West offense runs strong in win in East-West Shrine Game

On Saturday night at Memorial Stadium in Great Falls, some of the best high school football players in the state once again gathered to compete in the Montana East-West Shrine Game. While the Hi-Line did not have much talent in the 75th edition of this game, many athletes showed out in the West’s 40-21 victory over the East.

The West took control on East’s first snap of the game. On East’s first snap on offense, the ball went through the hands of Billings West quarterback Isaiah Claunch and out of the back of the end zone for a safety to give the West a 2-0 lead.

The West used that early score to take momentum. A long drive on offense eventually culminated in a three-yard touchdown run from Hamilton quarterback Tyson Rostad, giving the West a 9-0 lead with 7:12 left in the opening quarter.

The East was able to respond thanks to the play of Claunch. The quarterback was able to find Bozeman Gallatin’s Tyler Nansel open down the sideline for a 70-yard score to cut the deficit to 9-7. After another West touchdown, Claunch hit Billings West wide receiver Taco Dowler for an 80-yard score to cut it to two again with 2:38 left in the first half.

But the East was unable to keep pace with the West. After the West blocked an East field goal attempt, Missoula Sentinel’s Connor Sullivan scooped up the ball and ran it back 63 yards for a touchdown to give the West a 23-14 lead heading to the half.

The West opened the second half with a 34-yard field goal from Kalispell Glacier’s Patrick Rohrbach to extend the lead. Later in the third, Rostad ran for another touchdown to add onto the lead.

As the game came to a close, the East tried to stay in the game. Laurel’s Beau Dantic intercepted Helena High quarterback Kaden Hout and returned it 101 yards for a defensive score for the East. But on the next possession, Rostad ran it in from 31 yards out for his third touchdown run of the day to cap off the game.

With his three touchdown runs as well as a touchdown pass, Rostad was named the offensive MVP for the West. Rostad will next be seen with the Griz as a University of Montana commit. Helena High defensive lineman and Carroll College commit Forrest Suero was named the West’s defensive MVP after recording three sacks as well as a blocked field goal that led to a touchdown in the game.

While the East lost the game, some of its athletes played well. Dowler, a Montana State University commit, was named the team’s offensive MVP with 203 receiving yards and a touchdown. Dantic was named the East’s defensive MVP with his 101-yard pick six, a new record for the shrine game.

It was the second win in a row for the West in the shrine game, but the East still has an overall record of 41-34 in the series.

The only player from the Hi-Line who competed in the game was Fort Benton’s Brock Hanford, who played for the East team and was an offensive lineman for the Longhorns. So hopefully next year, more players from the Hi-Line will be recognized for their efforts and chosen for the shrine game.