85-0: Hot Springs dominates competition on the gridiron
<p>Running back Jameson Morigeau runs through Sheridan's offense during the blowout game. Hot Springs beat their opponent by 85 points. </p>
HOT SPRINGS – The Savage Heat six-man football team lit up the scoreboard and shut out the opposition last week en route to an 85-0 victory over Sheridan.
Hot Springs put on quite a performance in front of their hometown fans, excelling in all aspects of the game during the Friday night contest against the Sheridan Panthers on Sept. 12.
The team used constant defensive pressure to keep the Panthers offense on their heels, while sharp execution led to several blocked punts and a punt return for a touchdown.
Additionally, the Savage Heat offense was clicking on all cylinders putting up 50 points in the first quarter of play.
“The boys played fast and furious on Friday night,” Hot Springs Head Coach Jim Lawson said.
Hot Springs seized the initiative early in the game. During the opening possession of the contest junior defensive end Jack Dolson took advantage of a botched snap between the Sheridan center and quarterback falling on the football on the Panthers 34 yard line.
On the ensuing possession senior running back Mathian Alt ensured Hot Springs capitalized on the turnover, dashing 34 yards and scoring the first of the team’s touchdowns on the night.
“We were able to run the ball effectively. We blocked well and executed our run game,” Lawson said.
The Panthers tried to counter the substantial pressure applied by the Savage Heat defensive front with a mixture of kick-out, bubble and jailbreak screens.
However, the Hot Springs secondary proved up to the task making open-field tackles and causing a series of three and outs for the Sheridan offense.
On the second possession of the game and the first of these three and outs, the Sheridan special teams was overmatched by the Hot Springs squad as the punt was blocked and recovered by Hot Springs on the Panthers one-yard line.
Senior fullback Nate Gray punched it in from the one-yard line, and after another successful two-point kick, Hot Springs was up 16-0.
On the next possession Sheridan once again went three and out on offense thanks to a Dolson sack on third down and their punter was bushwhacked by a group of Hot Springs players led by Gray.
Following the turnover on downs the Savage Heat once again found themselves on the opposition’s one-yard line and sophomore running back Trevor Paro hammered through the defensive line for another touchdown.
On their fourth drive of the game Sheridan once again floundered in its own end with Alt, a defensive end sacking the quarterback and stripping him of the football.
Alt proceeded to sprint for the final ten yards to the end zone, securing another touchdown for the home team.
“The defensive line was doing a good job of getting through their o-line,” Lawson said.
Before the first half was over Sheridan was able to get a punt off without interference but punt returner Paro was able to elude the Sheridan players on his way to the end zone.
By halftime it was 73-0 in favor of Hot Springs and after two touchdowns in the second half the game ended with its final of 85-0.
Lawson said the team had worked hard throughout the week on their point after touchdown attempts.
After the Savage Heat struggled on two point kicks in their opening game, new placekicker Anthony Byrns made all eight of his two point attempts against Sheridan.