SPRINGDALE -- It wasn't pretty, but Brad Bradshaw was glad to walk out of Champions Stadium with a victory Friday night.
The Bastrop, La., coach saw his team penalized 32 times for 270 yards, and minced no words after the game against Shiloh Christian.
Nonconference
Bastrop 42, Shiloh Christian 22
Bastrop^14^8^20^0^—^42
Shiloh Christian^0^0^14^8^—^22
First Quarter
Bast — Powell 3 run (Powell run), 10:08.
Bast — Powell 14 run (run failed), 2:32.
Second Quarter
Bast — Powell 23 run (Powell run), 8:41.
Third Quarter
Shiloh — Moore 3 run (run failed), 10:35.
Shiloh — Walker 7 pass from Reece (Reece run), 9:32.
Bast — Dowles 53 pass from Powell (run failed), 7:35.
Bast — Jones 19 run (run failed), 4:18.
Bast — Safety intentional grounding in end zone, 2:41.
Bast — Burks 45 run (kick failed), 2:29.
Fourth Quarter
Shiloh — Herman 20 pass from Brown (Bottoroff pass from Brown), 3:27.
"It's a shame two states can't play together without all these penalties," Bradshaw said. "It's a shame that this game was ruined by officials."
Bastrop came away with a 42-22 win, turning a close game in the third quarter into a comfortable win despite the number of infractions, most of which were holding penalties that negated big plays.
The Rams (1-0) took a 22-0 lead in the second quarter on the strength of quarterback Jerry Powell's legs as the senior quarterback scored three rushing touchdowns on runs of 3, 14 and 23 yards, the last coming on a fourth down play with it appeared the Saints (1-1) had him bottled up.
"Jerry is an outstanding football player," Bradshaw said. "He's actually a running back, but he's had to move to quarterback. He's a great kid and he does what he does."
Shiloh Christian, which lost starting running back Broc Berus in the second quarter with an undisclosed injury, moved inside the Bastrop 30-yard line three times in the first half, but could not come away with points and trailed 22-0 at halftime.
The Saints opened the third quarter with a 77-yard scoring march, aided by three Bastrop penalties that finally produced points. Shiloh Christian quarterback Connor Reece hit Tyler Roth for 24 yards, and Ben Moore capped the drive with a short touchdown run to pull the Saints within 22-6 with 10 minutes, 35 seconds left in the third quarter.
Shiloh Christian's defense came away with a stop as Lakin Hall sacked Powell, and the Rams made a costly mistake on a high snap on a fourth down punt and Shiloh Christian took over at the Rams' 7. One play later Reece hit Tion Walker in the left flat and Walker stepped into the end zone. Reece added a two-point run and the Saints were withing 22-14.
"I loved our kids' fight," Shiloh Christian coach Jeff Conaway said. "They had a lot of energy, and still had a lot of hope and momentum and got right back in the game."
The Saints attempted an onside kick after the Walker touchdown and almost came away with the recovery near midfield. Instead Bastrop covered the kick and capitalized as Powell hit Alfoncius Dowles on a 53-yard strike over the middle for a touchdown and a 34-14 lead.
The Rams dominated most of the remainder of the game defensively, led by senior defensive end Travez Moore, who was in the Shiloh Christian backfield most of the night. Moore has been offered by LSU and proved his mettle with several huge defensive plays.
Bastrop extended its lead to 36-14 when the defense forced Reece into an intentional grounding play in his own end zone, then added another score on Travion Burks' 45-yard run one play following the free kick.
Shiloh Christian added a late score when reserve quarterback Landon Brown connected with Jace Herman on a 20-yard touchdown pass.
The Saints will be on the road net week at Tulsa (Okla.) Victory Christian.
Sports on 09/12/2015