Arkansas Class 6A high school football team previews: Siloam Springs looking to get back to playoffs

By Kyle Sutherland 

SBLive is previewing the Arkansas high school football teams from the three largest classifications. Today, we feature the Siloam Springs Panthers from the 6A-West Conference.

SILOAM SPRINGS PANTHERS

HEAD COACH

Brandon Craig, Fifth Season, 15-29 Record

2021 AT A GLANCE

Overall Record: 1-9

Conference Record: 0-7, Eighth in 6A-West

Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

KEY DEPARTURES

QB Hunter Talley, Arkansas Preferred Walk-On

WR/DB Christian Ledeker

TE Brendan Lashley

OL Jace Sutulovich, all-state, Air Force signee

OL/DL J.P. Wills

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sophomore QB Jackson Still - Still has all the tools to play the position, Craig mentioned he just needs to continue to develop mentally.

Junior RB Jed Derwin - Derwin ran for 421 yards and 3 touchdowns as a sophomore and should see his role expand in the backfield.

Sophomore WR Gio Flores - Flores expects to compete at both receiver as well as quarterback and running back.

Senior WR Jonathon Graves - Graves uses his 6-foot-5 frame to go up to snag passes and was the second-leading receiver on the Panthers’ roster last season catching 33 passes for 380 yards with 4 touchdowns.

Senior WR/DB Nick Driscoll - Driscoll primarily played receiver last season with Talley at QB, but this fall should play multiple offensive skill positions.

Junior WR Cameron Stafford - Stafford enjoyed a great sophomore campaign and should take an even bigger role this year.

Junior OL Brock Gold - Gold was a standout for the junior varsity team last year.

Junior OL Saul Urena - Urena is the lone returning starter on the offensive line and could move outside to tackle after playing guard as a sophomore.

Junior DL Justin Burton - Burton was asked to step up as a sophomore on the defensive line and he is the top returner up front.

Senior LB Dallion Miller - Miller collected 42 tackles (6 for loss) and 4 sacks last season at linebacker but also expects to see time on the defensive line in 2022.

Senior LB Stone Stephens - A three-year starter, Stone is the heart and soul of the Panthers’ defense and returns after logging over 75 tackles. He has received some small school college interest.

Junior LB George LeRoy - LeRoy began his varsity career on the defensive line but seems to have found his spot at linebacker.

Senior DB Daxton Moody - Moody went down with an injury early last season but should find himself in a starting role at one of the safety spots if he stays healthy.

Junior DB Anthony Sandovall - Sandovall started in the secondary and has the ability to play any of those positions.

Senior K Ronald Mancia - Mancia is back for his third season handling kicking duties and owns 40-yard range.

OUTLOOK

Siloam Springs missed the playoffs for the first time in the Brandon Craig Era last season including going winless in conference play and lost three games by four points or less. Despite the adversity, Craig feels good about how his players stayed positive throughout the year and feels the response during the offseason could mean better times are in front of them.

The journey to getting things back on the right track will not be easy after the Panthers graduated two Division I signees, plus the addition of private school powers Pulaski Academy and Little Rock Christian to an already brutal 6A-West conference.

“If [ the 6A-West] is not the toughest conference, I would like to see what is,” Craig said. “It is tough for us because we play so far away from home a lot of times, our closest road game is 90 miles during conference play.”

With Talley gone, Driscoll and newcomer Still are the favorites to take over under center. Along with Driscoll, there is some productivity from 2021 returning at the skill positions in Derwin and Graves. Craig pointed out the staff is excited about what sophomore Flores, who could also see time at quarterback, and Stafford can bring to the offense.

Replacing Sutulovich at right tackle will be a tough task and the offensive line is a continual work in progress with just one returner in Urena who is expected to move to tackle. Craig expects junior Gold to step up and make his mark up front.

The defensive line is also one that remains to be seen with only junior Burton returning, but linebacker should be the strongpoint of the team with multiple starters back and plenty who have earned reps at that.

With three-year starter and college prospect Stephens along with Miller still intact, plus LeRoy moving back there from the defensive line, Craig feels confident about that group.

“We have got some guys returning on defense who have played in a lot of football games,” Craig said. “They should have the experience to lead us and get those tough stops to get us some wins.”

Sandovall and Moody will lead the backend of the defense.

COACH SAID

“Playing in this conference it is a battle to win on Friday night, you almost have to play perfect, and we just have to do our best. Our kids have great attitudes, and they really do a great job of sticking together. We had some really tough losses last year and I was just surprised at how well our chemistry held and how much our kids stuck together. They have worked hard this summer and I tell them all the time that does not mean we are going to start winning football games, you have to earn them every week. It is very tough in this conference, but we are going to give it everything we got.”

-Brandon Craig