Saints Enter Next Generation With Scrimmage
Last updated Friday, August 17, 2007 10:39 PM CDT in Sports
By Jim Hauskey
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SPRINGDALE -- Gone are standouts like Matt Simpson and Crosby Tuck. Say hello to Blake Roberts and Josh Huffman.
Replacing the graduated Shiloh Christian mainstays of the last three years -- including nearly all the starters off last year's Class 3A state title team -- the Saints showed a slew of new faces in their annual Blue-Gold scrimmage Friday night in Champions Stadium.
Despite the near-complete personnel overhaul, what hasn't changed is Shiloh's no-huddle, wide-open attack.
"It's the same offense, same no-huddle," Floyd said. "We may have a few new wrinkles. We're still trying to figure out what our guys are best at."
With no previous high school football experience, senior Roberts takes over the reins at quarterback. Roberts led the Saints first-team to touchdowns on his three drives.
On the first drive, Roberts found freshman Zann Jones streaking behind the defense for a 55-yard touchdown pass. He tossed a 35-yard touchdown to Huffman on the second drive, then the 6-foot-6 Roberts galloped for a 24-yard touchdown run on the third.
"Blake's so tall he takes two steps and he's got five yards," said Floyd. "I was proud of him for taking off and making the defense pay by running the football."
Leading running backs in the scrimmage were Jordan Moore and Matt Gerlt. Nathan Ziegler, Samuel Harvill, and Trey Pitts led the defenses in tackles. Pitts showed versatility by also quarterbacking the second-team offense to two touchdowns, both on his own runs.
But the Saints agreed they have room for improvement.
"We had a lot of balls on the ground," Huffman said. "So we need to work on ball-carrying a little bit."
Gerlt agreed.
"We need to execute better. We had some messed-up plays," Gerlt said. "Plus we need to get in even better shape to run this offense."
Shiloh hosts Berryville in a scrimmage Thursday at 6 p.m. before opening the season at home against Prestonwood Christian Academy on Aug. 31.
2007 SHILOH CHRISTIAN SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
Aug. 31 Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas) 7 p.m.
Sept. 7 at Gravette 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Greenwood 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 Pea Ridge* 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Elkins* 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 at Mountainburg* 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 Green Forest* 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Cedarville* 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 26 West Fork* 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2 at Lincoln* 7:30 p.m.
* -- 3A-1 Conference Game
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