Hot Springs gridders ready to tackle new season

Like high school coaches, players and fans across the state and the country, Hot Springs High School head football coach Jim Lawson has been waiting and hoping for the best.

While the wait in some aspects continues, Lawson welcomed 16 players to opening day practice Friday for the Savage Heat 6-man football team.

The 16 players, including an infusion of players from a talented junior high team, will attempt to match last year’s team achievement mark when they went undefeated through the regular season before losing in the opening round of state playoffs.

“There are some things still up in the air,” Lawson said before Friday’s initial, helmet-only workout. “But I’m sure glad we are out here playing today.”

One of the issues not resolved as of this weekend was the schedule itself. Several members of the conference have apparently pushed for a schedule that allows in-conference games only. That would derail Hot Springs’ scheduled opener, a home game with Harlowton set for Friday Aug, 28.

This year’s group features several standouts from last year, including the coach’s son, Kyle, a standout wide receiver from last year who returns for his junior season.

Also returning are senior Lincoln Slonaker, and junior quarterback in waiting Jack McAlllister.

It will be up to McAllister to assume the reigns at the QB position following the graduation of all-conference passer Brandon Knudsen, who also shined as a defensive back. Also moving on after graduation is running back and defensive standout Luke Waterbury.

McAllister will inherit talent at the wide receiver position, led by Miller and Slonaker. All three returnees were standouts on both sides of the ball last year.

Coach Lawson is counting on offensive firepower to continue what has become a decade-long string of competing for the conference title, including winning the title seven of the last 10 years.

Along the way the Savage Heat also won the Montana state 6-player championship in 2012 and 2016.

The team will put heavy emphasis on Covid related concerns. They will practice just once a day during the early season, a move to limit exposure but also to help out players from rural areas near the town who often have significant distances to travel to get to the field.

“We will pretty much be working three hours each morning,” Lawson said. “Those who have to travel to get here will benefit from that.”

As for the team, Miller’s initial assessment is that they are not very big at most positions but should be able to overcome the lack of bulk.

“We don’t have a great amount of size,” he said. “But in 6-man football size is not always that important. Speed is most important and we should be pretty good in that aspect of the game.”

A total of 16 players turned out for opening day drills and conditioning.

If the full season is allowed, the team will play eight games in total before hopefully qualifying for the playoff rounds.