Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
SILOAM SPRINGS PANTHERS
2017 RECORD 2-8, 1-6 6A-West COACH Brandon Craig
RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 6 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Landon Ellis (Sr., 5-10, 174), RB/LB Kaiden Thrailkill (Sr., 5-9, 195), WR/DB Primo Agbehi (Sr., 5-9, 167), OL Dillon Conn (Sr., 5-11, 197), OL/DL Corbin Collins (Sr., 6-3, 286), LB Chase Chandler (Sr., 5-10, 223), HB/LB Spenser Pippin (Sr., 5-10, 206), LB Matt Avery (Sr., 5-10, 229).
THE SKINNY Craig enters his first season at the helm of the Siloam Springs football program after a successful career at Oologah, Okla., where he went 77-34. … The Panthers return several skill position players including starting quarterback Landon Ellis, who completed 97 of 199 passes for 1,563 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. … Ellis missed the final two games of the season after tearing his ACL for the second time. … All-State running back Kaiden Thrailkill rushed for 864 yards on 197 carries and caught 17 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns. … Senior linebacker Chase Chandler is the Panthers’ top returning tackler with 66 tackles in 2017. … The Panthers open the season Aug. 31 with a new opponent at Pryor, Okla., and play familiar faces Harrison and Van Buren to complete the nonconference schedule. … Siloam Springs has won three games the past two seasons with two of those wins coming against Sheridan and the other against Van Buren. … Both Sheridan and Van Buren went 0-10 during the 2017 season. … The 6A-West Conference has one change for the current cycle as Texarkana went down to 5A and was replaced with Little Rock Hall from the 6A-East.
COACH SPEAK “It has been a very productive summer, and we are excited about the way our fall practices are going. We feel like the kids are grasping all the concepts we are installing offensively and defensively. Our kids are enthusiastic about the challenges we are facing ahead.” — Graham Thomas • @NWAGraham