Miners, Saints square off again
Posted on Thursday, November 29, 2007
SPRINGDALE — Bauxite and Shiloh Christian have to quit meeting like this.
Both coaches agree last year’s quarterfinal matchup paired the top two Class 3 A teams in the state. Shiloh Christian won that game 35-21 on the road and went on to earn its fourth state title.
This time the teams are taking it one step further. Bauxite, No. 2 in Class 3 A, travels to face the top-ranked Saints in the semifinals Friday at Champions Stadium with a trip to the championship game at stake.
Maybe one day the Miners and Saints finally will get to play each other for the state title. For now, both are 11-1 and hungry to make it to War Memorial Stadium for the title game.
Both have won eight consecutive games since recording their only loss. Bauxite lost 35-19 to Class 5 A Malvern in Week 3, while Shiloh Christian lost 52-35 to Class 5 A Greenwood the same week.
“We’ve been trying to worry about ourselves,” Shiloh Christian Coach Josh Floyd said. “Last year, they were definitely the best team we played in our classification.” That’s not a knock against 2006 runner-up Prescott, which Bauxite defeated 37-25 in the quarterfinals last week. It’s mainly a sign of Floyd’s respect for Bauxite Coach Jon Watson, who earned a Class AA state title with the Miners in 1996 and has his team in the playoffs for the 14 th consecutive year.
Bauxite played Shiloh Christian closer than any team the Saints faced last year except eventual Class 5 A state champion Greenwood, holding Shiloh Christian scoreless in the second half.
“It was a terrible mismatch of talent,” said Watson, in his 18 th season with the Miners. “We were probably the best public school in the state of Arkansas [in Class 3 A ] last year and we didn’t have a chance.” Watson also paints a grim picture of the Miners’ chances this year.
“They’re just as good as last year, and their line may be even better,” Watson said. “Their passing game is precise, and I don’t know if we can stay in the same ballpark with them. The talent discrepancy is great.” Shiloh Christian has an athletic quarterback in 6-6 senior Blake Roberts, who has passed for 3, 028 yards and 37 touchdowns with 8 interceptions this season. The Saints also have forced 11 turnovers in their two playoff games, including eight last week in their 48-7 victory over Lavaca.
Shiloh Christian junior Jake Ryan also has given the Saints a lift. Ryan has intercepted a pass in each of the past two games and has caught 7 passes for 100 yards and 3 touchdowns over that span, giving him a team-leading 697 yards receiving this year.
“It’s the playoffs, and everybody’s starting to step up,” Ryan said.
Bauxite runs the Veer offense that Watson describes as a triple option, where senior quarterback Aaron Mathis can either hand off, keep the ball and pitch it or keep the ball and throw it.
Senior running backs Ryan Dunlap and Tommy Wimberly have combined to rush for more than 3, 000 yards out of the Veer. Dunlap has 1, 721 yards and 23 touchdowns on 140 carries, an average of 12. 3 yards per carry. Wimberly, a 6-2, 250-pound fullback, has 1, 301 yards and 19 touchdowns in 190 attempts.
Mathis has kept defenses honest, passing for 664 yards and eight touchdowns.
“You get sucked into the option, and the next thing you know, they’re throwing it over the safety’s head,” Floyd said.
Still, Watson says his team is a heavy underdog.
“Nothing gives me the belief I can beat them,” Watson said. “We’ve got to go into hostile territory, playing up there. You’re not comfortable in those surroundings.
“ They’re by far the best team we’ve faced all year. We’ll just be another blip on their radar if we don’t get a few breaks. We don’t belong in the same stadium.” Floyd isn’t buying that.
“They’ve been working hard all season to try to get us back,” he said. “I know they’re going to be fired up.” Class 3 A semifinals Bauxite at Shiloh Christian WHEN 7: 30 p.m. Friday WHERE Champions Stadium, Springdale RECORDS Bauxite 11-1; Shiloh Christian 11-1 RANKINGS Bauxite is No. 2 in Class 3 A; Shiloh Christian is No. 1 in Class 3 A. RADIO KAYH-FM, 89. 3, Springdale
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