Airedales set for ‘23 home opener with Siloam Springs
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
Lights, camera, action!
The pageantry of Friday Night Lights returns to Citizens Bank Field at Airedale Stadium Friday when Alma plays host to Siloam Springs in the second of the team’s three non-conference games.
Alma defeated the Panthers in 2022, 38-7.
The Panthers, who dropped their 2023 opener last week to Rogers Heritage, 38-13, are in the midst of a 19-game losing streak that dates to Sept. 17, 2021. Overall, the Panthers are just 5-22 in their last 27 games.
Siloam Springs and Alma have met 30 times (Alma leads the all-time series, 28-2). Friday marks the Panthers’ first trip to Airedale Stadium since Oct. 3, 2014.
“Obviously, last week didn’t go well for us, but to bounce back at home against Siloam, I think it would be good for us,” Alma quarterback Jackson Daily said. “It will give us some confidence to get back on track for the conference.”
“To come back home and be able to play in front of the home crowd, it’s another week for us that will be big,” Alma coach Rusty Bush said. “Van Buren was a huge week for us, too. I won’t have to get these kids motivated; they’re motivated and ready to play.”
Daily threw for one touchdown and ran for another in last week’s 51-28 loss to Van Buren. He threw a first-quarter TD pass to Brayden Polecat to cap a 71-yard drive on Alma’s first possession. He completed 13-of-26 passes for 144 passes and one interception.
Daily also carried the football 13 times for a career-high 113 yards rushing.
Junior Israel Towns-Robinson added 76 yards rushing last week, including a 64-yard TD jaunt. He also hauled in Daily’s longest pass, a 34-yard strike.
Defensively, Byron Standridge led the way with seven tackles, including a TFL. Trey Bowen had seven tackles, including five assisted stops. Jackson Mitchell was in on six tackles, including a TFL.
Junior Noah Ingle recorded the team’s first quarterback sack of the season.
“I know we’ll have a huge crowd,” Bush said. “It’s always an electric environment when our student body is here and we’re able to play in front of our home crowd.”
Alma and Siloam first met in 1964, with the Airedales prevailing, 35-6. Alma won the next 22 meetings before Siloam Springs handed the Airedales a 38-0 loss in 2007.