It was not a good day for the Pioneers.

No harsh winter involved or broken wagon wheels, just a Hot Springs football team ready to take out some frustrations on the football field. 

The Savage Heat traveled to Big Sandy this past Friday to take on the Pioneers and whacked the home team 45-0 for their first win of the 2024 season. 

After losing their first two games to Denton-Geyser and Centerville, both last minute defeats, the Heat were ready to right the ship. 

With injured senior Johnny Waterbury watching the game on crutches due to an ankle injury, senior David Chapman filled the void, along with senior Weston Slonaker, as they Heat took the lead in the first quarter when, following a fumble recovery by Chapman and some stout Hot Springs defense, the visitors took the lead. 

Following an interception that set them up on their own 37, Savage Heat running back Western Slonaker broke through the Big Sandy defense with 15 seconds to play in the opening quarter and blew by the Pioneers defenders for a 43-yard touchdown run.  Pedro Vidottii kicked the PAT (points after touchdown), which in 6-player football is good for two points, giving the Heat an 8-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

That score stood until, with 3:06 left in the second quarter, sophomore Ben Aldridge tossed a touchdown pass to Slonaker.  Vidotti kicked the extra point, and Hot Springs was up 16-0. 

The Heat defense held the Pioneers and giving the Hot Springs offense the ball on downs with 1:00 to play in the half and the ball on their own 20.  Aldridge then hooked up with senior Nick McAllister on a catch-and-run TD pass with 33 seconds left in the opening half.  Vidotti was good on the PAT kick and at the half, Hot Springs led 24-0. 

Midway through the third quarter, the Heat defense halted another Big Sandy drive, breaking up a fake punt and giving Hot Springs the ball on the Pioneers’ 20. Slonaker ran the ball to the 10, and two plays later, Chapman plowed into the end zone from three yards out.  Vidotti was good again on the PAT try and with 6:22 to go in the third, the Heat led 32-0. 

Before the third quarter came to an end, Hot Springs drove to the Pioneer 11.  Then, in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, sophomore fullback Daniel Slonaker bulldozed his way into the end zone for six more points.  The PAT try failed for the first time in the game, but at that point Hot Springs was up 38-0. 

Later in the final quarter, Big Sandy attempted another fake punt, but a bobbled snap from center gave the ball to Hot Springs on their own 37.  Chapman ran the ball to the Pioneers three-yard line, where a few plays later, Aldridge scored on a three-yard run.  A running PAT was good and with 12 seconds left in the game and the Mercy rule in effect, Hot Springs led 45-0.  The last second ticked off the clock, giving the Heat the win and lifting their season record to 1-2. 

Weston Slonaker had a standout game, leading the time with 115 yards rushing and two TDs on 12 carries, and hauling in two passes and 19 yards and a TD.  Aldrige scored two touchdowns and threw for 65 yards on 4-5 attempts. 

McAllister led the Heat defense with 13 tackles. 

Next on the schedule for Hot Springs is a crucial Western 6-player conference game against West Yellowstone this Friday (Sept. 20) at 7 p.m.