Miners take out Oilers

The Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School football team was dominant against the Midwest Oilers from the beginning.

The Miners scored in the first 10 seconds making it 8-0. The Oilers got the ball up the field a few yards before a fumble recovery by Shane McGraw. This led to a touchdown by the Miners in three plays. With 8:43 left in the 1st quarter, the score was 16-0.

It didn't get better for the visiting team.

A minute off the clock later, had the Miners with another score making the home team ahead 24-0.

The Midwest team was playing without eight players and the bench had few bodies to spare. This would be crucial as the game wore on and the Oilers showed fatigue.

"Give those kids credit for coming and playing with as much heart as they did," Miners head football coach Zach Scott said. "Kudos to the kids that came here and fought for their team."

The Miners kept scoring as the 1st quarter kept going.

The Oilers could not capitalize any time they got the ball.

Scott started sending in his scout team when the score went to 47-0 and there was 2:42 left in the 1st quarter.

Even when the Miners fumbled the ball, the Oilers threw an interception to Brendon Reeves immediately after.

Andrew Scott scored a touchdown after Midwest fumbled a kickoff return making the score 65-0 as halftime neared.

At halftime the 1989 State Champion team was honored. Ironically, the 1989 team had faced Midwest for the championship and won the game 41-14. The Miners were also state champions in 1952 and 1954.

Assistant football coach Cliff Jones was on the 1989 team.

After the 1989 team assembled on the field and accepted tribute from the home crowd, the 2019 football team shook hands with all the players.

The second half would institute the "mercy rule" since the score was past 45-0, which has the clock run continuously if a team is down by this score.

Although Midwest was down, they did not give up.

They were the first team to score in the 2nd half, making it 65-7, but the Miners came back with a touchdown making it 71-7.

The scout team did very well as time went on.

Ura Schmidt scored with 26 seconds left in the 3rd quarter making it 77-7.

Freshman Tom Wagner carried the ball 11 times and got a total of 92 yards. Only starter Shane McGraw had more at 144 yards.

Conor and Shane McGraw scored the most points for the team with 16 and 19 respectively. They did not play much once the scout team went in. Freshman Bryce Cripe scored eight points and six other players scored touchdowns during the game. Dylan Romero had four points.

Midwest scored again in the 4th quarter, as did the Miners, but by this time the outcome of the game was not in question. The final score was 83-14.

"The Oilers are going to be a good team and they were awesome coming out here and playing their hearts out," Scott said.

Although Scott had words of praise for the opposing team, he was proud of what the Miners accomplished.

"Our starters did their job quickly and effectively," Scott said. "What I am super proud of today is our scout team. They came out and ran the ball, played defense and played the majority of this football game. So many of these guys got to shine today and that bodes well for the future."

Scott did not want to run up the score against Midwest, but he did want the players on the scout team to feel confidence as they got more time.

"Every game that allows them the opportunity to play, we make sure they get it," Scott said. "They deserve it. They come to practice every day, they need time on the field also, so I make sure, if possible, they get time on the field. That is how varsity players are made."

The next scheduled game is at Hulett (2-0) on Sept. 21 against the Devils.