Shades Of 2000 For Saints
New-Look Shiloh Fails In Repeat Bid
Last updated Saturday, December 8, 2007 11:09 PM CST in Columns
By Kurt Voigt
THE MORNING NEWS
LITTLE ROCK -- Moments after Shiloh Christian scored the go-ahead touchdown in overtime, former Saints quarterback Rhett Lashlee walked past the southwest corner of War Memorial Stadium.
"If something bad happens, it's going to happen right here," Lashlee said, pointing to the corner of the end zone.
Lashlee proved prophetic, for moments later Glen Rose receiver Michael Blancher snared a two-point conversion pass from Justin Zuber to capture the Class 3A state championship for the Beavers.
In the southwest corner of the end zone, nevertheless.
Lashlee's concerns before Glen Rose's offense got its chance in overtime were somewhat based on Doug Vinson, the Glen Rose senior running back who had already rushed for more than 200 yards against the Saints. They were also based on a memory shared by many of the Shiloh faithful in the stands on Saturday night.
Seven years ago, with Lashlee at quarterback, Shiloh entered the Class 2A championship game riding a 44-game unbeaten streak. That day, it was Rison and running back Shermar Bracey who ended the streak in what proved to be Gus Malzahn's final game as coach of the Saints.
Bracey's two-point conversion in overtime gave Rison a 30-29 win that day. It happened in the southwest corner of the end zone, and the loss proved the only obstacle between four-straight titles for Shiloh between 1998-2001.
The 2007 version of the Saints didn't enter Saturday with a lengthy winning streak. They did, however, enter with a championship to defend, even if it was with an almost entirely new group of players from those who went 14-0 a year ago.
What this year's Shiloh team turned out to be was unlike any group of Saints teams since Malzahn -- followed by Chris Wood and Josh Floyd -- turned the program into an annual championship contender a decade ago.
It wasn't a team that was more talented than all of its opponents at the skill positions. It wasn't a team that consistently beat opponents with the pass, be it the short routes used during the early Malzahn years or the deep passes that carried last year's team.
This was a Shiloh team that was very good at one position (quarterback) and great at another (offensive line).
Senior Blake Roberts entered this season having not played football since junior high, when he was a receiver, not quarterback. Despite that, Roberts carried on the tradition of talented Shiloh quarterbacks in his one season at the helm, whether running or throwing.
Helping Roberts mightily this season was a Shiloh line anchored by one junior, two sophomores and two freshmen. Yes, you read that correctly -- two freshmen. These Saints had the ability to dominate up front, be it in pass protection or run blocking.
It had to have been a strange team to coach at times for Floyd, the former Saints quarterback who 10 years ago this weekend led Shiloh into the first of seven championship games for the school. But he and the rest of the Saints coaching staff adapted to the power game, and they did it well.
Shiloh lost in its first championship game appearance in 1997 to Barton, just like it lost three years later to Rison. Both times, Shiloh bounced back to win championships, and it now has a 4-3 record in title games after Saturday.
The Saints are headed to Class 4A next season, but this youthful group will likely bounce back as well.
KURT VOIGT IS THE MORNING NEWS PREPS EDITOR. E-MAIL: KVOIGT@NWAONLINE.NET
About this columnist
Kurt Voigt is The Morning News Preps Editor and author of "Year Of The Dog: One Year, One Team, One Goal," the story of the 2005 Springdale Bulldogs. Kurt writes a weekly column on prep sports in our area.
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