Where there’s a will, there’s a way, but sometimes numbers come into play.

The undermanned Hot Springs Savage Heat, ranked No. 9 in the latest Montana 6-Man football poll, lost 48-15 to No. 5 Lincoln in Lincoln Friday, but the biggest loss they may have suffered was that of junior quarterback Ben Aldridge, who suffered a broken ankle during the game. The loss leaves Hot Springs with a 3-2 record while Lincoln moves to 4-1.

“It really is too bad for Ben, he was having a great season,” coach Jim Lawson said, adding that Aldridge’s injury also stresses the Heat’s already thin depth chart as well. “We are kind of hurting for numbers right now.

“We will rally and see what we can do, play as hard as we can,” he added. “We still have a lot to play for, have survived to this point and the playoffs are still a possibility. We have a short week of practice this week, we’ll see what kind of adjustments we need to make and go from there.”

Obviously not one to make excuses, Lawson will lead the Heat into this week’s homecoming game against Alberton in the Spa City with a small but determined crew, as he has all season. The game will be played Thursday instead of on the traditional Friday night schedule.

Friday’s game in Lincoln was a close one in the first half. Lawson said the Heat actually took a 15-12 lead in the second quarter after Aldridge was forced out of the game. Aldridge scored on a touchdown on a 32 yard run followed by the two-point kick from Chase DePoe, and Samson Jakabosky scored the other Heat touchdown on a nine yard run followed by the one-point pass from DePoe to Andrew Waterbury for Hot Springs’ points in Lincoln.

Taking a 20-15 lead by halftime, Lincoln pulled away in the second half for the win. Kayden Riddle threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more for the Lynx and Austin Salber scored three TDs, on runs of 40 and 55 yards and on a 25 yard pass from Riddle.

Lawson complimented his Heat players for a game well played in Lincoln in spite of the adversity they faced. “Samson ran the ball really hard and the kids gave it their all,” he said. “It’s been kind of tough to keep six on the field but we will keep at it.”