Sunset continues to occur sooner in the evenings. Frosty temperatures dip lower with each passing day. Gone are the shorts and T-shirts. In are jackets and long johns. That's just in Tucson. Ok, perhaps "frosty temperatures" and long johns are a stretch, but there is no denying winter is nearly upon us. The calendar also lets us know football season is coming to a close. The largest rivalry games are set to touch down on the college fields. Pads and jerseys have been checked in as high school teams across the country saw their seasons come to a close. State playoff brackets are complete. Those that are not will fill in title match-ups in the coming days. It is time for fans to choose a side. Montana's prep football championships kick off this weekend, with the Class AA title tilt this evening in Kalispell. Glacier High School seeks its first championship while C.M. Russell is hunting number 14, albeit the first without hall of fame coach Jack Johnson. (UPDATE: Kalispell Glacier routed C.M. Russell 56-19 in the Class AA championship game) Fans of each school will offer support from near and far as the Wolfpack and Rustlers kick off in Montana's frigid winter weather. Parents, alumni and students will root for their teams in each of the other four classes of Montana's high school football. The same is true beyond the Treasure State's borders. Programs still competing gain support from other teams whose seasons have come to a close. But what if I could offer a championship everyone could cheer for? I'll do one better and give you a championship everyone should cheer for. Montana's Class B state championship will send District 5B's Broadwater County Bulldogs into the home of District 3B's Huntley Project Red Devils. Each team has earned its place in Saturday's finale. But their respective stories go well beyond a championship game. Broadwater (Townsend) travels with heavy hearts following last year's passing of Dakota Kimbrough, the 18-year-old student who died in a car accident during Homecoming weekend. It was a devastating blow to the community and felt across the entire state. The Bulldogs played the remainder of the season in Dakota's honor and continued that trend into 2014, with the motto "Forever 26" commemorating their fallen teammate. Emotions still bite at the community, but Dakota's memory serves as motivation. Townsend has also drawn inspiration from other student-athletes in recent years. Former Bulldog wrestler Troy Spurlock earned his first win in one of Montana's most selfless acts on an athletic surface. Never has a Bulldog shown so much excitement, so much passion, as Spurlock celebrated with his teammates and coaches. Troy's "attitude and work ethic were contagious" teammates told me that year. The senior even earned the opportunity to compete at the all-class state wrestling tournament on Montana high school sports' biggest stage. Any casual sports fan can find a reason to back the Townsend Bulldogs in the Class B state championship. Whether it be Dakota's story tugging at our sentimental heart strings or Troy's touching first victory, the Bulldogs deserve extra fans in their corner. But don't make your decision quite yet. Huntley Project is traditionally one of Montana's more successful athletic schools. The Red Devils are perennial powers on the football field, consistently compete in postseason basketball tournaments and offer some of Big Sky Country's finest track and field athletes. While those credentials may not be enough to sway the casual sports fan, Huntley Project also provides us with stories of perseverance and affection. In October 2012, Red Devil Koni Dole broke his right leg playing in the Project's final game of the regular season. The teenager decided amputation was his best option. While rehab was excruciating and both mentally and physically exhausting, it was less than a year later, Koni was back on the field, finding immediate success with his teammates. Koni's return to the high school fields was moving, but his story did not end there. His dream was to play football at Montana State and the Bobcats made it a reality when Dole walked on at MSU. All of the hard work, the rehab and setbacks serve as inspiration to those chasing dreams. Koni Dole is a Montana hero, although modest and shy, he would likely scoff at the very mention of the word. Dole's story of tragedy to triumph still echoes in the coffee shops and gas stations of Montana. But the small high school in Worden has a new star to rally behind: Jake Vinton. The Huntley Project senior takes to the practice field every day after school with his teammates. He pulls on his pads, laces up his shoes and straps in his helmet, proudly showcasing "Red Devils" across his chest. Jake has Trisomy 21, a form of Down syndrome. According to Billings Gazette sports writer Slim Kimmel, Jake's "speech is limited and he's small for his age...but that doesn't prevent him from embracing life with a happy-go-lucky attitude." With his disability an afterthought, Jake found ways to score touchdowns for the Red Devils junior varsity team. His spirit gives the Red Devils an added boost heading into state championship weekend. The Townsend Bulldogs and Huntley Project Red Devils are rich in sports achievements. The two schools have championships, MVPs and excellent coaching staffs across all sports. Their students perform in the classroom and the community, making their hometowns proud. Yes, it's easy to see why Bulldogs and Red Devils have passionate fan bases. Thanks to the likes of Jake and Koni, Troy and the memory of Dakota, this championship game is one everyone could, hell everyone should, root for. Earlier this week I offered my allegiances to the Bulldogs, after covering the events following Dakota's passing. At the end of Saturday's game, the scoreboard will indicate one team has lost, but I know in my heart both community's have already won and that makes us all champions.
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AuthorRichie is a small-town boy chasing big-city dreams. When he's not involved with sports, he's spending time with his wife, Fallon; their yorkie, Tinker; and their Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rosie. Archives
April 2016
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