Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Justin May, C/J-I Football

Justin May and the Hawks pay a visit to Chinook with Northern C title on the line tonight

There are a lot of reasons why the Chester/J-I football team is 6-0. And, among the biggest reasons is Justin May.

May is a senior for the Hawks. He is also their best player on both sides of the ball. One moment he dazzles you with an incredible run or catch — the next he makes a game-changing play on defense. And though it should come as no surprise to anyone, the All-State performer in Class C 8-Man football, is having another outstanding season.

“He’s a gifted athlete, but more than just a great athlete, he is a great kid and he is just a very special person,” C/J-I head coach Jim Vinson said. “But it’s a team thing around here. He’s one cog in a unit and he does a great job.”

Like his coach, May gave credit for a lot of his success to his teammates, and there’s no question that there is a solid core group of players surrounding him. But there is also no doubt that May is something special.

In the wide open game of 8-Man football, a weapon that has the skill and athleticism of May can make all the difference in the world. When the Hawks have the ball, May gives the defense fits, both as a runner and a receiver.

During the past three seasons, the talented two-way player has put up gaudy numbers. As a runner, he has 3,081 yards and 56 rushing touchdowns. This season he has 809 yards and 13 touchdowns. And for his career he is averaging a ridiculous 6.6 yards per carry.

Yet, as good as May is as a runner, he has also racked up nearly 1,000 receiving yards since 2013 to go along with 15 touchdowns. And in addition to the 71 career touchdowns he has from scrimmage, he also has five kick return touchdowns to his credit, as well as a pair of interception returns for touchdowns.

That gives May a grand total of 78 touchdowns over the past three seasons, which amounts to more than 26 touchdowns a season. Meanwhile, as a defensive back, he also just happens to have amassed 182 tackles, 23 interceptions and 14 passes defensed.

Last Friday, in the Hawks’ win over Simms, May notched his seventh interception of the season on a play that demonstrated his elite closing speed.

“He has had a couple of those this year,” Vinson said. “I get on him a little bit because I think that he tries to bait quarterbacks sometimes because they don’t throw the ball to him that much. I think he sometimes gives receivers a little bit of distance but he closes very well.”

As good as May and the Hawks have been this season, tonight they will face their biggest challenge yet, as they will pay a visit to the Chinook Sugarbeeters with the Northern C Championship on the line.

The Beeters, who will host the Hawks at Hoon Field tonight at 7:30, have plenty of talent in their own right and quite possibly the best defense in 8-Man football. Through six games, Chinook has allowed just five points per game. In fact, May scored as many total touchdowns against Simms as the Beeters have allowed all season — five.

C/J-I may come in scoring an average of 64 points per game, but the Chinook offense is no slouch and is averaging better than 50. By comparison, the Hawks defense is giving up more than 19 points per game. The Hawks also surrendered more points to Simms last week than the Beeters have all season.

The truth is that both teams are dynamic and both believe themselves to be legitimate state title contenders. But, the bottom line is that only one team can walk away from Chinook tonight as Northern C champions, and May and the Hawks simply hope it will be them.

Following the Hawks’ win last week, the Havre Daily News caught up with May for five questions about himself and the looming showdown.

HDN: You are a multi-sport athlete and are great in each one them, which is your favorite?

May: Football. There is just nothing like getting prepared for a football game. These Friday nights are something special.

HDN: How are you always to able to put up such big numbers and have so many good games consistently?

May: “We have a great team this year. The line has been playing great and opening big holes for me, which makes it pretty easy for me to just break through there.”

HDN: What do you like about playing for C/J-I?

May: “The fan base here is great. The field is probably one of the best ones in the state, grass wise and it’s fun.”

HDN: What are your thoughts going into the game against Chinook?

May: “We just need to know that this is it. The No. 1 spot is on the line and we just need to try and come out and play our best.”

HDN: What would it mean to your team to win to the Northern C?

May: “It would be huge. Playing on this field is unlike anything else with the fans and everything. Getting to sleep in our own beds and having the home field advantage would be nice.”