Creighton and defense keep Shiloh Christian unbeaten
Shiloh Christian 45, Fayetteville 21
FAYETTEVILLE — Cole Creighton accounted for three touchdowns and Tate Barnard returned an interception for a late score as Shiloh Christian held off a Fayetteville rally for a 45-21 victory Friday at Harmon Field.
The Saints improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the 7A-West. Fayetteville fell to 3-3 and 1-2 after cutting a 35-7 deficit to 35-21 before Shiloh scored the final 10 points.
Shiloh took control with two first-quarter touchdown drives. Creighton kept the ball on a read-option play and ran nine yards for the opening score. Kallen Hunnicutt’s extra point made it 7-0 with 7:40 remaining. A Landon Sabatini reception and Charlie Kroell’s run to the goal line helped set up the next score, a four-yard run by Max Eldridge from the Wildcat formation with 4:10 left. The successful kick pushed the lead to 14-0.
Fayetteville answered early in the second quarter. JaVion Walker broke tackles on a reception that moved the Purple Dogs into Shiloh territory, and Remington Thomas then found Sage Anderson in the flat. Anderson slipped a tackle and raced down the sideline for a touchdown. The extra point cut the deficit to 14-7 with 10:34 remaining.
Creighton restored Shiloh’s two-touchdown margin before halftime. Cohen Beach converted a third down with a reception, and Henry Alexander added an 11-yard catch before Creighton hit Trey Fulsom with a 40-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline. Hunnicutt’s kick made it 21-7. The score was Fulsom’s first high school touchdown, according to the postgame interview.
Barnard opened Shiloh’s first possession of the second half with a 46-yard reception. Eldridge converted fourth-and-one from the Wildcat, and Kroell finished the drive with a touchdown run. Hunnicutt’s extra point extended the lead to 28-7 with 5:50 left in the third quarter.
Beckham Floyd intercepted a pass on Fayetteville’s next offensive play. Creighton immediately capitalized, escaping pressure and finding Sabatini for a 51-yard touchdown. Another Hunnicutt kick made it 35-7 with 5:23 remaining.
Anderson supplied several catches as Fayetteville responded. Terrance Garden reached the right corner for a rushing touchdown with 2:15 left in the third quarter, and the successful extra point made it 35-14. The Purple Dogs recovered the ensuing onside kick and were within 35-21 entering the fourth.
Fayetteville had a chance to extend its next possession on fourth-and-short, but a false start forced a punt. Shiloh stretched the lead to 38-21 before Barnard intercepted a pass, followed his blockers and cut back across the field for a touchdown with 5:26 remaining. The extra point completed the scoring. Colton Miller intercepted another pass with two minutes left to end Fayetteville’s final possession.
The broadcast’s postgame totals credited Creighton with 17-of-27 passing for 292 yards and two touchdowns, plus 64 yards and a score on 10 carries. Kroell rushed 24 times for 146 yards, and Sabatini caught four passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Beach added seven receptions for 56 yards, while Barnard had two for 52.
Verified Scoring Plays From Available Broadcast Segments
Partial scoring summary. Fayetteville’s third touchdown and Shiloh’s fourth-quarter field goal occurred during gaps between the available broadcast segments; the scorers and details are not confirmed.
1st Quarter
Shiloh Christian: Cole Creighton nine-yard run (Kallen Hunnicutt kick), 7:40. Shiloh Christian 7, Fayetteville 0
Shiloh Christian: Max Eldridge four-yard run (kick good), 4:10. Shiloh Christian 14, Fayetteville 0
2nd Quarter
Fayetteville: Sage Anderson touchdown pass from Remington Thomas (kick good), 10:34. Shiloh Christian 14, Fayetteville 7
Shiloh Christian: Trey Fulsom 40-yard touchdown pass from Cole Creighton (Kallen Hunnicutt kick). Shiloh Christian 21, Fayetteville 7
3rd Quarter
Shiloh Christian: Charlie Kroell touchdown run (Kallen Hunnicutt kick), 5:50. Shiloh Christian 28, Fayetteville 7
Shiloh Christian: Landon Sabatini 51-yard touchdown pass from Cole Creighton (Kallen Hunnicutt kick), 5:23. Shiloh Christian 35, Fayetteville 7
Fayetteville: Terrance Garden touchdown run (kick good), 2:15. Shiloh Christian 35, Fayetteville 14
4th Quarter
Shiloh Christian: Tate Barnard interception return for a touchdown (kick good), 5:26. Shiloh Christian 45, Fayetteville 21
Players Who Stood Out
Cole Creighton, Shiloh Christian: 17-of-27 passing for 292 yards and two touchdowns; 10 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown, according to the broadcast’s postgame totals. Threw touchdown passes of 40 and 51 yards and scored on a nine-yard run.
Charlie Kroell, Shiloh Christian: 24 carries for 146 yards, according to the broadcast’s postgame totals. His third-quarter rushing touchdown gave Shiloh a 28-7 lead after the extra point.
Landon Sabatini, Shiloh Christian: Four receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown, according to the broadcast’s postgame totals. His 51-yard scoring catch came on the first play after Beckham Floyd’s interception.
Trey Fulsom, Shiloh Christian: 40-yard second-quarter touchdown reception for a 21-7 lead after the kick. Selected as the broadcast’s offensive player of the game; the postgame interview identified it as his first high school touchdown.
Tate Barnard, Shiloh Christian: Fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown; two catches for 52 yards, according to the broadcast’s postgame totals. His 46-yard catch opened the Saints’ first second-half scoring drive. Selected as the broadcast’s defensive player of the game.
Cohen Beach, Shiloh Christian: Seven catches for 56 yards, according to the broadcast’s postgame totals. Converted third down during the second-quarter drive that ended with Fulsom’s touchdown.
Max Eldridge, Shiloh Christian: Four-yard first-quarter touchdown run from the Wildcat. Converted fourth-and-one on Shiloh’s first possession of the second half, helping set up Kroell’s touchdown.
Beckham Floyd, Shiloh Christian: Third-quarter interception that set up Sabatini’s 51-yard touchdown on the next play.
Colton Miller, Shiloh Christian: Intercepted a pass with two minutes remaining to end Fayetteville’s final possession.
Sage Anderson, Fayetteville: Second-quarter touchdown reception from Remington Thomas; several third-quarter catches helped set up Garden’s touchdown.
Terrance Garden, Fayetteville: Rushing touchdown with 2:15 left in the third quarter; the extra point cut Shiloh’s lead to 35-14.