Siloam Springs returns four starters from an offense in 2015 that averaged just under 300 yards per game and scored 25 touchdowns.
With better execution and keeping injuries away from key personnel, the Panthers hope for better production in 2016.
Siloam Springs will once again operate out of a spread offense, but this year it will lean heavily on an option-centered game.
"We've tweaked a few things," said Siloam Springs head coach and offensive play-caller Bryan Ross. "We've added some different run schemes. We think it fits our kids and makes us more productive from a four-wide receiver set. Generally we'll be what people have seen over the years."
Quarterbacks
Senior Luke Lampton (5-foot-10, 189 pounds) takes over the quarterbacking duties full time after seeing bits of time at the position in both his sophomore and junior seasons.
As a sophomore in 2014, Lampton served as the primary backup to his older brother, Chris Lampton, and wound up playing in several games, including a full game against Bryant. He rushed for 102 yards on 26 carries and scored a touchdown. He also completed 11 of 27 passes for 77 yards and one interception.
Last season, backing up Jordan Norberg, Lampton rushed 25 times for 132 yards and scored six touchdowns. He was used mainly in running and goal line situations, but he also completed 2 of 3 passes for 35 yards.
"Obviously with our quarterback being a good runner, we're going to fit the offense to what he does well," Ross said.
However, Lampton has improved in the passing game, Ross said, and that should show up on Friday nights.
"Luke has worked hard to improve his throwing mechanics," Ross said. "He's come a long way in two years. I think he'll put a lot of pressure on defenses."
Using Lampton in the running game, Ross said the Panthers will rely on a lot of "option football," but not in the traditional sense of the option.
"Pretty much every snap we'll have a decision to make," Ross said. "He's got to make decisions about what to do with it. I think he'll do fine. It's his time to lead us and I think he'll do a great job."
Sophomore Landon "L.T." Ellis (5-10, 155) will be the Panthers' backup quarterback after missing all of the 2015 season with a torn ACL. A year out of football might have slowed Ellis' development down as a quarterback, but Ross likes where the sophomore is right now.
"I've been very pleased with his development," Ross said of Ellis. "He's farther along than I anticipated. He's a competitor. He throws the ball well, and he has a knack for getting the ball where he needs it."
Ellis doesn't have great speed, but he's got a good understanding of how football is played.
"He picks things up really quick," Ross said.
Ellis will quarterback the junior varsity team on Monday nights.
"I'm looking forward to seeing him in JV games," Ross said. "We've had a bad rash of knee injuries here lately. Unfortunately, he got caught in that last year."
Should injuries sideline either Lampton or Ellis, the Panthers would turn to potentially three different players in an emergency situation.
Sophomore Kaiden Thrailkill quarterbacked the ninth-grade team last year in Ellis' absence while junior Marquan Sorrells was the ninth-grade quarterback in 2014. Senior J.D. Horn could also play some quarterback, Ross said.
Running backs
The Panthers must replace the production of three-year starting running back Ricky Hughes, who was an all-state selection in 2015.
And the choices for filling that hole have little to no experience at running back on the varsity level.
Sophomore Kaiden Thrailkill (5-10, 159), senior Ty Trimble (5-11, 176), junior Kevin Canales (5-7, 182) and sophomore Dalton Ferguson (5-9, 184) have all been getting reps at the position in fall camp.
"Kaiden has the biggest upside, but he's just a sophomore," Ross said. "There's not a lot of experience there. Running back is a position that comes down to natural ability. You'd like to have some experience there, but I'm not sure it's critical at that position like it is at quarterback or on the offensive line."
Ross said Thrailkill has beefed up in the offseason.
"Kaiden has put on some weight and thickened up," he said. "He's got a chance to be a physical runner."
Trimble, who played defense only in 2015, returned to being a two-way player in the spring.
"We felt like he had some ability," Ross said of Trimble. "He's got decent size and quickness. We thought we'd put him back there and see what he looked like. Ty has matured I think. He's ready to have a good senior season."
Canales lacks the burst of quickness that Thrailkill and Trimble have, but he runs and blocks well.
Ferguson missed all of last season with an injury and is just now starting to pick up momentum at the position.
"All four are pretty physical kids," Ross said.
Wide receivers
Ross admits it's not easy playing wide receiver at Siloam Springs.
"Playing receiver for us is difficult," he said. "You have to understand a lot of formations. There are a lot of things that are easy to bust. There's a lot playing receiver that they have to remember. Hopefully we can limit the mistakes we made last year."
The Panthers' depth at receiver took a blow during the summer when senior Dawson Armstrong was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Armstrong caught 14 passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns last year.
"Obviously losing Dawson hurts," Ross said.
But the Panthers do return some experience at the position, and Ross believes there may be some big-play potential.
In Armstrong's absence, senior Montana Burke (5-10, 160) moves to the top of the depth chart at the X or inside receiver position.
Burke was hampered by an ankle sprain late in the summer and into fall camp.
Junior Luke Gumm (5-6, 135) and senior Kormah Dorko (5-6, 145) also play inside receiver and both make up for their lack of size with how well they catch the ball, Ross said.
Junior Jacob Rowe (5-10, 167) also plays an inside receiver spot and is a good blocker in space, his coach said.
Senior Cade Miller (5-11, 168) tops the depth chart at the Y or outside receiver slot. Miller caught 14 passes for 203 yards last season, including two big games against Claremore, Okla., and Russellville. Against the Zebras, Miller caught six passes for 75 yards. He hauled in five passes for 116 yards in the season finale against the Cyclones.
