece to Matthew Solomon to pull within 34-27 with 5 minutes, 51 second left, the Conquerors were moved back inside their own 10 after a holding penalty on the kickoff.
On first down at the 8, Calhoon evaded a blitz and lost the ball on a pass attempt that was close to being a fumble. Instead, on the next play he found Hicks on a seam route down the middle of the field that went for 92 yards as Hicks simply ran away from Shiloh Christian's defenders. It was the same play that worked repeatedly in the second half for Calhoon and Hicks.
"We struggled getting over coverage over to cover it up," Shiloh Christian coach Jeff Conaway said. "They hurt us on it. That was one we'd like to have back and play it a little bit better."
The Saints, who failed to convert twice inside the red zone, also missed another chance at a key turnover to start the fourth quarter when Shiloh Christian defenders got through and knocked the ball loose from Calhoon. Shiloh Christian's Jacob Plunkett raced in and seemed to recover the ball, but somehow Calhoon got it back.
"Those were huge," Conaway said. "When we get in the red zone, we've got to come away with points. When you play a great team like that, you have to score. The fumble was big, too. It just seemed like the ball didn't bounce our way."
Victory Christian led 20-13 at halftime, and drove 74 yards on its opening possession of the third quarter to seize control of the game. Luke Wehrli capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run and a 27-13 lead. The drive was keyed by a 34-yard pass from Calhoon to Hicks, the first of many in the second half.
Extra Points
• Reece had a solid game for the Saints in his third career start. The sophomore was 21-of-43 for 316 yards and two long touchdown passes.
• Shiloh Christian receivers Solomon and Adler Goode each had more than 100 receiving yards. Goode caught 7 passes for 137 yards, and Solomon finished with 6 catches for 105 yards. Each scored a touchdown.
• Calhoon was 18-of-30 for 362 yards passing, and added 9 carries for 97 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Up Next: Shiloh Christian opens 4A-1 Conference play at home against Berryville.
Sports on 09/20/2014