Harrison coach Chad Harbison admits he was hoping new Panther Stadium would have been ready for this Friday's football game between Harrison and Siloam Springs.
Harbison, a former Siloam Springs standout and coach, grew up near the land where the current high school sits and the new stadium is being built.
"That's where I grew up," Harbison said. "All that land out there was where we ran when we were kids.
"It's kind of strange to go back over there now with the high school. I was looking forward to opening up the new stadium. It would have been a sentimental deal."
Instead, the Goblins and Panthers will be playing at Glenn W. Black Stadium as the two teams renew an old rivalry that hasn't been played since 2011 when both teams were in the 5A-West Conference.
Siloam Springs has since moved up to Class 6A.
Siloam Springs defeated Harrison 24-13 in the 2011 meeting, and the Panthers also defeated the Goblins in a preseason scrimmage before the 2013 season.
Harbison said the Goblins will have their work cut out for them on Friday.
"I know they lost to Rogers the other night, but good night," he said. "They're pretty good."
The Goblins (1-0) opened their season last week with a 61-21 win against northern Arkansas rival Mountain Home.
"We played well," Harbison said.
Goblins quarterback Brock Humphrey completed 25 of 35 passes for 436 yards and seven touchdown passes.
The Goblins led the Bombers 21-0 before Mountain Home's offense even touched the ball after Harrison recovered two onside kicks.
The game should be a sharp contrast from what Siloam Springs saw last week with Rogers running the ball 49 of 50 offensive plays. Harrison will most likely pass the majority of plays.
"Harrison's pretty good," said Siloam Springs coach Bryan Ross. "They're going to throw the ball almost every down. They look like Pulaski Academy. They've tried to implement that system. The game could last a long time. They're going to onside kick a lot, just like PA does. It will be important that we control the ball a little bit and have some success running the ball. We have to play good defense."
Sports on 09/10/2014