Pirates, Chiefs rake in Western A accolades

Almost a dozen Western A football players from Polson and Ronan were acknowledged with postseason honors for their athletic performances on the gridiron this past fall. Polson had seven named to the honors list: two all-staters, four second-team noms and an honorable mention. Ronan had a quartet named to the list: a pair of second-teamers and two honorable mentions.

All-state accolades for the Polson Pirates went to sophomore southpaw signal-caller Jarrett Wilson and junior receiver Colton Graham. The tandem rewrote the school record book for passing and receiving yardage, appended their names among statewide top 10 lists, and were nationally ranked among the upper echelon of teams posting the MaxPreps.

Wilson broke the school passing record twice in the same season: his season opener debut on the road at Columbia Falls, and a 500-yard performance at home against Butte Central. His over 3,100 passing yards vaulted him into second place among the all-time Class A list for season passing along with appending his name multiple times to the top tier list for single-game yardage, according to Class A statistician Brian A. Reed.

Graham set the school reception record in the season opener against the Wildcats and almost broke the record again at home against Butte Central — if not for a downfield holding infraction that reduced his net gain. Graham's 1,000 yard-plus season was tops among Class A receivers and was accomplished despite not seeing action in two games.

Second-team junior Xavier Fisher was the second leading receiver for the Pirates. According to Reed, Fisher's eclipsing of 200 receiving yards against Butte Central in conjunction with comparable yardage by Graham was the first time two receivers had caught passes for over the double-century mark in the same game.

Second-team junior defensive end Braunson Henriksen was a second leading tackler on the team, recovered a fumble while forcing three others, and regularly brought havoc to the backfield.

Second-team sophomore linebacker Trent Wilson was the leading tackler for the Pirates with 79 total tackles. His defensive portfolio this past season included a pick-6, a blocked PAT and a fumble recovery.

Second-team senior jack-of-all-trades Boston Goode did a little bit of everything for the Pirates: backfield rusher, complimentary receiver and punter. In the secondary he recorded four interceptions, at least four pass deflections and was third leading tackler among the team. Goode culminates his prep career with more than 1,200 total yards of offense, factoring in his sophomore season filling in as quarterback. This was the second all-conference acknowledgement for Goode, an honorable mention punter last season.

Senior center Ethan Cunningham was conferred with honorable mention recognition for his crucial role in anchoring the offensive line.

The Ronan Chiefs received four all-conference selections.

Second-team senior Trapper McAllister was conferred with dual recognition both at receiver as well as defensive back. McAllister generated over 1,300 all-purpose yards from rushing, receiving and kick returns and was the team's leading tackler.

Second-team senior Daniel Kelsch was acknowledged for his proficiency at defensive back in guarding the secondary. Kelsch led the team in interceptions and was second in tackles His prep career figures from quarterback keepers and passing, along with periodic reception yardage, push his cumulative totals past the 3,000-yard mark for cumulative career total yards.

Receiving honorable mention noms were junior lineman Jasen Rodda and sophomore defensive back Caleb Cheff. Rodda anchored the defensive line, buying time for the backfield to execute plays. Cheff was acknowledged for his stingy defense, which included a trio of interceptions. But his portfolio also entailed punting for over 600 yards and kick returns that included a 78-yard score. He also was fourth on the team in receiving yards.

2020 WESTERN A football postseason honors

HAMILTON – (A-S): Tyson Rostad QB/S, Hudson Vegeron OG/DL, Tyler Burrows OT/DE, Carter Lake OT/ILB, Aiden Sisson DE, Tristan Lewis CB, Liam O'Connell OLB/(2nd-tm:WR), Jaiden Klemundt WR; (1ST-TM): Ben Rooney RB; (2ND-TM): Ben Tack RB, Orion Kutney C/(hm:ILB), Tyler Glenn OLB, Austin Drake K/P.

DILLON – (A-S): Jace Fitzgerald QB/FS, Jon Kirkley WR/OLB, Cole Truman WR, Zeke Ellis DL, Daxon Graham CB/(hm:WR), Connor Curnow ILB; (1ST-TM): Michael Hupp S/(2nd-tm:RB); (2ND-TM): Jonny Reiser WR, Tynan Ostler DE, Callahan Hoffman DE; (HM): Jack Gibson ILB.

FRENCHTOWN – (A-S): Duncan Richardson C/DL, Tel Arthur ILB/(2nd-tm:RB), Brandon Finley WR/(2nd-tm:FS); (1ST-TM): Devin Shelton CB/(2nd-tm:WR); (2ND-TM): Jake Houlihan OT, Evan Ellington CB; (HM): Wyatt Hayes QB, Peyton Hicks RB.

COLUMBIA FALLS – (A-S): Isaiah Roth RB/KR/PR, Cade Morgan WR/(2nd-tm:OLB), Lucas Thacker ILB/(hm:C), Stevie Wilkinson OG; (2ND-TM): Mason Peterson QB, Finn Coleman DE, Cody Schweikert ILB, Zane McCallum FS, Neils Getts K/P; (HM): Cole Karlin OG, Raphe Salmon DL, Jaxon Heinz CB.

LIBBY – (A-S): Dawson Young RB/(2nd-tm:KR/PR), Ryker McElmurry OLB, Jay Beagle CB/(hm:QB); (1ST-TM): Ryder Davis S, Tyler Michalkiewicz OG; (2ND-TM): Owen Wilkins C, Cy Stevenson DE, Dave Patterson ILB, Ryan Collins OLB; (HM): Tucker Masters DE.

WHITEFISH – (A-S): Camren Ross OT/DL, Jaxsen Schlauch WR/CB, Bodie Smith WR/S; (2ND-TM): Fynn Ridgeway QB, Tanner Harmon OG, Ty Schwaiger ILB, Josh Nelson ILB; (HM): Trey Hunt WR, Max Shestak DL.

POLSON – (A-S): Jarrett Wilson QB, Colton Graham WR; (2ND-TM): Xavier Fisher WR, Braunson Henriksen DE, Trent Wilson OLB, Boston Goode S; (HM): Ethan Cunningham C.

RONAN – (2ND-TM): Trapper McAllister WR/CB, Daniel Kelsch FS; (HM): Jasen Rodda OG, Caleb Cheff S.

CORVALLIS – (2ND-TM): Issac Stoker OG; (HM): Bridger Cole C, Clay Barcus ILB, Kanyon Stoker FS.

BUTTE CENTRAL – (2ND-TM): Egan Lester RB, Dougie Peoples WR, Erik Hart C, Bryan Holland OT/DE, Eyston Lakkala S; (HM): Ian Williams DL, Luke Garrison ILB, Konnor Pochervina OLB.

STEVENSVILLE – (A-S): Kellen Beller OLB/(2nd-tm:RB); (HM): Thomas Teniente C.

BROWNING – (A-S): Chucky BraveRock OG/(2nd-tm: DL); (2ND-TM): Cody Carlson WR/CB, Blayne DeRoche WR.

All-state recipients receive concurrent first-team recognition at the position cited unless otherwise specified.

ACRONYM KEY: a-s (all-state), 1st-tm (first-team), 2nd-tm (second-team), hm (honorable mention), Player positions follow standardized abbreviations: OL= OT,OG; DB = S,FS,CB; RS = KR/PR