Saints roll over Panthers

SHILOH CHRISTIAN 62, HEBER SPRINGS 27

SPRINGDALE — Shiloh Christian had too much firepower for Heber Springs.

Quarterback Eli Reece threw for 356 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Saints to a 62-27 victory in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs Friday night at Champions Stadium.

Shiloh Christian (11-0) will now host Pocahontas, a 68-28 winner over Gravette, in the second round.

Saints coach Jeff Conaway said the Saints’ passing game operated efficiently.

“I felt like our receivers did a good job of getting separation and our quarterback did a good job of being accurate,” Conway said. “He was very accurate and we finished some catches nicely.”

The Saints took control of the game with a 28-point second quarter to grab a 4220 halftime advantage.

Reece connected with Truitt Tollett on a pair of 34-yard touchdown throws within 20 seconds of one another. The first one completed a six-play, 93-yard drive to put Shiloh Christian on top 21-7. The Saints then recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff and took just two plays to cover 50 yards for a 28-7 advantage with 9 minutes, 53 seconds left before halftime.

Heber Springs (4-7) tried to fight back as quarterback Adam Martin engineered a pair of scoring drives in the second quarter. Martin’s 57-yard touchdown run with 2:12 left in the first half pulled the Panthers within 35-20.

But Reece responded, finding 6-foot-4 Beau Cason for another touchdown from 17 yards out with only 16 seconds left in the half.

Reece found several different receivers, completing 23 of 28 passes in less than three quarters of action. But Tollett, a 6-foot-1 senior, was particularly difficult for the Panthers to handle. He finished with 11 catches for 165 yards and four touchdowns.

Both Reece and Tollett reached milestones during the game. Reece surpassed 3,000 passing yards in his career and Tollett topped 3,000 receiving yards in his career.

Conway said those two players are special.

“We love those boys,” Conway said. “They are Shiloh guys and they’re great on the field, but they are even better off the field.”

The Saints added two more scores in the first five minutes of the second half for a 56-20 lead.

FOUR DOWNS

• Shiloh Christian’s Keaton Carter picked off two passes, returning one for a touchdown

in the third quarter. Carter’s touchdown invoked the Arkansas Activities Association sportsmanship rule with 7:11 left in the third quarter.

• Reece threw an interception late in the second quarter, but the Saints knocked the ball loose on the return and recovered the fumble to retain possession.

• Reece had a touchdown pass wiped out late in the first half because of a holding penalty.

• Shiloh Christian never punted in the game.