SILOAM SPRINGS — The Siloam Springs football team was a maddening bunch in 2010. Good enough to end a 16-year losing streak against eventual Class 5A State Champion Greenwood. Good enough to knock off All-Statequarterback Neal Burcham and Greenbrier at Greenbrier.

But the team was inconsistent enough to give up a 14-point lead on the road at Harrison. The Panthers allowedVilonia to rush for 490 yards in a lopsided loss at home and had disappointing road losses at Alma and at Morrilton.

The team finished 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the 5A-West. Indeed, 2010 had its ups and downs.

The 2011 Panthers, picked for seventh in the league, arelooking to turn things around.

Siloam Springs returns five starters on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, including one of the league’s best quarterbacks.

The team has chosen the theme, “We Are One.”

Here’s a position by position breakdown.

Quarterbacks

Despite missing the first two games of his 2010 junior season because of a concussion, starting quarterback Braden Pippin (5-foot-11, 205 pounds) managed to still put togetherfor 242 yards and four TDs against Claremore Sequoyah.

Against Heritage, he threw for 162 yards and three more scores and had the Panthers ahead 28-27 going into the fourth quarter.

“Van Poucke, we could start him and be just as good but in a different way,” Ross said. “If we were in a true spread, throw the ball all over the field, Austin might be the guy. He’s just the prototypical (quarterback), what you would look for - tall, rangy, throws the ball well.”

Because of his value elsewhere, Van Poucke will be playing other positions when not playing quarterback. He’ll move around at wide receiver and also play safety on defense.

“He does so many things well that we’ll move him around,” Ross said. “He gives us a lot of multiplicity on offense. That will be to our advantage. He’s such a team player. He’ll play wherever we ask him to. Bottom line is you want to get the best athletes on the field.

Austin’s a good athlete and a good football player.”

Sophomore Gage Ennis (5-9, 173) is the Panthers’ third string quarterback after leading the ninth grade team in 2010.

Offensive line

A big reason the Panthers are optimistic on offense is the offensive line.

“That’s where we have the most experience and most returners,” Ross said. “I think our offensive line can be a strength for us.”

Outside of junior starting left tackle Austin Farmer (6-0, 335), the Panthers don’t have a lot of size on the line.

“But they’ve all had two to three good years in the weight room,” Ross said.

At right tackle, senior Nathan Robinson (5-11, 211) returnssome impressive numbers.

Pippin completed 120 of 223 passes (53.8 percent) for 1,561 yards and 13 touchdowns.

He also rushed 104 times for 488 yards and 11 more touchdowns.

Siloam Springs opponents can expect to see a lot more of the latter category in 2011.

With a veteran offensive line returning and having to break in a new corps of wide receivers, the Panthers will put the ball in the hands of their senior quarterback.

“He is, pound-for-pound, probably our strongest player - a real football body,” said third-year Siloam Springs coach Bryan Ross. “He does a lot of things well. He’s a real big run-pass threat. He’s a tough runner. I really like to have tough, hard-nosed quarterbacks. He certainly fits that bill.”

Pippin, the oldest son of assistant coach Dwain Pippin, rushed for 97 yards and three touchdowns in Siloam Springs’ first victory against Greenwood since 1994. He also passed for 134 yards and two more scores in that game. Pippin topped the century mark rushing when he went for 109 yards and two scores against Greenbrier.

In the air, Pippin threw for 280 yards on 22 of 28 passes in his first game of the year against Gentry in Week 3.

He threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns in a victory against Huntsville.

Right behind Pippin on the depth chart is junior Austin Van Poucke. Van Poucke started weeks 1 and 2 against Claremore (Okla.) Sequoyah and Rogers Heritage, respectively, and played well for a sophomore.

Van Poucke (6-1, 185) threw

Running backs

The Panthers are starting over at running back with the loss of Grady Truitt (708 yards) to graduation.

Junior Scout Alexander (5-5, 155) heads up the depth chart after seeing action at quarterback and defensive back in 2010.

Alexander rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown in Siloam Springs’ 2010 opener at Claremore Sequoyah. He also had a 40-yard run against Huntsville and finished the season with 101 yards on five carries.

“Scout Alexander has really come on,” Ross said. “In junior high he played quarterback some, but I really like what I’ve seen out of him at running back. He gives us a guy who can outrun some people. He’s got good speed, good quickness,

“In years past, our running backs really haven’t been like that. They’ve been more slashing type runners. Scout’s got a little wiggle to him, can make people miss.”

