2019 the montana standard 1 football › mt... · job, the 13-year warden coach will also take...

THE MONTANA STANDARD FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 | 1

FOOTBALL2019 HIGH SCHOOL

2019

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2 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 THE MONTANA STANDARD

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JORDAN HANSEN 406mtsports.com

BUTTE — Christmas might still a couple months away, but putting on their helmets for the first time in almost exactly a year was akin to opening a present for Kobe Moreno and Mayce Grant.

It was August 16, the first day the Mon-tana High School Association allows high schools to start football practice. Decked out in purple and white of Butte High, both athletes fly through the drills with an un-bridled joy.

That joy was not there for either player over much of the past 12 months.

Both Bulldog seniors tore an anterior cru-ciate ligament (ACL) early in the 2018 foot-

ball season and had to sit out the rest of the year. And part of the next as the calendar flipped to 2019.

Kobe sat and watched his twin brother, Kameron, come into his own as a ver-satile o�ensive and defen-sive weapon as Butte made the playo�s for the first time

since 2013. He then watched Kameron win an individual Class AA state wrestling title as he sat out of the sport Kobe loves almost as much as football.

To make it even worse, both Grant and Moreno missed track season as well. It was not easy for either hyper-competitive ath-lete.

“I’ve been waiting since August 24 of last year,” Kobe Moreno said. “Seeing my brother do so good, I was so excited to be back with these guys again because I kinda felt left out last year and I’m happy to be back on the field with these guys and compete for the coaches again.”

Moreno su�ered his injury early in the Bulldogs season opener against Kalispell Flathead, with Grant’s not happening long after. The two even had surgery on their knees just five days apart.

Soon the pair was rehabbing for hours nearly every day under the watchful eyes of Butte athletic trainers Maisie Walters and

Christine Mayer. Already good friends, the two became even closer during the grueling hours of physical therapy.

“It sucked,” Grant said. “It was frustrat-ing. Really, really frustrating. It was terrible, but I got through it.”

Kameron found his twin brothers injury hard to deal with as well. Kobe and Kameron are best friends, practice partners, weight lifting partners and more often than not where one twin is, the other can be found not far away.

This was still true last year, but instead of being on the field together, Kobe was watch-ing from the sidelines. As Kameron began to truly shine after a strong sophomore cam-

paign, Kobe was obviously frustrated but did not let it boil over into jealousy.

He was happy for his brother and people noticed.

“I was proud of (Kobe) when Kameron won the state wrestling title last year and I sent Kobe a text right away that said, ‘Hey, I was proud of you and how you handled yourself.’ He was just so excited for his brother,” Butte High head coach Arie Grey said. “That’s awesome and it shows you how close they are. They have a really cool bond.”

As time passed and both Moreno’s and Grant’s injuries healed, they started to turn

BUTTE HIGH FOOTBALL | WESTERN AA

BETTER THAN CHRISTMASButte’s Kobe Moreno, Mayce Grant return from ACL injuries

JORDAN HANSEN, 406MTSPORTS.COM

Kobe Moreno (left) and Kameron Moreno go through drills as linebackers during a recent Butte High practice. Kobe is working his way back from a serious knee injury.

2019 BUTTE HIGH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 30 Belgrade 7 p.m.

Sept. 6 at Great Falls CMR 7 p.m .

Sept. 13 Helena 7 p.m.

Sept. 20 at Kalispell Glacier 7 p.m.

Sept. 26 at Missoula Sentinel 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 Helena Capital 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 Kalispell Flathead 7 p.m.

Oct. 18 at Missoula Big Sky 7 p.m.

Oct. 25 Missoula Hellgate 7 p.m. See BUTTE, PAGE 4

Grant

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW


their preparation for the 2019 football sea-son. Butte should have a very solid team this year and they knew their team was going to be counting on them to come back healthy.

The recovery helped get both athletes improve, with Moreno getting Grant to add some weight and muscle and Grant working with Moreno on the speed and running side of things. It was an even trade and each player looks like they will contribute this year.

Moreno is a linebacker, moving to the mid-dle with his brother after both twins bulked up. Grant, meanwhile, mostly plays defensive back.

Each is excited to still have their senior sea-son after such devastating injuries junior year.

“When I came in as a freshman, that was all

I dreamed of when I was a little kid. Playing for Butte High,” Moreno said. “I was excited last year to suit up again and I can’t wait this year. The good thing about having to miss ju-nior year was that I still get to finish out with these guys.

“I was excited just to put my stu� on again, I was almost tearing up, it was real exciting.”

More exciting, perhaps, than any holiday either Moreno or Grant will celebrate this year.

“It felt like Christmas out here,” Grant said after the conclusion of Butte’s first day of practices. “It felt good, it felt really good to come back out here after missing the whole season.”

Jordan Hansen covers a bunch of stu� for 406 Sports. Shout at him on Twitter @jordyhansen or shoot him an email at [email protected]

ButteContinued from Page 3

LUKE SHELTON, 406MTSPORTS.COM

Butte High running back Kobe Moreno (25) searches for a running lane as linebacker Tyler Lopuch (46) looks to evade a block during a 2018 scrimmage.


