Ronan opens up its first season in Class B against the defending

state champs

Save the best for first.

That's what Ronan has done, with defending state champion Bigfork coming into town this Friday for the Chiefs' first football game since moving to the Class B ranks.

"In order to be the best you have to play the best," Ronan head coach Jim Benn said. "Bigfork has an excellent coaching staff and great players coming back. We will definitely know where we are and what we have to work on after our game with them as it relates to our team and how well we will be able to compete in Class B football."

While last year's powerful combination of Bigfork senior quarterback Christian Ker and senior running back Travis Knoll have graduated, the Vikings have 18 seniors on the team this year and over 50 kids on the roster. However, you won't hear Bigfork head coach Todd Emslie resting on the reputation of defending state champs anytime soon.

"I tell them that last year is an awesome memory but it's history now," he said.

They're still going to be a challenge for Ronan, though. In the feature back positions, Senior Cody Dopps should be fun to watch at running back for the Vikings and strong-armed senior Colter Malum will take snaps at quarterback.

Emslie said that one of the biggest strengths of the teams is the offensive and defensive lines. All-state linemen Austin Cantrell and Conner Coleman will help anchor those, along with 6-5 senior Dillon Fraley. Ian Lorang should be another player to watch on defense for the Vikings as he's a four-year starter at the corner position.

Ronan and Bigfork should be familiar with one another as the Vikings traveled down to attend a football camp hosted by the Chiefs during the summer.

"Coach Benn did an excellent job and so did the community of Ronan hosting the camp," Emslie said. "We got a chance to see the Chiefs and they were impressive."

Emslie was reluctant to say that the Bigfork-Ronan game would rehash old memories of an old Northwestern A rivalry (the conference Ronan and Bigfork both played in before moving down a classification).

"I don't like the creation of rivalries," Emslie said. "That's for the fans. Sometimes kids can get so hyped up that it's to their detriment. We used to have some good games in the Northwestern A and I expect that this week."

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE CHIEFS THIS YEAR

After a successful season last year in the Northwestern A, Ronan isn't taking anything for granted heading into Class B this season.

"We have talked with the team about the transition, but only to remind them that they had better be prepared for excellent teams that are every bit as good as the teams we played last year," head coach Jim Benn said.

The Chiefs saw the biggest turnout that Benn has seen in his four years of coaching of the Chiefs - 57 kids - which is impressive considering the school's enrollment had been declining but the students' interest in sports hadn't. Of the 21 letter-winners from last year, seven started on offense and eight on defense.

Ronan returns a talented group of committed seniors that will be the engine that runs the team, including senior quarterback Robbie Gauthier, who's competitiveness and athleticism should take him far this season.

"Robbie is an excellent leader and a great kid," Benn said. "This senior class is the best we have had in our four years. They understand the scheme, they compete, and they have high expectations of themselves and the team in general."

The team last year went 5-4 and defeated conference champ Columbia Falls in the final game of the season. They barely missed the playoffs.

This year they've already shown they'll have great experience and leadership in skill positions. During the Orange and Black game last Friday, the first-team offense scored on six of their seven possessions while the first-team defense shut down the scout team offense.

Polson transfer and senior running back Jake Skelton could be a big-play machine this year after he scored three touchdowns last week off of an 80-yard run, a 52-yard catch and run and a six-yard run to the endzone.

Senior Jack Humphreys also scored on a seven-yard run and showed that the Chiefs' backfield should be loaded this year. Junior running back Jalen Bell was second in the triple jump this year and sophomore Austin Hakes will serve to add even more depth to the position.

Chris Clary and his 6-2, 217-pound frame should be a beast this year for the Chiefs at fullback and linebacker. Senior Marcus Hungerford will be a streak for the Chiefs on offense at wide receiver, and scored on the first play of the scrimmage last Friday on an 80-yard pass. Fellow senior Dalton Molhzon will also be a scoring threat at wide-out.

Several players on the team are also running cross-country, meaning they'll certainly be in shape in the later stages of games.

"I believe very strongly in sharing kids across programs," Benn said. "I am looking forward to watching cross country win a state championship. The schedule between the two sports allows for very little conflict and what coach wouldn't want his athletes in a little better shape."