Ending on a high note

The Saratoga High School football team took apart the Normative Services Academy (NSI) on Saturday in Sheridan with a score of 82-53.

“We played very well and were able to sub early and often,” Saratoga Head Football Coach Logan Wright said. “Our leaders stepped up and have created an environment where everyone can thrive.”

Wright did acknowledge although the win was resounding, there was still room for improvement.

“We did give up three kick returns for touchdowns,” Wright said. “Special teams is an area we need to clean up.”

The coach said this has been an area he has been trying to have the team focus on all season. Still, he was impressed that the Panthers played a strong physical game.

“We have a bunch of kids willing to stick their nose in the mix and get hits,” Wright said. “I give credit to these younger guys for never quitting and getting better throughout the year.”

Wright is pleased that the Panthers are 5-3. The team lost to number one and two in the state, Little Snake River and Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow respectively. The other loss was a heartbreaker that got away at the end against Hulett.

The Panthers will lose a few key seniors, but Wright is confident, the team will do well as time goes on.

“We lose Logan Seahorn and Menphis Smith and return everyone else,” Wright said. “The goal now is to get stronger and compete in every other sport as the year goes on.”

This week was the last game of the season for the Panthers to play as six-man, because the team is actually listed to play nine-man. The year before the team did not have enough players to compete in nine-man, and this year, although the team did have enough players, Wright had to confirm to six-man team before he knew how many kids would try out. Come next year, the Panthers will be back at nine-man.

“My thoughts are that if we were to have stayed six-man, next year we would have been the team to beat,” Wright said. “I still think we will compete well at nine-man.”

The next scheduled game was against Midwest on Oct. 25 to be played in Saratoga, but the Oilers have forfeited.