It wasn’t what the Wind River Cougars expected in a battel of the big cats at Pavillion in their home opener. Visiting Saratoga pounded the Cougars 50-8 and in the process dropped Wind River to 0-2 on the season.
The Cougars trailed 22-0 at the half, but a nightmarish third period doubled the score with Wind River having only two plays in the period, both resulting in lost fumbles.
Saratoga runs the ball well behind Brody Johnson and Hazen Williams.
The duo of Panther running backs tallied three touchdowns each in the opening three periods. Johnson scored on runs of 19, 13 and five yards, while Williams powered in from the two-yard line twice and once from the eight.
Wind River’s lone touchdown came late in the game with the running clock in motion after the Panthers scored 50 unanswered points on a one-yard plunge by Jeffrey Rushing.
There were a few bright spots for the Cougars, notably the pass defense of Mato Amos who broke up three long pass attempts by Saratoga quarterback Jace Westring and intercepted one at the goal line in the second period to thwart a Panther drive.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Cougars as they host unbeaten Southeast Goshen next Friday in a rare regular season appearance by the Cyclones at Leroy Sinner Field.
Southeast opened the season with a 30-8 win over defending state champion Big Piney at home followed by a 38-13 win over Wright, also at Barry Miller Field in Yoder.
WIND RIVER 0 0 0 8 – 8
SARATOGA 14 8 22 6 – 50
First Quarter
SAR – Brody Johnson 19-run (Griffin Bartlett from Jace Westring) 8:26
SAR – Hazen Williams 2-run (run failed) :03
Second Quarter
SAR – Williams 8-run (Bartlett from Westring) :37
Third Quarter
SAR – Johnson 13-run (Bartlett from Westring) 5:56
SAR – Johnson 5-run (Johnson from Westring) 1:54
SAR – Williams 2-run (pass failed) :18
Fourth Quarter
SAR – Hunter Johnston 29-run (pass failed) 8:44
WR – Jeffrey Rushing 1-run (Mato Amos run) 3:37