Eureka's Price to play defense for West in Shrine game

If Chad Price scores a touchdown tonight in the 64th annual Montana East-West Shrine football game in Butte, he will have to do it as a defender.

Price, a two-time all-state running back from Eureka, is scheduled to play cornerback for the West. He’s not listed on the team’s offensive depth chart.

“I got moved to defense,” he said Wednesday in a phone interview.

“They have three running backs down here.”

Price, on the other hand, is one of four cornerbacks on the West roster.

“I like it,” he said of defense.

“Less plays to remember and I will get to hit people for a change.”

Either way, Price is just happy to have a chance to start and play. He is one of eight Shrine players who participated in the 22nd annual Class B Big Sky All-Star game last month in Billings.

“Beat the East,” he said of what he’s focused on this week.

“The West hasn’t won in a long time. It’s the first time it’s (Shrine game) been in Butte. Butte is really excited about the game. It would be nice to win it for them, bring a win to the West.”

Price was a two-way standout for the Lions for three seasons. As a defensive back, he had six career interceptions and returned one for a touchdown.

His best work, however, came on the offensive side. And that’s where he will be lining up next month when the Bobcats open fall camp in Bozeman. Price, who will redshirt his freshman season at Montana State University, is a preferred walk-on.

“I think I have what it takes (to play at the next level),” he said.

“Determination, knowing my place on the team, just working hard and try not to do too much. I try to work harder than anybody in practice. I know it will pay off in the games.

“There is a little fear not knowing how things will work out,” he added.

“I’m going in blind which can be a little scary. But that’s also exciting. You get to know everybody, you have new coaches and play on a turf field in a stadium like that.”

Price had scholarship offers from Montana Western and Montana Tech.

“I kind of have mixed feelings,” he said of being redshirted.

“It will give me a chance to learn, get a better feel for college football, the speed. It will give me an extra year to learn all that.”

Price rushed for 3,888 yards and scored 45 touchdowns in his prep career. His senior season, he ran for 1,560 yards on 177 carries and scored 17 TDs.

He had 1,356 yards rushing as a junior on 178 carries and scored 20 touchdowns.

“I get outside and outrun everybody,” he said of his running style.

“I’m not a very strong runner. I juke and jive when I can. I’m shifty.”

His favorite prep moment came during his junior season.

“Scored the winning touchdown in overtime to beat Plains-Hot Springs,” he said.

“They called a sweep. I ran to the outside and I had to dive for the pylon. I made it. We won homecoming. It was pretty cool. There were a lot of people there.”

Price earned MVP honors on offense for the North team in the Class B Big Sky All-Star game. He scored on an 83-yard hook-and-ladder play to lead the North to a 13-10 victory over the South.

The 5-foot-8, 170-pound speedster had four carries in that game for 91 yards and caught two passes for 26 yards.

“That was real fun,” he said.

“I got moved to slot back. It gave me a chance to try my receiving ability.”

Price, who also played basketball and baseball, tied the school’s 200-meter record (22.7) at the state track meet his junior year. His dad, Tom, owns the school record in the 100 (10.8).

Chad’s best 100 time is 11.04.

“That’s definitely special,” he said of having his name up on the record board along with his father’s.

“Hopefully my brother (Hunter) can break the hurdle record and all three of us can be up there.”

Hunter will be a junior this fall.

“I will miss playing football up in Eureka,” Price said.

“It’s been a big part of me and it will be hard for me to walk away from it.”

NOTE: The Shrine game will be broadcast statewide by the Northern Broadcasting System. The game can be heard locally on KOFI (1180 AM) in Kalispell. The pre-game show starts at 6:30 p.m. with the kickoff at 7.