Red Hawks Advance With Victory Over Hot Springs
The defending state champions were challenged in their first-round playoff football game. The Froid/ Lake Red Hawks were able to come away with a 26-20 victory over Hot Springs on Saturday, Oct. 30.
“Hot Springs was good enough to be a number one seed,” Froid/Lake Coach Michael Reiter said. “They were a tough team.”
Not many things went right for the undefeated Red Hawks during the first quarter played in strong wind conditions. The Red Hawks trailed 6-0 at the end of the period, but Froid/Lake’s defense helped turn things around early in the second quarter.
With Hot Springs having possession on its own one, the Red Hawks got on the scoreboard when Quinn Abar, Connor Huft and Brett Stentoft combined for a tackle in the end zone for a safety.
After the free kick, the Red Hawks started their drive at the 40. A pass from Mason Dethman was tipped by Huft and then caught by Javonne Nesbit for a first down at the 20. On second down from the 17, Dethman raced into the end zone. Dethman also kicked the conversion for a 10-6 lead with 8:14 left in the half.
The Savage Heat drove into Red Hawk territory but was forced to punt away the football. The kick stopped at the Froid/Lake three.
On first down, Ashdyn Hobbs got loose for a 77-yard touchdown run. Dethman’s kick put the margin at 18-6 with 4:30 left in the half.
After the Red Hawks’ defense forced Hot Spring to punt from its own end zone, the Red Hawks took over at the Hot Springs’ 19.
Runs by Dethman and Ashdyn Hobbs picked up a first down at the three. From there, B. Stentoft scored with 1:56 left in the half. Dethman’s kick put the margin at 26-6.
Hot Springs put together the first scoring threat of the second half, but the Savage Heat’s chance to score ended on an interception by Nesbit.
The Savage Heat was able to close the margin to 26-12 with nine seconds remaining in the third quarter on a 17yard dash by Jack Mcallister.
Froid/Lake’s defense kept the Red Hawks ahead by that score until a quick drive by Hot Springs resulted in a touchdown on an 18-yard run by Mcallister to close the margin to 26-20 with only 23 seconds remaining.
Hot Springs then attempted an onsides kick, but it was recovered by Froid/Lake’s Cian Logan.
“As a whole, our defense had a good all-around game,” Reiter said.
Offensively, the Red Hawks struggled with dropped passes and turnovers.
“We left a lot of points on the board,” Reiter said.
The only score of the first quarter came on a 42-yard run by Mcallister at the 7:33 mark.
Hot Springs had a chance to increase its lead when Dethman’s punt was blocked by Garth Parker. Dethman, however, chased down the ball and re-kicked it to the 24. Strong defensive plays by Huft, Dethman and B. Stentoft kept Hot Springs from the end zone.
The Red Hawks will host Bridger at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, in a quarter-final round contest.
Bridger defeated Valier, 56-12, in the first round of the playoffs. The Scouts are led by the passing of Chance Goltz.
