Shiloh avenges FG miss, escapes with close victory

Little Rock Christian’s Trey Harris (right) and Shiloh Christian’s Jake Nelson reach for the ball during Friday’s game. The Saints held on to beat the Warriors 44-42. For more high school photos, visit arkansasonline.com/galleries.
Little Rock Christian’s Trey Harris (right) and Shiloh Christian’s Jake Nelson reach for the ball during Friday’s game. The Saints held on to beat the Warriors 44-42. For more high school photos, visit arkansasonline.com/galleries.

Shiloh Christian Coach Jeff Conaway pulled Patrick Williams to the side after the sophomore kicker missed a 35-yarder late in the third quarter.

[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]

"I told Patrick not to worry about it because you're probably going to get another shot," Conaway said.

Williams eventually kicked a 25-yarder with 24 seconds remaining in the game, lifting the Saints to a 44-42 victory at Warrior Field on Friday.

Saints senior quarterback Connor Reece completed 24 of 33 passes for 331 yards. He was 3-for-3 passing and gained 35 of his 78 yards rushing on the winning drive, most coming on runs over the right side of the line.

"We had a lot of guys stepping up there blocking along the perimeter that gave Connor all the space he needed," Conaway said.

Little Rock Christian quarterback Jackson Bowersock, who threw for four touchdowns, completed two quick passes to get the Warriors into field goal range, but sophomore Elliot Hankins' attempt from 42 yards was wide left as time expired.

"I knew he had the range and he had the distance, and it maybe only missed by a yard left," Warriors Coach Jeff Weaver said. "When it crosses over [by the goalpost], both sides were celebrating, which is kinda funny. But that's how close it was."

The key play came late in the first half came when Shiloh Christian's Clark Moore recovered a Ladarius Burnes fumble at the Saints' 45. Five plays and 54 seconds later, Reece hit Nelson in the back corner of the end zone with a 20-yard scoring pass with 18 seconds remaining in the half. The play was set up by a 15-yard catch by Reagan Neal to convert a 3rd-and-10 situation.

Moore's recovery was crucial because the Warriors appeared to be driving to add to their 28-27 lead. In addition, they deferred the coin toss and were going to get the ball to start the second half. Instead of trailing by eight points and trying to stop Little Rock Christian's offense, the Saints took a 34-28 lead into intermission.

Both quarterbacks threw three touchdowns in the first half. Reece hooked up with Brennan Fulgham on the first play for a 50-yard scoring strike on the first play from scrimmage after Andrew Osbourne recovered the Warriors' onside kick attempt to begin the game.

The Warriors answered with 21 consecutive points. Bowerstock connected with Bland Henley and Austin Guymon on touchdown passes of 3 and 4 yards, respectively. Sophomore MJ Loggins capped the scoring by intercepting Reece's pass and scoring from 47 yards.

Shiloh Christian clawed back into it with Reece hitting Jaret Russ for a 10-yard touchdown pass. The Saints then sandwiched a pair of scoring drives -- both capped off by 1-yard touchdown runs by Broc Berus -- around Bowersock's 13-yard pass to Trey Harris to make it 28-27 and set the stage for Moore's fumble recovery.

Sports on 09/10/2016

Upcoming Events