Football team scores big despite loss

By: 
Leslie Silverman
Despite another loss, the Hill City Rangers football team got on the board at its most recent game against Lead-Deadwood.
Tanner Davis ran into the endzone with about four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Devin Buehler then completed a two-point conversion pass to freshman Grayson Rahn to give the Rangers an 8-0 lead. 
Lead-Deadwood responded on their next drive and the game resulted in a 48-8 loss, leaving the Rangers with a 0-4 record on the season.
“The team was obviously excited about getting on the board against a pretty good football team,” said coach Brett Eckert. “Lead has some athletes, good size, and experience. We continue to talk with our boys about constantly getting better. Getting better everyday and they continued to do that on Friday night.”
Eckert knows the hard work his team is putting in is paying off.
“To have an entire offensive line that are sophomores and one junior and they were able to play smashmouth football with a decent football team and move the football was exciting for them.  They are definitely getting better,” he said.
Eckert has nothing but praise for the commitment and dedication his players have shown so far this season.
“This team is a good group of boys who put in a lot of time to get better at football but in athletics in general,” he said. “Many of these boys have put in well over 100 hours in the offseason getting stronger and better. They understand that the process to getting better is a grind, it takes time, but they are committed to the process and are showing just how much pays off when you are willing to get better everyday and attack the process. We would love to have more wins but not everything is about wins and losses.” 
Eckert himself is about helping his players become not just good athletes but good men.
“Sports are amazing for the lessons that they teach us, that help form us into the men that people can be proud of,” he said. “This is a group of young men who see that value and believe in that vision of sports. The vision and belief of the team will drive them towards success and getting better. Wins will come.”
The Rangers travel to play Beresford this week. The Beresford Watchdogs are 2-3 on the season. Eckert sees this as another positive opportunity and experience.
“This week will be another good opportunity to get better. Beresford is a really good football team.  We need to just continue to get better up front and try to progress in some areas.  How will the game go, I don’t know but I do know people will be proud of the effort of this team,” he said.
 

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