Noxon gridders pick up forfeit win over West Yellowstone
Noxon running back Cade VanVleet heads toward the end zone on a 21-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of last Friday's game against West Yellowstone. West Yellowstone ended up forfeiting the game after one of its players was injured. (Scott Shindledecker/Valley Press)
Covid-19 has created more than one strange scheduling quirk for sports teams across Montana, but a potentially more serious health issue in last Friday night’s game in Noxon involving the Red Devils and visiting West Yellowstone resulted in a strange ending.
With Noxon (3-2) leading 8-0 late in the first quarter, Red Devils linebacker Cade VanVleet tackled Wolverines running back Erik Resendiz near the sideline.
VanVleet’s hit sent Resendiz out of bounds and when the West Yellowstone junior didn’t get up, emotions began to turn sour.
An official threw a flag on the play, but it was unclear if it was for unnecessary roughness or a hit out of bounds.
While Community Ambulance personnel and others tended to Resendiz, players from both sides knelt. Concern for the injured player was obvious.
A decision was made to place Resendiz on a backboard and a stretcher so he could be taken to a hospital for an exam.
West Yellowstone coaches and players were upset over the play as some felt VanVleet had been too rough.
One player even yelled “We didn’t come all this way to get our necks broke.”
After a brief meeting with officials, West Yellowstone, led by head coach Kennedy Brown, decided to forfeit the game.
“We certainly hope the kid is OK,” Noxon head coach Bart Halflich said. “They felt it was a dirty play and they’re upset.
“Cade is upset, too, it’s just a tough situation,” Halflich said.
When the injury occurred with 3:17 left in the first quarter, the Red Devils were leading 8-0. VanVleet scored on a 21-yard touchdown run with a little less than four minutes to play in the first quarter. Derreck Christensen kicked the conversion and it was 8-0.
But the game only lasted a few plays after the score when Resendiz was injured.
West Yellowstone dropped to 0-5. The Wolverines lost to White Sulphur Springs last week, 77-14.
“We would have liked to play this one out, but it didn’t happen,” Halflich said. “We’ll get ready for next week against Hot Springs.”
Friday’s win was the second in four days for Noxon. The Red Devils beat Gardiner, 44-20, Tuesday to even their record at 2-2.
It was postponed due to Covid-related issues and Noxon ended up not playing for two weeks.
Following Friday’s game, Noxon crowned its homecoming royalty.
VanVleet and Riley Richter were named King and Queen, respectively, while Nathan Cano was named Prince and Jaedyn Murray was named Princess.