Junior Cards Pull Off Last Minute Win

FARMINGTON — Farmington overcame a 20-8 halftime deficit storming back to defeat Siloam Springs, 22-20, on a last-minute touchdown in junior high football action at Panther Stadium Thursday, Sept. 26.

Toe-Tapping Touchdown

“It was a very exciting game. We didn’t play as well as we wanted to in the first half,” said Farmington veteran assistant coach Steve Morgan. “They (Siloam Springs) executed some plays on us in the first half and built a lead.”

In a wild finish, Siloam Springs’ defense got a stop with 3:16 left in the game, but couldn’t run out the clock. Farmington got the ball back with a little more than two minutes remaining.

“In the second half our defense came alive and stopped them every time, and the offense broke loose for some big plays,” Morgan said. “Will Hellard had a long touchdown run. Our passing connections between (quarterback) Cameron Vanzant and Samuel Wells connected for a couple of touchdowns and some extra points.”

The junior Cardinal offense came through when it had to, creating a 45-yard drive after the defense stopped the junior Panthers deep in their own territory. Siloam Springs punted and the kick was short traveling about 20 yards.

Farmington scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Vanzant to Wells with 40 seconds remaining.

“It was a nice drive, about 5-to-8 plays and we hit that pass in the corner of the end zone and he toe-tapped it right on the sideline before he want out-of-bounds,” Morgan said. “It was an exciting play, an exciting drive and an exciting game.”

Explosive Play

Siloam Springs produced two touchdown drives and also cashed in on a short field off a blocked punt. The junior Panthers led 6-0 after the first quarter with Siloam Springs scoring on a Tyson Seyer run.

Farmington answered with second-year head junior high coach Cody Napier praising the execution to spring a long run.

“We run a sweep to Will Hellard and our receivers do a great job blocking. Our line does a great job blocking. He gets to the edge and he just turns it on, sends it to the house,” Napier said. “It was over a 60-yard play that put it in the end zone.”

Farmington captured an 8-6 lead in the second quarter with a successful 2-point conversion, which proved crucial to winning the game late in the fourth.

“Will put that first touchdown in on the ground and with the 2-point conversion it’s sideline and we’ve got some football-smart kids. He keeps a foot in, catches it and we get an extra two on top of that,” Napier said.

Tough First Half

The junior Panthers came in 0-5 hungering for a win and got their offense in gear.

Ivan Arras broke a 56-yard touchdown run and Seyer ran in the conversion restoring Siloam Springs to a lead (14-8) with 3:15 remaining before the half. Seyer added another rushing touchdown for a 20-8 halftime lead.

Napier didn’t like what he saw in the first half defensively.

“We showed up and we didn’t play up to our capabilities and that was very frustrating for me,” Napier said. “I know the potential of our kids. I saw it when we played Fayetteville White. Our defense was huge for us. Our offense stepped up and put points on the board and I know what we’re capable of now.”

Napier told the team that is the standard and expectation, but admitted the squad didn’t play that way in the first half.

“We got stuff together at halftime and we talked about it, the expectations,” Napier said. “We came out and we did exactly what we’re capable of doing. The defense went out and played and very little mistakes in the second half. They didn’t score a point in the second half.”

Farmington Rally

Farmington’s second half rally began with an 80-yard touchdown pass from Vanzant to Wells playing wild receiver at the 3:42 mark of the third quarter, and converted a 2-point try, trimming the junior Panther lead to 20-16.

The defense did its part getting the ball back and Farmington drove for the winning score.

“Our offense stepped up and made some great plays that we had to make to win the ball game and I was very proud of our kids,” Napier said. “We get a big catch, roll-out pass. Sam Wells, he keeps a foot on the ground, gets that ball and it was great to see the kids step up and come back from a deficit like that, meet that adversity and continue to dig for it and dig for it and not give up. I really love that about our kids. They persevere.”