Savage Heat drops close game in Centerville

Yogi Berra, the legendary Yankees catcher famous for head-scratching sayings, would have said it was “deja vu all over again”.

For the Hot Springs 6-player football team, it was something they are certainly not used to: losing two games in a row after leading most of the way. 

And it was a reminder how important each player on a 6-player team can be. 

Friday night in Centerville, Montana, a town that sounds like a place where Superman lives, the Savage Heat saw a comfortable, game-long lead become an uncomforable reality as they fell to the Miners 43-40. 

It was similar to their season opening loss to Denton-Geyser-Stanford-Geraldine, where a lead and probable win slipped from their grasp in the final minutes of play. 

It was also in that opener when a key cog in the Savage Heat football machine went down with an ankle injury which sidelined two-way standout Johnny Waterbury.  The severity of the injury is not confirmed, but it may be torn ligaments with surgery a possibility. 

But, as is always the case with coach Jim Lawson’s Savage Heat teams, next man up is a mainstay of the program. 

So, after falling behind after a first quarter, 33-yard passing TD by the Miners, the Heat showed they are still a good football team.   

Sophomore Daniel Slonaker tied the score in the opening minutes of the second quarter when he snagged an eight-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Nick McAllister.  The point after touchdown (PAT) try failed, leaving the score tied at 6-6. 

Centerville struck back on their next possession, with Scott Lorring hauling in a 36-yard pass from Lake Kelly that, with a successful two-point PAT kick, put Centerville back in front 14-6. 

That lead did not last long as Daniel Slonaker hauled in his second TD pass of the game, this one a 30-yard strike from McAllister.  The PAT kick failed, enabling Centerville to cling to a 14-12 lead. 

Then it was the “other” member of the team from the Slonaker family, senior Weston, to grab a TD pass from McAllister, this one from 30 yards out.  Brazilian exchange student Pedro Vidotti, a soccer player in his native land, kicked the PAT, propelling the Savage Heat to a 20-14 lead. 

Before the end of the first half, Hot Springs and Weston Slonaker scored again, capping a drive with a three-yard TD flip from McAllister, his fourth of the quarter.  The PAT attempt was no good, but the Heat entered halftime with a 26-14 lead. 

There was more of the same in the third quarter, the first score a 55-yard passing TD for Centerville.  The extra point try failed, but the Miners moved to within six points of the lead, 26-20. 

Weston Slonaker keyed the Hot Springs response with a 32-yard touchdown run, putting Hot Springs ahead 32-20. 

Then it was Centerville’s turn to score, which they did via a 15-yard TD throw. They added a two-point PAT kick to cut the Heat lead to 32-28. 

A short time later, Weston broke free for another running touchdown, this time from 33 yards away.  Vidotti kicked the PAT and as the third quarter came to an end, Hot Springs held a 40-28 advantage. 

Centerville cut the Heat lead to 40-36 on an eight-yard TD pass and successful PAT kick.  The miners struck again in the final quarter, taking the lead on a 5-yard run by Kelly.  A passing PAT (one point) gave Centerville a 43-40 lead and completed their comeback victory. 

The win squared Centerville’s early season record at 1-1, while Hot Springs slipped to 0-2 with the loss. 

McAllister had a monster game for the Heat, throwing for 167 yards and four TDs, and running for 103 yards on 12 carries.  Weston Slonaker had 94 yards rushing and was in on four TDs, while his brother Daniel had two TDs and 43 yards rushing.  He also hauled in six passes for 76 yards. 

McAllister was also sharp on defense, leading the Heat with 12 tackles.  Senior David Chapman added eight tackles to the Heat effort. 

“We played tough but came up short,” said coach Lawson. 

Next up for Hot Springs is a crucial home game against Big Sandy this Friday (Sept 13) at 6 p.m.