Next man up OR Next man up

n Senior center back Long fills void after Wright’s injury.

Bud Sullins/Special to the Herald-Leader Siloam Springs senior Nathanael Long has stepped up as a leader on defense for the Panthers during the 2016 season. Long and the Panthers play at 4 p.m. Friday in the Class 6A state championship game against Russellville at Razorback Field on the campus of the University of Arkansas.
Bud Sullins/Special to the Herald-Leader Siloam Springs senior Nathanael Long has stepped up as a leader on defense for the Panthers during the 2016 season. Long and the Panthers play at 4 p.m. Friday in the Class 6A state championship game against Russellville at Razorback Field on the campus of the University of Arkansas.

Nathanael Long didn't expect his senior soccer season at Siloam Springs to play out like it has.

Long, a junior varsity player for most of his career with the Panthers, stepped into the role of starting center back before the season started when All-Conference senior Gus Wright went down with a hamstring injury.

It's wound up being a spot he's held all season and flourished in as well as earning a team captain's badge and the respect of his teammates and coaches.

"He's worked hard since day one," said Siloam Springs head soccer coach Brent Crenshaw. "He's had a great attitude, great work ethic, very coachable. He's probably one that, well, I haven't seen one progress at that pace ever in coaching. Within six months he went from 'where's he going to play at?' to 'he's definitely in our top 11.'"

Siloam Springs plays Russellville at 4 p.m. Friday in the Class 6A state championship game, which is also a rematch of last year's title game that the Cyclones won 2-1.

Long remembers last year's game at Razorback Field on the campus of the University of Arkansas, but he didn't get to play in the game itself.

In fact, Long said himself that he received a varsity letter last year, but that was "only because we were up by a lot in a lot of games."

That hasn't been the case in 2016 though.

"I've gotten a lot more playing time than I've expected this season," said Long, who's gone from hardly playing at all to never coming out of the game.

"I just feel really blessed that Crenshaw has given me a chance to grow my confidence out there on the field and just with repetition and getting to play to use those reps," Long said. "I feel pretty confident out there doing the sport that I love. I feel like the leadership roles that I've tried to have off the field in years past have really kind of come through on the field this year in this opportunity that I've been given."

Of course one man's gain in athletics usually comes at the expense of someone else.

Wright, a very vocal leader, hasn't hardly gotten to play at all because of a partially torn right hamstring suffered in the preseason.

"At first I was really nervous because Gus is a great player and I felt like I had big shoes to fill in the way he plays and in the leadership role that he is in on and off the field," Long said.

Wright, who's signed to play football at the University of Arkansas-Monticello, has remained active on the Panthers' bench, cheering for his teammates, directing traffic and providing inspiration.

"It was a shame to lose Gus to an injury, but that's just how athletics go," Crenshaw said. "Next guy up. (Long has) stepped up for us and done a good job back there."

Long said Wright is still a very valuable presence out there for the team.

"I really look at Gus right now as a coach-type figure," Long said. "He knows what it's like being on that back line, especially playing with the players that we have. His experience back there and his tenacity and just getting everybody organized and stuff from the sideline, one it gets me amped up, and two it makes me feel like I can step up and take that leadership role on the field and direct traffic and keep an open ear to what he's saying."

Wright has been impressed with Long's progress on the field.

"I'm really proud of him," Wright said. "It pretty much amazed me how well he picked it up and just went for it."

Crenshaw credits Long's progress this season for his work with Siloam Springs swim team over the winter.

"I really think swimming this year has helped his flexibility and his overall athleticism," Crenshaw said. "Early on he was kind of big and strong but didn't really run real well. With him swimming it kind of leaned him down and made him a better athlete."

Long said he's been doing a little extra running the last couple of weeks for the postseason grind.

"I know (center back is) a high-pressure spot," he said, "and I don't want to let the opportunity slip this year."

After graduation, Long plans on attending Hendrix College in Conway to pursue a degree in molecular biology "and follow my passion for science."

Sports on 05/18/2016