Red Cloud de-rails Rangers 58-8
posted October 5, 2007

HILL CITY – Balance was the order of the day as Red Cloud used a strong running game mixed with their best passing game of the year to knock off the Hill City Rangers Friday night 58-8.

Red Cloud marched down the field on the legs of Billy Scott and got on the board with a one yard TD plunge by Lester Gotheridge; Scott ran for the two point conversion to make it 8-0. Hill City started their first offensive series from the own 20 and Chance Clason, a 145 pound sophomore running back, ran straight ahead on their first play from scrimmage bounced off Red Cloud’s defensive line, kept his feet and rolled out around the left end hustling down the sidelines for an 80 touchdown run; Colton McLaughlin passed to Quint Wooldridge for two and that quick, the score was tied at eight apiece.

Jeremy Blacksmith, Red Cloud’s sophomore quarterback sandwiched three first half touchdown passes around a Scott seven yard TD run in the first half. Blacksmith hit Christian McGhee for an 11 yard TD pass, Billy Scott for a 29 yard TD pass and Dave Giago for a 28 yard TD pass. Scott, Gotheridge and Wade O’Bryan ran for two points and Giago topped off the first half scoring with a 36 yard run for a touchdown to give the Crusaders a 44-8 lead at the half.

Both teams combined for three straight turnovers to open the second half as Scott finally turned a McLaughlin pass into an interception and runback for a 29 yard touchdown with two minutes gone in the third; Carl Swallow ran for two and it was 52-8. With 3:06 left in the third quarter, freshman Dominick LeBeau zipped around the right end and ran 80 yards for a game ending touchdown and a 58-8 final score.

“We have been working all year to get some balance between the running and passing game,” said first year head coach, Keith Ferguson, “Friday night Blacksmith had good protection and success in finding the open receiver and Scott had another strong game on the ground, our offense scored four TD’s on the ground and three through the air and the defense chipped in one as well, balance I like that.”

Scott finished with 14 carries and 129 yards and a touchdown, one catch for 29 yards and a touchdown and an interception and a 29 yard runback for a touchdown. Blacksmith finished five of eight for 125 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Giago had one 28 yard catch for a touchdown and a 36 yard run for a touchdown. Gotheridge finished with three carries for ten yards, a touchdown and a two point conversion and recovered a fumble only to have a teammate going for the same fumble hit him in the back. A trip to the hospital determined he suffered a deep bone and muscle bruise in the pelvis area.

After losing their first game, Red Cloud has won four in a row and is 4-1, they will host Crow Creek on Friday at 3pm. Hill City hosts Stanley County Friday night.

Join us in our mission of educating the mind and spirit of the Lakota people, now and for future generations. Please consider an online gift.