The Panthers moved senior Ben Sewell (5-8, 180) to running back in the offseason. He had been playing some at wide receiver.

“He’s really done a good job the short time he’s been back there,” Ross said. “I’ve liked what I’ve seen from those two.”

Junior Oscar Alaniz (5-5, 160) could factor in at running back, but he missed several weeks of fall camp due to a death in his family.

Alaniz was the primary backup running back in 2010 and rushed for 71 yards on 19 carries.

The Panthers hope to have senior Calvin Holt (5-7, 194) to offer a more north-south type runner, but Holt was injured recently.

Sophomore Mitchell Dolezal (5-8, 158) had a 70-yard touchalong with senior right guard Max Lemaster (5-8, 228).

Senior Braxton Davis (5-9, 233), who played a lot on defense in 2010, will start at center for Siloam Springs.

The Panthers have moved senior Spencer Nokes (6-0, 200) from left tackle to left guard, and Farmer will move into the role of left tackle.

The Panthers have some depth on the offensive line as well.

Junior Jacob Engel (6-0, 200) backs up at center, while junior David Zamora (5-8, 209) backs up at right guard.

Sophomore Daryn Ketcher (5-7, 285), who’s battled injuries, backs up at right tackle.

Senior Rickey Oliver (6-3, 220) backs up at left tackle, while senior Zach Preston (5-9, 152) backs up at left guard.

“They’ll all get some reps there,” Ross said.

The Panthers will be without the services of sophomore lineman Blaine Crouse (5-11, 265), who injured his knee in the summer.

Junior Luis Gutierrez (5-11, 275) is the third backup at left tackle but will see most of his action on the defensive line.

Sophomore Jared Noll (5-11, 223) provides depth at left tackle.

At left guard, junior Colton Campbell (5-9, 200) is listed as well as sophomore Seth Curry (5-9, 260) and junior Chanse Jones (5-11, 185).

Sophomore J.C. Everett (5-9, 221) provides depth at center along with sophomore Bryan Harmon (5-11, 202). Senior Taner Cloud (5-9, 175), sophomore Kevin Munoz (5-11, 195) and senior Spencer Hill (5-11, 218) give the Panthers bodies at right guard. Sophomore Christian Vang (5-9, 256) gives depth at right tackle.

down run in the Senior Bowl spring scrimmage in May.

Junior Carson Stacy (5-9, 145) and sophomore William Holdridge (5-6, 135) both give the Panthers some depth in the backfield.

Wide receivers

If there one’s area where Siloam Springs is lacking in varsity experience, it’s wide receiver. The Panthers graduated 100 percent of their receiving yards from a year ago and lost All-State wideout Chris Villasenor and All-Conference receivers Greg Frabotta and Stuart Cifuentes.

The Panthers did get a big addition in the offseason with the return of senior Keston Durrett (6-1, 160), who transferred back from Shiloh Christian.

“We’re happy to have him,” Ross said. “He’s a tall, rangy receiver. He’s going to give us a fairly big target outside.”

Durrett will man the ‘Y’ outside receiver position.

Junior Austin Van Poucke will man the ‘Z’ outside receiver spot, while junior Raul Leyva (5-11, 155) impressed during the summer at ‘X’ inside receiver.

Senior Collin Matheny (5-7, 143) is easily the Panthers’ fastest player with 4.6 speed. He backs up at Z, but his first responsibilities are at corner on defense.

“We’ve started working him in on offense to start getting that big play threat out there,” Ross said of Matheny. “He’s really taken to it. You’ll see him on offense some this year.

Another defensive starter, senior Ryan Smith (5-10, 155), is a primary backup at X receiver.

“Ryan has really impressed me with his receiving skills,”Ross said. “He’s a guy that’s not going to come off the field a whole lot. I think he really gives us some sure hands and runs pretty good routes. I’m feeling better about our receiving corps.”

Junior Bronson Tucker (5-9, 159) is a backup at Y receiver along with junior Edwin Magana (5-6, 148), sophomore Jordan Herring (5-10, 141) and sophomore Chandler Rice (5-11, 160).

Junior Yoshi Rivas (5-5, 126) gives the Panthers another option at Z receiver, while sophomore Colton Philpott (5-8, 141), sophomore Chandler Gregory (6-1, 180) and sophomore Guillermo Leyva (5-8, 151) provide depth at the inside receiver position.

