There was once a time when the Flathead Braves won six games on the shoulders of a tall, athletic quarterback whose natural leadership ability belied his youth.

It was about two weeks ago, and it’s no coincidence that Bridger Johnson’s game feels similar to that other Braves quarterback you may have heard about recently.

“He’s a definitely a big role model for me,” the 6-foot-3 Johnson said. “For him to come out of Flathead and do well is awesome.”

Him, of course, is Brock Osweiler. The largely unknown — nationally, at least — 6-foot-7, Gonzaga basketball commit turned quarterback who will make his first NFL start on Sunday for the Denver Broncos in Chicago.

Johnson was just 10 years old when he first heard about the quarterback making waves at his hometown high school.

“He was a stud when he played at Flathead,” Johnson recalled on Thursday while awaiting the start of Braves basketball practice.

“I was always watching the games and I would look in the newspaper to see his stats.

“It’s awesome to think that you could come out of this high school and make your dreams come true. It’s just awesome.”

Johnson said he always watched Osweiler’s college starts for Arizona State and even went to Pullman, Washington to see the Sun Devils play at Washington State.

Osweiler and Johnson have never met, and while no one is comparing Johnson to an NFL quarterback, there are some similarities in their style of play and personality.

Before taking over as the Braves starter this fall, one of the things that stood out about Johnson in the eyes of his coaches was his uncommon knack as a leader, something reinforced before the season when his teammates made the junior the only non-senior team captain.

One of those coaches, Charlie Dotson, was a teammate of Osweiler’s at Flathead when the now-Broncos quarterback was named the Braves’ starter midway through his freshman year.

“Immediately he was a vocal leader,” Dotson said of Osweiler. “Your quarterback has got to be a leader, everyone has got to follow him. You’d think a lot of seniors or older kids would not look up to him, but everyone looked up to him.”

Dotson, a running back in high school, formed a friendship with his backfield mate, one that was reinforced after the Braves’ homecoming win against Bozeman in 2007.

“When I was a senior, in our homecoming game, I broke my collarbone,” Dotson said. “But instead of going to the dance (Osweiler) came right over to my house and hung out with me.

“I think he brought his date with him.”

Osweiler and Dotson remained close after high school, and the quarterback texted his old teammate a few words of encouragement before the Braves’ playoff game at Helena Capital earlier this month.

Flathead coach Kyle Samson and Osweiler have forged an unlikely bond as well, one started when the two met in February 2014 when Osweiler was in Kalispell to talk with Flathead business students.

“He would always text me on Friday night after wins,” Samson said. “It’s kind of cool when you have an alumnus who’s that famous who really cares about the kids and the program.

“He’s a great guy and pretty down to earth.”

Samson himself was a spectacular high school quarterback, and he understands the significance of having not only Osweiler but also former NFL running back Lex Hilliard — a Flathead alum and now a Braves assistant coach — so closely connected to the program.

“For our players to actually have two people (who played in the NFL) and have that person to look up to and to share that experience is excellent,” Samson said.

“For me as a coach it’s a wealth of knowledge, too. It’s been special for me to work with Lex and, honestly, with Brock. He’s been very open and honest with me in giving me tips, stuff he’s learned from Peyton Manning.”

Samson said he was out playing catch with his son last week when Osweiler was first called upon to replace the injured Manning.

“My wife came out and said ‘hey, they’re going to put Brock in’,” Samson said. “It was cool to see someone you know and respect a lot get into an NFL game, and he’s the type of kid that will step up to that challenge.”

Samson said he would be gathered at home with his family again this Sunday to watch the game.

Across town, Samson’s current quarterback will be tuned in, too, watching the man he’s followed from childhood try to make plays on a national stage.

“With him playing with Peyton Manning he’s probably learned so much on the ability to run the offense and play on the professional level,” Johnson said with a pause.

“It’s crazy.”