FAYETTEVILLE -- A partially torn right hamstring kept Gus Wright off the field for nearly his entire soccer season.
Wright -- a team captain -- injured the hamstring in late February just before the Panthers' season opener against Springdale on March 1.
He attempted to get back on the field before the Panthers' game at Little Rock Catholic on April 1, but re-aggravated the injury and was unable to play.
All season Wright's been relegated to the Panthers' bench, cheering on his teammates. That is until Friday's 6A state championship game against Russellville.
With a little more than a minute left and a Siloam Springs' victory in hand, Wright checked into the game, much to the roar of the Panthers' fans at Razorback Field.
"Unbelievable," Wright said. "I thought I was going to be out the whole season and not be able to play again and not be able to touch this beautiful field.
"It's amazing. It doesn't seem real right now. I haven't let it soak in."
Wright, who signed to play football at Arkansas-Monticello, was actually cleared to play the week before the game, but he had missed so much time because of the injury, the coaches weren't going to risk anything with him.
"I wish we had more time to work him into it," head coach Brent Crenshaw said. "Gus has been such a spiritual leader and like an assistant coach to us all year."
Another senior, Ethan Rush, also got some late playing time in the championship game.
"Ethan Rush has been one of the most positive kids I've had all year," Crenshaw said. "He hadn't gotten to play a whole lot, but he's been happy to be at practice, be with his brothers. I was happy to get him in and being a senior to play on this field."
Stout defense
In Wright's absence, senior Nathanael Long emerged at centerback to lead the Panthers defense to six shutouts on the season, including a 2-0 victory over Russellville in the state title game.
"You know Nathanael Long amazes me," Crenshaw said. "The kid six months ago wasn't even in the conversation at a starting position. He saved us. Nathanael's been our leader back there with Gus being out. I'm very proud of him and his work ethic. He came from six months ago not even being a starter to a key component of our defense."
Crenshaw also gave credit to sophomore defensive back Jack Bos and senior goalkeeper Jose Yanes for playing well defensively this season.
"Jack Bos back there is a sophomore," Crenshaw said, "and then Jose Yanes, our goalkeeper, has come up huge this year. He was very raw when we started getting him, and Hannah Poor, our goalkeeper coach started working with him weekly and he did a really good job back there."
Goals and assists
Ricardo Aguilar is only a junior at Siloam Springs, but he was listed as a senior on the SSHS soccer roster because he will be too old to play for the Panthers next year.
That's unfortunate for Siloam Springs (16-6) because Aguilar was one of the best players in the state this year.
Aguilar, who scored a goal in the state finals against Russellville, led the team with 23 goals and also had nine assists. Senior Aldair Umana, who was the MVP of the championship game and also had a goal in the contest, was second on the team with 16 goals and he led the Panthers with 12 assists.
Seniors Jacob Perdomo and Daniel Sierra each scored seven goals for the Panthers, while junior Omar Vazquez had six. Freshman Eli Jackson and Sierra each had four assists.
Sports on 05/25/2016