AA Football Tidbits – Bozeman vs. Butte Final
What a glorious week to be a Montanan! The AA football champion will be decided at the mecca of high school football, Naranche Stadium, this Friday only to be followed on Saturday by THE biggest game of the year in the Treasure State: The 119th Brawl of the Wild between the Bobcats and the Grizzlies. We should also mention that the state titles for Classes A, B, C (8-man) and C (6-man) will be handed out this weekend as well. If football were a holiday, consider this week Christmas morning.
Championship Match-up…
Bozeman @ Butte
Minty’s Predicted Winner…
Butte
Last Week: 2-0, Overall: 60-17
Tale of the Tape
- Butte High
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- Signature Wins: All of them, 12-0
- Biggest Win: 47 points, vs. Hellgate (60-13)
- Closest Win: 3 points vs. Sentinel in Missoula (39-36)
- Last State Title: 2012, over Bozeman, 38-36
- Best athletes: Tommy Mellott – QB, Kameron Moreno – RB/OLB, Quinn Sullivan – WR/SS, Scout Allen – DB , Ryan Neil – WR/DB
- Head Coach: Arie Grey, 12 years, (55-74 overall record)
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- Bozeman High
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- Signature Wins: Billings West (26-20), Sentinel (28-21)
- Biggest Win: 58 points vs. Skyview (58-0)
- Closest Win: 6 points vs. West (26-20)
- Last State Title: 2013, over Billings Senior (35-23)
- Best Athletes: Jake D’Agostino – QB, Kenneth Eiden – TE/DE/RB, Carter Ash – WR/FS, Asher Croy – RB/DE, Kaelan Patten – MLB, Brooks Talbot – LB
- Head Coach: Levi Wesche, 4 years, (34-11 overall record)
Minty Tidbits…
- Naranche Stadium – There is no better high school venue in the state of Montana; hands down. With uptown Butte as it’s backdrop and thousands of rowdy Mining City locals cheering on the Bulldogs and expertly heckling the visitors, this recently renovated facility is as good as it gets. The sound system is excellent and the music selection for everything from the Bulldog entrance (Regulate by Warren G) to the down time between plays keeps the place electric. The turf is immaculate, the seats are right on top of the action and Pork Chop John’s is a mere block away from it all. This is the best possible location for a state championship game. Consider it a must-see venue.
- Fun Facts:
- Originally completed in 1936
- First game: Butte High vs. Havre
- 1943 – Re-named after Eso Naranche in, a former Butte High Bulldog and Montana Grizzly, who was killed in WWII.
- Was the home of the Bobcat-Grizzly game for many years, beginning in 1938 and ending in 1950.
- For many years the field consisted of groomed dirt (think a baseball diamond and “groomed” being a generous term) rather than grass.
- Naranche was shut down in 1974 because of deterioration, but was re-opened in 2011 after extensive renovation.
- Fun Facts:
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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