LINCOLN -- In past years a tremendous difference existed between Shiloh Christian's home field and the rest of the 4A-1 Conference but that tactical psychological advantage is now diminished.
Although Hooten's predicts Shiloh Christian to finish first in the league during the 2014 football season, there have been changes at small schools, many of whom felt competing against Shiloh in the past, was like having a wrestling match against an 800-pound gorilla on the schedule. Yet, as the Saints return after a two-year hiatus in 5A, Shiloh Christian may not find it as easy to dominate the 4A-1 like they did in years gone by.
Shiloh Christian fans were shocked by the resignation of head coach Josh Floyd, son of Shiloh Christian founder Ronnie Floyd, on May 29 with Floyd taking over a program at Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama. The private school wasted no time in finding a replacement hiring Floyd's former offensive coordinator Jeff Conaway as the fifth head coach in Shiloh Christian's history in mid-June.
Lincoln, too, underwent a coaching change with Brad Harris' resignation in mid-April following the most successful season in school history with a 6-1 conference record and the Wolves' first-ever playoff wins (27-14 over Nashville and 41-21 at Malvern) in 2013. Former Razorback Scott Davenport was hired as Lincoln's new head coach just over a week prior to Floyd's resignation and while he came in with respect for Shiloh Christian as an opponent Davenport noted changes in the league.
"Coach Floyd has done a great job with the program that he's been able to build and the tradition that they have there at Shiloh," Davenport said, adding, "The facilities are starting to catch up, not just in Lincoln and Prairie Grove but all around the area up here."
Gravette's Lions Stadium was completed in July of 2007 seating 2,700 fans with a swank press box and injecting a new sense of pride into the community. The Lions almost up-ended Shiloh on the Saints' home turf before losing, 16-14, the last time the schools competed on Oct. 21, 2011.
According to a Gravette alumni on a Fearless Friday post dated June 14, 2012, "Gravette was dirt-poor for so long and never had any school facilities that they could be proud of." The fan went on to say he has been amazed by the pride shown by students, faculty and community in general with their new facilities and how everyone in Gravette seems to have gone out of their way to be hospitable and welcoming to visitors."
Other schools have followed. With the construction of a brand new Blackhawk Stadium commemorating 50 years of football at Pea Ridge in 2013, Pea Ridge has a first class facility that may help them get over the hump. The Blackhawks played Shiloh tough before losing, 38-34, in their last meeting on Sept. 30, 2011 on their old field, then went 10-2 the next season with a 42-0 win over Monticello in the 2012 playoffs.
Lincoln built a new football facility in 2012 but didn't have the turf ready and opened Wolfpack Stadium also in 2013. However, the Wolves still don't have a fieldhouse at their new facility -- something that needs worked into the 2015 budget. Also in the works are upgrades to Tiger Den Stadium at Prairie Grove where the Saints' 42-game winning streak in the 4A-1 was brought to a halt at the hands of the Tigers with a 34-14 trouncing on Oct. 7, 2011.
According to the Shiloh Christian website, the Saints will see a tremendous reduction in travel time for away games in returning to the 4A-1 Conference with the furthest away game at Lincoln approximately 25 minutes from Shiloh Christian's campus in Springdale. The Saints hope this will bring more fans to road games.
Ironically, Farmington, the team which handed Shiloh Christian their last loss in the 4A-1 by a score of 58-37 on Nov. 4, 2011, won't be part of the league this season having taken the Saints' place among the 5A West.
Improvements to football facilities across the league will empower 4A-1 teams to compete more effectively against the Saints and their corporate sponsorships in Springdale. The reality is teams with better football facilities tend to consistently perform at a higher level.
"I believe anytime a program and a community rallies support behind their team that you'll see not only the facilities kind of catch up but also the community support and the town come out and support the kids every Friday night," Davenport said. "And that's one thing that I've heard so much about Lincoln is the support the parents and the community give the boys and the football team and not just the football program but all athletic programs here at Lincoln. It's something that I'm definitely looking forward to being a part of."
Sports on 07/16/2014