Hot Springs falls in 6-man semifinal thriller

After scoring 111 combined points with a trip to the state six-player football finals on the line, it figured that a single play might as well decide the outcome.

If you were a sports guru that may have seemed like a no-brainer. 

And in the end, the game was decided on a less-than-one-minute remaining interception that interrupted a final drive that would have put the Savage Heat into the title game. 

But an interception near the Box Elder goal-line with less than 60 ticks of the game clock remaining moved the host Bears into the title game, 57-54. 

The outcome, which left the Heat with an 8-4 season record, ended their season during which they battled with and overcame numerous injuries to reach the semifinal contest in Box Elder. 

The Bears advance to the championship game this coming Saturday against the Bridger Scouts. 

Hot Springs could not contain the Bear’s combination of quarterback Taurie Stiffarm-Rossette (his actual name) and receiver Dreyden Anderson.  The two seniors combined for four passing touchdowns, including the opening score of the game via a 26-yard pass play.   The point after touchdown (PAT) attempt failed, leaving the home team with a 6-0 lead. 

After both defenses traded stops in the first quarter following the Box Elder score, Box Elder struck again, this time via a 65-yard strike from Rossettte to Alex Fourcolors with 4:01 left in the opening quarter.  The PAT try was no good giving the Bears a 12-0 lead. 

On Hot Springs’ next possession, Savage Heat senior quarterback Nick McAllister found sophomore Ben Aldridge with a 13-yard touchdown pass.  Pedro Vidotti kicked the PAT, which in six-player football is worth two points, trimming the Box Elder lead to 12-8 at the end of the first quarter. 

In a wild, fast-paced second quarter during which the two teams combined for 46 points, the Bears reclaimed the lead in the early moments of the second quarter when a Hot Springs fumble was recovered by Box Elder on the in the Heat end zone by Rossette for six points.  The PAT run was good, giving Box Elder an 18-8 advantage with just under nine minutes left until halftime. 

Hot Springs responded in dramatic fashion on the ensuing kickoff when Aldridge hauled in the kick, found a seam in the middle of the Box Elder special teams unit and blew past everyone on his way to a 77-yard TD return. The PAT try was no good, but with 8:25 left in quarter number two, Hot Springs trailed 18-14. 

Box Elder matched that score a short time later with a nine-yard pass from Rossette to Fourcolors.  The PAT failed, giving the Bears a 24-14 lead. 

Then it was Hot Springs’ turn for a long, quick drive they capped with a four-yard touchdown pass hauled in by senior Johnny Waterbury, who missed the bulk of the regular season with a badly torn ankle he suffered in the opening game of the year, cutting the Box Elder advantage to 24-20. 

A short time later, after Hot Springs recovered a fumbled quarterback pitch, senior David Chapman gave the Heat its first lead of the game when he plowed into the end zone from one yard out.  The PAT attempt failed but Hot Springs moved in front 26-24. 

With time ticking away in the first half, Rossette found Anderson with a 32-yard drive-capping touchdown pass, putting Box Elder back in the lead, 31-26 with 1:46 remaining in the first half. 

It was a short-lived lead for the Bears, who squib-kicked the ensuing kickoff, which was recovered by Hot Springs at their own 38.  Several plays later, McAllister hooked up with Aldridge on a 14-yard scoring pass play.  Vidotti kicked the extra point giving Hot Springs a 34-31 halftime advantage. 

Both teams’ offenses cooled somewhat in the second half.  Hot Springs got the ball on a fumble by the Bears but gave it back on an interception.  On the ensuing series, Weston Slonaker took advantage of solid field position following a blocked punt by Waterbury. Slonaker’s four-yard run gave the Heat a 42-31 lead. 

During the middle of the third quarter, Box Elder scored two touchdowns thrown by Rossette to Anderson and Fourcolors.  Those scores pushed Box Elder back in front44-42. 

Hot Springs answered those scores when McAllister found senior Calvin Timmer on a four-yard touchdown pass.  The PAT failed, but at that point Hot Springs was ahead 48-44. 

The Heat lead evaporated when Rossette hooked up with Anderson on an eight-yard TD toss with 5:44 left in the game, putting them back in the lead, 50-48. 

It was Hot Springs turn next to take the lead and they did when Slonaker hauled in a 40-yard McAllister throw, giving the Heat a 54-50 lead with just minutes to go in regulation. 

But the Anderson-Rossette aerial combo struck once again with 2:03 left to play.  A successful one-point PAT gave the lead back to Box Elder, 57-54. 

McAllister and company then mounted on last drive, moving to the Bears’ eight-yard line where Box Elder came up with the game winning interception.  They then took a knee as time ran out, sealing the Box Elder win. The win moved Box Elder to 10-0 on the year.

Slonaker led the Heat in rushing with 65 yards on 15 carries and two ground TDs. McAllister threw for 97 yards on 13 throws.  He had four touchdown passes. 

Aldridge led Hot Springs receivers with nine receptions, good for 58 yards and two touchdowns. 

    Hot Springs sophomore wide receiver Ben Aldridge runs with one of his nine receptions during the Savage Heat's state playoff semifinal versus Box Elder this past Saturday.  (Photo by Teresa Waterbury)
  

    Hot Springs quarterback Nick McAllister (10) lead blocks for running back Weston Slonaker (22) during the Savage Heat's semifinal game against Box Elder this past Saturday.  (Photo by Teresa Waterbury)
  

    Senior John Waterbury (23) and Weston Slonaker (22) put pressure on Box Elder quarterback Taurie Stiffarm-Rossette during their playoff semifinal Saturday in Box Elder.  (Photo by Teresa Waterbury)