1-3 A CONFERENCE : Saints get in rush to down Dragons
Posted on Saturday, October 6, 2007
MOUNTAINBURG — A diverse offensive scheme can come in handy.
When one method of moving the ball didn’t work for Shiloh Christian on Friday, the Saints switched gears and cruised to a 41-6 victory at Mountainburg.
Shiloh Christian quarterback Blake Roberts struggled to connect with his receivers early but adjusted by running for 102 yards and 1 touchdown on 8 carries, all in the first half, to help the Saints (5-1, 3-0 in 1-3 A ) overpower the Dragons (5-1, 2-1 ).
That opened up the passing game later, allowing him to finish 14 of 22 for 162 yards and 3 touchdowns after completing 3 of 5 in the first quarter for just 23 yards.
Matt Gerlt was the first option for Roberts on Friday, providing 59 yards and 1 touchdown on 12 carries, along with 4 receptions for 71 yards and 1 touchdown.
“We just felt like that’s what they were giving us on defense,” Shiloh Christian Coach Josh Floyd said. “They were out wide making sure we wouldn’t beat them deep. The credit goes to our offensive line and our running backs.” Defense set the tone early in the game, with the game remaining scoreless until early in the second quarter.
Three lost fumbles in the first quarter, including two by Shiloh Christian, kept both teams off the board. The most costly one came on the Saints’ second possession, on a first-and-goal from the Mountainburg 3.
A bad snap hit the ground and bounced back to the 20, where Chance Gagliano picked it up for the Dragons. Gagliano ran it back to the Saints’ end zone, but an illegal block gave the Dragons possession at the Shiloh Christian 41.
Mountainburg moved it just into the red zone in six plays, but the Dragons fumbled a handoff and Daniel Petrino recovered for the Saints at the 15.
A second turnover for Shiloh Christian kept the Saints from taking advantage, with Leon Marion recovering a fumble by Gerlt.
Shiloh Christian finally struck first with 9: 01 left in the first half as Gerlt redeemed himself with a 23-yard touchdown catch from Roberts.
The Saints took control late in the half, scoring twice in the final 3: 41.
Gerlt scored on a 1-yard run to put the Saints ahead 14-0, and Roberts made it 21-0 on the next drive with a 2-yard run.
“We thought they wanted to run the ball,” Mountainburg Coach Tom Harrell said. “Coming in, you pick your poison. We were going to make them run, and they beat us.” Roberts iced the game on three consecutive plays in the third quarter. He threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Zann Jones to give the Saints a 28-0 lead, intercepted a pass by Michael Thomas on the next play, and followed with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jake Scott.
Sophomore Chris Bryant took a pitch 63 yards down the left sideline to score the final Saints touchdown late in the third quarter.
Shiloh Christian held Mountainburg to 60 yards rushing, including 5 yards on 19 attempts in the first half.
“It was a huge letdown,” Harrell said. “Our kids were pumped up and expected to win. They whipped us up front.”
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