Purple defeat freshmen; eighth-graders top Ramay

Momentum changed in the blink of an eye for the Siloam Springs ninth-grade football team on Thursday. The Panthers led Fayetteville Purple 7-6 late in the first half when the Bulldogs scored on a pass to a take a 14-7 lead. The Panthers (1-4) moved into scoring position inside the last minute of the half but a pass fell short. Purple returned the opening kickoff of the second half 80 yards for a touchdown and went on to defeat the freshmen 40-7 at Panther Stadium. Colin Evers scored the Panthers’ lone touchdown in the second quarter.

Siloam Springs 26, Fayetteville Ramay 14

The Siloam Springs eighth-graders didn’t get off to a good start Thursday against Fayetteville Ramay, but the Panthers finished just fine in a 26-14 victory. Ramay led 7-0 after the first quarter, but Siloam Springs took an 8-7 lead in the second quarter on a jump pass from Josh Stewart to Caden McHaney, followed by a Wesley Farni run for the two-point conversion. The Panthers (3-1-1) went ahead 14-7 later in the quarter when Stewart threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Christian Ledeker. Ramay returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown as the game was tied 14-14 going into halftime. Stewart had a pair of touchdown runs — 1 yard and 11 yards — in the third quarter, while Devin Higgs had an interception.

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The eight- and ninth-grade football teams return to action on Thursday at Springdale George.