GREENBRIER — The Greenbrier Panthers took advantage of four first-half fumbles by Harrison on their way to a 35-7 victory Friday at John Hawks Memorial Field at Don Jones Stadium.
Neal Burcham passed for two touchdowns and Hunter Winston ran for two as the Panthers (4-0) opened 5AWest Conference play with a victory, which was their first over the Goblins (2-2) since 1997.
“We played really solid on both sides of the football,” Greenbrier Coach Randy Tribble said. “It’s a really good feeling. We kind of struggled a little offensively at times because they brought six or seven all night. “
Greenbrier took a 7-0 lead midway through thefirst quarter on an 18-yard pass from Burcham to Trent Virden.
Just three plays later, the Panthers added to their lead. Harrison quarterback Tate Stokes threw a lateral toward Jeremy Johnson out of the backfield. Greenbrier’s Reid Cone scooped up the loose ball and ran it in for a 40-yard touchdown.
The Panthers made it 21-0 before halftime on an eightplay, 63-yard drive. Burcham got into a rhythm on that possession, completing 4 of 5 passes for 66 yards. He passed to Jesse May for the score from 17 yards out.
The Panthers scored midway through the third quarter on a 28-yard run by Winston after a 57-yard pass from Burcham to Virden.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Winston raced 54 yards for a touchdown on a trap play.
Burcham finished 14 for 41 passing, but threw for288 yards. Winston rushed 10 times for 124 yards, and Virden had seven catches for 179 yards.
Stokes accounted for Harrison’s lone score on an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brooks Rosson on the final play of the third quarter. Jackson Dorman carried 20 times for 92 yards for the Goblins.
VILONIA 37, HUNTSVILLE 9
VILONIA - Drew Knowles ran for two touchdowns and passed for another to lead Vilonia (4-0, 1-0) to a 5A-West Conference victory over Huntsville (2-2, 1-0).
Knowles rushed for 107 yards on 14 carries.
Knowles scored Vilonia’s first touchdown on a 1-yard run with 10 minutes to play in the first quarter. David Crume scored from 1 yard out with three minutes left in the quarter for a 14-0 lead.
Knowles had a 2-yard run with 10:19 left in the second quarter and then passed 27 yards to Tyler Bradley for a touchdown and a 27-0 lead with 47 seconds left in the half.
Vilonia’s James Gardner kicked a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter. Kyle Wyatt’s 5-yard run in the fourth quarter provided the final margin for Vilonia.
Huntsville’s points all came in the third quarter.
SILOAM SPRINGS 38, GREENWOOD 31
SILOAM SPRINGS - Siloam Springs erased 15 years of frustration with one victory Friday night.
An opportunistic Panthers defense forced four Greenwood turnovers and Siloam Springs scored 24 points in the third quarter to rally for a 38-31 5AWest Conference victory against the Bulldogs at Glenn W. Black Stadium.
The victory was Siloam Springs’ first against Greenwood since 1994. Greenwood trounced Siloam Springs last year 56-18, but the previous five games had all been decided by a touchdown or less.
Panthers Coach Bryan Ross said the victory was a long time coming.
“I’ve been here since 2004, and I know how many times it’s been a close game,” Ross said.
Arguably the biggest play of the game came on the first play of the second half.
Trailing 21-14 at halftime after scoring the game’s first two touchdowns, Siloam Springs successfully executed an onside kick off by Pablo Castillo.
Senior linebacker Roberto Hong recovered for the Panthers at the Greenwood 47.
Siloam Springs quarterback Braden Pippin then hit Stuart Cifuentes for a 44-yard pass down to the 3, and Pippin ran in the game-tying touchdown at 21.
Hong then intercepted Greenwood quarterback Stephen Hogan at the 6-yard line on Greenwood’s next possession to get Siloam Springs the ball back deep in Bulldogs territory.
Pippin scored again on a keeper for a 28-21 lead.
After Greenwood tied it on an 80-yard touchdown pass from Hogan to Tony Sandifer, the Panthers retook the lead 31-28 on a 30-yard field goal by Castillo with 3:18 left in the third.
Greenwood lost a fumble on its next possession, recoverd by Panthers lineman David Zamora.
Pippin ran in for an 11-yard score to make it 38-28.
Greenwood added a field goal in the fourth quarter and was driving for an attempt to tie the game when the Panthers came up with a stop on fourth down at their own 12-yard line.
“[Siloam Springs] executed crucial plays at crucial times,” Greenwood Coach Rick Jones said. “That’s what happens when you have a game like this.”
Greenwood outgained Siloam Springs offensively 472 to 303, but the four turnovers proved to be the key difference.
Hogan was 21 of 37 for 276 yards and 2 touchdowns while rushing for 76 yards and another score. Justin Sunde led Greenwood with 114 yards rushing on 14 carries.
Pippin threw two touchdown passes and completed 9 of 17 for 134 yards. He also rushed 24 times for 96 yards and 3 scores. Cifuentes and Tyler Tucker caught touchdown passes in the first half for Siloam Springs.
“It’s a big thing for Siloam,” Pippin said. “I’m pretty excited.”
ALMA 35, MORRILTON 21
MORRILTON - Isaac McCoy scored all five touchdowns for Alma (3-1, 1-0 5A-West) Friday against Morrilton (1-3, 0-1 5A-West).
Alma scored first on a 15-yard touchdown run by McCoy. Morrilton responded with a 36-yard interception for a touchdown. McCoy scored again on a nine-yard reception to end the first quarter.
McCoy scored twice in the second quarter with 15-yard and 55-yard touchdown runs. Morrilton kept pace as Chris Well scored two touchdowns on a 62-yard reception and a 36-yard run.
Alma led 28-21 at the half, and McCoy scored the final touchdown on a 10-yard run in the third quarter.
Sports, Pages 26 on 09/25/2010