Panthers falter with turnovers

A Panther team won in the battle between Saratoga High School and Wright High School on October 15. Unfortunately for Saratoga, it was the Wright Panthers.

If the Saratoga Panthers had won by 9 points, they would be in the chase for the playoffs. Due to turnovers, Saratoga will not be competing.

“We have some physical kids that will get in there and make the plays and mix it up but, the score being 32-14, those turnovers cost us,” Head Coach Logan Wright said. “Next year we will be older but that means we have to get stronger, more physical and really hammering our assignments defensively and offensively.”

Coach Wright feels the team gave up points which were unnecessary and the turnovers have been a big difference in what the score should have been.

“When you give a team seven more attempts, I don’t think 32 is a bad number, but it is a total game and if your offense can do the right things, and finish with touchdowns, our defense plays a lot better, especially for us,” Coach Wright said. “We had two 13 play drives that we didn’t score on. Both went 70 yards.”

The first possession for the Saratoga team was one of those drives but, after going the distance of 70 yards, there was an under-snap fumble which gave Wright the ball.

He said the Panther defense looked like it would be holding and then Wright would pull off an 80 yard run. Coach Wright said this happened twice.

“Both of those Wright possessions were off our turnovers and when you think about momentum, defense and offense, the ball cannot be turned over after big drives like we had and not score,” Wright said. “For next year, we just have to make that an emphasis next year.”

There were definite bright spots for Coach Wright against the other Panthers.

“Tucker (Carricato) had 220 rushing yards and our problem is not moving the ball,” Wright said. “When we get the downs and are moving the ball, it is fun. Then having turnovers, we aren’t finishing the job. If we hadn’t had the turnovers and finished the two drives, that could have put us at 30 points.”

The Valley Panthers scored on a quarterback sneak by Geoffery Johnson and freshman Seth Stevens scored on a 20 yard reverse.

“We did end the game strong, but it was just one or two things that really hurt us,” Wright said. “If we had played a perfect game, I think we could have beaten Wright by the 9 points that we need to, but kudos to Wright because they came out ready and we started slow.”

He said for the next game against Lusk on Friday, he will be watching his players to see who will have what positions next year. He is only losing two seniors, Johnson and Alex Irby.

“I won’t be focusing too much on the scoreboard, but rather wanting to see who is committed and who wants to play hard for the team,” Wright said. “We just have to see.”

The Saratoga Panther will host the Niobrara County Tigers at 5 p.m October 22.