Scotties Roll Over Mustangs

The Glasgow Scotties traveled over four hours for their first game of the 2020 football season. After the long ride in temperatures well over 90 degrees, one might have expected the team to feel a bit sluggish. However, that was not the case.

Taking to the field, it was clear the long drive had had no effect on the Scotties' desire to start their season with a win. And win they did. Head coach Pat Barnett still sounded jubilant on Monday afternoon, telling the Courier, "They played very well, and I was pleased and surprised with the performance they made."

The Scotties dominated possession early in the game, taking control of the field. Quarterback Loden Idler put Glasgow on the scoreboard with two minutes left in the first quarter, scoring a 41-yard touchdown. The touchdown would be one of four credited to Idler in the 36-0 blowout win.

Idler added his second rushing touchdown in the second quarter and Dalton Sand took the pigskin over the line for the two-point conversion. Several minutes later the senior QB connected with sophomore Beau Malnaa for a 31-yard passing touchdown, giving the Scotties a 20-0 lead over the Mustangs.

Junior Trey Johnson stepped up defensively, sacking Shepherd's quarterback for a 20-yard loss for the home team. Glasgow added another touchdown to close out the first half when Idler connected with fellow senior Dylan Nieskens for a three-yard passing TD. Freshman Tatum Hansen made his way cleanly through the Mustangs' defensive line to add the two-point conversion to Glasgow's side of the scoreboard.

The Scotties forced a running clock in the third period when Hansen carried the ball for a 22-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion. The 36-0 Glasgow lead would stand for the remainder of the game, allowing the coaching staff to put a lot of their younger players on the field for experience.

"I was shocked with a lot of the younger guys," Barnett said. "The freshmen going out there and making plays." The coach was impressed with how his players stepped up, rather than shy away from the action. Having younger players step up was key with a number of experienced players relegated to the sidelines, either injured or lacking the requisite number of practices to participate.

Barnett was so impressed with his players in their inaugural game that he cautions returning players will have to work for and earn their starting spots.

"No one's going to be handed anything," he said. Looking forward to this weekend's home opener against Conrad he said his depth chart hasn't changed at all. The team will be working on some "technical stuff" this week at practice, perfecting their techniques and understanding their roles on the field.

"They got away with some of their bad habits," Barnett said, before qualifying that the heat may have been a factor in their play. "I felt bad for the two-way guys. It was really hot," he added. Weather in Glasgow is expected to be in the mid-80s this Friday, though the team is still looking at a few players remaining out with injuries this week.

The head coach also felt a lack of fans in the stands may have been detrimental to Shepherd's play this past weekend, noting that he had expected at least one of the teams to treat the game as a scrimmage, noting "Shepherd didn't have the energy."

Barnett wants to "fill the stands as much as possible" this Friday night at home and encourages fans to take advantage of the parking spaces also available around the field. With high hopes for a full season, he added about fans in the stands, "I hope everyone wears a face mask and are okay with it."

Glasgow hosts Conrad this Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. at Scottie Field.