ST. REGIS – A year after merging with Alberton, the St. Regis Tigers will have their own team once more.

“It is our first season back after we played as the Clark Fork Timberwolves,” said Rob La Brie, St. Regis head football coach.

The two teams combined because there was a shortage of football players for both teams in 2013.

Both schools had to make their case to the Montana High School Association before the merger became official.

St. Regis and Alberton divide up practice time between each school, although the teams still only shared one coach.

The merger was a way to develop younger players too at the junior varsity level before shifting them over to the actual high school football team.

The Timberwolves were still part of the Class C high school football conference even though they were two schools in one.

For the past few months, St. Regis has been attempting to raise extra funds for new football helmets to get ready for the fall season.

Players will hit the practice field in early August, hopefully with new helmets.

La Brie said the upgrades are a natural part of having a school football team. The need for the helmets wasn’t related to a funding issue, he said.

Regardless, the newly reformed Tigers seem poised to make a strong comeback in 2014.

Even though St. Regis combined forces with Alberton last year, each team still provided its own equipment.