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Saints' Surprising Season Comes To An End
Youthful Saints Fall In Title Game
Last updated Sunday, December 9, 2007 6:33 PM CST in Prep Sports
By Brandon Harris
SPECIAL TO THE MORNING NEWS
SPRINGDALE -- Saturday marked the heartbreaking ending to an otherwise surprising season for Shiloh Christian.
The Saints, who lost 18 seniors from their memorable state championship team a season ago, surpassed even some of their own expectations by advancing to the Class 3A state championship game where they lost 35-34 in overtime to Glen Rose.
It was just the fourth overtime in the history of Arkansas state championship games and the second in which Shiloh has been involved.
Shiloh played its 2007 campaign with a roster chock full of inexperience. The Saints had just six seniors, but 20 sophomores and 26 freshmen, and many of those underclassmen either contributed heavily or started.
They came within one play of giving Shiloh its second-consecutive state championship and posted a 12-2 finish that made the Saints an impressive 26-2 in their past two seasons.
"It hurts really bad right now," Shiloh coach Josh Floyd said. "I feel bad for our kids and our six seniors. But hopefully the younger kids can remember how bad this hurts and we can win some games and get back here next year."
Young or not, though, the loss was just as devastating for one of the most successful Arkansas high school programs in the last decade. Tears flowed, heads drooped and silence overcame the postgame locker room.
"I didn't want to picture it this way," said senior Shiloh quarterback Blake Roberts, who finished the game with 391 total yards of offense. "But things happen for a reason. I believe these young guys can get back here next year, and that's the goal will be all offseason."
Now, however, Shiloh must say goodbye to their spot atop Class 3A and prepare for a jump to the next classification -- the 4A. The Saints will join other area schools like Farmington and Gravette.
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