Zebras a tough challenge for Panthers

Bud Sullins/Special to the Herald-Leader Siloam Springs safeties Matt Downing, left, and Coby Roach, right, converge on a tackle of Harrison’s Kanon Kirkland during last week’s game at Glenn W. Black Stadium.
Bud Sullins/Special to the Herald-Leader Siloam Springs safeties Matt Downing, left, and Coby Roach, right, converge on a tackle of Harrison’s Kanon Kirkland during last week’s game at Glenn W. Black Stadium.

Siloam Springs head coach Bryan Ross didn't have to do much research to find out whether the Claremore (Okla.) Zebras were a quality football team or not. All he had to do was look at the scoreboard.

"They're obviously a good football team," Ross said. "They beat Rogers."

Rogers defeated Siloam Springs 35-21 in the Panthers' season-opener on Sept. 5 and rushed for more than 500 yards in the process, including a 7A-West Conference record 446 by fullback Bryan Grigsby.

When Rogers traveled to Claremore in Week 2, the Zebras were well-prepared for the Mounties' triple option offense and limited Rogers to 212 rushing yards and defeated the Mounties 17-14.

Ross pointed out that most teams center their defense on stopping the running game, but the Zebras do that even more so.

"They're going to be an eight-man front," Ross said. "That's what they do. That's what they are."

Claremore (1-1) lost its season-opener against Pryor (Okla.) 28-3 in a game where the Zebras only had 137 yards of offense.

Claremore fared better offensively last week against Rogers with 275 yards of offense.

Running back Derrick Reliford (5-4, 198) rushed for 117 yards on 27 carries, while Dustin Basks (5-8, 166) had 63 yards on 11 carries. Basks also caught two passes for 79 yards.

"We're going to have to slow those two down," Reliford said.

Quarterback Aaron McCollough (6-1, 170) came on in relief last week and led Claremore on two second-half scoring drives. He completed 2 of 3 passes for 79 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown to Basks.

Offensively, Ross said the Panthers are going to try and keep their balance offensively.

Through two games, the Panthers have rushed for 307 yards and passed for 466 yards. The Panthers had 329 passing yards against Rogers and 137 in their 47-35 win against Harrison.

The Panthers only rushed for 26 yards total against Rogers in Week 1, however they came alive on the ground against Harrison with 281 rushing yards.

Running back Ricky Hughes had 138 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Chris Lampton had 105 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

"We're going to do what we do," Ross said. "We're still going to have to run the ball better than we did against Rogers. We're going to have to certainly make some plays in the passing game."

Parker Baldwin leads all Siloam Springs receivers with 153 receiving yards on 10 catches. Zane Washington has 11 catches for 131 yards, while Zach Davis has six catches for 138 yards.

Defensively, Baldwin leads the Panthers with 15 tackles and 14 assisted tackles. Coby Roach has 10 tackles and 11 assisted tackles. Other Panthers in double figures of assisted tackles are Dylan Land (19), David Goodman (15), Chris Boyster (12), Hughes (10) and Matt Downing (10).

NOTES: The Panthers will be without junior quarterback Jordan Norberg for the next several weeks after Norberg broke his collarbone in a junior varsity game. Sophomore Luke Lampton will be the backup to senior and older brother Chris Lampton. ... The Panthers hope to have injured defensive end Kris Green back for this week's game. ... Ross said senior wideout Jackson Noll has missed the first two games with a concussion and will return once he's cleared by his doctor.

Sports on 09/17/2014