Down to only ten players for much of the season, the Plains football team had to play like men right to the end, and play like men, proud Horsemen that is, they did.

Coach Mike Tatum and his dedicated band of Horsemen players wrapped up 8-Man season play falling 59-12 to the playoff bound Darby Tigers in Darby Friday. The game was the final one as Horsemen for seniors Greg Tatum, Bryson Hoyle and Matthew Thurston.

Tatum appreciated what his boys gave him on one side and complimentary towards Darby on the other. “We went down (to Darby) with ten kids and they all played their hearts out,” he said. “Darby was another class act within our league. They are a great group and played their younger kids much of the game, the program is really heading in the right direction.”

Darby, with only one loss this season, goes into the State 8-Man playoffs this week, hosting the Chinook Sugarbeeters Saturday in the first round.

Tatum said the Horsemen hurt themselves a few times in Darby. “Offensively we still made some mistakes that took some points off of the board,” he said pointing to a 40-yard touchdown by son Greg which was called back on a penalty.

Highlights for the Horsemen in the Bitterroot included a 45-yard run and subsequent touchdown by Levi Sturdivant and a 60-yard kick return for a touchdown by Thurston.

Defensively, Thurston was good for a team-high 16 tackles and Greg Tatum had 13, also recovering a fumble.

Coach Tatum went out of his way to thank Hoyle. “He has played center and nose guard all season against some big and talented teams,” Tatum said, “and he never complained once. He was always happy to be part of the team.”

Tatum’s final thoughts on this year’s Horsemen turn to their future playing days. “As a whole we had some young guys do well,” he said. “Freshman Jace Savage came into his own defensively and came away with his first quarterback sack ever. Nathan Bebb, another freshman, also played with great determination as well at multiple positions as needed.”