Adversity hits SSHS football program

Three weeks into the football season, the Siloam Springs football team has been struck with its first major roadblock of the season, and it isn't this week's opponent Conway.

In the aftermath of the Panthers' 22-12 homecoming win against Claremore, Okla., early Saturday morning, 33 teenagers -- including several Siloam Springs football players -- were cited for under-age drinking at a post game bonfire party that was not school-sanctioned.

Siloam Springs coach Bryan Ross said around 20 football players are being disciplined in the program, as determined by the team's Unity Council comprised of seniors Aric Sislo, Colby Brown and Nick Herring, juniors Luke Lampton and Connor Broyles and sophomores Marquan Sorrells and Kevin Canales.

Ross said it was very disappointing and discouraging to get the news Saturday morning that the incident had taken place.

"We understand that as a team and as a group of people, we want to stand for more than that," Ross said. "I realize that everybody's an individual once they leave here, but we all are committed to the same thing, and that is to do right and do what we're supposed to do. I think we've addressed it and hopefully we've learned some lessons and will move on from here."

Ross said the consequences for the offenders will be of a physical nature, and the players' response and participation in these consequences will determine their futures with the team. No one has been suspended or removed from the team.

It's a tough blow for the Panthers, who come into this week's 7A/6A-Central Conference opener against Conway (1-2) with a 3-0 record after wins against Rogers (18-6), at Harrison (16-0) and last week's victory over Claremore.

Conway, the defending league champion, was defeated at Cabot 34-18 in Week 1, before winning at Jonesboro 31-17 in Week 2. The Wampus Cats, who are coached by former Siloam Springs coach Clint Ashcraft, were defeated by Springdale Har-Ber 37-7 at home last week.

"I'm sure Conway just played poorly and Har-Ber played very well," Ross said. "At the level we're at now, that can happen. There aren't too many teams out there that are just going to dominate at our level of play. Even the Bentonvilles and Fayettevilles -- if they don't play well, there's going to be a chance that they don't win. It's just a matter of consistency. Every coach wants to develop that and sustained excellence is a very, very rare commodity. That's what everybody wants to get to but very few ever do."

The Wampus Cats defeated Siloam Springs 45-10 at Glenn W. Black Stadium last year, finishing the game on a 38-0 run after Siloam Springs pulled ahead 10-7 in the second quarter.

The Wampus Cats were picked by the 7A/6A-Central coaches in the preseason to finish first, while Siloam Springs was picked to finish last.

Sports on 09/23/2015