SPRINGDALE -- Cameron Ford knew something was off after long-time friend and teammate Connor Reece took a shot to the helmet.
The Shiloh Christian quarterback was tackled as he ran around the left side of the line during the second quarter of a Week 10 loss at Pea Ridge. Reece returned for two plays before the medical staff pulled the plug on the senior playing another down.
At A Glance
Connor Reece
SCHOOL Shiloh Christian
HEIGHT 5-10
WEIGHT 175
CLASS Senior
POSITION Quarterback
NOTABLE Switched from cornerback to quarterback two weeks before his freshman season when the starter moved. … Was named “Mr. SCS” during homecoming. … Has accounted for more than 3,000 total yards and 34 touchdowns in leading the Saints’ to their first 10-win season since 2010. … He has passed for more than 7,000 yards with 73 touchdowns and 19 interceptions while positing a 26-10 record as a three-year starter.
Reece didn't know exactly what happened until watching the film, but one thing was certain.
"I was a little out of it," Reece said. "I really wasn't myself."
Fortunately for the Saints (10-2), he's back to full strength for Friday's second-round game at Heber Springs (6-4) in the Class 4A playoffs. They stood little chance of forging a comeback with the team's leader and third-year stater on the sidelines.
"When you lose your field general, sometimes chaos can break out and that's what happened," said Saints coach Jeff Conaway. "When he's out on the field, a lot of those problems are eliminated because he's a problem solver."
Ford, a two-way lineman, and Reece have been tight since preschool. They used to clear the furniture to create a makeshift field in Reece's living room. One would clutch a foam football as he tried to run over or by the other to score a touchdown on the opposite side of the room.
It was their own version of a one-on-one tackling drill before they learned what a drill was.
Neither held back.
"It was an all-out brawl," Ford said. "Yeah, fun times."
Neither let a bump or a bruise stop the fun either. That's why Ford knew, perhaps better than anyone in Blackhawk Stadium, that Reece was dealing with something serious.
"I was always bigger than him, but he wasn't afraid to give me a big lick," Ford said. "So I knew something was wrong with him because he is a tough dude and a hard player."
Ford was well award Reece wanted to play that game more than most. During his football career, Reece had never defeated Pea Ridge, so watching the second half from the sideline as the Blackhawks' lead grew from two points to a 30-13 victory was difficult.
Plus, it was the first time Reece was unable to finish a game.
"It was weird," Reece said. "That was one game that was circled on the calendar, but it just didn't work out."
Reece has accounted for more than 3,000 total yards and 34 touchdowns in leading the Saints' to their first 10-win season since 2010. He has passed for more than 7,000 yards with 73 touchdowns and 19 interceptions while positing a 26-10 record as a three-year starter.
"You always have it in the back of your mind that you never know which week will be the last one," Reece said. "You've got to take advantage of every day and give your best effort every day. We're going to go out and make the most out of every moment we have left."
Win or lose Friday night, Reece and Ford will be sporting camouflage and 12-gauge shotguns in a Des Arc duck blind on Saturday morning. Des Arc's about an hour away from Heber Springs, so Reece doesn't mind the four-hour bus ride to Friday's game because he'll get to hunt on the opening morning of duck season.
Other than football, hunting is one of Reece's passions. He's learning how to call ducks and believes he's as accurate with buck shot as he is throwing a football. Ford, however, isn't so sure.
"I cannot confirm or deny that he's a good shot," Ford said. "He might be scaring more (ducks) away than he's bringing in, but he's better than I am, that's for sure."
They both hope that's the only shots Reece takes this weekend.
Sports on 11/17/2016