Spring game much more than just football

The Siloam Springs football program will host its spring game Tuesday at Panther Stadium, but there's much more than just football planned.

A slew of events are on tap for the evening for all ages, and the Panthers hope that means a good crowd.

"It's a festival," said first-year coach Brandon Craig. "It's going to be fun. We're trying to generate some excitement, trying to generate some positivity in the program."

The gates to Panther Stadium open at 6 p.m. and concessions, festivities and games will be available throughout the evening.

At 6:10 p.m., a "Meet the Coach" session is planned in the south end zone.

Performances are scheduled for the Siloam Springs band and eighth-grade and senior high cheerleaders. There is a soccer team recognition planned along with other activities.

"We want to get everybody involved," Craig said. "What I've come from is a school where everybody was unified. Everybody wanted everybody to be successful. We pulled for each other. We were a team throughout the school. Whether it was soccer, band, choir, drama, whatever it might have been, and that's what we want to achieve here."

Football-wise, the varsity team will play four separate quarters with different emphasis in each quarter. The first quarter is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Craig said there will be an offensive and defensive unit for the first quarter, and then there will be some switching around after the first quarter.

"What we're trying to do is create an offensive unit and a defensive unit so we want to stick with that philosophy," Craig said. "We don't want to just jumble them up, have a mess out there. We're trying to create organized chaos instead of just chaos."

Craig said some players may switch jerseys from offensive to defense and vice versa depending on the period of emphasis.

The first and second quarters will both be 15 minutes long with a running clock. The third and fourth quarters are scheduled for 12 minutes each with a running clock.

It will be the first public look at Craig's schemes after the coach was hired from Oologah, Okla., in February after Bryan Ross resigned following the 2017 season.

As much as the football fan may be curious to see what the Panthers look like, Craig has some things he wants to see as well.

"From a football standout, I want to see great stance and great alignment," he said. "I want to see us trying to execute all the things that we've put in as far as schematics. Then I want to see great effort. That's what I want to see. That's what I'm looking for."

Also scheduled are different sessions featuring the eighth- and ninth-grade football teams, including 7 on 7 and offensive line challenges.

Another featured event is scheduled for halftime when football and track rising senior speedster Primo Agbehi is scheduled to race principal Jason Jones and former football player Ruben Nino, who are both supposed to get a 10-yard head start on Agbehi.

The evening is supposed to wrap up around 9 p.m.

Craig hopes to see a big crowd for the Panthers.

"There's a ton of reasons for people to come out," he said. "It's a Tuesday night. It's going to be nice weather, knock on wood. We just want to make sure everybody has an opportunity to come out and enjoy it and be a part of what's going on."

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Admission to the spring game is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Kids 5-and-under will be free. No passes will be accepted.

There will be $5 meal deals, which will include hamburger/cheeseburger or hot dog, chips and a drink. Siloam Springs Football Booster Club memberships also will be available.

All proceeds will benefit the Siloam Springs football program.