Butte High’s Kobe Moreno is back after su�ering a devastating knee injury against Kalispell Flathead last season.

ROSTERBlake DrakosTommy MellottTucker WinstonJosh NelsonRyan NeilDevon CookRylan RichardsDawson RoestiBanner CetraroPeyton HettickMayce GrantCole StewartCael StensonChristian HansenCory WestBraydon CetraroCole WorleyQuinn SullivanKenley LearyWyatt SamplesTanner Hu�Scout AllenHunter HotalenBilly KellyKobe MorenoConor KondaBrady SommerKyler RaihaRiley ChiottiChristian VetterTucker LeProwseGavin VetterLuke HardingKameron MorenoKeegen Mu¡chLuke AndersonHolt DowneyKeagan GransberyJe� Staton

Dylan AverytMorgan McClernanAidan PezdarkAidan LeeAnthony SavinoJeremiah StinsonJaric SparksCasey KautzmanMarcus MansonBrayden GuidoniMax DemaraisRylan MulcahyRiley DowneyJackson HolmTyler MayJak MortensenLucas KingstonAlex WinkerTimothy Holling-sworthJames SawtellKooper KlobucarColten SunderlandJon LerumNick SteilmanMyles McClernanJustin SweetRylan RuscheinskyTy RaihaKonnor McCla�ertyDJ JacksonDaniel HuertaBrennan NorthropTerry WersonickJake OlsonEric CarsonTristan LedgerwoodJakob NielsenDominik Scown




DEER LODGE — After a 2-6 campaign in 2018, the Deer Lodge football team is looking for a little more this season.

A lot more, really, as head coach Corey Freeman enters his second year at the helm of the program. The War-dens season was certainly lifted by a win over rival Anaconda in the third week and they are hoping the momentum continues in an upward direction this year.

Deer Lodge also tallied a win against Thompson Falls late in the 2018 season and nearly beat a solid Florence team on the road.

“You’re going to see a similar type of Warden play this year, but I think it’s go-ing to be faster,” Freeman said. “We’re doing a lot of things simple … I think this group, what we’re doing, it fits into their mold. They’re buying into it bigger than life right now, it feels good that we’re this far ahead in the game despite it being (so early in the year.)”

The Wardens lost just five seniors from last years squad, only three of whom were starters. The absence of multi-sport standout Greydon Nicholson — now at Montana Western — as well as running back Zack Havener will be tough, but Freeman was confident they will be able to replace that production.

Quarterback Judd Apple-gate returns, as does wide receiver Ethan Bossert, de-

fensive back and wideout Ozzie King as well as run-ning backs Rowdy White, Matt DeLong and Brodey Freeman.

There will not be quite as much size on this season’s Deer Lodge squad, but there will be speed.

That will be especially noticeable on the defense, where Freeman decided to make a few changes. In ad-dition to his head coaching job, the 13-year Warden coach will also take defen-sive play-calling duties.

“They’re comfortable with what we’re going to do, which is a lot of misdi-rection and stunts,” Free-man said. “Lot of blitzing. We’re going to come after the quarterback. We’re not real big, but we’re quick and we’re very smart. Their minds are in it.

“They know where they need to be, when they need to be there and what they got to do when they get there.”

Freeman taking over the defensive coordinator job was not the only change, as Shane Spears is now the of-

fensive coordinator. Spears is someone Freeman has known since he first started coaching for the Wardens and his excitement of hav-ing him call plays is tremen-dous.

“He’s like the back of my hand and I’m like the back of his hands,” Freeman said. “It’s nice to have someone that knowledgable o� the o�ensive playbook. I gave him a playbook and I said, ‘figure out what you want to do with it’ and he’s got it in his hands now and you can see that he is ready to go.

The feeling through the team is that they will be much-improved from last season. There certainly is excitement and even at the team’s first midnight prac-tice, they wanted to go full pads.

Freeman said no because of Montana High School Association rules, but it is plain to see the Wardens expect to move upwards this year.

“They believe in the system now, next man up, doesn’t matter who it is,” Freeman said. “They’re

all competing. They’re all looking good.”

DEER LODGE FOOTBALL | WESTERN B

‘IT’S GOING TO BE FASTER’Wardens working to make big jump in 2019


Deer Lodge quarterback Judd Applegate (middle) dives for a two-point conversion during the first quarter of the Wardens’ win over Anaconda last year.

2019 DEER LODGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Aug. 30 at Conrad 7 p.m.

Sept. 6 at Three Forks 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 Eureka 7 p.m.

Sept. 27 Florence 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Bigfork 7 p.m. Oct. 11 Cut Bank 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at Anaconda 7 p.m. Oct. 25 Missoula Loyola 7 p.m.

