Here's what I know.
• I know the Siloam Springs football team is better than what they've shown the last two weeks in losses at Conway and against Alma at home. I'm not saying the Panthers should have won either of those games, but simple mistakes proved costly in each of those games. We can play the "what if" game all we like. What if the Panthers had not fumbled in the first quarter at Conway and the Wampus Cats hadn't returned it for a touchdown. What if the Panthers had been able to tackle Alma punter Heath Friddle after a bad snap? What if, what if, what if ... those are just a couple of plays out of many the Panthers would like to have back.
• I know when the Panthers play at Van Buren this Friday, the Pointers won't sneak up offensively on Siloam Springs like they did last season. Going into that game, Van Buren had lost three straight games while the Panthers had just beaten Alma in a huge 6A game. When the two teams met at Glenn W. Black Stadium on homecoming, Van Buren quarterback Jordan Barlow threw three touchdown passes to Jaylyn Dye and the Pointers raced out to a 28-6 lead. Siloam Springs pulled within 28-20 before Van Buren turned to its running game with Ethan Hudspeth, who scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to put the game away. Final score: Van Buren 42, Siloam Springs 20. "They just lined up and kicked our butt," said Siloam Springs head coach Bryan Ross after the game. The quarterback-receiver-running back trio of Barlow, Dye and Hudspeth are all back this season for Van Buren.
• I know the Siloam Springs offense has gotten better in recent weeks. After being held below 300 yards offense the first two weeks, the Panthers have gone for 320, 366 and 347 yards in the last three games. The Panthers were held below 100 yards rushing last week for the first time all season -- 27 carries for 85 yards -- but the passing game had its biggest night of the year going for 262 yards.
• I know the Siloam Springs defense is a lot better than it has shown the last two weeks. After allowing 458 yards in its first three games combined, the Panthers were gashed by Conway for 437 yards, while Alma moved the ball at will for 393 yards, controlling the possession and the clock. Siloam Springs' defense carried the Panthers the first three games of the year, and they'll need to return to form if the Panthers are going to get back on track.
• I know there are five regular season games left and plenty of football yet to be played. The Panthers aren't far away from being the team they want to be. The second half of the season starts Friday night in Van Buren.
-- Graham Thomas is the managing editor for the Herald-Leader. He can be reached at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Sports on 10/07/2015