Six Wildcats named all-state
Six Columbia Falls Wildcats made the Class A all-state football team.
Seniors Nate Thompson, Bryce Arneson, Kaleb Johnson and Devyn Rocker and juniors Austin Barth and Jacob Babcock earned top honors after helping lead the Wildcats to the program's first Northwestern A title since 1976.
Columbia Falls went 4-4 in the regular season (3-1 in conference) and lost to eventual state champion Miles City 34-13 in the quarterfinals of the playoffs on Nov. 6.
Thompson, in his first and only full-time varsity season at running back, finished with 1,668 rushing yards and 12 TDs.
Libby had four players earn all-state - seniors Alex Cislo and James Nash and juniors Sawyer Zimmerman and Josiah Coker. The Loggers (5-5, 3-1) lost to Stevensville 19-14 in the first round of the playoffs.
Three players from Polson picked up honors - seniors Kyle Bagnell and Josiah Clairmont and junior Vince DiGiallonardo. The Pirates (7-3, 2-2) defeated Frenchtown 27-21 in double overtime of the first round but lost out to Butte Central 49-14 in the quarterfinals.
All-State Football Team
Class A
Offense
Center - Daniel Morstein, Dillon, 6-2, 265, junior; Dan Thatcher, Butte Central, 5-11, 215, senior; Kyle Holetz, Laurel, 5-10, 200, senior.
Guards - Jacob Babcock, Columbia Falls, 6-1, 230, junior; Alex Ritter, Butte Central, 6-0, 235, senior; Dany Roe, Havre, 6-0, 205, sophomore; John Werner, Billings Central, 6-3, 230, senior; Tyrel Hess, Miles City, 6-2, 265, junior.
Tackles - Sawyer Zimmerman, Libby, 6-0, 240, junior; Kyle Godecke, Dillon, 6-5, 275, senior; Ryan Armstrong, Miles City, 6-3, 265, senior; Xander Daniels, Frenchtown, 6-1, 220, senior.
Tight end - Josiah Coker, Libby, 6-1, 175, junior; Bridger Smith, Billings Central, 6-0, 200, senior; Aschan Richards, Butte Central, 6-6, 215, senior.
Wide receivers - Kyle Bagnell, Polson, 6-3, 180, senior; Hunter Johnson, Dillon, 5-10, 155, senior; Trevor Brown, Corvallis, 5-9, 145, senior; Josh Hayes, Stevensville, 6-0, 175, junior; Phil Antonioli, Butte Central, 6-1, 195, senior; Ryan Burke, Billings Central, 6-3, 175, junior; Jesse Horner, Belgrade, 6-3, 190, senior.
Running backs - Nate Thompson, Columbia Falls, 5-11, 190, senior; Derrick Dauenhauer, Frenchtown, 5-10, 210, senior; Zack Kasperick, Butte Central, 5-11, 185, junior; Ethan Albrecht, Laurel, 5-11, 190, senior.
Fullback - Jeremy Nielsen, Whitefish, 5-5, 160, senior; Shayne Durbin, Lewistown, 6-1, 215, senior.
Quarterback - J.T. Linder, Dillon, 6-1, 190, junior; Caleb Vance, Stevensville, 5-11, 170, junior; Jonathan Richards, Butte Central, 6-3, 210, senior; Cole Moller, Billings Central, 6-1, 190, senior.
Defense
Down linemen - Bryce Arneson, Columbia Falls, 6-1, 245, senior; Alex Cislo, Libby, 6-4, 205, senior; Josiah Clairmont, Polson, 5-9, 235, senior; Austin Reyher, Belgrade, 6-3, 210, senior; David Swecker, Laurel, 6-2, 220, senior.
Ends - James Nash, Libby, 5-11, 190, senior; Toby Cheff, Ronan, 6-1, 190, senior; Tyler Pigman, Hamilton, 6-3, 225, senior; Levi Cade, Belgrade, 6-2, 200, senior; Kyle Stanton, Miles City, 6-3, 220, senior; Chris Kurkowski, Miles City, 6-3, 235, senior.
Inside linebackers - Monte Folsom, Dillon, 6-3, 250, senior; Jake Simkins, Butte Central, 6-2, 215, junior; Chase Kaufman, Laurel, 5-11, 180, senior; Max Tolstedt, Billings Central, 5-11, 190, senior.
Outside linebackers - Austin Barth, Columbia Falls, 6-5, 185, junior; Matt Merenz, Dillon, 5-11, 175, senior; Connor Malone, Lewistown, 5-10, 185, senior; Quinn Huppert, Billings Central, 5-9, 165, senior; Lane Johnson, Miles City, 5-10, 175, senior; Justin Ricker, Belgrade, 5-11, 175, senior.
Cornerbacks - Devyn Rocker, Columbia Falls, 5-7, 135, senior; Kyle Moore, Anaconda, 5-11, 160, senior; Bo Descheemaeker, Lewistown, 6-0, 170, senior; Kade Page, Belgrade, 5-10, 170, senior.
Safeties - Kaleb Johnson, Columbia Falls, 6-3, 190, senior; Vince DiGiallonardo, Polson, 6-0, 180, junior; Brad Nordahl, Frenchtown, 5-11, 165, senior; Ben Folsom, Dillon, 6-1, 175, sophomore; Josh Brenneman, Hamilton, 6-1, 180, senior; Shane Cooley, Miles City, 5-9, 160, senior; James Stanton, Billings Central, 5-11, 175, senior.