ROSTEREthan BossertChance FreemanLogan NicholsonJudd ApplegateTristan MavrinacTarver HjorthTucker WestBrodey FreemanRowdy WhiteAshton Beck

Teegan ShaferMatthew DelongConner HansenCaleb ButlerTallon HansenLogan SchlueterVaughn LaughlinMalik JonesRowdy LambDalton Thompson

Keith KippenhanDane ThompsonJonah JonesTucker SmithTristan SmithJaidon MeagherOzzie KingBen AndersonCarson Whiteley


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On October 12, 2018, Twin Bridges found itself a single game from the state playo�s of Class C 8-man football. After winning three games in a row, Ennis in the final game of the regular season was all that stood between the Falcons and the postseason.

The postseason picture did not include Twin Bridges.

Ennis escaped from the Falcons’ home turf with a 22-20 win, pro-pelling the Mustangs through to the playo�s instead. For Falcons head coach Brett Nordahl and his team, is that loss a motivator to reach their postseason goals in the 2019 season?

“For sure, definitely,” said se-nior quarterback Bryce Nye. “Last year we were not happy when En-nis came and beat us. Ennis has been a rival of ours for a very long time in every sport, so it was dis-appointing to lose to them and not make the playo�s.”

Nordahl stresses that the Fal-cons will stick to their weekly plans, and not look ahead to what should be a special edition of the Twin Bridges-Ennis rivalry. The preparation for this season has been focused on getting better at every moment, starting with this past summer.

“We had a really good sum-mer,” Nordahl said. “Every Tues-day the kids got together and they were working really hard, running through our o�ense and team building, which really helped us prepare for the beginning of the season and hopefully will allow us to be more consistent.”

Before the three-game winning streak, Twin Bridges was 1-2 and was coming o� a 46-6 loss to Jo-liet. The short eight-game sched-ule in eight-man football height-

ens the need for consistency and a strong start.

For the Falcons, this has meant hitting film study with the same intensity the team takes to prac-tice and the weight room. Nordahl says that every advantage matters, and learning as much as possible in film is a vital way to improve.

“We take our time each week,” Nordahl said. “We watch film and try to evaluate what the other of-

fenses are doing and try to take away their best player. If we’re able to do that, we can keep the score down a little bit, but we put in a lot of time in film study to just try and eliminate the big plays.”

In the high-scoring landscape of eight-man football, making impactful defensive plays is as important as being consistently di©cult to break down. Senior inside linebacker Nate Konen

backs up Nordahl’s value of film, as it helps him make those plays while also organizing his team-mates.

“It takes a lot of film work to improve,” Konen said. “You have to watch every week and see what the (opponent’s) gameplan is and set your defense up. I like it, it helps me stay focused and help keeps those guys focused.”

Konen is one of six seniors look-

ing to make the most of their final season for the Falcons. While im-proving their record and getting to the playo�s is the goal, Konen says the joy of playing comes in the progress the team makes a whole throughout the season.

“My favorite part about the season is building the bond with the boys, working out, practicing, then winning games with them. Just having a good time.”

TWIN BRIDGES FOOTBALL | SOUTHERN 8-MAN

Falcons eager to rebound in 2019Regular season finale against rival Ennis looms large

EVAN REIER; 406MTSPORTS.COM

Twin Bridges quarterback Bryce Nye looks to complete a pass during the Falcons’ first practice of fall.

EVAN REIER, 406MTSPORTS.COM

Twin Bridges lineup and practice o�ensive plays during their first practice on August 16.


Twin Bridges coaches look on as the Falcons’ begin their conditioning portion of practice on August 16.

2019 TWIN BRIDGES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Aug. 30 Great Falls Central

Sept. 13 at Absarokee

Sept. 20 at Alberton-Superior

Sept. 27. Joliet

Oct. 4 at Park City

Oct. 11 West Yellowstone

Oct. 18 Lone Peak

Oct. 25 at Ennis



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ENNIS — For eight seasons in a row, Ennis has made the state

football playo�s.Two of those trips resulted in a

Class C 8-man state title — 2016 and 2013 — and all but a pair of others have advanced at least the semifinals. The run of success has lifted the Mustangs to the fore-front of the contender conversa-tion every year and they seem set up to make another run.

“Our core values with attitude, e�ort and discipline, this has lit-erally be one of the better teams I’ve had as far as those things go,” Ennis head coach Chris Hess said. “I think that’s going to take care of itself … when we come together, we’re gonna be pretty hard to deal with.”

That is not to say the path will

be easy. The 8-man Southern Di-vision is usually top-notch and Hess feels it will not be any dif-ferent this season.

A narrow 22-20 win over rival Twin Bridges in the final game of the regular season helped put the Mustangs in the playo�s and the Falcons should be tough again. Hess said he has has been im-

pressed with their skill groups be-fore mentioning Joliet, Park City and even West Yellowstone — moving up from 6-man — could be a force as well.

“I think (the South division) is wide open this year,” Hess said. “I really do and I don’t know who the favorite really is. We just kinda hope we’re in the mix.”

ENNIS FOOTBALL | SOUTHERN 8-MAN

A TRADITION OF SUCCESSEnnis looking for consecutive playo� appearance No. 9


One of seven seniors on the Ennis roster, lineman Talon Fortner will look to have a big impact on the Mustangs in 2019.



