Senior quarterback Chris Lampton couldn't help but give his teammate and fellow senior Zane Washington a hard time.
Washington, who started at wide receiver a year ago for Siloam Springs, didn't score his first touchdown of the season in 2013 until Week 10 against Van Buren.
He didn't have to wait nearly as long to find the end zone in 2014.
Washington (5-foot-10, 156) caught a career-high eight passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns in Friday's 35-21 season-opening loss to Rogers.
Washington's first touchdown came with 9:34 remaining in the second quarter when he slipped behind the Rogers defense and Lampton found him for a 23-yard touchdown strike.
After the play, Washington said Lampton joked with him, saying "How do you like the first game instead of the last game?"
Washington's response: "Keep it coming."
Washington found the end zone again in the third quarter when he took an option screen pass and raced down the visitor sideline for a 59-yard touchdown.
Washington's big night is exactly what Siloam Springs coach Bryan Ross had in mind for the senior and hopes to see more in the future.
Washington plays the outside 'Z' receiver position after spending last season at the inside receiver spot.
"We felt like this year moving him outside we would have more ways to get him the ball in our scheme," Ross said. "We felt like moving him outside we would be able to stretch the field too. With his skill set he's better suited outside."
Ross said Washington has been clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.5 seconds and the Panthers have tried to find ways to utilize his speed.
Last season he caught 22 passes but only for 139 yards, struggling to break free at the inside receiver spot.
"When you're an inside receiver, there's more defenders around you," Ross said.
Ross said playing outside, Washington will have more opportunity for one-on-one coverage.
"When you put them on the corner you've got more one-on-one," Ross said. "Particularly with Zane being able to run pretty well, if he beats one guy there's a chance he can take it to the house, which is what he did the other night."
Catching passes wasn't the only thing Washington did for the Panthers.
He also returned four kickoffs for 85 yards and recovered an onside kick to start the second half for Siloam Springs.
"He's been a pretty good kickoff returner," Ross said. "He almost broke one on the opening kickoff of the game."
Washington said he was far from perfect against the Mounties, citing some mental mistakes in the first half.
"The first half I kind of wasn't really all there," he said. "I had the whole "deer in the headlights" thing. At halftime, coach Ross gave me a wake-up call."
Washington said he made some key mistakes that a senior football player shouldn't have made.
"I wasn't paying attention to the situation," he said. "I made some bad judgment calls. (Ross) called me out on it. Thinking back on it, they were some really dumb mistakes that a senior shouldn't be making. I had to get my head back in the game."
Washington said he was able to do that in the second half.
"I had a couple of opportunities (in the second half) and did the best I could with what I had," he said. "It seemed to work out."
Washington's performance at wide receiver was one of three stellar efforts from Panther wideouts. Senior Zach Davis caught a 70-yard touchdown pass on the second play of the game and finished with five catches for 111 yards. Senior Parker Baldwin had seven catches for 90 yards.
"That's three of our guys who are seniors that we need to have big games for us," Ross said. "Hopefully that will continue."
Washington, Baldwin and Davis are also standout sprinters for the Siloam Springs track team.
"That's why football coaches for years have wanted their kids running track," Ross said. "It helps, there's no doubt about that."
Washington said he's looking forward to this Friday's home opener against Harrison. The Goblins have been a longtime rival of Siloam Springs, but Washington's class has never played them in senior high. They did play them as seventh-graders five years ago.
The Panthers did play Harrison in a scrimmage game before the 2013 season started.
"Yeah I'm glad it's a home game," Washington said. "Hopefully we've got a new spirit and they've got the Pit (student section) all riled up. We're hoping for a big crowd, especially against Harrison. We played Harrison in some 7 on 7, but we haven't gotten to put the pads on and go up against them."
Sports on 09/10/2014