Charlo seniors stand out at 8-man all-star game
<p>Charlo's representatives at the Bob Cleverley Class C All-Star Football Game in Butte, (left to right) Assistant Coach Jim Petersen, Tyler Delaney, Jacen Petersen, Ryan Fullerton, and Head Coach Mike Krahn, pose after the red team's victory.</p>
<p>Red All Star Tyler Delaney of Charlo breaks to the outside to avoid Xavier Harris's tackle during the first quarter of the Bob Cleverly Class C All Star Football game Saturday night.</p>
BUTTE — Three of Charlo’s standout football players took to the gridiron for the final time at the Bob Cleverly Class C All-Star Football Game Saturday.
Tyler Delaney, Ryan Fullerton and Jacen Petersen played for the red (East and West divisions) team, coached by Charlo head coach Mike Krahn.
The locals were instrumental in the red team’s 72-42 blowout victory, especially the younger Petersen, who ran for a touchdown, passed for another and snagged two interceptions on defense.
Delaney served as a running back and defensive back, and Fullerton played on the line. Receiver Tristan Santee was selected for the game but couldn’t play because of surgery this spring.
Krahn said Petersen was a team favorite from the players’ first day of the weeklong camp that preceded the game.
“By the end of the first practice, Jacen Petersen was a name to be revered,” Krahn said. “They know that he doesn’t go anything but full speed.”
The Arizona State wrestling signee was selected for the Montana Shrine Game, but he won’t be able to play due to Sun Devils’ team rules that prohibit contact sports after a certain date in the summer.
Petersen’s touchdown pass came on the same fleaflicker play that scored two Charlo touchdowns in the Vikings’ postseason run.
“They should have scouted us better,” Krahn joked.
Another special moment for the Petersen (and Charlo) family came when another coach cancelled, allowing Krahn’s assistant — Jacen’s father — Jim to be on the staff.
“It was pretty special for him being there with Jacen,” Krahn said of Jim Petersen, who has been his offensive coordinator the past four seasons.
Krahn describes himself and Petersen as “a package deal.”
“… I feel like that’s a reward for him to be able to go and share that instead of just me.”
Krahn said the secret to his squad’s success was actually their shortage of numbers. (They had just 26 roster players from the expected 32.) That allowed their athletes to play both sides of the ball.
“These are 8-man guys who are used to playing both ways,” Krahn said.
The team gelled really well too, according to Krahn.
“You see them on the same team and how quickly the color of a jersey can bond people,” the coach said of his players, many of which came from rival Western C division teams. “That’s kind of the trick to those games is if the kids can play as a team.”
Krahn, in his first year as a head coach for the all-star game, said it was special for him to be on the sideline with those three seniors; they were the first group to get Charlo to a state semifinal game in Krahn’s tenure as head coach.
“These kids become your own kids,” Krahn said. “It’s no different than a proud parent that you get to go show them off.”
The Class B all-star game is this Saturday in Billings.