The Panthers’ ‘S’ position is a tight end/fullback position that is used in personnel groups.

Senior Mason Spence (6-3, 187) has waited his turn and had a good offseason, Ross said.

“I think he’s going to do a fine job for us,” Ross said.

Junior Mario Flores (5-10, 182), sophomore Quinton Price (6-0, 210) and sophomore Kylon Penn (5-9, 170) also have been working the position.

Defensive line

Defensively, the Siloam Springs Panthers have some big shoes to fill on the defensive line.

The Panthers lose All-Conference defensive linemen Ernesto Gutierrez (52 total tackles, two sacks) and Dylan Pearson (66 tackles, 1.5 sacks) from last year’s team, but the team also returns some experience on the line as well.

Senior Morgan Montgomery (5-9, 195) returns at defensive end after recording 50 total tackles, three sacks and one interception last year. Montgomery was named All-Conference honorable mention.

David Zamora (5-8, 209), who started on the line’s interior a year ago and had 31 total tackles, has been moved to the other defensive end in the Panthers’ four-man front.

“(Montgomery) started a couple of games as a sophomore (in 2009), and did a good job last year,” Ross said.

“David Zamora, who started inside last year, we’ve moved him outside. He plays so hard and really fast. We’ve seen him chase some plays down.”

Inside, the Panthers will still have a Gutierrez working at a defensive tackle spot, only it’s Ernesto’s little brother Luis.

Junior Luis Gutierrez (5-11, 275) is expected to plug up the middle for Siloam Springs.

“(Gutierrez) had a good offseason and is a big body we think can take on double teams and hold his ground,” Ross said.

Next to Gutierrez will be senior Jose Castaneda (5-9, 202), who has really come on strong this past offseason.

“We started noticing (Castaneda) in JV games last year,” Ross said. “The light’s kind of come on. He’s quick. He’s learned to play fast. He’s pretty strong for his size. I think he’s definitely earned a chance to play for a spot on Friday nights.”

The Panthers do have some depth on the defensive line.

Junior Juan Peraza (5-6, 232)is “very strong” and will play inside. Sophomore Daryn Ketcher (5-7, 285) also is a backup defensive tackle. On the ends, senior Rickey Oliver (6-3, 220) and junior Colton Campbell (5-9, 200) are the primary backups.

“Rickey Oliver has come on for us,” Ross said. “Colton Campbell loves to play football. If the fieldhouse was open this summer, he was there. I think he was there every time that was possible.”

Junior lineman Chanse Jones (5-11, 185), senior Taner Cloud (5-9, 175) and sophomore Kevin Munoz (5-11, 195) give the Panthers extra bodies at defensive end.

On the inside, senior Spencer Hill (5-11, 218), and sophomores Bryan Harmon (5-11, 202), Seth Curry (5-9, 260), J.C.

Everett (5-9, 221), Jared Noll (5-11, 223), and Chase Warder (5-10, 225) provide depth for Siloam Springs.

Linebackers

The jury’s still out on what kind of linebackers Siloam Springs will have.

Like the wide receivers on offense, the Panthers must replace all of its experience in the linebacking corps.

Junior middle linebacker Jose Reyes (5-6, 210) has been impressive so far, Ross said.

“(Reyes) sees things reallywell,” Ross said. “He reads the opponents blocking schemes.

He’s really quick to the ball. I think he’s going to be a good inside linebacker for us.”

On the weakside linebacker spot, senior David Reel (6-0, 175) has come on strong, while senior Ben Sewell (5-8, 180) has moved from safety into the linebacking corps. He’ll play the strong side linebacker, which is often like another safety.

Sewell had 56 total tackles last year.

“We felt like we had some kids that could play safety there, so Ben is back down to that strong safety type of position,” Ross said. “I think it fits him well, and I think he’ll do a good job.”

The Panthers are also trying to develop some depth in the linebacking corps.

Junior Mario Flores (5-10, 182), along with junior Julian Crawford (5-8, 141), sophomore Colton Philpott (5-8, 141) and sophomore Kylon Penn (5-9, 170) are manning the weakside linebacker behind Reel.

