Football: Texarkana paid Price with long touchdowns

SILOAM SPRINGS -- Siloam Springs' defense kept Friday's 6A-West Conference game against Texarkana close for one half, but the Panthers couldn't slow down Razorbacks junior Irjah Price.

Price caught two long touchdown passes in the first half to help Texarkana build a 16-0 lead, and he returned the opening kickoff of the second half 86 yards for another score as the Razorbacks rolled to a 37-0 victory at Panther Stadium.

The victory clinched a playoff spot for Texarkana (5-4, 3-3 6A-West), while the loss ended any playoff hopes for Siloam Springs (2-7, 1-5).

Dejordan Mask intercepted three passes and caught a long touchdown pass in the second half for the Razorbacks.

"Obviously, I thought defensively we were able to get after them pretty good, and we got some turnovers and made some explosive plays offensively," said Texarkana Coach Barry Norton, who spent the previous 18 years coaching across the state line at Texarkana, Texas. "Irjah Price the wideout, he made a bunch of plays for us and got us going."

Texarkana recovered a Siloam Springs fumble on the opening kickoff and cashed in for a 36-yard field goal by Patrick Cook to take a 3-0 lead.

Price hauled in a 61-yard pass from Sean Foreback to put the Razorbacks up 9-0 in the second quarter.

Siloam Springs had a chance to cut into Texarkana's lead in the second quarter when the Panthers' defense, after nearly recording a safety, got its offense good field position at the Razorbacks' 30. But the Panthers' tried a trick play with a throwback to sophomore quarterback Taylor Pool, who was unable to field a lateral cleanly and the Razorbacks recovered.

Foreback found Price for a 38-yard score and 16-0 lead with 25 seconds left before halftime.

Price fielded the opening kickoff of the second half and outran the Panthers' special teams to make it 23-0. Jordan Hall ran in for a 1-yard score, and Mask caught a 37-yard pass with 3:32 left as Texarkana hit the mercy rule.

Price finished with 141 yards receiving on five catches. Foreback was 10 of 22 for 224 yards. The Razorbacks had 327 yards of total offense.

Siloam Springs was playing without starting quarterback Landon Ellis, who is lost for the season with a partially torn ACL in his left knee.

Pool played quarterback for the Panthers and completed only 4 of 17 passes for 21 yards and 4 interceptions. The Panthers -- who were also missing starting center Dillon Conn, backup center Marco Salcedo and several other players -- mustered only 89 yards of offense and four first downs.

Junior running back Kaiden Thrailkill managed 50 yards on 16 carries.

Sports on 10/28/2017

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