Panthers pounce back on Vikings

Head coach for the Saratoga Panther football has said all season long his team this year was one of the best teams he has coached.

The first team they faced in Wind River is one of best teams having gone 4-0 thus far. Wright knew his team did well but in the end, the Panthers lost. Moorcroft the Panthers beat handily. The last game against Niobrara County was a bit of a disappointment to Wright, because he thought the Panthers were capable of beating the Tigers, but the game didn't turn out that way.

This week the Panthers devoured the Guernsey-Sunrise Viking football team.

The Panthers won 76-0.

"We had a good week of practice, and we were ready to play," Wright said. "To be fair to Guernsey, this is their first year in 9-man and they are a young team."

The 1st quarter had the Panthers rack up 34 points. Wright had a Panther team which had all engines running. The Panthers scored 14 more points in the 2nd quarter while the Vikings remained scoreless.

The running clock went into play in the 2nd half. The running clock happens when the score has a 35 point differential in the 2nd half, which the Panthers had comfortably.

Wright decided in the 2nd half, he would give all his players a chance to play, so he started subbing out the starters.

"I had all the kids in and only a starter if we needed a tight end to block, or something like that," Wright said. "It is always good to be able to put kids in a game situation when we can."

The Panthers definitely could as they continued to score. Although Wright was happy with how the game went, he knows each game is different.

"Our coaching staff tells the boys all the time, playing football is like being on a roller coaster," Wright said. "We have to take things for what they are and the idea is to not to get too high and not get low. We tell the kids it doesn't do any good to get over emotional or overly excited, because that doesn't help the play."

Wright said he looks for the energy that is positive to help the team to perform at its highest potential.

"I know what it is like to be on the losing side with a 70 point deficit when we were still playing 6-man against Little Snake River Valley a couple years back," Wright remembered. "I didn't have the boys run up the score on purpose because I remember what it feels like watching score after score. Still I wanted the boys who didn't get a lot of time to do their best and play football."

The Panthers have four conference games coming up. At the moment, the Panthers are number four in the East 9-man conference. He believes the Panthers can beat the next team they play, which is the Wright Panthers.

"They are a lot like us, but I feel pretty good about our team," Wright said. "They will be a challenge, but I believe we are up to it."

Wright was happy with freshman Carson Everett.

"The progress he has had is excellent," Wright said. "He had two sacks and a tackle on a kick-off that was a nice hard hit. The physicality we are trying to preach he is embracing. He didn't even play football last year. Honestly, I am proud of a lot the younger kids who really played well."

Wright tells his freshmen, he knows football isn't easy for them.

"I tell my freshmen, that football in your freshman season, might be the worst time of your entire life, really," Wright said. "You are on scout team and you older players are beating up on you all the time. So when you see a kid like Carson who doesn't complain or quit, as a coach you can't be happier."

The game against Wright will be a home game on Friday starting at 6 p.m.