SILOAM SPRINGS - Siloam Springs intercepted a playoff berth from Harrison, then ran to a No. 2 playoff seeding Friday.
The Panthers intercepted Harrison quarterback Hayden Stokes six times and held off the Goblins late for a 42-28 victory at Glenn Black Stadium.
Jake Cifuentes broke severaltackles to score on a 25-yard run with 1:35 left to give the Panthers (8-2, 5-2 5A-West) a two-touchdown margin of victory.
Coupled with Greenwood's 40-36 victory over Alma and Central Arkansas Christian's 37-29 victory over Morrilton, the margin was enough to push Siloam Springs into the No. 2 seed and a first-round home game in the Class 5A playoffs next week.
The loss knocked Harrison (7-3, 4-3) out of the playoffs.
"That was incredible to see [Cifuentes] bust through and know that would put us up 14 [points]," Siloam Springs Coach Clint Ashcraft said.
Harrison Coach Tommy Tice felt opposite emotions.
"Six turnovers, that's pretty frustrating," he said.
The Panthers started taking control in the second quarter and early in the second half when Stokes threw interceptions on four consecutive possessions. Siloam Springs scored touchdowns after all but the second one.
Sports, Pages 30 on 11/08/2008