Led by a class of seven seniors, the rec-ipe just needs some stirring. Hess expects Daniel Johnson and Zayne Sanborn to be a force at the skill positions on o�ense, while 5-foot-11, 275 pound lineman Talon Fortner to help provide stability up front.

Johnson will play a little bit of every-thing on o�ense for Ennis, while Sanborn is expected to contribute more at wide re-ceiver.

As one of the leaders on both sides of the ball, Fortner has taken pride in his role.

“It’s a good time,” Fortner said. “I like to coach people and toss them around a little bit and give them lessons.”

Sophomore Brand Ostler, meanwhile, is expected to start at quarterback.

With 23 players rostered, Hess has a bit of flexibility with where he can put indi-vidual Mustangs, something he is thankful for. While every athlete is listed with both o�ensive and defensive positions on Ennis’ o©cial roster, the depth helps in practice and on Friday nights.

Junior linebacker Ian Swanson is one of those players and while the 5-foot-10, 160 pound athlete could play some wide receiver, Hess will have plenty of places to use him on defense.

“He’s just real instinctual, has a good intelligence for the game,” Hess said. “We can kinda game plan him as necessary and we’re excited about him.”

While lacking a big of size, the Mustangs should be able to make up for it in speed, which has their head coach excited. The depth certainly helps and a large com-

munity backing — all the more helped by a long run of success — has been tremen-dous, according to Hess.

In all, it makes for an interesting team that has a chance to make noise in the 8-man ranks this season.

“We definitely been working really hard and grinding,” Fortner said. “We’re more of a family this year, we’re all working hard and expect a lot from this team.”

CHANCE Q. COOK 406MTSPORTS.COM

Ennis’ Zayne Sanborn breaks up a pass intended for Choteau’s Kyler Crabtree during a game in Butte last season.

CHANCE Q. COOK, 406MTSPORTS.COM

Ennis head football coach Chris Hess speaks with his players before the start of the 2018 season opener against Choteau at Naranche Stadium in Butte.


After making the playo�s for the eighth-straight season a year ago, Ennis is looking to raise that number to nine in 2019.

2019 ENNIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Aug. 30 at Fort Benton 7 p.m.

Sept. 6 at Park City 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 Joliet 7 p.m.

Sept. 27 Absarokee 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 at St. Ignatius 7 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Lone Peak 4 p.m.

Oct. 19 at West Yellowstone 1 p.m.

Oct. 25 Twin Bridges 7 p.m.

ROSTERCordell Severeid

Jacob Johnson

Daniel Johnson

Riley Green

Cody Bohrman

Jarrett Jenkins

Morgan Roberts

Ian Swanson

Talon Fortner

Andrew Beardsley

Kody Suplee

Brand Ostler

Nick Fore

Keenen Schroeder

Edgar Garcia

Brennen King

Nicky Johnson

Zayne Sanborn

Will Inman

Tommy Sturtz

Tyler Sciuchetti


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LUKE SHELTON406mtsports.com

WHITEHALL — There was an unex-pected person setting up under center for Whitehall’s football team during a recent Trojans practice.

It was Whitehall’s sixth-year head coach Dan Lacey taking snaps, rifling balls to slot receivers on slant routs, airing out deep passes to wideouts and even scampering for a first down or two.

The purpose? Lacey wanted to get a front-row view of the pre-snap motions of both the o�ense and defense.

Of course, it won’t be Lacy slinging passes when Whitehall opens its season at Cut Bank. The Trojans will be leaning on fresh-man Miles Hoerauf as they begin their quest to bounce back from a 2-7 season that was hobbled out of the gate.

A year ago, Whitehall was coming o� another playo� appearance spurred by an undefeated regular season as the Trojans opened their campaign against Colstrip.

Then all-state senior quarterback Max Feight su�ered an ACL tear in his right knee in the first minutes of the game. The rest of the season would be tough sledding for Whitehall.

“That was a tough one, that was a huge loss,” Lacey said. “Max was a leader on both sides of the ball for us. It was tough to lose that so early. But he did a great job of staying with our team and helping the young guys.”

Though his senior year was lost, Feight was able to make a full recovery and accept a football o�er from The University of Mon-tana that he had been o�ered prior to the start of the season.

“It was awesome to see,” Lacey said. “He never gave up and it was awesome to see the Griz still honor that for him.”

With Feight now fulfilling his dream of playing college football, Hoerauf represents Whitehall’s future.

“He’s made some big strides for us so far, he’s working hard and doing everything we ask him,” Lacey said. “And he’s just excited to learn. That’s what’s awesome. He doesn’t make the same mistake twice and that’s what we like to see in our quarterbacks.”

Hoerauf has some solid Whitehall lineage to draw from as his older brother, Dawson, played for the Trojans and is now a defensive lineman for Division II Minot State.

Flanking Hoerauf will be a trio of wide receivers—junior Tegan Robbins, sopho-more Brennan Wagner and senior Payton King—who will be looking to replicate the numbers of now-graduated receiver Cade Briggs who led the Trojans with 691 yards and five touchdowns.

