Lincoln Christian (Oklahoma) shuts down Shiloh Christian (Arkansas) with stout defense
Usually when two teams with high-powered offenses like Lincoln Christian and Shiloh (Ark.) Christian meet, points are generally plentiful.
However, it was the defense - especially the Bulldogs - that garnered the attention Friday night in Tulsa.
Lincoln Christian scored a touchdown on an interception return and also held Shiloh scoreless in the second half as the Bulldogs remained undefeated with a 20-14 win.
That was also the exact score at halftime, so there was no scoring by either side in the second half.
But the Bulldogs (4-0) came through on their end, holding the Saints to 76 total yards after halftime after allowing 203 in the opening half. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs' offense generated 374 total yards.
Lincoln scored three consecutive first-half TDs after falling behind early, 7-0. The Bulldogs tied it at 7-all late in the first quarter as quarterback Luke Milligan found Connor Rowlett for a 33-yard pass on fourth down.
Then several minutes into the second quarter, the Bulldogs went in front, 14-7, as Sawyer Brooks scored from 8 yards out. Seconds later, it was 20-7 when Malakai Dillard returned an interception 54 yards for a TD.
Shiloh (2-1) cut it to a one-score game on its next series on a 79-yard TD pass from Evan Baker to Carter Holman, but from there the Bulldogs were able to keep the Saints off the scoreboard. Baker also had Shiloh's opening TD, a 21-yard run late in the first quarter.
Lincoln's win avenged a defeat last season at Shiloh Christian, with the Saints pulling off a 42-35 win.
Friday's game also marked the return to Oklahoma of Shiloh coach Tucker Barnard, who took over the Saints in the offseason after a strong run as coach at Stillwater, capped by the Pioneers winning the Class 6AII title a season ago.
Photo of Lincoln Christian QB Luke Milligan by Sadie Rucker
-- Buck Ringgold | buck@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveOK
