The Hot Springs Savage Heat opened the 6-Man football season in Hot Springs Friday and the undermanned but feisty Savage Heat fell 52-8 to visiting Chester-Joplin-Inverness, one of the best 6-Man teams in Montana this season.

The 0-1 Savage Heat take to the road this week to face 0-1 Shields Valley. The Rebels opened season play with a 80-53 loss to Roy-Winifred.

“We knew going in this was going to be a big test for us,” Hot Springs coach Jim Lawson said of the game with CJI. “We knew coming in that they would be tough, they had a good run in the playoffs last year. And we suffered through some of the usual first game stuff – we’re still figuring out our roles, we lost a few onside kicks – but the kids played hard, I’m happy with our effort.”

Perhaps the biggest factor affecting the Heat is a shortage of players (see Sidelines for more). Starting with just eight Friday, the Heat went down to seven when Daniel Slonaker injured a knee during the CJI game. Complicating matters further, two of those remaining seven have never played until now.

“We really need to stay healthy with the kids we have,” Lawson offered, citing the loss of Slonaker. “Ben (quarterback Aldridge) and Daniel were connecting on some pass plays, and then Ben and Chase (DePoe) did some good things too.”

Samson Jakablosky scored Ho Springs’ touchdown and DePoe followed that up with the successful points after kick, worth two points in the 6-Man game.