Injuries deplete Alberton football roster

It was a week like no other for Alberton football.

That may not be saying much, given the fact they are only in their second year as a varsity team.

And it could get even more bizarre.

Last Friday, the Panthers were scheduled to play their second varsity football game as a school without partnering with another school. They dropped their opener a week before that, falling to Noxon 57-2 in a game that was more costly than the score indicated.

In that season opener against the Red Devils, Alberton dressed only eight players for the six-player football team. Then, in the first quarter, they lost one of their best players, Colton Baughman to injury after he was involved in a jarring tackle.

Down to just one substitute player, the Panthers kept fighting. And they didn’t quit when a second player was knocked out of the game in the third quarter, leaving them with the bare minimum six players.

So, last week they were scheduled to travel to Hot Springs for a game with the Savage Heat, but that game was postponed because Alberton did not have six healthy or otherwise ready players to put on the field.

The game was rescheduled as was to be played this past Monday.

First, the Panthers had a game scheduled against West Yellowstone, which traveled hundreds of miles and took to the field against Alberton.

The visiting Wolverines were not kind, running up a 53-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. West Yellowstone won the Mercy rule shortened game (clock keeps running except for change of possessions, injury pauses and called time outs).

The Wolverines left town with an 82-0 victory, upping their record to 2-1.

Less than three full days later Alberton was expected to travel to Hot Springs to make up for the postponed game.

That game was played after the publication deadline for this issue.

And you thought you had a tough week?