In what was a crucial mid-season game between two 6-player playoff hopefuls this past Friday night in Hot Springs, the hometown Savage Heat routed West Yellowstone 50-0.

Both teams entered the contest with nearly identical records, but David Chapman and the Heat got on the board first in the opening quarter when Chapman crashed into the West Yellowstone end zone from seven yards out. The point after touchdown (PAT) kick was not good, but Hot Springs held a 6-0 lead. 

That lead stood for the rest of the first quarter 

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, Hot Springs stopped the Badgers on downs, using back-to-back sacks of the quarterback to create a fourth and 16 from West Yellowstone’s own 29 yard line.  They could not get off a punt and the Heat took over on downs. 

Following a long pass from senior QB Nick McAllister to sophomore wide out Ben Aldridge, Chapman capped the drive with a five-yard TD blast.  This time the PAT kick by Pedro Vidotti was good, giving the Heat a 14-0 lead. 

A short time later, as the Heat defense continued to make life miserable for the Badgers’ backfield, Hot Springs running back Weston Slonaker scored from 15 yards out, slicing through the West Yellowstone defenders and coupled with another Vidotti PAT kick (two points in 6-player football), gave Hot Springs a 22-0 lead. 

A short time later, and with the visitor's offense being stifled by the Heat defense, sophomore Daniel Slonaker capped another Heat drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone.  The PAT kick attempt was blocked, but Hot Springs built their lead to 28-0. 

Before the first half came to an end, Chapman picked up his second TD of the contest when he snared an 18-yard McAllister pass, leaping high in the end zone to pull it down. Vidotti added the two-point PAT kick and as the first half concluded, Hot Springs was in command, 36-0. 

In the opening minutes of the third quarter, Chapman scored again, this time bulling his way into the West Yellowstone end zone from two yards out.   Another successful PAT kick boosted the Heat advantage to 44-0. 

Hot Springs added one more score to their total in the fourth quarter.  With time moving quickly due to the Mercy rule, Daniel Slonaker broke free on a 10-yard scoring jaunt, his second TD of the game.  The PAT try was no good, but as the last seconds of the game ticked away, Hot Springs held a 50-0 advantage. 

The win squared the Heat’s season record to 2-2, their second straight win after two last minute, heart-breaking losses to open the 2024 campaign. 

Chapman not only had an outstanding night on offense, the was a force for the Heat defense, racking up 15 tackles, one sack and one pass defended. 

The Heat take to the road this Friday (Sept 27) for a conference game against White Sulphur Springs, who are also 2-2 in the balanced Western 6-player conference.