Panthers get their killer pounce back

Head coach of the Saratoga Panther High School football team, Logan Wright, felt very good with his team as they bounced from their loss to Wind River last week.

The Panthers beat the Moorcroft Wolves 36-20. The score indicates a closer game than it was. The Panthers had control of the game from the beginning.

“I feel really good about the game because we were able to get everybody in,” Wright said. “That is always good for the team.”

Moorcroft started well, scoring first, but that would be the only time the Wolves were in control.

“After they scored, we went and scored and got the two points, so we were up ahead 8 to 6 and we just kept scoring and getting stops,” Wright said. “When it was 24 to 6, I became focused on trying to get everybody in. With it being such a long overnight trip, my goal as the coach was to get everyone’s feet wet and keep the kids excited for the sport.”

Wright was able to do that with this game and then some.

The Panthers ended up with 36 points to the Wolves 20.

“I know we could have put up a really good score which plenty of coaches will do, and do you risk putting a lead in jeopardy as you start putting in less experienced players,” Wright said. “I believe as a coach you have to balance how you handle games like this. I got a lot of help from my coaching staff and I believe I did pretty well.”

Wright was happy to see an interception lead to a touchdown as did a kick return.

“Deke Herring scored on an interception and Finn Rosleth scored on a kick return touchdown,” Wright said. “So one touchdown out of defense and the other a kick return. It is cool to be that well rounded when throwing in the three offensive touchdowns.”

Wright said it was an overall good team effort and the win helps because it was a conference game. The first of the season.

“We escaped pretty healthy, so it bodes well for us this coming week,” Wright said. “Everything from here on out is a conference game.”

Panther quarterback Frank Crimmins is pleasing Wright.

“He is doing really well and he had 70 rush yards, which means he was running well,” Wright said. “We had three of four callbacks but he completed four out of seven. Our plan was to run a lot to keep the clock running. But one of our first scores was a 70 yard rollout to Heston Fisher.”

Fisher caught two touchdowns during this game and got a 100 yards receiving .”

This is homecoming week and Wright is looking forward to playing Niobrara County Tigers on Saturday.

“”I think we are two evenly matched teams and we have to make sure we stay off the turnovers and penalties,” Wright said. “Then I think we have a chance to pull out the win. They are big and physical but it is becoming more and more evident, if we can get long drives finished with touchdowns, I think our defense will hold. We are looking for an all around good game.”

Wright said the Tigers are good enough to beat the Panthers, but he said Saratoga has the ability to beat the Tigers.

“It should be a good game,” Wright concluded.