The Class 6A state championship games on Friday will not be Brent Crenshaw's first time coaching in a state finals.
In 2014, while coaching the Owasso (Okla.) boys soccer team, Crenshaw led the Rams to the Oklahoma Class 6A state finals where they played Norman (Okla.) North in the finals at Norman.
The Rams got beat 2-0 that day and Crenshaw's still searching for his first state championship in more than 15 years of coaching.
He's going to get another chance on Friday -- two in fact -- as both the Siloam Springs boys and girls soccer teams play Russellville in the state championship game at Razorback Field in Fayetteville on the campus of the University of Arkansas.
The girls game is at 2 p.m., followed by the boys game.
It will be the third time the Panthers and Lady Panthers have played Russellville this season.
"There's some things we can look at on film as far as what they do, but I'm sure they will do things different against us," Crenshaw said. "You kind of have to throw that stuff out there and look at the game plan going forward. It's not so much about them than just worry about us. If we will worry about us and playing our style of soccer then we'll be successful on Friday."
On the girls game, Crenshaw said the Lady Panthers appear to be playing their best soccer of the season.
"We talked to the girls after the (state tournament) games and they don't ever remember mercy-ruling both games down there in the state tournament," Crenshaw said. "The thing is they played really well. They played with a purpose. I told them before the tournament started, there's not a team in 6A Arkansas that can touch them if they choose to play. If they go out there and play with a purpose -- I know they'll play hard -- they'll beat Russellville."
The Siloam Springs boys defeated Russellville twice in the regular season, but the Panthers point back to a 2-1 loss to Russellville in the finals last year to inspire them.
"There should be no lack of motivation for Friday, and they've been on a mission from day one, like I said," Crenshaw said. "Although we've beaten Russellville twice, the last time was in PKs. They're a good team. We've got to understand that we're going to respect them and what they do and know that they're a good team. But at the same time if we just take control of what we do on the field we'll be fine on Friday."
Russellville boys
The two-time defending state champion Cyclones (16-6-2) will be playing in their sixth state championship game, including their third straight.
Russellville lost in back-to-back state finals in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, Russellville was in Class 7A and lost to Little Rock Catholic, and then moving down to 6A the Cyclones lost to Searcy in 2011.
Russellville defeated Mountain Home in penalty kicks in 2012 and defeated Greenwood in 2014 in the title game before beating Siloam Springs last season.
Russellville lost both meetings to Siloam Springs in the regular season. The Cyclones fell 3-0 in the first game at Panther Stadium on April 12 and then lost in penalty kicks to the Panthers 1-1 (4-3) on May 3.
Both coaches believe Friday's state title game could be another good one between the two programs.
"It's going to be a great battle. They know how to play soccer they're not afraid to come out and attack you," said Russellville coach Jared Fuller. "Lots of good soccer. I enjoy playing them, so I can't wait."
Russellville defeated Little Rock Parkview 2-0 in the opening round of the state tournament before running into 6A-South No. 1 seed Little Rock Hall in the quarterfinals. The Cyclones and Warriors played through two scoreless regulations and two overtime periods before Russellville outshot Hall 4-3 in penalty kicks to win.
"That was definitely -- besides Siloam Springs -- one of the best teams we've played all year," Fuller said of Hall.
Russellville then beat 7A/6A-Central Conference foe Greenwood 2-0 in the semifinals on Saturday.
Russellville girls
The Russellville girls come into the Class 6A state finals on a roll.
With a record of 3-8-1 midway through the year, the Lady Cyclones turned the corner with a penalty kicks win against Greenwood and have now won eight straight games heading into the finals.
"You coach and you coach and you coach and you think they're never going to get it," said Russellville coach Kelly Young. "Then one game it just clicks, and ever since then it's been clicking."
The victory against Greenwood may have been the start of Russellville's winning streak, but Young said it was the 3-2 victory over Siloam Springs on May 3 which really has the Lady Cyclones (11-8-1) believing.
Russellville trailed 2-1 in that game before scoring the final two goals for a 3-2 win.
"That's the game it clicked," Young said. "I remember thinking, 'That's what we practiced. That's what we've been working on. And they're finally getting it. We just put it all together finally. Once that happened, we got that confidence."
It was Russellville's first win against Siloam Springs in several seasons after having met in several regular season and postseason games. Siloam Springs had won the previous five games, including a 4-1 blowout at Panther Stadium on April 12.
Russellville defeated Little Rock Parkview 10-0 in the opening round of the Class 6A playoffs and then beat Texarkana 6-0 in the quarterfinals.
The Lady Cyclones defeated Searcy 2-1 in the semifinals to punch their ticket to the championship game.
Sports on 05/18/2016