Saints roll past the Pioneers

— The only milestones Shiloh Christian coach Josh Floyd cares much about are state championships, but the Saints still reached a significant mark Friday.

Kiehl Frazier completed 13 of 17 passes for 242 yards and four touchdowns as ShilohChristian defeated Gentry 35-14 at Champions Stadium to earn its 30th consecutive conference victory.

The streak began in 2005, Floyd’s second year directing the Saints’ program. Floyd has a 37-2 career conference record at Shiloh Christian, with the only losses coming on the road against Green Forest in 2004 and Prairie Grove the following year.

“It’s a little surprising to me,” Floyd said of the streak. “It’s definitely a thing to be proud of. At the same time, it doesn’t really matter. All that really matters is next week.”

Frazier, a 6-foot-3 junior, was sharp throughout the first half for the Saints (6-1, 4-0 1-4A), completing 13 of 17 passes for 242 yards and four touchdowns. The Saints rested their offensive starters in the second half after surging to a 35-0 halftime lead.

Shiloh Christian scored on five of its six first-half possessions, including its first four. Two of those scores came on passes from Frazier to junior Jon Hawes, whose only receptions of the game were touchdown catches of 25 and 38 yards.

Hawes was wide open in the right side of the end zone when Frazier connected with him on the game’s fourth play from scrimmage. Split alone on the right side early in the second quarter, Hawes blazed past his defender on a down-and-in route to catch Frazier’s throw near the Gentry 5-yard line and coasted through the goal line to give Shiloh Christian a 28-0 lead.

Senior running back Chris Bryant caught four passes for 103 yards - scoring on a 29-yard reception in the first quarter - and ran for 53 yards on six carries.

Frazier hit Collin Self for his other touchdown pass and scored on a 3-yard draw play to put the Saints ahead 35-0 late in the second quarter.

“They’re talented across the board,” Gentry coach Brian Little said of the Saints. “Their linemen are big and athletic. Their quarterback, of course, is a Division I prospect. Their receivers block well in the running game. They’re just very talented and well-coached.”

Gentry quarterback Caleb Ramsey completed 8 of 19 passes for 192 yards, and the Pioneers (2-5, 1-3) did not turn the ball over, but Gentry was unable to penetrate inside the Saints’ 30 in its six first-half possessions.

“We were able to move the ball, but we got near the red zone and they stiffened up,” Little said. “I’d like to have gotten on the board in the first half. They have big, talented linemen and fast guys at linebacker and in the secondary. That made the difference.”

Ramsey led the Pioneers with 40 yards rushing on 12 carries, scoring Gentry’s two touchdowns on runs of 1 and 4 yards in the second half.

Sports, Pages 6 on 10/21/2009