One of the factors behind Eureka’s long-term success on the high school gridiron is that coach Trevor Utter has been a middle school principal for 18 years.

He sees what’s coming through the pipeline, and seven years ago that included Jesse Day. Now a 195-pound senior, Day plays a very solid linebacker for the 8-2 Lions, who have a Class B quarterfinal game at unbeaten Manhattan Saturday. 

He also fits nicely into fullback, a fairly unique position in football these days... unless you were one of those kids roughhousing behind the end zone at Eureka games since Utter became head coach 13 years ago. 

“I was never super-athletic but could always give people a good hit,” Day said Wednesday. “I’ve been a fullback since fifth grade. Loved it. It always felt like I fit that description.” 

“Josh Lambertsen, Haiden Johnson and (quarterback) Rogan Lytle are our leading rushers and Jesse is generally in front of them,” Utter said, then added that Day is, in fact, athletic. 

“Jesse’s best play is a straight dive,” he said. “It’s a quick-hitter and he’s super fast out of his stance.  He has 54 dives for 271 yards, and he has seven touchdowns. He’s either lead blocking or diving and for us, and that’s really valuable.” 

Day and Johnson are also tied for third on the defense with 60 stops; he’s forced and recovered a fumble, has a sack and 10 tackles for loss. Not overwhelming statistics, maybe — Emmett McKim has a team-high 88 stops, and Wes Banks has six sacks — but Day is the kind of unsung hero coaches like Utter like to sing about. 

The season hasn’t gone exactly to plan: The Lions, who beat Whitefish in nonconference play for a second straight year, lost to Missoula Loyola and defending champion Florence in the span of three weeks. 

It made Senior Night more memorable: Since it coincided with Breast Cancer Awareness Night, fans wore pink and Day was emotional. 

“Well that was our Senior Night, and my mom also had breast cancer last year,” he said of the game, which ended in a 41-6 verdict over Anaconda. “It was my last game on this field, under these lights, because we didn’t grab a high enough seed. And I could also have possibly lost my mom last year, so emotions were flying pretty high.” 

Utter said for all of Day’s ability to put a pad on a pad, he’s a really nice kid off the field. Day tends to agree: “I try to avoid conflict as much as possible,” he said. 

“He has a super soft kind heart for other people,” Utter said. “Very caring. Then he’s a fullback-linebacker kid.” 

A kid who’s interested in engineering after high school. Montana Tech is a goal, and not just because the Orediggers are 7-2 and ranked No. 10 in NAIA. 

“They also run a fullback,” Day said. “Which most schools don’t.” 

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