Siloam Springs Moves From 5A to 6A- Faces Best Teams in the State

Conference realignment is back in high school football. With the new changes no one across the state will have a more difficult road to the playoffs this year than Siloam Springs.

They move up from the 5A to the 6A this year. It doesn’t sound that bad until you realize the schedule Siloam has now. They’re playing in a conference with all 7A schools, and they’re the lone 6A program. They’ll play the likes of Fayetteville, Bentonville and Har-Ber, the best teams in the state regardless of division. On top of all that, Siloam hasn’t made the playoffs since 2008. This year that will be even more difficult.

“In actuality we are jumping from 5A to 7A when you look at our schedule,” said head coach Bryan Ross. We know we’re not going to have the depth that everyone else has and we’re certainly half the size of everyone else. But the bottom line is you have to execute what you do. We’re not going to change things.”

It worked to start the 2011 season. The Panthers won five of their first six games but then lost three of their last four to miss the playoffs.

“It’s real competitive out there,” said quarterback Austin Van Poucke. “It’s going to help us. We’re linking up. We’re getting together. And I think that’s really going to help carry on to the field.”

Siloam Springs starts the season on the big stage, Thursday August 30th in Razorback Stadium against Watson Chapel.