“I think these guys will catch a lot of balls for us,” Lacey said. “They’re pretty dynamic and they can all do some things that are similar and they also bring a dif-ferent skillset so it’ll be tough to match up with those guys.”

At running back, it will be up to junior Evan Wagner to pick up the torch left by the tandem of Connor Johnson and Sawyer Keener. The duo combined for over 1,000 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Wagner showed some flair in limited action, toting

the ball 54 times for 218 yards. Defensively, Whitehall’s focus will be an

fundamentals, specifically gap discipline.

“We’re not a real flashy defensive team,” Lacey said. “What you see is what you get. We can’t try to overdo things.”

WHITEHALL FOOTBALL | SOUTHERN B

Whitehall searching for playmakers

LUKE SHELTON 406MTSPORTS.COM

Whitehall’s o�ense and defense take part in a scrimmage during a Trojans’ practice.

2019 WHITEHALL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Aug. 30 at Cut Bank 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6 Shepherd 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at Missoula Loyola 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at Townsend 7 p.m. Sept. 27 Manhattan 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 Je�erson 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 at Columbus 7 p.m.

Oct. 18 at Three Forks 7 p.m.

Oct. 25 Big Timber 7 p.m.

Max Feight and stellar group of seniors graduated


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THE MONTANA STANDARD FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 | 11HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

EVAN REIER 406mtsports.com

SHERIDAN — When describing the town of Sheridan’s identity, the Sheridan High School Panthers are a crucial part. Win, lose, rain or shine, the high school’s foot-ball program, and its athletics as a whole, is an intricate, deeply woven part of its fabric.

For recently-promoted head coach Clay Pierson, this contribution to community and identity is more important than getting immediate results. Developing the young men who come out to represent Sheridan, both on and o� the field, is the true goal.

“It’s a huge deal,” Pierson said. “Nobody hardly hears about Sheridan, its, ‘Oh, they’re in sports.’ That’s the only time you ever hear about Sheridan, or someone’s driving through it. Being able to portray ourselves, the school, the town in a positive light is go-ing to go a long ways now, and later on in life. We’re trying to establish that now through coaching and be able to have a positive rep-

resentation of what we’re doing here.”Pierson is taking over for Mike Wetherbee,

superintendent of the Sheridan Schools and the head coach during Sheridan’s 3-6 season in 2018. Wetherbee now takes on an assis-tant coaching role.

Pierson, a former Montana Griz, is most looking forward to improving the Panthers through the “Xs and Os,” by getting the team on a better level of awareness and strategy.

What is Wetherbee most looking forward to?

“Improving defensive open-field tackling, Wetherbee said. “That’s all on my mind. The research is in and we will be better.”

Getting better in the open field is impor-tant, but the primary focus is still teach-ing important lessons through the game of football. Seniors Cade McParland and Jason Chisholm understand that they have a two-

sided role as seniors, both learning more while also setting the example.

Chisholm, who primarily plays as a wide receiver, credits Pierson and the rest of the Sheridan sta� for teaching the importance of behavior and responsibility o� the field, especially in the classroom.

“We’ve got some of the best coaches in this area,” Chisholm said. “They’re really easy to talk to. The main thing for this sea-son is keeping our grades up, cause you can’t play if you don’t get the grades. We always have to make sure we have that under con-trol and if we have that under control, we can grind on the football field and do whatever we need to do.”

For the defensive-focused McParland, working with his coaches to help lead the Panthers is an opportunity he’s yearned for a long time.

“I look back at years’ past,” McParland said. “I’ve been playing football since 6th grade and I’ve looked up to a lot of kids for

SHERIDAN FOOTBALL | WESTERN 6-MAN

Panthers growing on and o� the field2019 SHERIDAN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 30 at Shields Valley Sept. 14 FrombergSept. 20 Reed Point-Rapelje Sept. 27 at Noxon Oct. 5 at White Sulphur Springs Oct. 12 Hot Springs Oct. 19 at GardinerOct. 25 Valley Christian

SHERIDAN FOOTBALL ROSTER

Jason Chisholm Kole Hill Cade McParland Lane PoirierColeman GilmanJacob Dvorak Henry Sutton Brayden Hill

Hartson VanHouten Caden Theis Zak McCormack Joe Gilman Noah Caldwell Colby Caldwell Kaiden Batzler

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At the high school level, leadership on the gridiron is as important as tal-ent. There is no way forward even for the most talented teams without some form of discipline and leadership, and for Butte Central’s senior class, the situation is no di�erent.

The Maroons see nine players return as seniors from their 3-6 season in 2018. While falling short in the previous year is present in Central’s mind, head coach Don Peoples Jr. is optimistic about what the class of 2019 will mean for their hopes this season.

“I think we have an outstanding group of seniors,” Peoples said. “I think all of them have the potential to play college football. We have four kids that have been o�ered so far, but there’s several of those kids that have the potential to play college football. It’s a great group of kids.”

Several of the players have either re-ceived o�ers or have committed their

future at the next level, as is the case for defensive lineman Aaron Richards, who committed to Montana State in July.

Richards says that getting his next step squared away has been helpful to staying focused and making the most of his last year as a Maroon.

