SPRINGDALE — Siloam Springs Coach Bryan Ross joked he wouldn’t mind if the Panthers opened their season Friday instead of tonight.
Every extra day helps, especially since Siloam Springs has to prepare to stop Watson Chapel, which is ranked No. 4 in Class 5A. The Wildcats run the Wishbone, an increasingly rare offense in these pass-happy days, and Siloam Springs will have to figure out a way to stop it when the teams play at 6 tonight at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
“It’s different. We don’t see the Wishbone very often,” Ross said. “They’re going to line up and hit it quick.They’re not going to be real tricky. It’s a smashmouth offense.”
The Wildcats have a talented backfield to exploit any breakdowns by the Panthers. James Collier and Devonte Battles are the top backs, and quarterback Kris McCullough has impressed Watson Chapel Coach George Shelton in fall practices.
While the team’s strength may be running the ball, Shelton said the Wildcats are ready to throw if defenses bunch up too close to the line.
“We have running backs by committee, but James Collier is probably our bell cow,”Shelton said. “He and Devonte Battles have to make plays in the running game. We try to score, and we’re not the least bit bashful about airing it out.
“We try to have a little diversity. We do whatever it takes.”
Ross said the Wildcats impressed him when he watched film from last season. Watson Chapel finished second in the 5A-Southeast and finished with a 7-4 record after losing to Beebe in the first round of the playoffs.
“They’re very athletic and have a lot of speed,” Ross said. “We have to contain that, not give up big plays.
Ross said the Panthers’ offensive hopes rest with quarterback Austin Van Poucke and running back Scout Alexander. Van Poucke has struggled with injuries in the past but had a strong scrimmage against Springdale, Ross said.
“Austin is a good athlete who gives us a good run-pass threat,” Ross said. “We ask a lot of our quarterback. He hasto make good decisions.”
Alexander, 5-5, 165 pounds, is the team’s big-play threat.
“Those two have to have a good night offensively,” Ross said. “We have to be able to run the ball a little bit. We have to keep them off balance.
“Chapel is not real big, but they have a lot of team speed.”
One unknown factor shared by both teams is the site of the game. Shelton said he brought his team to Fayetteville to watch the Razorbacks’ Red-White game earlier this month.
“I wanted them to see the environment they’re playing in,” Shelton said. “We would be excited just to be playing,period. We like to play football. We want to win there.”
Ross said his team is looking forward to playing on a college field, but he is confident the Panthers will be able to put aside any distractions once the game starts.
“We don’t want to get caught up in where we’re playing,” Ross said.
WEEK 1 WEEK 1 SCORES MONDAY AT UCA’S ESTES STADIUM Arkansas Baptist 54, Clinton 32 Shiloh Christian 26, Warren 25 AT WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM Stuttgart 49, Central Arkansas Christian 22 HS Lakeside 41, LR Christian 27 TUESDAY Jonesboro 69, Greene Co. Tech 30 (at ASU Stadium, Jonesboro) Valley View 40, Paragould 21 AT WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM Arkadelphia 42, Benton 28 Cabot 28, Jacksonville 0 AT UAPB’S GOLDEN LION STADIUM McGehee 12, Monticello 0 White Hall 35, Hamburg 13 WEDNESDAY Barton 29, DeWitt 0 Parkers Chapel 32, Magnet Cove 13 Benton Harmony Grove 17, Poyen 0 Gurdon 40, Prescott 34 WEEK 1 GAMES TODAY 7A/6A-CENTRAL Mills at LR Parkview (at LR Central), 7:30 p.m.
*Morrilton at Russellville, 7 p.m.
7A/6A-WEST *Rogers at Mountain Home, 7 p.m.
*Van Buren at Alma, 7 p.m.
CLASS 5A 5A-EAST *Nettleton at Newport, 6:30 p.m.
*Osceola at Blytheville, 7:30 p.m.
5A-WEST *Beebe at Greenbrier, 7 p.m.
*Charleston at Clarksville, 7:30 p.m.
5A-CENTRAL *Vilonia at Sylvan Hills, 6 p.m.
CLASS 4A *Atkins at Dover, 7 p.m.
*Dardanelle at Danville, 7 p.m.
*Hoxie at Trumann, 7:30 p.m.
Pocahontas at Bald Knob, 6 p.m.
*SS Batesville at Cave City, 6 p.m.
CLASS 3A *Johnson County Westside at Paris, 7 p.m.
*Two Rivers at Hector, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 2A *Cutter Morning Star at Western Yell County, 7 p.m.
AT RAZORBACK STADIUM Siloam Springs vs. Watson Chapel, 6 p.m.
Fayetteville vs. Memphis University School, 8:30 p.m.
FRIDAY CLASS 7A/6A 7A/6A-CENTRAL Greenwood at Sallisaw, Okla., 7 p.m.
