It was a long-awaited, much-anticipated showdown in the world of Montana six-player football.

Both of Sanders County’s six-player teams, Hot Springs and Noxon, came into the regular season finale with 4-1 West 6-player conference records, tied with Lincoln for the conference’s top spot. 

At state was not just county bragging rights, but a shot at post-season play. 

Both teams featured explosive offense’s capable of 50-plus points on any night. 

A scoring gluttony was expected. When the final horn sounded, it was Hot Springs with a 57-point outburst, buoyed by the return of standout senior running back/linebacker John Waterbury, who had been sidelined since a season opening home loss to Denton-Geyser-Geraldine-Stanford. 

But with Waterbury, a standout wrestler, back on defense, Hot Springs held the Red Devils offense in check on their way to a 57-6 victory that kept their post-season hopes alive, while Noxon’s playoff prospects dimmed. 

Senior quarterback Nick McAllister, along with senior running back Weston Slonaker, keyed the Hot Springs offense and played vital roles in the defensive effort. 

McAllister got Hot Springs on the scoreboard first with a drive-capping 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.  Brazilian exchange student Pedro Vidotti kicked the two-point, point after touchdown (PAT) try, giving the Savage Heat an early, 8-0 lead. 

Before the first quarter came to an end, Slonaker topped off another Hot Springs drive, waltzing into the end zone from two yards out.  Vidotti’s PAT kick boosted the Heat lead to 16-0. 

With the Hot Springs defense continuing to bottle up the potent Noxon offense, the Heat stretched their advantage in the second quarter, beginning with a 58-yard run by Slonaker, who broke through the Noxon defense and sprinted into the Noxon end zone.  Vidotti kicked the PAT, giving the home team a 24-0 lead. 

The Hot Springs defense got into the scoring act on the next Red Devils drive when Waterbury picked off a Red Devils’ pass and raced 25 yards for a Hot Springs touchdown, evidence that his badly sprained ankle was healed.  At that point, the Heat were up 32-0. 

Before the first half came and end, Hot Springs struck again when sophomore wide out Ben Aldridge, an emerging standout among several talented underclassmen, snared a 28-yard scoring toss from McAllister.  The PAT kick failed, but at the half Hot Springs held a daunting 38-0 lead. 

The host team kept up the attack in the third quarter and stretched their lead to 44-0 and invoking the 40-point Mercy rule that keeps the game clock running except during timeouts or changes of possession when Slonaker dashed 37 yards for his second touchdown of the game.  The PAT try was no good. 

Aldridge grabbed his second receiving TD of the game later in the third quarter, reeling in a 27-yard McAllister throw and putting the Heat ahead 51-0. 

Noxon got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when quarterback Justice Kayser connected with Cameron Blair on a 27-yard scoring play.  The PAT try was no good, leaving Hot Springs with a 51-6 lead and time running out in the final quarter. 

On the ensuing kickoff, Waterbury latched on to a short Noxon kickoff and sprinted 39 yards for a touchdown.  The PAT try failed, but time expired with the Heat holding a 57-6 victory. 

Slonaker had 164 yards rushing on 11 carriers to lead Hot Springs, while McAllister was 4-8 passing for 64 yards.  Aldridge had 61 receiving yards for the Heat.  Aldridge also had three interceptions for Hot Springs’ defense. 

McAllister led the Heat with eight tackles, while Slonaker pitched in with six. 

Senior running back David Chapman, who has been an opponent defensive coordinator’s nightmare most of the season, saw limited action as the Heat played several other players after getting their big early lead.  Chapman had one TD run called back due to a penalty. 

“John (Waterbury) played well on defense and David is good to go, other players were having a good game,” said head coach Jim Lawson, whose team is the second seed from the West, behind Lincoln, which annihilated winless Alberton 89-7 in its regular season finale, clinching first place in the conference via a head-to-head win over Hot Springs two weeks ago. 

Both teams are expected to make the playoff pairings, with Noxon likely on the bubble.  Pairings are expected to be announced early this week.