Floyd, Francis spark Shiloh Christian’s victory over Bentonville

Shiloh Christian 42, Bentonville 15

SPRINGDALE — Beckham Floyd returned an interception for a touchdown and Brody Francis scored on a fumble return as Shiloh Christian built a 21-point first-quarter lead and defeated Bentonville 42-15 Friday night at a packed Champion Stadium.

The Saints forced four turnovers and earned their first home victory in 7A-West play, improving to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in conference. Bentonville, now 4-1 and 1-1, scored two second-half touchdowns before Charlie Kroell’s 62-yard scoring run restored Shiloh’s 27-point cushion.

Shiloh established its field position immediately. Silas Nantze stopped a screen behind the line, and Josiah Campbell’s third-down sack helped force a punt. The Saints took over at Bentonville’s 46. Jake Bodenstein’s screen reception moved the ball near the goal line, and Max Eldridge scored from two yards on a third-down direct snap with 7:44 remaining.

Floyd intercepted Evan Canode’s third-down pass and returned it for a touchdown with 5:02 left. Bentonville’s defense subsequently stopped Shiloh on fourth down after a partially blocked punt, but Francis recovered a fumble and reached the end zone with 1:19 remaining. Kallen Hunnicutt’s third extra point made it 21-0.

Nathan Clouston helped Bentonville respond with a sustained rushing drive that reached Shiloh’s 5 early in the second quarter. The Saints held on fourth down, then moved out of their own end with Kroell’s 36-yard run. Nantze’s 29-yard reception converted third-and-long during the same possession, which ended with Hunnicutt’s field goal for a 24-0 lead.

Nantze intercepted a pass on Bentonville’s next possession. Hunnicutt added another field goal with 32 seconds remaining. The Tigers used their final possession to move into kicking range, and Porter Fertig’s field goal on the half’s final play made it 27-3.

Shiloh opened the third quarter with a 55-yard touchdown drive. Cohen Beach supplied three receptions, including a catch-and-run inside the 15. Cole Creighton escaped pressure to his right and found Bodenstein for an eight-yard touchdown. Nantze caught the two-point pass, extending the lead to 35-3 with 8:53 remaining.

Canode answered with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Aiden McCarthy at the 6:26 mark. Bentonville recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Shiloh’s pass rush pushed the Tigers backward and forced a punt that was downed at the Saints’ 1.

Bentonville forced a punt and drove again. Judson Brown held onto a first-down reception through contact, McCarthy added another first-down catch, and Desi Hendrick converted third-and-short. Clouston converted fourth down near the goal line before scoring from one yard with 11:34 left in the fourth quarter. Shiloh stopped the two-point run, keeping the margin at 35-15.

Kroell answered on third-and-one, breaking through the middle for his 62-yard touchdown with 10:13 remaining. He had surpassed 100 rushing yards by that point.

Blake Stroud later made a sideline catch to convert third-and-13 for Bentonville. Tate Barnard ended that possession with an interception, and Eldridge added two first-down runs as Shiloh controlled the remaining time before kneeling out the victory.

Hunnicutt finished with two field goals and four extra points, accounting for 10 points for the Saints.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

Shiloh Christian – Max Eldridge two-yard touchdown run on a direct snap (Kallen Hunnicutt kick), Shiloh Christian 7, Bentonville 0. 7:44.

Shiloh Christian – Beckham Floyd interception return for a touchdown (Hunnicutt kick), Shiloh Christian 14, Bentonville 0. 5:02.

Shiloh Christian – Brody Francis fumble return for a touchdown (Hunnicutt kick), Shiloh Christian 21, Bentonville 0.1:19.

2nd Quarter

Shiloh Christian – Kallen Hunnicutt field goal, Shiloh Christian 24, Bentonville 0. 4:13.

Shiloh Christian – Kallen Hunnicutt field goal, Shiloh Christian 27, Bentonville 0. 0:32.

Bentonville – Porter Fertig field goal, Shiloh Christian 27, Bentonville 3. 0:00.

3rd Quarter

Shiloh Christian – Jake Bodenstein eight-yard touchdown pass from Cole Creighton (Silas Nantze two-point pass from Creighton), Shiloh Christian 35, Bentonville 3. 8:53.

Bentonville – Aiden McCarthy 10-yard touchdown pass from Evan Canode (two-point pass incomplete), Shiloh Christian 35, Bentonville 9. 6:26.

4th Quarter

Bentonville – Nathan Clouston one-yard touchdown run (two-point run unsuccessful), Shiloh Christian 35, Bentonville 15. 11:34.

Shiloh Christian – Charlie Kroell 62-yard touchdown run (Hunnicutt kick), Shiloh Christian 42, Bentonville 15. 10:13.

Players Who Stood Out

Beckham Floyd, Shiloh Christian, cornerback — Returned an interception for a first-quarter touchdown that extended the lead to 14-0. Broke up a bubble-screen pass during a later first-quarter possession.

Brody Francis, Shiloh Christian — Returned a fumble for a first-quarter touchdown, tipped Bentonville’s third-quarter two-point pass and stopped Nathan Clouston behind the line near the goal line on the final play of the third quarter.

Charlie Kroell, Shiloh Christian, running back — Rushed for over 100 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown on third-and-one with 10:13 remaining. Added a 36-yard second-quarter run that moved Shiloh away from its own goal line and helped set up a field goal.

Nathan Clouston, Bentonville, running back — Scored on a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Converted fourth-and-four near the goal line during that touchdown drive and supplied the rushing gains that carried Bentonville to Shiloh’s 5 in the second quarter.

Aiden McCarthy, Bentonville, receiver — Caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Evan Canode with 6:26 remaining in the third quarter. Added first-down receptions during Bentonville’s next touchdown drive and a later fourth-quarter possession.