Pioneers left hearbroken again

After falling in the Class C Six-Man State semifinals round the past two seasons, the Big Sandy High football team was ready to change the narrative come 2020. After blazing through Wibaux and Bridger, the Pioneers had to get past the Froid-Medicine Lake Red Hawks Saturday in Medicine Lake.

Unfortunately, Froid-Lake had different plans, once again sending Big Sandy home in the semifinals, 42-26. After a strong campaign and an undefeated season going into the match, it is a rough loss to have come once again so far into the postseason. The game being on the road did not make it much easier, either.

But the game did start off quite close, with the Pioneers controlling a good portion of the first quarter. The defenses of both teams kept the ball from the endzone at first, but Big Sandy would push down the field to score the first touchdown of the game, giving the Pioneers a 6-0 lead over the Red Hawks after one.

Froid-Lake would respond in the second quarter, though, as a touchdown and a successful two-point-conversion would put the Red Hawks in the lead 8-6. Big Sandy would snatch the lead back with a touchdown to respond. On top of a good two-point-conversion, the game was favored 14-8 for the Pioneers. But three touchdowns, one for 50 yards, in a noticeably short amount of time saw Froid-Lake grab a big 22-14 lead going into halftime.

After the break, Big Sandy would try to climb back up into the lead with a touchdown, but a unsuccessful conversion kept the Pioneers down 22-20 in the third. It did not help that the Red Hawks put up another touchdown of their own to keep a steady lead over Big Sandy going into the fourth.

In the final eight minutes, Kade Strutz fought his way to the endzone off of a good drive down the field by the Pioneers to bring the game closer. Unfortunately, Froid-Lake sealed the semifinal showdown with a pair of touchdowns, one from 20 yards out and the other from 37 yards out, putting a damper on Big Sandy’s undefeated season and a spot in the Class C Six-Man State championship game. The Red Hawks will face White Sulphur Springs for the Six-Man title next Saturday,

Another semifinal loss is tough for the Big Sandy Pioneers, but the Pioneers not only had a huge season, they got one last huge game from Strutz, who rushed for 240 yards and four scores in his final game as a Pioneers. In all Strutz scored 14 touchdowns and rushed for over 700 yards in three playoff games in 2020.

And while Saturday was a tough day for the Pioneers, Big Sandy will be back in 2021, ready to keep chasing that state championship.

FML 0 22 6 14 – 42

BGS 6 8 6 6 – 26

BGS –Kade Strutz 4 touchdown (PAT no good)

FML – 20 touchdown (CNV good)

BGS – Kade Strutx 23 touchdown (CNV good)

FML – Dentman 50 run (CNV good)

FML – 20 (PAT no good)

FML – 20 (PAT no good)

BGS – Kade Strutz 39 (PAT no good)

BGS – Kade Strutz 1run (PAT no good)

FML – 30 run (PAT no good)

FML – 37 run (CNV good)