"Cade's a good football player," Ross said. "He's a real quiet kid that always seems to show up when the lights come on. He showed he can make some big plays."
Junior Marquan Sorrells (6-1, 185) caught seven passes for 91 yards and a touchdown last season. He transferred to another state after football season but returned to Siloam Springs. He gives the Panthers another big-play threat at an outside receiver.
"With his height and quickness and long strides, if he gets out in the open field there's not too many teams that are going to be able to catch him," Ross said of Sorrells.
Junior Tristan Moose (6-0, 175) could also be an option at the Y receiver as could senior Hunter Williamson (5-10, 145).
At the other outside receiver spot -- Z -- senior J.D. Horn (5-10, 159) returns after catching eight passes for 148 yards in a little more than half a season. Horn injured a hand playing pickup basketball and missed the final four games. Horn's biggest catch of the year was a 31-yard reception in the final seconds to help preserve a victory at Van Buren.
"J.D., we think he's improved physically and mentally," Ross said. "We're hoping he has a good year for us."
Senior Tyler Bland (5-7, 154) has been a program player dating as far back to the Panthers' Pee-Wee camps. He's fighting for snaps at Z as well.
"He's stuck with it and is a real hard worker," Ross said.
Junior Seth Hufford (5-9, 155) also is competing at the outside receiver spot.
Juniors Nolan Wallis (5-6, 128), Irvin Rios (5-3, 136), Braden Smartt (5-9, 193) and sophomore Spenser Pippin (5-9, 178), Primo Agbehi (5-6, 143), Angel Noyola (5-1, 121), Dillon Ferguson (5-7, 134), Chance Drysdale (5-9, 124), Jaylin Calderon (5-7, 160), Zach Bales (5-8, 140), Logan Kleckner (5-6, 143), Gage Glover (5-1, 129), Ian Williams (5-7, 120) are also seeing action at wide receiver and could see action in junior varsity games.
Tight ends/S
The Panthers employ a tight end -- or S -- from time to time when they choose to go to a heavier set.
"We use the S a lot like a fullback or tight end -- blocking or catching," Ross said.
Senior Zach Ramsey (5-10, 223) caught six passes for 61 yards a year ago, while senior Carlos Gonzales (5-9, 189) also will play the position.
"Carlos is a real quiet kid," Ross said. "He's physical. He loves to hit. His hands are pretty decent. He'll do a good job for us there."
Senior Chance Junkermann (6-0, 227) joined the team as a sophomore and has worked hard to move up the depth chart.
Sophomore Chase Chandler (5-8, 179) could also be an option for the Panthers down the road as could juniors Payton Norberg (6-1, 175) and Wyatt Washington (5-7, 205).
Offensive line
The Panthers lost a chunk of their offensive line from a year ago, but they also return two players that saw extensive playing time in seniors Connor Broyles and Tallon Nation.
"Both of those kids started at times last year," Ross said.
Broyles (6-1, 231) moves to the ever-important center position, but he can play all of the positions on the line.
"Broyles is a very intelligent kid," Ross said. "We're moving him to center and he'll do a great job there. He's added some size and strength."
Nation (6-3, 264) is the Panthers' biggest starter on the offensive line. He'll protect the quarterback's blind side at left tackle.
"I think (Nation) will have a chance to play at the next level," Ross said. "Every year he's gotten more physical and developed more of an understanding of what we expect. He can be one of the better linemen not only in our conference but in the state."
The Panthers are expecting senior Jonathan Hernandez (5-9, 235) to step in at left guard.
Hernandez joined the team after his ninth-grade year.
"He's a pretty unassuming kid, and once he figured things out, he showed he had some ability," Ross said. "We thought Hernandez would come on and do a good job his senior year. He's got good lower body strength and he's fairly athletic."
Sophomore Corbin Collins (6-1, 241) is expected to get a shot at right tackle, but transfer Raymond Williams (6-0, 316) from Springdale Har-Ber also is in the running there.
"Collins, physically, is going to be a good one," Ross said. "It's kind of confusing for sophomores having to put all the mental pieces together sometimes. Ray Williams has certainly shown he's capable of playing there. I know Coach (Chris) Wood at Har-Ber liked him."
Junior Isaac Knudsen (6-1, 232) and senior Caleb Garcia (5-10, 222) are fighting for playing time at right guard.
Senior Caleb Miller (6-1, 187), a starter on the defensive line, can play offensive line in a pinch and backs up Nation at right tackle.
Senior Thomas Mahoney (6-1, 202) is the backup center, while senior Joe Roberts (5-11, 342) is a backup at right tackle. Sophomore Matt Avery (5-10, 221) gives depth at the guard position.
Juniors Caleb Farine (5-10, 218), Jackson Knight (6-2, 280), Bryan Reyes (5-8, 245), Sam Espinal (5-6, 236), Michael Quigley (5-9, 209), Alejandro Munoz (5-8, 192) and sophomores Isaiah Molina (5-8, 202), Seth Farmer (5-8, 151), Fermin Velis (5-5, 196), Dillon Conn (5-9, 169), Gabe Dunlap (5-9, 189), Quade Greening (5-11, 177), Lucas Mustin (6-0, 257) and Dakota Leroy (6-0, 234) look to gain experience in junior varsity games on Monday nights.
Sports on 08/24/2016