FAYETTEVILLE — A week ago Siloam Springs showed its ability to play with the big boys in the 7A/6A-West Conference. The Panthers proved Friday that last week was no fluke.
Taking advantage of big plays in the passing game and key stops on defense, Siloam Springs had two-time defending Class 7A champion Fayetteville on the ropes midway through the fourth quarter. But the Bulldogs, led by senior tailback Brayden Cook, finally wore down the Panthers in the end with a 35-14 victory at Glenn Black Stadium.
“They’re a lot better than they were,” Bulldogs coach Daryl Patton said. “Coach (Brian) Ross and his staff has done a great job, and give their kids credit.
“When you’re 1-5-1 it’s easy to let go of the rope, but they haven’t. Those kids are fighting and scratching and clawing.”
Fayetteville (8-0, 5-0 7A/6A-West) built an early 14-0 lead, but by the time the Bulldogs gained possession — following a Adrian Vasquez missed 32-yard field goal — with 6 minutes, 52 seconds remaining the Panthers (1-6-1, 0-5) were back within 21-14.
Fayetteville then put together a 12-play, 80-yard drive that covered more than five minutes to put the game away, with Cook carrying 10 times for 59 yards and a touchdown on the possession.
“We’ve shown that we can compete. Now we’ve got find a way to win those games.” Siloam Springs coach Brian Ross said. “That game was ours to win there if we make the plays and we execute. It’s one of those situations where yeah we’re improving and we’re showing that we can play the game of football, but now when it gets really, really tough, we’ve got to be able to execute.
“We had our opportunities there and just didn’t finish it. It certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort. It wasn’t for a wrong attitude or anything like that. We’ve just got to find a way to win those crucial downs.”
Terrell Tyson added a 35-yard interception return touchdown two plays later to give Fayetteville it’s 35-14 final margin.
“We had a 14-0 lead and then we kind of gave us some big plays there and gave them a little momentum before half,” Patton said. “The second half they get the onside kick and things didn’t look good.
“I’m proud of our kids. We come up with that 12-play drive and that was huge, and defensively we get the big pick and take it to the house.”
EXTRA POINTS
• Cook finished with 196 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries, all career highs for the Fayetteville senior running back.
• Bulldogs quarterback Mitch Marshall was intercepted for just the second time this season, throwing it to Siloam’s Tyler Burke on Fayetteville’s first possession of the second quarter.
• Fayetteville held Siloam Springs to 243 yards of total offense and only 29 yards rushing.
UP NEXT: Fayetteville visits Springdale Har-Ber next Friday and Siloam Springs plays host to Rogers High.
HOW THEY SCORED
Fayetteville 35, Siloam Springs 14
Fay^14^0^7^14^—^35
Siloam^0^7^0^7^—^14
First Quarter
Fay — Rapert 5 pass from Mitchell (Conway kick), 6:34.
Fay — Cook 2 run (Conway kick), 4:22.
Second Quarter
Siloam - Baccus 16 pass from Norberg (Vazquez kick), 6:40.
Third Quarter
Fay — Cook 1 run (Conway kick), 2:53.
Fourth Quarter
Siloam — Lampton 3 run (Vazquez kick), 11:55.
Fay — Cook 1 run (Conway kick), 1:31.
Fay — Tyson 35 interception return (Conway kick), 1:13.