“I’m really focused,” Richards said. “It was nice to get all [the commitment] done and just worry about football for Butte Central now… It feels like we’re pretty young this year, and helping out the younger guys is important. I remember as a freshman and sophomore, that was really important to me. I just want to do the same for these young kids.”

Peoples prides himself and the program on being able to take small classes, like this year’s senior group, and turning them into starting, capable players by their senior year. While having more depth would be nice, Peoples says that making the most out of the class size is imperative to prog-ress.

“In our program, we get 8-12 kids out

BUTTE CENTRAL FOOTBALL | SOUTHWEST A

Peoples, seniors excited to make most of 2019 season


Butte Central runs out on to the field for their first practice of fall.


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Members of Butte Central’s o�ense practice plays at Butte Central’s practice field during the first fall practice.

2019 BUTTE CENTRAL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 30 HamiltonSept. 6 at Frenchtown Sept. 13 at DillonSept. 20 Corvallis Sept. 27 at StevensvilleOct. 4 at Libby Oct. 11 Browning Oct. 18 Polson Oct. 25 at Columbia Falls

2019 BUTTE CENTRAL ROSTER

Zeb AntonioliThomas McGreeGuido OsselloJohn Fisher Matt Simkins Zach Philippi Drew Badovinac Braden Harrington Ty Driscoll Trevor Neumann Brayden Keane David Granell

Joseph SehulsterJared SimkinsEgan Lester Gage GuldsethGeorge RiojasEyston LakkalaIan Williams Aaron Richards Cale Stillwagon Keagan Johnston Eric Hart Zach Perkins

per class,” Peoples said. “We’d love to have a few more, but what that means to me is that that group of kids is going to play so many downs of football every year. We like to turn it into an advantage, so even with the young kids who play for the junior varsity team, they play till they drop and that’s exciting. By the time you get to be an 18-year-old senior, you’re a whole lot di�erent than a 15-year-old sophomore.”

The natural drawback to this is that the lack of depth can be exposed when inev-itable injuries pop up. In 2018, the Ma-roons struggled to overcome the wave of injuries, contributing to their lackluster season.

“Last year, we had two games that we let got away from us,” People said. “We had to play without a true quarterback when both our quarterbacks were down, and we were inches away from being a play-o� team so we have to use that experience and not let that happen again.”

Senior quarterback Thomas McGree was one of those players, but has his in-jury a�ected his preparation and outlook for his last year at Central?

“No. Injuries happen and it’s a part of the game,” McGree said. “I think that when you’re worried about an injury that’s when they happen the most often.

When you’re not worried and just playing, they’re much more rare. My goal is to play at my speed and stay injury-free.”

For this group of seniors, concerns

about injury and previous setbacks aren’t worth the e�ort. This is the last chance for the 2019 class of Maroons to make a statement.



LUKE SHELTON406mtsports.com

JEFFERSON — Three months removed from claiming a State B long jump title,

Je�erson senior Avery Stiles is leaping into a new position for the Panthers’ football squad.

After playing primarily wide receiver and safety the past seasons, Stiles—who took the long jump medal at Legends Stadium in Ka-lispell in May with a distance of 22-3—will now be guiding the o�ense at quarterback.

Ninth-year Je�erson head coach Clint Layng reasoned that last year’s 6-foot-3,

240-pound starter, Derek Nygaard, was bet-ter suited on the defensive and o�ensive line, a move that Stiles said “solidifies our line.”

And as far as shifting to quarterback, Stiles had no qualms about his new role.

“Coach (Layng) said he wanted me to do it, so I’m happy to step in,” Stiles said. “I’ve been learning pretty quickly and our line is good enough that I’m confident in how we’ll do.”

Class B Je�erson will get its first game-action glimpse of Stiles under center when the Panthers square o� against Florence-Carlton at The University of Montana’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m—the third year in a row that the Falcons and Panthers have opened their seasons there. Je�erson is coming o� a lackluster 2-6 season, the first time that a Panthers team had finished with a sub-.500 record under

JEFFERSON FOOTBALL | SOUTHERN B

GOING OUT IN STILES Long jump champion Avery Stiles transitions to QB for senior season

BMGPHOTOS.COM

Jaxon Yanzick runs untouched into the endzone for a Je�erson touchdown against Three Forks last September. Yanick will be a crucial part of the Panthers’ o�ense this season.



LUKE SHELTON, 406MTSPORTS.COM

Clint Layng is heading into his ninth season as head coach of Je�erson’s football team. Last year was the first time that one of his squads finished under .500.

2019 JEFFERSON FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 30 vs. Florence at Washington- Grizzly Stadium 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 Columbus 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at Big Timber 7 p.m. Sept. 27 Townsend 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at Whitehall 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at Three Forks 7 p.m. Oct. 18 Bigfork 7 p.m.Oct. 25 Manhattan 7 p.m.

Layng. Je�erson had finished at 6-3 the two seasons prior.

“We had some teams in our league that were really senior-heavy,” Layng said. “We didn’t have a ton of seniors. It was just one of those years.

