SPRINGDALE — A strong non-conference schedule is keeping the heat on top-ranked Shiloh Christian.
Kiehl Frazier passed for three touchdowns as the Saints pulled away over the final 20 minutes Friday for a 41-24 victory over Tulsa Lincoln Christian at Champions Field.
The Bulldogs (1-1), ranked No. 1 in Oklahoma Class 2A, pulled within 20-17 less than a minute into the second half before Shiloh Christian began wearing down Lincoln Christian.
Garrett Harper had touchdown runs of 20 yards with five minutes left and 74 yards with 57 seconds remaining to give Shiloh Christian (2-0) a 34-17 lead after three quarters.
Frazier sealed the victory with a 29-yard pass to Jake Scott with 5:52 left in the game.
Lincoln Christian added a Matt Lawwill 6-yard touchdown run with 51 seconds remaining to set the final margin.
Frazier was 18 of 33 for 306 yards passing and added 95 yards on 15 rushes while directing a turnover-free offense.
"He runs the ball great. He throws the ball. He creates," Lincoln Christian Coach Darren Melton said.
Frazier turned a busted play into a touchdown late in the first half to stake the Saints to a 20-10 halftime lead.
The junior quarterback chased down an errant center snap, sidestepped one rusher, then heaved a pass more than 45 yards off his back foot as another defender closed in, finding Scott for a 26-yard touchdown.
"Snap it over his head, he picks the ball up, throws it as far as he can and they catch it," Melton said. "What do you say other than great play ?"
The Bulldogs, who lost in the Oklahoma Class 2A semifinals last year, kept Shiloh Christian off balance most of the first half.
After Frazier's 42-yard touchdown to Zann Jones gave the Saints a 7-0 lead 2:03 into the game, the Bulldogs marched to the Shiloh Christian 11 before settling for a 37-yard field goal by Roman Wilson.
The Bulldogs drove 88 yards to take their only lead. Lawwill ran for 36 yard on the drive, including the final 3 for the touchdown and a 10-7 lead with 10:59 left in the first half.
Scott raced 66 yards with a short Frazier pass on the Saints' next play, leading to a 2-yard touchdown run by Chris Bryant for a 13-10 lead with 9:15 left in the half.
"Kiehl made some great plays tonight, a lot of stuff you can't coach," Shiloh Christian Coach Josh Floyd said. "Jake Scott had a big night. The middle of the field was open and he was making some big catches and scoring some touchdowns."
Scott caught 5 passes for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns. Harper caught 6 for 75 yards to go along with 112 rushing yards on 8 carries.
Lawwill had 109 yards on 21 carries to pace the Bulldogs. Wilson caught seven passes for 101 yards.
"We play good competition to show where we're weak and try to improve," Floyd said.
NO. 3 DE QUEEN 41, CAMDEN HARMONY GROVE 0
DE QUEEN - Senior quarterback Scooter Ervin rushed 7 times for 93 yards and 3 touchdowns and completed 7 of 9 passes for 122 yards and 1 touchdown as De Queen beat Camden Harmony Grove.
The Leopards (1-1) led 34-0 at halftime. The start of the game was delayed 30 minutes because of severe weather.
NO. 4 NASHVILLE 34, PRESCOTT 10
PRESCOTT - Anthony Smelser scored four touchdowns to lead Nashville (2-0) to a road victory.
Smelser, who finished with 62 yards on 18 carries, broke a 7-7 tie with second-quarter touchdown runs of 9 and 3 yards. The Scrappers took a 7-0 leadin the first quarter on Nick Hopkins' 31-yard fumble return for a touchdown. The Curley Wolves answered on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Williamson to C.J. Smith.
Prescott (1-1) cut the Nashville lead to 20-10 on Juan Duran's 33-yard field goal in the third quarter, but Smelser's touchdown runs of 3 and 2 yards in the fourth put the game away.
NO. 5 DUMAS 18, NO. 6 OSCEOLA 3
OSCEOLA - Rodrick Smith ran for two touchdowns in the first quarter as Dumas downed Osceola.
Smith scored on a 22-yard run with only 11 seconds gone in the game then had a 3-yard touchdown run with 7:24 to go in the first period and a 12-0 lead.
Jose Marquez kicked a 22-yard field goal to pull Osceola to 12-3 by the quarter's end.
The two teams played scoreless football until the fourth period when Darren Coriswold tossed a 15-yard touchdown with 7:31 remaining. The conversion failed.
Sports, Pages 29 on 09/12/2009