LR Central vs. LR Catholic (at War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock), 8 p.m.
Pine Bluff at FS Northside, 7 p.m.
Sheridan at LR Hall (at LR Central), 7 p.m.
7A/6A-SOUTH Camden Fairview at El Dorado, 7 p.m.
Conway at Bryant, 7 p.m.
North Little Rock at Lake Hamilton, 7 p.m.
North Pulaski at LR Fair, 7 p.m.
Texarkana at Texarkana, Texas, 8 p.m.
7A/6A-WEST Batesville at Springdale, 7:30 p.m.
FS Southside at Rogers Heritage, 7:30 p.m.
KC (Mo.) Rockhurst at Bentonville, 7:30 p.m.
Springdale Har-Ber at Webb City, Mo., 7 p.m.
7A/6A-EAST Ashdown at West Memphis, 7 p.m.
LR McClellan at Searcy, 7 p.m.
Marion at Wynne, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 5A Farmington at Huntsville, 7 p.m.
Forrest City at Gosnell, 7 p.m.
Magnolia at Crossett, 7 p.m.
Mena at De Queen, 7:30 p.m.
Nashville at Hope, 7:30 p.m.
Ozark, Mo., at Harrison, 7 p.m.
PB Dollarway at Helena-W.H. Central, 7 p.m.
Pulaski Academy at West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade, 11 p.m.
Pulaski Robinson at Hot Springs, 7 p.m.
CLASS 4A Bauxite at Harding Academy, 7 p.m.
Brinkley at Brookland, 7:30 p.m.
Decatur at Subiaco Academy, 7 p.m.
Dumas at Mayflower, 7 p.m.
Elkins at Pea Ridge, 7 p.m.
Fountain Lake at Maumelle, 7 p.m.
Gentry at West Fork, 7 p.m.
Jonesboro Westside at Manila, 7 p.m.
Lake Village at Strong, 7:30 p.m.
Lamar at Gravette, 7 p.m.
Malvern at Glen Rose, 7 p.m.
Mena at De Queen, 7:30 p.m.
Ozark at Booneville, 7 p.m.
Pottsville at Heber Springs, 7 p.m.
Prairie Grove at Lavaca, 7 p.m.
Star City at Lonoke, 7 p.m.
Thayer, Mo., at Highland, 7:30 p.m.
Waldron at Mansfield, 7 p.m.
Westville, Okla., at Lincoln, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A C. Harmony Grove at Bearden, 7:30 p.m.
Cedarville at Mountainburg, 7 p.m.
Cedar Ridge at Riverview, 7 p.m.
Dierks at Centerpoint, 7:30 p.m.
Drew Central at Hampton, 7:30 p.m.
Episcopal at Conway Christian, 7 p.m.
Fordyce at Rison, 8 p.m.
Genoa Central at Foreman, 7 p.m.
Greenland at Magazine, 7 p.m.
Harrisburg at Cross County, 7 p.m.
Horatio at Lafayette County, 7 p.m.
Junction City at Earle, 7:30 p.m.
Mineral Springs at Fouke, 7:30 p.m.
Mountain Pine at Jessieville, 7 p.m.
Mountain View at Salem, 7 p.m.
Murfreesboro at Bismarck, 7 p.m.
Palestine-Wheatley at Melbourne, 7 p.m.
Perryville at Bigelow, 7:30 p.m.
Quitman at Rose Bud, 7 p.m.
Rivercrest at East Poinsett County, 7 p.m.
Reeds Spring, Mo., at Green Forest, 7 p.m.
Smackover at Norphlet, 7:30 p.m.
Walnut Ridge at Corning, 7 p.m.
Yellville-Summit at Piggott, 7 p.m.
CLASS 2A Carlisle at McCrory, 7 p.m.
Clarendon at Marked Tree, 7 p.m.
England at Hackett, 7 p.m.
Hazen at Augusta, 7 p.m.
Heavener, Okla., at Union Christian, 7 p.m.
Mount Ida at Spring Hill, 7 p.m.
Marvell at Hermitage, 7 p.m.
Woodlawn at Des Arc, 7 p.m.
*Moved because of Tropical Storm IsaacSiloam Springs vs. Watson Chapel WHEN 6 tonight WHERE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville RECORDS Season opener for both teams RANKINGS Watson Chapel is No. 4 in Class 5A; Siloam Springs is unranked.
Coaches
Please call the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with football game reports before 10:30 p.m. each Friday night this fall.
In Northwest Arkansas, call 1-888-223-9846 or (479) 365-2969. In other parts of the state, call 1-800-272-4650 or (501) 378-3411.
We need records, score by quarters, scoring plays and top rushing, passing, receiving and defensive performances.
The Democrat-Gazette also will publish statistics each Friday throughout the regular season.
E-mail statistics to: [email protected]
Sports, Pages 20 on 08/30/2012