Football Panthers go for 2-0 5A-West start

By Julie Storing, Demetrice Elmore and Amanda Smallwood
UCA sportswriting

The Greenbrier Panthers will face the Central Arkansas Christian Mustangs in their second 5A-West conference football game on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Mustang Mountain.

After upsetting Siloam Springs last week, Greenbrier is 3-1 overall, 1-0 in conference play.

Greenbrier coach Randy Tribble said that last week’s win has helped invigorate the team.

“They have gained confidence, and it makes us feel really good,” Tribble said. “It’s a reward for our hard work. It just makes everyone have a more upbeat approach and get more excited about playing and getting better.”

CAC is 2-2 and 0-1 in conference play after a loss to Alma.

Last season, its first in Class 5A, CAC finished 6-5 overall and 5-2 in the West. The Mustangs lost to Magnolia in the opening round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

“We spent a lot of time this weekend watching their film and seeing their schemes on offense and defense,” Tribble said. “We have spent quite a bit of time working on their offense and how they are going to play against us. We are just trying to get where we can recognize their offensive coordination and plays.”

CAC athletic director Doug Killgore said that the Mustangs have a speed advantage that would help them compete with the improved Greenbrier team.

“We will likely be outsized but may have an advantage in overall team speed,” Killgore said. “Greenbrier has made tremendous progress in their program over the past year or two. It will be a highly competitive game. Mistakes will have to be avoided to maintain a hope for a win. Either team may capitalize on errors of the opponent.”

In last week’s game against Siloam Springs, Greenbrier junior Hunter Winston rushed 304 yards on 26 carries with four touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Neal Burcham also completed 21 of 23 passes. Senior Tyler Hardee caught two passes for 59 yards, and senior Brady Day recorded five receptions for 36 yards.

Since the start of CAC’s season, sophomore quarterback Jay Bona has completed 31 of 60 passes for 292 yards with two touchdowns. Sophomore Eric Simmons has rushed 367 yards with three touchdowns, and junior Jaalen Watkins has rushed 158 yards after coming off an injury.

Killgore said that the main lesson CAC has learned is to avoid making mistakes in such a competitive conference.

“Mistakes can kill you,” Killgore said. “With the level of competition in the 5A-West conference, there is no margin for error. Each team must play at their highest level week-in and week-out to maintain the possibility of a win.”

Tribble said he hopes that by continuing to win, the Panthers will change their previous perception as the lovable losers.

“We think that the perception people have of Greenbrier is of our past,” Tribble said. “We are a different ball club from what we have been in the past. We have a solid ball club. Everyone still thinks of us as old Greenbrier. We have to prove every week that we are different.”