Troopers routed by Holsteins
By STU MERRY
It was a game that could have put the Garrison-Max Troopers football team in a good position for a playoff spot.
Instead it was the team’s worst nightmare as the New Salem-Almont-Glen Ullin Holsteins routed the Troop 56-0 this past Friday in New Salem.
Coach Jason Mattheis said Mother Nature played a part in denying the Troop a chance to get its game in gear.
"The weather happened," he said. "It was about 45 degrees and it rained from the time that we walked on the field until the game was over."
It’s known by followers that the team has struggled to run the ball this year. With the rain, the aerial attack was neutralized. Case in point is that there were eight dropped passes that prevented the Troop from getting into any kind of rhythm.
Mattheis said going in the Troop knew it would have to play a perfect game to come out victorious. "We knew that we weren’t going to be able to slow them down much and being able to move the ball efficiently was going to be important," he said. "Our first few drives stalled on three and outs, they scored, then it started to feel pretty lopsided."
The road ahead is daunting. The next two opponents for the Troopers are No. 1 and No. 2 in the state. Friday, No. 2 Killdeer comes calling. Next week, Hazen brings its show to Garrison’s Ray Field. Hazen is last year’s state champion. The Troop closes out the season in a non-region tilt against the Mandan JV.
