Panthers Defeat Seventh-Grade Cards

FARMINGTON — Siloam Springs won its first seventhgrade football game of the season by knocking off Farmington, 16-12, at Cardinal Stadium on Sept. 24.

Both teams had trouble defending the run.

Farmington’s Dawson Keaton broke away from the Panther defense on two long touchdown runs, but the Cardinals allowed Siloam Springs to gain 170 yards on the ground.

Panther running back Fabian Lara rushed for 90 yards while quarterback Jonathan Hyde rushed for 65 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Two- point conversions became the difference in the contest. Lara ran for Siloam Springs’ first conversion.

Siloam Springs kept its offense mostly on the ground. Hyde was limited to only two completed passes, the second of which put the Panthers in second- and- one near midfield. The Panthers called time-out with 52 seconds remaining in the first half, but squandered a chance to increase their lead when they fumbled on the next play and Payton Burr recovered for Farmington.

Siloam Springs led 8-6 at halftime, but Farmington surged ahead on the first play of the second half with Keaton busting loose for a 70-yard touchdown run. Farmington attempted a pass on its conversion play, but that failed.

Siloam Springs regained the lead on its next possession marching 70 yards in five plays for the go-ahead score. The big play in the drive was a 50- yard run advancing the football from the Panther 30 all the way to Farmington’s 20. Three plays later Hyde scored on a keeper then Jayden Hooten ran off left tackle to add a 2-point conversion sending the Panthers back in front, 16-12, with 3:50 left in the third quarter.

Farmington was hurt by losing possession on two interceptions including Max Carter’s pick and long return from near midfield to the Cardinal 30 just before the third quarter ended.

The Panthers drove to Farmington’s three, but turned the ball over on downs by fumbling a snap in the shotgun.

Farmington took over at its own six with the fourth quarter clock down to 2:07. Keaton broke tackles gaining 25 yards on a sweep, but was stopped for no gain on the next play forcing the Cardinals to burn a time- out. The Panthers contained Keaton on pitch to the left although he picked up six yards.

Siloam Springs declined a penalty on the play which would have enabled Farmington to replay second down, then iced the game by intercepting Keaton’s halfback pass on a trick play.

Eighth-grade

The Panthers were much stronger at the eighth-grade level and kept their (4-0) season undefeated with a 34-0 rout at Cardinal Stadium.

Farmington suffered from turnovers in the passing game with Mikey McKinley and Ramon Loyo picking off Cardinal passes in the first quarter. Carlos Sandoval added another interception for Siloam Springs, which took a lead early on Gio Flores’ 29-yard touchdown run. Jackson Still ran in the 2-point conversion and Farmington trailed 8-0.

Following the second turnover, Siloam Springs upped its lead to 14-0 when Still took a keeper in for another score. Later in the first half he passed to Alec Pearson putting Farmington in a 20-0 hole. Sandoval added a 20-yard rushing touchdown putting the Panthers up 26-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Kimber Haggard scooted for a 10-yard touchdown and Brock Nall added the two-point conversion on the ground.