Coach's confidence justified

When asked how he felt when the score was tied at 52 to 52 with 57 seconds left, Logan Wright, Saratoga head football coach, said he was not worried.

"I was confident we would get the ball down the field and win," Wright said with a smile.

He was justified because in 27 seconds the Panthers got down the field and scored against the Riverside Rebels who were visiting. The Rebels made a gallant attempt to come back one more time, but time ran out and the Panthers won their homecoming game. It is also the last time the seniors on the team will play at home.

The game started out going the Panthers way. Sam Schneider connected to Teegan Love to score first. The defense held when the Rebels got the ball and then it was Schneider to Love again as the score went 12 to 0. Love to Noah Rimmer gave them the extra point making it 13 to 0.

The Rebels threatened but Love intercepted the ball. The Panthers didn't score on the possession and the Rebels did when they got the ball back. It was 13 to 6 going into the second quarter.

The Panthers dominated for the next quarter and at half time it was 45 to 18.

The third quarter the Rebels came clawing back to life. The Panthers also scored and going into the fourth quarter it was 52 to 39. The home crowd didn't seem worried but the Rebels changed that as the clock wound down to about a minute left and the score was tied 52 to 52.

The Panthers stopped the extra point and with 57 seconds left, the Panthers were ready to pounce. With 27 seconds left, the Panthers scored. They got the extra point and it was 59 to 52. That was how the score ended with the Panthers winning their homecoming game.

Schneider had a day that was in his words, a dream come true.

"It was a great feeling to come off the field on homecoming and the last home game with a win," Schneider said. "Honestly, it is every player's dream, that it is the last home game you are going to play in high school, it is homecoming and senior night, the game is on the line and it is you and your boys coming together to make it happen. It was amazing."

He said it was entirely a team effort.

"I have to credit all the boys defensively; Alex, Noah, Menphis, Trent, all of them, the team stepped up," Schneider said. "When Teegan went out of the game, all the players stepped up and took it to another level."

He said the blocking by the entire team was better this game than any other in the season.

"It was great having huge holes to run through," Schneider said.

The first half had Love and Schneider connecting to score, but when Love got hurt in the third quarter, Rimmer stepped up to receive the ball.

"Noah is our most physical player," Wright said. "He plays defense and offense really well because he just wants to win."

Wright, also had praise for freshmen Geoffery Johnson and Alex Irby.

"Both are absolutely amazing on what they do in our games," Wright said. "We have so many young guys contributing, it really is amazing."

Wright said although the first half went well for the Panthers, he didn't underestimate the Rebels ability to come back.

"They are a good physical team and in the third quarter, we only got one offensive possession which we did score on, but that says Riverside was still playing to win," Wright said. "Kudos to them for fighting back and making the game close."

Wright said when the Rebels scored the touchdown to tie the game with barely a minute to go, Rimmer's tackle stopping the two point conversion was key to the win.

"He hustled and ran down the guy, so we were tied instead of them being ahead and I said okay, we can win this, because we score on big plays all the time," Wright explained why he wasn't nervous with so little time left.

He knew Schneider would be involved in getting a score. Wright was right. In 27 seconds Schneider passed to Rimmer and the Panthers were on top to stay.

"I will give Sam a shout," Wright said. "I knew we could pull it off because we have Sam and the other team didn't."

Wright wishes Schneider would get more recognition from State, but because all games are considered exhibition, this senior will probably be overlooked for the outstanding football player he is.

"Tell me when a player is so good, it doesn't count," Wright said strongly. "Not only Sam, but all the kids that are doing exceptional, which is pretty much the whole roster."

Wright sees growth and fantastic potential with all the contributions the Panther team is making as the season progresses.

"The kids playing now are playing for all the right reasons and we weeded out the ones who were not," Wright said. "It showed when we played last Tuesday too."

The game on Sept. 11 was all Panther said Wright against Natrona JV.

"We were up 32 to 6 by halftime and although the other team was big and physical, we did well," Wright said. "Still the last five minutes, the other team was the winner, but we dominated all the other time."

He said Schneider got back to back 65 yard touchdowns.

"I don't think he got touched on either one of them because the team did tremendous blocking," Wright said.

The score was 75 to 36.

Wright said the strong win gave the Panthers confidence going against Riverside.

Schneider agreed and said every game gets better.

"Every game we are getting more familiar with six man," Schneider said. "We are bonding and jelling as a team and I have been having a blast. It has been a great year so far."

The next scheduled game is at 2 p.m. on Sept. 22 against Dubois.