Junior Michael Rice (5-10, 172) senior Calvin Holt (5-7, 194) and sophomore Quinton Price (6-0, 210) are seeing snaps at middle backer. Junior Raul Leyva (5-11, 155), junior Bronson Tucker (5-10, 159), sophomore Junior Castillo (5-8, 145) and sophomore Chandler Gregory (6-1, 180) provide depth at strong side linebacker. The Panthers got a late move-in from Westville, Okla., in junior Chase Robinson (5-8, 160), to give another body at linebacker.

The Panthers also plan to have quarterback Braden Pippin take some snaps at linebacker as the season goes. Pippin was one of the leading tacklers at linebacker as a sophomore but did not play defense as a junior.

Cornerbacks

At cornerback, the Panthers believe senior Collin Matheny (5-7, 143) is as good as it gets in the 5A-West.

“I don’t know if there’s a better one in the conference in what we ask him to do,” Ross said. “He’s just a good football player. We feel really good there. He made a big pass breakup late in the game against Greenwood last year. We expect him to really be a force for us back there.”

Matheny had 32 total tackles, one interception and seven pass breakups a year ago.

At the other corner, the Panthers will utilize a multitude of players, including junior Scout Alexander (5-5, 155), senior Mason Spence (6-3, 187), and junior Oscar Alaniz (5-5, 160).

“Scout Alexander is going to be carrying the ball a lot on offense,” Ross said. “We want to make sure we have someone else ready to go back there. Mason Spence has been working in various places. He can play there. Oscar Alaniz can play there. That is another position that we really need to develop some depth at.”

Juniors Edwin Magana (5-6, 148), Yoshi Rivas (5-5, 126), Carson Stacy (5-9, 145) and Kevin Escobar (5-8, 115), along with sophomores William Holdridge (5-6, 135), Chandler Rice (5-11, 160), Guillermo Leyva (5-8, 151) and Jonathan Thomas (5-8, 130) provide depth at corner.

Safeties

With 35 tackles and two pass breakups a year ago, senior Ryan Smith (5-10, 155) was one of the Panthers’ most important players in the secondary.

This year he’ll move over to strong safety for the Panthers.

“We’ve moved him back to safety because he’s so smart and gets us lined up right,” Ross said.

Smith can also move back to corner in an emergency situation.

The free safety position will be manned by junior Austin Van Poucke (6-1, 185).

“With Austin and Ryan at safety, we’ve got two good ones there,” Ross said.

Senior Keston Durrett (6-1, 160), and sophomore Gage Ennis (5-9, 173) are the primary backups at safety but are likely to see plenty of action due to Smith and Van Poucke’s roles on offense.

“Keston is going to be fine at safety,” Ross said. “Gage Ennis, we were talking (recently) about how he’s really started to develop. He’s just a sophomore, but we think he’s got the capability of helping us on Friday nights.”

Junior safety Jordan Herring (6-1, 145) and sophomore Jacob Herring (5-10, 141) give the Panthers some depth in the secondary.

Special teams

The Panthers will miss the strong leg of Pablo Castillo from last year, but they feel they have another good one coming up in sophomore Alejandro Dominguez (5-5, 130).

Castillo made 40 of 43 extra points and 7 of 11 field goals in 2010. He also had 28 punts for an average of 37.6 yards per punt.

Dominguez will handle the place-kicking duties after performing the same role on the ninth grade team last year.

“Alejandro is not a very big kid but he surely has a strong leg,” Ross said. “I think he went to a kicking camp this summer and had a 55-yard field goal. He’s got good leg strength and he’s just a sophomore. Of course he’s an outstanding soccer player too. Really he’s a good athlete. At some point in his career I wouldn’t be surprised to see him playing receiver some.”

Senior Jose Castaneda is the primary backup at placekicker.

Senior Braden Pippin and junior Austin Van Poucke will handle the punting duties. As both are quarterbacks, it gives the Panthers options with a quick kick as well.

“The quick kick eliminates a run back threat,” Ross said. “If it’s fourth-and-short, they don’t know what we’re really going to do. That’s always something we can do. Both Braden and Van Poucke can do that.”

Senior Collin Matheny will handle the bulk of the return duties on kickoffs and punts. Matheny had one punt returned for a touchdown last year.

Ross said senior Ryan Smith also will be in on punt returns.

The long snapping duties for punts is between Juan Peraza and Jacob Engel, while Engel will snap for field goals and extra points.

The holder will be Ben Sewell.

Sports, Pages 30 on 08/31/2011