WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — White Sulphur Springs held on in the final seconds to defeat Hot Springs, 20-18, Friday afternoon.
With 14 seconds to play and the Hornets leading Hot Springs 20-12, Savage Heat quarterback Brandon Knudsen fired a strike to freshman Kyle Lawson in the back of the end zone to cut the deficit to two with seven seconds left. Hot Springs lined up to kick the two-point conversion to force overtime, but the kick sailed wide left as White Sulphur Springs held on for the victory.
It was a physical, defensive battle throughout. Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter, but Hot Springs got on the board early in the second quarter on 12-yard touchdown run by Knudsen. Hot Springs extended the advantage to 12-0 after Knudsen found his brother, Tyler, for a 21-yard touchdown.
Time was winding down in the second quarter when White Sulphur’s Will Collins found paydirt. Collins reversed field and dove into the end zone with just eight seconds left in the half.
The Hornets carried that momentum into the second half. Collins scored his second touchdown of the game on a 7-yard run up the middle to give the Hornets a 14-12 lead late in the third quarter. Collins became a workhorse for White Sulphur Springs, continually being called upon in the second half.
But it was the passing game that added the final touchdown for White Sulphur Springs. A play-action fake by Shane Ogle froze the secondary just enough to free up Seth Wendt for a 21-yard touchdown catch with just under 10 minutes to play, extending the lead to 20-12.
Collins also had a critical fumble recovery to add to his pair of rushing touchdowns. With Hot Springs driving midway through the fourth quarter, Collins met the running back in the backfield as the pitch arrived. Collins smothered the ball, allowing the Hornets to burn precious time off the clock.
White Sulphur Springs improves to 2-0 after winning by forfeit last week. Hot Springs drops to 1-1 after its season-opening victory at Hanna (Alberta).
6-Man football scores
Richey-Lambert 62, Ekalaka 26
Shields Valley 57, Reed Point-Rapelje 25
White Sulphur Springs 20, Hot Springs 18
Westby-Grenora 58, Savage 6
Denton-Geyser-Stanford 26, Valier 20
Geraldine-Highwood 61, Heart Butte 12