“We easily could have been 4-4. We had close ones with Columbus and Manhattan. We definitely had a lot of young guys. We started one freshman most of the year. We just had our ups and downs and struggles for sure.”

“It was disappointing,” Stiles echoed. “We were young and I think this year we’re really going to put it to a lot of teams after last year.”

Stiles filled in at quarterback for one game last season, finishing with 13 completions on 26 attempts for 200 yards and two touch-downs against three interceptions.

He showed flashes of promise in that game, and his checklist of other athletic abilities made the decision to shu°e his to quarterback an easy decision for Layng.

“He’s good at track, a good basketball player,” Layng said, listing Stiles’ attributes. “He can really jump, he’s got good speed, good size. I think he’s one of the better ath-letes in the state.”

Stiles hopes that his experience at passer last year paired with his understanding of

o�ensive and defensive mechanics will yield success in his new position.

“Since I was a receiver, I know all the routs and where people are supposed to be,” Stiles said. “And I’m also a defensive back so I can read the defense pretty well.”

Leading Je�erson’s ground attack will

be senior Jaxson Yanzick, who finished last season with 419 rushing yards—he twice eclipsed the century mark—and four touch-downs on 84 carries.

“I’m feeling great, we’ve got a great group of guys this year,” Yanzick said. “We’re working hard and I think it’s going to be a

lot di�erent this season.”Another pivotal returning defensive

player will be senior nose guard Coen Guisti who led the Panthers last year with three sacks while logging 33 tackles.

“He’s a handful,” Layng said of Guisti. “I think our defensive line is going to be a strength.”

With one final season ahead of him, he’s eager to prove that year’s rocky campaign was simply a bump in the road for a Je�er-son team that, for the better part of the past decade, has been a consistent conference contender.

“We don’t want to lose a game, period,” Yanzick said with a grin. “We’re going to flip it around completely.”


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EVAN REIER406mtsports.com

DILLON — When Zach McRae began his first season as head coach of the Dil-lon Beavers last year, expectations were understandably tempered. Previous head coach Rick Nordhal had stepped down af-ter five years, and the Beavers were look-ing to steady themselves after missing their first state championship game since 2011.

What ensued was an impressive season, on and o� the field. The Beavers were able to win their opening playo� game against Whitefish, before an understandable loss to Billings Central, the eventual state champions.

Now, McRae is looking to take the next step. To do that, Dillon has to get back to basics.

“I think that with any year, you go right back to the basics whether you win or lose,” McRae said. “It’s always back to the pro-cess. It’s about fundamentals, getting in the weight room, it’s about doing the little things each and every year. I’ve always en-joyed that process.”

The players of Dillon also enjoy that process, apparently due to McRae’s high energy and ability to connect with play-ers on a deeper level. For Justus Pederson, McRae is a role model who is now coaching him into his senior season as the Beavers’ starting quarterback.

“McRae is awesome,” Pederson said. “I grew up watching him when he was here. He and that those teams were so amazing to me. He came into this program and im-mediately knew what he was doing. He’s got a ton of energy. That’s who I wanna be. When I was a little kid, I wanted to be him when I became a Beaver.”

Pederson showed serious improvement under McRae’s tutelage last season, throw-ing for 1635 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first season as a quarterback. McRae was pleased with Pederson, but is excited to see what a year of experience and o�-the-field work will do for the senior.

“Last year, we did a lot of the base learn-ing,” McRae said. “[Peterson] is really committed to getting better at his craft of being a quarterback. Things ought to start slowing down for him, and we’re going to shore up the footwork. We had things on both ends last year. Games where he was really successful, and some losses where we had to learn, and I think all of that has been vital for him.”

Pederson is one of nine seniors for the Beavers, which has already made a di�er-ence in the leadership department says McRae. The second-year coach says that having that experience and voice helps him maintain the culture he’s building in Dillon.

One of those seniors is defensive line-man Jade Morast, who recently committed his future to Montana Tech. Is he happy to have his future squared away after a 60-tackle season in 2018?

“It’s taken a bit of pressure of me,” Mo-rast said. “Most people in their senior year are trying to figure out where they want to go. Now I can get focus on my senior sea-

DILLON FOOTBALL | SOUTHWEST A

Beavers growing in second year under McRae

MEAGAN THOMPSON, THE MONTANA STANDARD

Dillon’s Justus Peterson (12) hands the ball o� to Zane Johnson during the second quarter of the Beavers’ game against Butte Central in 2018.


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son and not have to worry about trying to get colleges to come look.”

Like Pederson, Morast says McRae was a huge part of solving his future and im-provement as a player, and that McRae’s relationship-building is as important as anything else happening for the Beavers.

“He’s really good with every player,” Mo-rast said. “He connects with everyone on a personal level. He’s talking about what you’re doing o� the field, getting to know who you are. I think that’s important for a coach.”


Dillon’s Zane Johnson (bottom) brings down Ronan quarterback Daniel Kelsch as Justus Peterson (12) closes in during a game in 2018.


Head coach Zach McRae watches footwork drills at the Beavers practice on August 16.


