2018 Montana AA High School Football Power Rankings
Last year, AA fans saw the Billings Senior High Broncs take home yet another state title behind the record-setting, all-everything Gabe Sulser. To the delight of AA coaches around the state, Sulser has moved on, but that doesn’t mean the Broncs are finished running through the league. Coaches around the league expect them to challenge for their 3rd title in 3 years this season.
First, the Broncs have some shoes to fill and some questions to answer; as do their AA counterparts. Some of the more intriguing storylines heading into the 2018 campaign are:
- How do the Helena High Bengals and Skyview Falcons respond after the retirements of Tony Arnston and Ron Lebsock, respectively? Do the Bengals finally win the state title that has eluded them since 1932?
- Will the Glacier Wolfpack bounce back after a disappointing 2017 campaign?
- Do at least one of the Electric City squads, the Great Falls High Bison and CMR Rustlers, return to the playoffs?
- With a playoff victory under their belt just last season, do the Missoula Sentinel Spartans take it one step further this year?
- Can the Missoula Hellgate Knights win their first game since the birth of Vine (RIP)?
- Will the Bozeman Hawks take advantage of favorable enrollment numbers before the newest Bozeman high school opens its doors in 2020?
- And finally, as previously mentioned, can the Senior High Broncs replace the likes of Gabe Sulser, Nolan Askelson and Blake Allred?
Here’s how Minty Coach thinks the AA might play out this season:
#1 – Billings Senior (2017 Record: 13-0)
Returning All-State Honorees: 3 offense/3 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 8 offense/8 defense
Yes, Gabe Sulser graduated. So too did Nolan Askelson and Blake Allred. Not to worry Bronc fans, the cupboard is by no means bare. Team speed is a strength along with length among the wideouts.
#2 – Bozeman (5-6)
Returning All-State Honorees: 4 offense/1 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 1 offense/7 defense
Return starter at QB and Montana State-commit, Joe Olson at RB/LB. Enjoy an enrollment of nearly 2,400 students; approximately 1,000 more than the likes of Helena Capital and the three Missoula schools. You better win with that many more kids to choose from.
#3 – Helena High (9-3)
Returning All-State Honorees: 4 offense/4 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 6 offense/3 defense
Always ripe with athletes. New head coach (Scott Evans), but same cast of assistants. Could a new mentor be the key ingredient to finally winning a state championship? Montana State-commit Holden Sampson anchors the offensive front.
#4 – Missoula Sentinel (6-5)
Returning All-State Honorees: 3 offense/2 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 2 offense/2 defense
The evolution from bottom-feeder to contender came full circle with last year’s playoff victory over in-city rival, Missoula Big Sky. The Spartans welcome back a host of starters, an impressive blend of team speed along with strength and look to have all the necessary ingredients to make a deep postseason run…as long as they stay healthy.
#5 – Flathead (6-4)
Returning All-State Honorees: 4 offense/5 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 8 offense/5 defense
The Braves have developed into a gritty, tough program under Kyle Samson, much like the Helena Capital squads of the early 2000s under the direction of Kyle’s dad, Mark. Had a nice combo of speed and toughness last season, but lose a host of talented seniors on both sides of the ball.
#6 – Glacier (4-5)
Returning All-State Honorees: 0 offense/1 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 6 offense/1 defense
Disappointing season last year on a team loaded with college-prospects. Do they bounce back or is the tide beginning to turn in Flathead’s favor?
#7 – Butte (2-8)
Returning All-State Honorees: 3 offense/4 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 2 offense/2 defense
Return their starting quarterback (Tommy Mellott, JR) and a beefy offensive line in front of him. Head Coach Arie Grey has been known to air it out and usually has some speedsters in his arsenal.
#8 – Billings West (6-5)
Returning All-State Honorees: 3 offense/4 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 2 offense/5 defense
One of the largest schools in the AA in terms of attendance (1,973); very hard to field a poor team with overwhelming turnout. The Golden Bears do lose versatille returner Si Ryan, but return All-Staters DE and CB.
#9 – Helena Capital (7-5)
Returning All-State Honorees: 0 offense/1 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 5 offense/4 defense
Lose some strong lineman on both sides of the ball as well as their leading RB and WR. Questions at QB position. However, the Bruins are notoriously tough and Head Coach Kyle Mihelish has years of experience under his belt.
#10 – GFH (2-8)
Returning All-State Honorees: 3 offense/1 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 3 offense/1 defense
Have had a strong summer showing; especially at University of Idaho camp. Had some close losses last season. Need to replace TE/DE Kyle Winkler and OL Spencer Jovick, but return All-State honoree Lucas Banderbob at WR.
#11 – CMR (4-6)
Returning All-State Honorees: 2 offense/3 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 5 offense/3 defense
Lose starting QB Garrison Rothwell, speedster Damien Nelson at CB in addition to All-State honorees Jake Olsen (TE), Gerrit Bloemendaal (C) as well as six additional starters on both offense and defense.
#12 – Missoula Hellgate (0-10)
Returning All-State Honorees: 0 offense/1 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 0 offense/1 defense
Led by Montana Grizzly basketball commit, Rollie Worster at QB, the Knights haven’t won a varsity game since 2013 against GFH. They return a host of players with varsity experience from last season, but depth has always been an issue. Head Coach Mick Morris is akin to a riverboat gambler; he takes his shots and apologizes to no one. And that might be exactly the attitude these Knights need to adopt.
#13 – Billings Skyview (3-7)
Returning All-State Honorees: 0 offense/0 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 6 offense/4 defense
New coach, new scheme, new enthusiasm, but how does a 3-7 team place 10 athletes on the All-State squad? Does last season mark the last time we’ll see the once-vaunted triple-option offense run in the AA?
#14 – Missoula Big Sky (8-3)
Returning All-State Honorees: 0 offense/1 defense
Departing All-State Honorees: 4 offense/4 defense
Lose all-everything QB/RB/LB, Levi Janacaro and backfield mate, Kaden Lahti, in addition to the tough-nosed Tyler Flink. Thin program numbers like their crosstown counterparts at Hellgate, but never count the Eagles out; they are always one of the scrappiest squads in the AA. Head man Matt Johnson has his work cut out for him yet again this season.
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About the Author
Minty Coach A proud native of Great Falls, Coach now resides in Missoula, however he's a Bobcat to the core.
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