Meeting the challenge : Purple Dogs dominate Shiloh in scrimmage
Posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2008
ANDY SHUPE Northwest Arkansas Times Fayetteville senior safety Bobby Petrino (7 ) makes an interception in front of Shiloh Christian senior receiver Jake Ryan during the first half of play Monday at Harmon Field.
The scoreboard at Harmon Field read, 0-0, but the Fayetteville Purple Bulldogs were well aware of their 37-16 victory over Shiloh Christian in a preseason scrimmage Monday night.
Fayetteville forced six turnovers (five in the first half ) and the firstteamers entered the break up 34-13. The second half featured a blend of reserves and then starters playing alternate positions.
"I challenged our kids to play with a great deal of enthusiasm and they did that," Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. "We knew there would be some mistakes and there were. We've got to protect the football better. We gave up a few big plays on defense but overall it's a good start. We've got to get better before the [Little Rock Central ] Tigers come in, no doubt."
Fayetteville quarterback Brandon Allen showed composure and poise in the pocket, sidestepping the rush in multiple instances to deliver a strike. Allen completed 18 of 29 passes for 214 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception in one half of football.
"Tonight he did a great job of stepping up and hitting secondary receivers," Patton said. "I don't know how many times he had to hit second and third receivers. For a 15-year-old sophomore, I'm very proud of the way he performed. He slid around in the pocket, side-stepped the rush and showed skill in the pocket. He hit the underneath gig and curl routes, which are second and third options. Those are things you don't a senior do a lot of times. He's very smart and very aware."
Allen had a diverse array of targets from which to choose. He connected with six different receivers in the first half.
Kellen Summers hauled in 4 receptions for 78 yards, including touchdowns catches of 32 and 13 yards. Demetrius Dean snared 5 passes for 47 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown on a tightly run slant and a 13-yard scoring grab. Josh Hale snatched 4 catches for 46 yards.
"We've got pretty good receivers who can make some plays," Patton said. "Demetrius Dean is a matchup problem for a lot of teams. He's a young pup who can make some plays and Josh Hale is a weapon outside. With Coy [Holmes ] and Kellen, Bobby Petrino and Franco Broyles, we've probably got a better group than last year as whole."
The Purple Dogs secondary pilfered Shiloh Christian for four interceptions, two by strong safety Bobby Petrino. Broyles picked off another and Garreth Booth later intercepted a Kiehl Frazier pass with time ticking down in the first half and rumbled 40 yards for the score at the horn. Corey Harris added a fumble recovery.
Fayetteville held Shiloh's quarterbacking tandem of Frazier and David Matthews to 7 of 18 with four picks in the first half. Frazier completed 2 of 7 for 49 yards, 1 touchdown and two interceptions. Matthews hit on 5 of 11 for 76 yards, 1 touchdown and two picks.
"I think our secondary is going to be a strength for us," Patton said. "We had a busted assignment where our guys mixed up a call and a guy got open for a touchdown but overall I thought they really got to the ball well."
Patton, though, wasn't as content with the running game, which netted 28 yards in the first half.
"Our running game was not very good," Patton said. "But Shiloh had a lot to do with that. Their front seven is as good as any we'll see in 7 A. Those are some big guys who can play but we've got to get better running the football."
Fayetteville and Shiloh each turned the ball over on their opening possessions.
Allen, though, broke the scoreless tie with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Summers with 7: 54 left in the first quarter. Will Rosteck's point-after sailed though the uprights for a 7-0 pad.
Shiloh fired back with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Matthews to Chris Bryant with 4: 23 remaining in the opening stanza.
Allen found Summers again for 13-yard touchdown dart early in the second quarter. Rosteck's PAT gave Fayetteville a 14-6 lead at the 11: 51 mark.
Allen completed 5 of 7 passes for 76 yards on the Purple Dogs' subsequent drive, which ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Dean with 9: 16 left in the half for a 20-6 lead after a missed extra point.
Allen's lone blemish transpired on Fayetteville's ensuing possession when he heaved up an ill-advised pass while in the grasp of a Shiloh defensive lineman. The passed was picked off by Frazier. Allen, though, hustled upfield to make the tackle.
Shiloh cut it to 20-13 on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Frazier to Zann Jones with 1: 08 left in the second quarter.
Fayetteville expanded the gap to 27-13 on a 13-yard Allen touchdown pass to Dean with 13 seconds left in the half. Booth put the finishing touches on the firstteamers performance with his 40-yard interception return. Rosteck's PAT pushed the gap to 34-13.
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