LUKE REEDER
Sports Reporter
NASHVILLE – Friday night the Nashville Scrapper football
team faced off at home against the Shiloh Christian Saints
in the second round of the 4A playoffs. Nashville was able
to win in a convincing fashion by 25 points, 48-23. This was
the first time any athletic team from Nashville had ever beat
a team from Shiloh Christian.
Nashville came out of the gate ready to play and their
performance in the first half showed that they were playing
to win. The first quarter was a slow quarter for both teams
as the only score came with 7:52 to go in the quarter from
Nashville running back Darius Hopkins. Hopkins was able to
break through the Saints’ defense for his longest run of the
game. After the 84 yard touchdown run Nashville held a 7-0
lead that stayed constant through the first quarter.
The next score of the game did not come until 7:51 left to
play in the second quarter. Scrapper quarterback Leonard
Snell was able to show off his running ability on the second
longest run of the game. Snell scampered down the field 81
yards for a touchdown to bring Nashville’s lead to 14-0. It
took close to six and a half minutes till the Scrappers were
able to score again. With 1:33 left in the first half, Nashville
got the final score of the second quarter with the help of Trey
Hughes and Snell. After his 81 yard run, Snell then showed
off his throwing ability as Hughes was able to catch a 21 yard
touchdown pass. This score gave Nashville a 21-0 lead as
they went into the locker room for halftime.
The Scrapper offense did not slow down after the break
at halftime. They were the first to score in the third quarter
with 8:14 left in the quarter Hopkins was able to get his sec-
ond touchdown of the
game after a 29 yard run.
Nashville held onto their 28-0
shutout of the Saints until
4:45 left in the third quarter.
The Scrappers answered
with just 20 seconds left in
the third quarter with another
pass from Snell to Hughes
for a 27 yard touchdown.
Nashville held a 35-7 lead as
the final quarter began.
The fourth quarter was
the highest scoring quarter
of the game with four touchdowns.
Nashville was the
first to strike with a quick
score as the quarter began.
The Scrapper defense was
able to come away with
an interception on Shiloh’s
opening drive of the fourth
quarter. The Scrapper offense
was then able to march
down the field quickly and
score on a three yard pass
from Snell to Ty Pettway.
Just 32 seconds into the
fourth quarter Nashville
built their lead up to 41-7.
Pettway was able to score
the next touchdown of the
quarter with 7:14 left in the
quarter. Pettway caught a 42
yard pass from Snell for the
final Scrapper touchdown
of the game. Shiloh was able
to score two touchdowns
within a minute on a ten
yard pass and a one yard
run to end the game and
bring the final score to 48-
23. Snell was able to show
his ability to make plays on
both the ground and through
the air against the Saints.
Snell completed 13 of 18
pass attempts for 135 yards
and four touchdowns, he
was also the second leading
rusher for Nashville with 108
yards on 11 runs. Hopkins
led the team in rushing with
143 yards on seven runs and
scored two touchdowns.
Hughes caught eight passes
for 87 yards and two touchdowns
and Pettway only
caught two passes but both
were for touchdowns.
The Scrapper defense
shined against Shiloh.
Shaundell Scott led the team
in tackles with seven and
three assists. Michael Bevill
and Terrell Grundy were
close behind with six tackles
apiece. Billy Stewart led the
team in sacks with two and
Deajeon Armstrong was able
to snag the only interception
of the game. This was the
first win ever against Shiloh
for Nashville but for head
coach Mike Volarvich it was
just another game, “To us it
was just another game, but
it is good for the school and
the community,” Volarvich
said. The Scrappers had a
tremendous first half and
in the second towards the
end began to let the Saints
score, “We played great the
first half, but it is natural to
let down towards the end
and Shiloh is a good team
and they had some players
who showed up and made
plays in the second half,”
Volarvich explained.
Nashville will rekindle a
rivalry against the Warren
Lumberjacks Friday night
as the Scrappers travel to
Warren for the quarterfinals
of the playoffs.
