Scouts stop Pioneers' magic

The Big Sandy Pioneers were hoping to keep their dream season alive in the Six-Man playoffs at Bridger last Friday, but the Pioneers proved to be no match for the champion of the Six-Man South Division.

The Scouts are headed back to the Six-Man semifinals after thrashing Big Sandy 42-7 Friday night in Bridger.

Bridger quarterback Colter Zentner helped his team get off to a fast start as he tossed three touchdown passes in the opening quarter to give the Scouts an 18-0 lead. Then, in the second quarter, Zentner showed he can be just as dangerous with his legs, as he scored two rushing touchdowns, one from three yards out and another from 11 yards out, to make the score 34-0.

Russell Zentner, who caught two touchdown passes in the first quarter, caught a third in the second quarter from Colter Zentner, this time on a 45-yard strike. Once the kick was converted, the Scouts led 42-0.

"We were expecting speed and we got speed tonight. They just outclassed us in speed and in Six-Man, that does a lot. We couldn't catch up to that (Colter) Zentner kid. He was tough," Big Sandy head coach Ronnie Simpson said after the game. "To make the top eight in the state, that's a huge improvement."

Big Sandy’s season was ended with the loss, but the Pioneers still made a gigantic improvement in 2017, going from 4-4 to 7-3. The playoff win notched by Big Sandy a week ago over Richey-Lambert was the Pioneers first postseason win since 2012. And even when things looked bleak Friday night, the Pioneers never stopped fighting.

Late in the game, trailing by 42 points, Big Sandy finally got on the board, when senior Weston Allderdice, an All-State performer, found paydirt one-yard touchdown run, making the final 42-7.

Bridger will take on White Sulphur Springs in one Six-Man semifinal, with Westby-Grenora and Valier set to do battle in the other semifinal game. The Six-Man state championship will be played Nov. 18.

Bridger 42, Big Sandy 7

Bridger 18 24 0 0 - 42

Big Sandy 0 0 0 7 - 7

B: Nick Althoff 14 pass Colter Zentner (kick fail)

B: Russell Zentner 60 pass from Colter Zentner (pass fail)

B: R. Zentner 20 pass from Colter Zentner (kick failed)

B: Coltner Zentner 3 run (R. Zentner kick)

B: Coltner Zentner 11 run (R. Zentner kick)

B: R. Zentner 45 pass from Colter Zentner (R.Zentner kick)

BS: Weston Allderdice 1 run (Weston Allderice pass from Bryant Jones.