Friday Night Lights: Big Sandy is back in the game

Ever since the Big Sandy Pioneers played for the state championship back in 2012, the football program has fallen on hard times.

In each of the past three seasons, Big Sandy has failed to make the playoffs and the Pioneers haven't managed to win more than three games, going 3-5 in 2013 and 2014, as well as 2-6 last season.

Yet, a new season and a new coach has brought new enthusiasm to Big Sandy football, and with some talented players in hand, the Pioneers are set for their biggest game in years Saturday against North Star, another 3-1 team in a game filled with playoff implications.

“It's a playoff game,” Big Sandy head coach Ronnie Simpson said. “Anytime you play a conference game and it can determine your standing it's like a playoff game. But we are treating it the same and preparing like we would for any other game.”

Led by Simpson and the dynamic rushing duo of Laurence and Weston Alderdice, Big Sandy started the season with three straight wins, surpassing its total from a year ago less than a month into the season.

“You never really know how it's going to go, but the kids have really bought in,” Simpson said. “At first, they were a little skeptical because I coach basketball here and they thought I was just a basketball coach. But I saw them play last year and had some ideas to put them in a position to succeed and they really bought into that. Having the Alderdice boys and a pretty good offensive line and a defense, was a good start.”

The Pioneers opened 2016 with a non-conference win over Noxon, 33-22. Then, Big Sandy dispatched Box Elder, the 2015 Class C Six-Man runner up, 70-38, before defeating Heart Butte 70-21 the next week. Big Sandy did lose to Sunburst 47-0, but if the Pioneers can get by the Knights on the road Saturday, they will have the inside track on one of the North Division’s four playoff spots.

“It would be a huge win for us,” Simpson said. “It would be a huge turnaround from being 2-6 last season to already winning four games, five games into the season. I think a win would build a lot of momentum for the rest of the season. We have a bright future.”

While beating North Star will certainly be a challenge, the rushing of the Alderdice brothers will be key, as will the play of a defense that has held opponents to 30 points or less in all three wins.

Yet, the Knights, who are tied with Big Sandy for third in the North at 2-1, have some talent of their own and should provide a stern test.

However, regardless of whether or not the Pioneers win Saturday, they will have a chance to get in the postseason with other important games coming against Geraldine-Highwood and Valier. And no matter what, they have returned as a team to be reckoned with in the Six-Man North.

“We are just going to go out there and play hard like we always do,” Simpson said. “We are not putting any more importance on this game than any other. I am expecting us to come out and play with high intensity and high focus. I expect us to go hard every play for the whole game. That's my expectation.”

Big Sandy and North Star will go head-to-head Saturday at 1 p.m. in Rudyard.