It will seem different for sure on the football field at Hot Springs High this year.

Not different as in them not being a very good football team, but different in the make-up of that team.

One of their key seniors, Kyle Lawson, graduated and is now plying his football skills for the University of Montana Western in Dillon. The other one, Jack McAllister, is concentrating on a rodeo career where he hopes to find fortune roping and tying runaway calves.

Lawson, whose dad is head coach Jim Lawson, was a talented all-around athlete who specialized in being a receiver on the football field, as well as a skilled guard on the basketball court.

McAllister was another standout athlete who often found Lawson in the end zone or on his way there with a TD pass as part of the McAllister to Lawson scoring combo.

Either way, the duo will be missed in the hectic world that is six-man football in this part of the northwest.

But that is not to say all is lost or even mention of a rebuilding year. With coach Lawson at the helm, assisted by health and conditioning guru Andrew Leicthnam, the Savage Heat figure to field their usual quick, tough team. That formula has almost always translated into post-season playoffs, and as was the case in 2012 and 2016 state six-man football championships.

That was then, this is now and the now is looking pretty solid.

In the Hot Springs keeping it in the family tradition, another McAllister, this one sophomore Nick, will attempt to fill his brother’s shoes at quarterback. Nick is a taller version of his brother and has a strong throwing arm.

The younger McAllister is just one of a group of sophomores with big time potential that figure to play a key role in Hot Springs’ 2022 campaign. Weston Slonaker, a 5-9 150-pound running back and defensive end, along with Johnny Waterbury, a 5-9 145 pound running back/linebacker both have had sibling Savage Heat in recent years and were among three other newcomers who are expected to play a key role.

None of the newcomers, however, may be relied upon more than 6-3, 235 pound senior tight end/defensive tackle than Garth Parker, a talented all-around athlete who transferred to Hot Springs from Plains last year.

The presence of those three players give credence to coach Lawson’s expectations on defense.

“The strength of our defense should be one of our top areas”, Lawson said. “And we are hoping to improve our passing game along the way”.

With Waterbury and Slonaker leading the way in the backfield and a solid group of wide receivers, the Savage Heat figure to be in the thick of the six-man field throughout the year.

Hot Springs finished the 2021 season with a 6-3 overall record, losing in the playoffs to Medicine Lake, 26-20.

“We have a good mix of players who should help us out”, Lawson said.

The Savage Heat open this year’s football season with a road game in Highwood, near Choteau, Montana Friday evening. They then return home September 2 for a Friday night home game against Valier at 7 p.m.