Ninth-graders host Pea Ridge in benefit

The Siloam Springs ninth-grade football team hosted Pea Ridge on Thursday for an Arkansas Activities Association benefit game at Panther Stadium.

The night started with each team getting a series of 12 plays for its No. 1 and No. 2 offenses and defenses.

Then the two teams played a three-quarter scrimmage with the first quarter being the No. 1 offenses and defenses and the second quarter for the No. 2 offenses and defenses.

The third quarter was best vs. best with substitutions.

Siloam Springs head coach Jonathan Johnson said score wasn’t kept formally, but the Panthers did find the end zone twice with their No. 1s and once with their No. 2s, while holding Pea Ridge to just one score total.

Johnson said Camden Collins had a strong night at running back and led the team in tackles at linebacker.

Colin Evers played well in his first-ever start at quarterback, Johnson said, while Elijah Coffey was the team’s leading receiver in both catches and yards.

Jared Clark led the way on the offensive and defensive lines, Johnson said.

The eighth- and ninthgrade football teams open the season Thursday at Springdale Southwest. The eighth-grade game is scheduled to begin around 5:30 p.m., followed by the ninth-graders around 7:30 p.m.