The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The Big Sandy junior high football team finished its season undefeated, capping the year with a Chili Feed win on Friday, Oct. 12, against Heart Butte.

Serving as an opening act for their varsity counterparts’ dominant win against the visiting Warriors made for a fitting end to a special season. While the senior high boys are chasing a conference and state title with an experienced upperclassman-filled team, the fifth- through eighth-grade gridiron personnel for Big Sandy deftly illustrated this fall there is ample opportunity to reload in coming years.

Pioneer junior high football coach Tucker Taylor said his “eighth graders really had a good season for us.”

The skill positions were explosive as the young Pioneers — again much like the varsity — often scored early and often enough to invoke a running clock, bestowing mercy on overwhelmed opponents.

“Cooper Taylor, in my opinion, was an absolute weapon for us. Nobody could match his speed when he gets into space and he runs really hard through traffic,” Taylor said. “Coop also plays great defense. Wylee (Snapp), Lane (Demontiney) and Jake (Darlington) did some really good things for us this year.

“Jake played well at quarterback and Lane played solid defense for us at important times. Wylee’s size and athleticism made him another force on both sides of the ball. He has the ability to take over games.”

Next year’s freshmen will help replenish the depth of a varsity team that boasts a three-deep lineup this year. Winning games by healthy margins has allowed for plenty of playing time across the board. As seniors depart, the new freshman crew will come with a perfect pedigree, having completed their 2018 campaign undefeated as well.

They have also benefited from familiarity with varsity head coach Larry Jappe working alongside Taylor.

“Coach Jappe does a great job with the play calling,” Taylor said. “It’s been awesome coaching with him this year.”

The eighth graders’ advancement does not necessarily mean next year’s junior high team will be any less successful. The seventh graders were difference makers in the trenches this year and will be a year older and stronger in 2020.

“Our seventh graders really played well on the line of scrimmage,” Taylor said. “Darrel (Sunchild), Ryder (Oats) and Severin (Heimbigner) did well on both O-line and D-line.”

Taylor said he is hopeful for another strong turnout of fifth and sixth graders next season to replenish his team and see his players moving up succeed at the next level.

“Big Sandy football should be fun to watch for quite some time,” he said.