Panthers dog Lingle-Fort Laramie

The Saratoga Panthers continued their winning ways on Friday against Lingle/Fort Laramie, coming out on top 66-43.

"We are getting better," Logan Wright, Panther head coach said. "The thing about losing, it gives you specific tasks to improve on and that is what we have done. I think the game against Lingle is the best game we played this year."

Saratoga was not the first team to score. The Doggers scored with 10 minutes left in the 1st quarter.

"We knew we had to stop the run," Wright said. "They are a physical running team, so as a team, we just had to be able make blocks and tackles."

The Panthers didn't get discouraged and scored in the next three plays with a passing touchdown. They scored on the conversion and the score was 8-7.

"We have been practicing the conversion plays and we got six out of eight attempts and that is 12 points, which adds up," Wright said.

Quarterback Teegan Love had a 60 yard touchdown run and Saratoga got the conversion and the Panthers were up 16-7.

"We just had explosive plays, and we played well offensively," Wright said. "The thing about it is that we just focused on blocking–really technical blocking–firing off the line and, then, who has who. That has made all the difference."

Wright said offensively he uses Love not only for quarterback, but as a running back.

"We kind of have three running backs. Teegan, Gavin Bartlett and Tuker Carricato," Wright said. "Tuker had a good game and he is a tough kid. Kellen Reeder, Slayd Daley, Jordon Travis, Zack Standard have gotten so much better. "

Wright was pleased the team had almost no penalties.

"We had 550 running yards and 180 passing yards," Wright said. "When I saw how good our offensive line was doing, we just kept running."

With less than a minute left in the 1st quarter, Love scored again with a 90 yard run. The conversion made the score 24-7 going into the 2nd quarter.

"We made huge strides in this game," Wright said.

In the 2nd quarter the Panthers scored after a fumble recovery. Love ran 45 yards for the touchdown. The Panthers did not make the conversion and the score was 30-7.

Eight minutes were left in the 2nd quarter when the Doggers got a touchdown and a conversion making the score 30-15.

The Doggers were not done in the 2nd quarter. A minute left had Lingle score and make the conversion.

The Panthers weren't going to let the Doggers be the last team to score before the half. A pass to Noah Rimmer gave the Panthers another score and the conversion was good. At the half the Panthers led 38-23.

The 3rd quarter had Love rush 85 yards for another touchdown. The conversion failed and the score was 44-23.

Nine minutes to go in the 3rd quarter had Lingle score. They missed the extra point and the score was 44-29.

Five minutes left int the 3rd quarter had Love score on a 25 yard touchdown. The conversion was good and the score was now 52-29 in Saratoga's favor.

The Panthers were still not done scoring in the 3rd quarter and Love passed to Rimmer, hitting him for a touchdown. The conversion was good and the score was 60-29.

The 4th quarter had Geoffrey Johnson rush 25 yards for a touchdown and the conversion was good with nine minutes to go. The score was 68-29.

Saratoga did not score after Johnson's touchdown, but it didn't matter. Lingle did put up some points in the 4th quarter, but the Panthers walked away with a victory.

Wright said three players, Love, Rimmer and Standard were all-state caliber although the players might be underrated.

"Noah Rimmer scored receiving touchdowns," Wright said. "Noah is a our rock in defense but I am not sure teams know how good he is as a receiver. Teegan is a known quantity, and Zach is an excellent football player."

Wright is seeing progress from players that have been quiet until now.

"Geoffrey Johnson has broken out of his shell, scoring a touchdown and doing very well defensively," Wright said. "I think if we play competitive for three quarters in the next games, we could do well in the 4th quarter."

Wright pointed out the Panthers have played the number one and two team in the same year for three years in a row.

"I think it makes us better playing teams that are ranked," Wright said. "It makes us competitive and it can be fun. Maybe one day we will knock off a team above us."

The next game the Panthers play is at 6 p.m. on October 9 in Saratoga against Southeast, who are 5-0 overall.