It was a dark and stormy night, as many aspiring novelists may have written.

But the field of play was lit by the lights surrounding Hot Springs’ football field and the rain blown horizontally at times by strong gusts of wind at the start of the football game versus Lincoln had mostly died down by the start of the second quarter. 

In the end, the visiting Lynx found a way to solve Hot Springs’ stingy defense on their way to a 46-26 win over the drenched, but hardy Savage Heat fans, putting a damper on Homecoming festivities.  

The two teams came into the Western 6-Player Conference match up in the upper echelons of the conference standings, with Lincoln holding a 1-1 conference mark and Hot Springs sporting a 2-0 mark. 

The Lynx win created a log jam at the top of the seven-team league with Lincoln, Hot Springs and West Yellowstone tied for second with 2-1 conference records.  Noxon, despite a heart-breaking loss in West Yellowstone this past Saturday, leads the league with a 3-1 record. 

Friday night’s game began as a Fall storm swept through the Sanders County area with Lincoln scoring first on a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kayden Riddle to wide out Roegan Dietz.  The Lynx kicked a successful two-point after touchdown (PAT) try, giving them an 8-0 lead that lasted throughout the opening quarter. 

Midway through the second quarter, with both teams fighting the wet turf and slippery pigskin, Hot Springs scored when senior running back David Chapman crashed over the goal line from five yards out.  Brazilian exchange student Pedro Vidotti, who was name Homecoming King at halftime, kicked the PAT, tying the game at 8-8 with 6:04 to play in the first half. 

The Lynx struck back on a 56-yard touchdown pass play with 2:32 left in the second quarter, then added a two-point PAT kick to give them a 16-8 lead. 

Hot Springs took the ensuing kickoff and marched quickly downfield, setting themselves up on the Lincoln 25.  With 1:18 left in the first half, Heat quarterback Nick McAllister hooked up with sophomore Ben Aldridge on a 25-yard touchdown pass.  The PAT kick was blocked, leaving the Lynx clinging to a 16-14 halftime lead. 

In the opening minutes of the third quarter, Lincoln turned to their strong running game and moved downfield on a drive that culminated with a 34-yard scoring toss from Riddle to Dietz.  The PAT kick was good, boosting the Lynx lead to 24-14 with 8:24 to play in the third quarter. 

Lincoln’s defense held the Heat on their drive following the kickoff, taking over on downs at their own 14-yard line.   A few plays later they moved to the Heat 19 via a long pass by Riddle.  Andrew Brown capped that Lynx drive with a 19-yard TD scamper, adding six points to the Lynx lead, 30-14. 

McAllister topped the ensuing Heat drive with a 25-yard run for six.  The PAT try failed but Hot Springs pulled with 10, making the score 30-20 Lincoln heading into the final quarter of play. 

With 8:19 left to play in the game, Weston Slonaker snared a McAllister pass and scored from 28 yards out, slicing the Lynx advantage to 30-26. 

Lincoln took ball quickly downfield following the Heat kickoff, and with 7:14 remaining in the game, the Lynx scored on a 10-yard run by Brown. The PAT kick was good, giving the visitors a 38-26 lead. 

Before the third quarter ended, it looked like Hot Springs had scored on a 76-yard punt return, but the apparent touchdown was erased by a block in the back penalty on Hot Springs. 

Lincoln put a lid on the Savage Heat hopes when they scored another touchdown via a 1-yard run with time running out. The PAT kick was good, securing the Lynx’s 46-26 victory. 

Sophomore Daniel Slonaker led the Heat in rushing with 83 yards rushing.  His brother, senior Weston Slonaker, had 80 yards on five carries for Hot Springs. 

McAllister had 81 yards passing on 4-7 throwing to lead the Heat.  He had three TD passes. 

Defensively, Chapman was the top tackler for the Heat with 10, while Weston Slonaker added nine stops and Aldridge chipped in eight.  Aldridge and Chapman had one sack each. 

Hot Springs head coach Jim Lawson remained optimistic despite the loss. 

“I hope we can get back into it (the conference race),” he said. “We’ve got some work to do.”

The Savage Heat travel to White Sulphur Springs this Friday (Oct. 11) for a game versus the Hornets. 

    Homecoming Queen Lilian Sapanel, an exchange student from France, and King Pedro Vidotti (exchange student from Brazil) pose during halftime ceremonies Friday night in Hot Springs. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)