Revenge Of The Saints

SHORT-HANDED TIGERS LOSE 56-7

PRAIRIE GROVE — The lights went out on Prairie Grove’s scoreboard due to a lightning strike last week which made the score not visible during Friday’s 56-7 loss to Shiloh Christian.

That took some of the starch out of the Saints (6-0, 3-0) from celebrating a lopsided win, and officials had to keep time on the field.

With the game securely in hand leading 42-7 midway through the fourth quarter and a running clock in effect, Shiloh Christian sent Truitt Tollett back to receive a punt and the 6-2, 179-pound senior wide receiver ran the ball back 45 yards for his third touchdown of the game — leaving Prairie Grove fans wondering if a 36-0 defeat of Shiloh Christian in junior high football on Oct. 3 had anything to do with his presence on the field with third quarter clock down to 6:05 when the play was done.

As it was, Tollett chewed up more Tiger real estate than a direct blast from the Death Star to the tune of 232 all-purpose yards to be exact.

Sloppy tackling allowed Logan Raben to carry the ball in from 13 yards out giving Shiloh Christian a 7-0 first quarter lead.

Tollett scored twice in the second quarter catching a 34-yard pass from Eli Reece (10-of-16, 152 yards passing) and adding a 53-yard touchdown run at the 6:15 mark of the second quarter to put the Saints up 28-0.

Prairie Grove mounted a drive after forcing Shiloh Christian to punt from its own 3. The Tigers reached the Saints’ 19 valiantly trying to put some points on the board. Quarterback Knox Laird threw to a receiver wide open in the end zone, but a rollover attempt at making a catch was ruled incomplete and the Tigers were scoreless at halftime.

Penalties erased a Shiloh Christian kick return into Tiger territory to start the third quarter. The Saints lost 32 yards and started from their own 24.

A new hope glimmered briefly when Prairie Grove’s Cordelle Whetsell forced a turnover on the first play from scrimmage by intercepting a Reece pass. He didn’t bite on a stop and go overtaking the receiver and catching the ball at the 40. His momentum carried him to the 45 where he was tackled.

The Tigers (2-4, 2-1) fashioned a 10-play, 45-yard scoring drive capped by Jared Harger’s 2-yard touchdown carry with 6:09 to go in the third quarter trimming the deficit to 28-7. Whetsell converted third-and-two running a wingback reverse and Knox Laird passed to Caden Redfern for 10 yards on second-and-13. Harger broke tackles reeling off 13 yards to the Saints three to set up his own score.

However, the empire struck back quickly with Saint Ben Baker busting loose for a 66-yard touchdown run stepping out of at least two attempted ankle tackles as he ran around left end less than a minute later.

Cam Wiedemann had two rushing touchdowns for the Saints and Gavin Goddard another.

Prairie Grove had hoped to have its best runningback, Foster Layman, available, but he had to sit out for the third consecutive game along with several other sidelined starters.

The Tiger offense produced 152 yards rushing led by Cade Grant gaining 52 yards on 7 carries.

Next week Prairie Grove travels to Pea Ridge to conclude a brutal threegame stretch of taking on traditional 4A-1 powerhouses.