Dillon o�ensive players practice on their footwork at during practice on August 16.

2019 DILLON FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 30 FrenchtownSept. 6 at Stevensville Sept. 13 Butte CentralSept. 20 HamiltonSept. 27 at Corvallis Oct. 4 at Browning Oct. 11 Libby Oct. 18 at Ronan Oct. 25 Whitefish

ROSTERJace Fitzgerald Michael HuppCole Truman Jacob Ogurek Connor Curnow Erik Westman Cole Pullman Justus Peterson Cole Johnston Jack Gibson Peter Gibson Johnny Reiser Cooper Ho�man Ian Devlin Kyle Kidrick

John Moore Carson McGinley Don Johnston Preston HalesAsh Norris Porter Larson Anthony Weary Anthony MaciasTynan Ostler Zeke Ellis Jade Morast Brandon Elmer Baxon Graham Jon Kirkley Treyton Anderson


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ANACONDA — In year two of Jesse Rob-ins tenure as Anaconda’s head football coach, the Copperheads just look di�erent.

Bigger. Stronger. More mature and dis-ciplined.

There are more players on the team this year, too. Player turnout was a big concern last season as Anaconda pondered a poten-tial co-op with Butte Central for football and possibly other sports, including golf.

But the Anaconda school board voted 5-1 against the co-op measure in late January after the community banded together to voice opposition to the idea.

While not every player who took part in early-year Copperhead football meetings ended up coming out for football, 32 players did and their coaching sta� is happy with what they will put on the field this season.

“We had a solid group of kids that we knew we’re going to come out anyways,” Robins said. “There was a lot of encour-agement that went to these other kids that were kind of on the borderline, but, you know one of the things that we said is that it’s easy to say that you’re going to do something in December and then have the work ethic to make it happen in June, July, August. Coming into the first couple two-a-days, a lot of phone calls, a lot of answer-ing machines.

“But, we have 32 kids that showed up and we like that. We have 32 kids that I think we can count on and that’s the biggest thing.”

After going 1-7 last year, up is the only way to go and Anaconda did not lose much from last seasons squad. The added year of development should only help senior quar-terback Dylan Smith — who was in only his first year of varsity in 2018 — as well as the talented running back duo of Pat Galle and Dan Bryne. Braedon Sawyer should be a force at several positions and on paper the Copperheads should be far improved this fall.

Improvement seems to come most im-portantly from o�season work and Robins has been happy with how his players han-dled the non-football months. The senior signal caller is too, for that matter.

“A lot of guys put in a lot of work this

summer,” Smith said. “We’re all a lot big-ger, faster, stronger, so hopefully that you, know goes out on the field and shows what we can do all summer.”

Anaconda struggled at times on defense last year, giving up 42.5 points per game. It is an area the entire team knows they need to improve at if they want to win a few more

games this fall.The coaching sta� has diagnosed the

problem quite simply.“Our tackling. You can always get better

at tackling and we missed a lot last year,” Robins said. “That’s going to be an empha-sis on what we do this year, is making sure we follow through on those things.

“We’re not playing two-hand touch, this is tackle football.”

If the Copperheads can figure that out, it just might be a turnaround for the pro-gram that has five state titles and two other runner-up finishes.

The goal right now for the team is just a playo� berth and they would be very happy with that. There is certainly confidence from the Copperheads that particular benchmark is within reach.

“I mean just watch us on the field, there’s going to be a lot of di�erences from last year,” Smith said. “We’re a really well-committed group and we’re gonna be very discipled when it comes to the game of football.”

Jordan Hansen covers a bunch of stu� for 406 Sports. Shout at him on Twitter @jordyhansen or shoot him an email at [email protected]

ANACONDA FOOTBALL | WESTERN B

LOOKING TO MAKE BIG STRIDESCopperheads look like a whole di�erent team in 2019

JORDAN HANSEN PHOTOS, 406MTSPORTS.COM

Anaconda quarterback Dylan Smith looks around ahead of snapping the ball during a game last season.

Anaconda wide receiver Kylar Gochanour (3) hauls in a pass as Deer Lodge’s Ozzie King (88) defends during the 2018 iteration of the rivalry game.

Anaconda head football coach Jesse Robins watches a conditioning drill during a fall practice last year.

2019 ANACONDA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 30 Salmon 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at Huntley Project 7 p.m. Sept. 13 Florence 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at Eureka 7 p.m. Sept. 27 Columbus 7 p.m. Oct.4 Missoula Loyola 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at Bigfork 7 p.m. Oct. 18 Deer Lodge 7 p.m.

ROSTERKylar GochanourPat GalleClayton FitzpatrickBrandon ShawDylan SmithNathan SchaeferBraedon SawyerJacob StrattonEli SaltenbergerDan ByrneDevyn KellyCaleb ThompsonMichael GalleAustin AndersonJohnny Brock

Grady SnowBrady MikalatosSpencer He�ernanCole MoserGreg HamakerRian HoilandBridger KrummGarrett PuyearSean KellegherAaron MichelsBrennen BlumeGabe GalleJaiden ConnorsMike LoweThomas Hekkel



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