Cyclones take out Panthers

Logan Wright Head Coach of the Saratoga High School football team had no illusions about the latter half of his schedule. Last week he faced Pine Bluffs, the number one seed in 9-man East Conference. This week the Panthers had to take on the Southeast Cyclones, who are the number two seed and have not lost a game in the conference.

Saratoga put up a fight, but Southeast overpowered the Panthers.

"Every game has a turning point, whether it is early or late," Wright said. "We had a huge momentum play happen that was taken away by penalty and I believe it took some wind out of us." 

The Cyclones scored two quick touchdowns. Then Seth Stephens blocked a punt at the one yard line. The Panthers took advantage and ran the ball in.

Saratoga was within one touchdown and Wright felt the game going the Panthers' way even though Southeast was able to score one more touchdown before the 2nd quarter.

"It was the first play of the 2nd quarter and Heston Fisher got an 80 yard touchdown pass and everyone was going crazy, celebrating, sprinting down the field happily," Wright remembered. "Then we learn there is a flag thrown and the Ref said it was a push off. So we go from being one touchdown away from Southeast and a tremendous confidence boost, we end up on our own 10 yard line. It became a demoralizing walk down the field for the team. A 90 yard walk. I wish I could tell a different story, that we were tough enough to bounce back and score, but that wasn't the case. After that penalty, we had to go 20 yards and we didn't do it."

The game went south for the Panthers, their coach said.

"Southeast scored again and we were down three touchdowns," Wright said. "We scored but it seemed we were down three touchdowns throughout the game and Southeast is way too good to get behind like that."

Wright said the Cyclones have good athletes and are well coached.

"We had a lot of penalties and I don't think we played very disciplined," Wright said. "False starts were way too many. There was one time, we had three in a row. That should never happen. We have to clean this problem up."

The Cyclones won 47 to 14.

Wright said it is now or never for the Panthers to get their penalties under control as the team faces Lingle-Ft. Laramie Doggers in the coming week.

"Lingle is a team every bit as good as Southeast, although they lost to the Cyclones," Wright said. "It was a bit of an upset at the time, but we know Lingle is good."

The Panther coach said the defense and offense has to come together in keeping penalties to a minimum.

"We can't afford all these penalties each game," Wright said. "We need to execute long successful drives and limit penalties and turnovers."

Wright also said the penalties seem to come in bunches.

"Besides the three false starts in a row, which is way too many, we got going and then were sent back because of a penalty," Wright said. "Discipline, high effort, few turnovers, sustained drives are what we want to do this week. If we don't and lose, our season is over."

The Panthers are having a little difficulty mixing up their snap count according to Wright.

"When you play the teams we do, we have to mix up the snap count, but right now it seems to be hurting us more than it is helping us," Wright observed. "We have to be focused and not let the mixing of snap counts hurt us. We have to be able to mix things up. I feel we are so close and if we tighten up, I know the results will have us on the winning side."

Wright said he is hoping the team will be disciplined this week and play well.

"Then the score will take care of itself," Wright said. "Our seniors are good and we have a week to improve. I have confidence we can."

The Panthers play the Doggers on Friday, Oct 21 at 6 p.m. in Lingle.