STM looks like they are in top form

HOT SPRINGS—Even at 0-2, the Hot Springs Bison are a solid football team, and even more so at home at Woodward Field. Unfortunately, their opponent last Friday evening were the St Thomas More Cavaliers, down from Rapid City, and the defending state champions. STM has lost some horses to graduation but Head Coach Nick Wald still has a powerful team on the field every Friday.

Junior QB Noah Wald (6-0 170) tops most every team’s choice as signal caller, and with a state championship under his belt, and excellent line in front of him, it will take a serious sock in the snotbox to shake the confidence of this STM team. They play like they know they are going to get done what they set their mind to getting done, and the 43-6 defeat they handed the Bison served notice. They were up 28-0 at half and the question was would Wald stick in some players in the second half to give them experience. This was especially likely given Hot Springs is a solid team and any minutes spent on the field by back up players could pay dividends come playoff time. If STM continues to rack up big early leads, STM backup players are going to well-schooled by Dome time.

Next week, perennial powerhouse Winner comes to STM and they are 2-0 and looking in good form. That will be the test. STM only has eight games, and eventually top-rated Elk Point Jefferson looms on the play off horizon but the best team they face during the regular season will be Winner.

In All Nations action, host White River hammered Little Wound, 58-6. At this point the Tigers figure to be the favorite to take the B title. Lower Brule got back on track defeating Crow Creek, 42-0. Todd County is letting Winnebago and Mahpiya Luta know they are solid contenders for the A title, by defeating Pine Ridge, 56-6. Crazy Horse stunned McLaughlin, 58-12. That is a serious step up for Crazy Horse. Marty blanked Walthill 52-0.

Lakota Tech has not won a game yet, but they are moving the football unlike their time in the SDHSAA. They drove all the way over to Winnebago and put up 30 points on the Indians, a team favored to win the A title. Unfortunately, they gave up 44, but they are getting better with each game.

Mahipya Luta did a number on St Francis, 50-0. Dupree/Takini showed they are going to be contenders by beating Cheyenne-Eagle Butte, 38-6. Tiospa Zina had no problem with Flandreau Indian, winning 54-6.

In the SDHSAA, Bennett County continued to show up and play solid football, beating Stanley County, 24-6. Hill City finally got an opponent they can handle, beating New Underwood, 42-26. Spearfish beat Mitchell by 20, 47-27. Rapid City Central was showing signs of improvement until they arrived in Sturgis and went home losers, 32-7. The problem for the Cobblers is always line play. Until they get some strong bodies on the line nothing is going to get better.

Castlewood continued to look like the best 9-man team in the state, hammering Estelline/Hendricks, 58-8.

Faulkton Area has been playing good football these past few years but they always seem to come up short in nip and tuck efforts, like their 14-12 loss to Warner. Kadoka Area is just the opposite, they seem to pull out the close ones, beating Gettysburg, 28-24. RC Christian had little trouble thumping Mobridge/Pollock, 35-6. Pierre handed Yankton a 44-14 defeat and the Governors once again look like the team to beat at 11AA.

(James Giago Davies is an enrolled member of OST. Contact him at skindiesel@msn.com)

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