Ryker McElmurry has a familiar last name around these parts, and if the 185-pounder happened to be born in Reno, he also happens to be former NFLer Blaine McElmurry’s second cousin and is Lincoln County through and through.

“I’ve been in Libby all my life,” he said Wednesday. “I was in Reno for maybe three months.”

These days McElmurry is in Butte, preparing for Montana’s 74th East-West Shrine Game, set for Saturday in Billings. He’s rooming with Helena High receiver Dexter Tedesco.

“Pretty good guy, actually,” McElmurry said.

He’ll play a little middle linebacker for the West, and likely a lot of outside linebacker — a spot where he excelled for the Loggers. According to Maxpreps.com he led the Western A in total tackles (109) and stops per game (12.1). That’s not all he did for Libby.

“He’s a fantastic young man,” Loggers’ coach Neil Fuller said this week. “Great work ethic in the weight room. Great attitude, and played great football for us at outside backer. And he played a little running back for us”

Fuller used McElmurry as his fullback when the Loggers lined up in power, a pretty rare thing for the conference.

“Not too many teams do that anymore,” said Fuller. “It gives us a shot to compete. He played some fullback junior and sophomore years, and a lot his senior year. Great blocker, and he’d get those tough yards (145, on 33 carries) when we needed it. Just a real unselfish player.”

“It was pretty cool, and we meshed pretty well, me and Dawson (Young, the tailback who finished his career with over 3,000 rushing yards). I just love playing the game — any spot, pretty much. I just love playing my role. It’s like a family. Everybody has their part.”

McElmurry was originally an alternate for the West team when it was released over Christmas, and recalls getting a mid-shower phone call telling him he’d get to play for sure.

“I was like, ‘All right, deal,’” he said. “That’s a big honor. That’s pretty cool.”

In Butte the practices have been hot and plentiful, and the speakers many — including legendary former Montana Tech coach Bob Green.

“They’ve told us, ‘You’re not just playing for the West, you’re playing for the Shriners of the past, you’re playing for the hospital and these kids that look up to us,’” McElmurry said. “It’s such a big cause … it’s pretty great.”

After this McElmurry can maybe cool his cleats until early August, when he’ll head to UM-Western along with Libby teammate David Patterson. The duo played in Libby’s 42-14 win at Butte Central last October, and then from there traveled to Dillon for a visit. Both ended up signing. For McElmurry, the Dawgs were the lone program to offer a scholarship.

UM-Western is known for cranking out teachers, and that’s what McElmurry is aiming for: an Education degree.

But first he gets to suit up in the granddaddy of all Montana football all-star games. He’s playing alongside Eureka’s Gunnar Smith and Bigfork’s Cormac Benn, and Western A rivals Lucas Thacker of Columbia Falls and Tel Arthur of Frenchtown.

“A lot of the others are Class AA,” McElmurry noted. “And they’re pretty cool. We’re becoming a family over seven days, eight days of practice. It’s pretty great getting to know new people and playing this game for a great cause.”

Fritz Neighbor can be reached at 758-4463 or [email protected].