Experience key for Hot Springs, Plains football

Danielle Switalski

The Savage Horseman Gear up for Football Season using Experience as Strength. 

The Savage Horseman football team is ready for action this year with four strong, returning starters and the experience to pull it all together. 

“I think we do have a real shot at the playoffs this year because we have a lot of guys who are battle hardened,” said Head Coach Seth Pettit.

Twenty-plus kids showed up for the first practice Monday night, however, Pettit is unsure if they will have enough players to make a JV team, but is still hoping they will have that opportunity this year.  There were a fair number of freshman to show up to the season’s first practice, however they are short on sophomores.

Experience is what makes the Savage Horseman different from the rest this year and is going to be their greatest strength in the upcoming season.  The team has about twelve returning players who have played in at least eight Varsity games, which said Pettit, is probably a lot more than most teams because teams tend to only play seniors at the Varsity level.

Big players returning this year are senior and starter Riley Winebrenner, who is returning as a second team all conference quarterback and first team all conference defensive back from last year, senior Brian Green is returning first team all conference wide receiver, senior Dillon Fryxell, is returning first team all conference defensive back and junior Carson Lilja is coming back as kicker and wide receiver who was second team all conference punter and kicker last year. 

With this lineup of returning players, Pettit said, the offensive is hopefully where they will do most of their damage, but defensively the team should also “hold up fairly well.” 

Although experience is on their side, the team this year does face some new challenges.  Bigfork is moving into the conference this year and down from Class A.  The Horseman will also take on Cut Bank and Cascade, some never-before-played challengers in upcoming nonconference games.

“We just don’t know a lot about them (Cut Bank and Cascade) because they are in the central part of the state,” said Pettit.

Despite these challenges, Pettit is confident the team will be able to hold their own and make it to the playoffs.

“We are excited to get going and excited to hopefully get the team and get the towns in the playoffs for the first time in a long time,” said Pettit.

In the season opener, the Savage Horseman are scheduled to take on Cut Bank on September 4 in Hot Springs.

Another game that everyone will be looking for is against Thompson Falls on October 12 at Thompson Falls.