(Ethete, WY) – Sometimes the game transcends the sport. Thursday evening at Ethete, under smoke-filled skies, the Saratoga Panthers rolled over the host Wyoming Indian Chiefs 52-0. The score had a special significance for the boys from southern Carbon County. Teammate, senior Easton Mason, tragically took his life two weeks ago. Easton wore number 52.
Once the Panthers hit 52, they took a knee and didn’t advance the ball in honor of their fallen teammate.
Saratoga scored on the first play of the game, a 61-yard run by Hazen Williams, taking a 6-0 lead just 13 seconds into the game.
The Panthers led 19-0 at the end of the first and 44-0 at the half. Williams scored three touchdowns on the night.
Griffin Bartlett tallied the Panthers’ only score through the air and added another touchdown on a punt return and a third on a scoop and score.
Wyoming Indian had flashes of offensive execution and hit hard throughout the contest.
Ano Brown “brought the wood” on a tackle of Brody Johnson in an open field run late in the second period.
The Chiefs are at Wright next Friday in another non-league contest. The Panthers host Wind River on Thursday.
SARATOGA 19 25 8 0 – 52
WYOMING INDIAN 0 0 0 0 – 0
First Quarter
SAR – Haven Williams 61-run (kick failed) 11:47
SAR – Williams 3-run (kick failed) 11:10
SAR – Jace Westring 3-run (Skyler Pickett kick) 10:09
Second Quarter
SAR – Griffin Bartlett 20-pass from Westring (kick failed) 9:51
SAR – Westring 44-run (Pickett kick) 8:35
SAR – Bartlett 43-fumble return (kick failed) 7:31
SAR – Wiliams 57-run (kick failed) :57
Third Quarter
SAR – Bartlett 63-punt return (Williams run) 4:38