The Red Devil role models.

Coach Lucas MacArthur and his Noxon Red Devil football squad completed its playoff season with a 67-20 loss to the Grass Range-Winnett Rangers in the first round of the Montana 6-Man playoffs in Grass Range Saturday.

MacArthur said his boys have already left their mark – on the youth of Noxon evidently. “This year for Halloween, I noticed a few kids in Noxon dressed up like Red Devil football players, one looked like a little Justice Kayser,” he said. “The kids in town are looking up to the football team, they want to be a part of it. And that could pay off here in a few years.”

A playoff berth in 2025 is an early return on that investment, one that could continue to pay dividends in the coming seasons.

Kayser played the superhero part for the Devils in Grass Range, completing touchdown passes to Lonnie Wengerd, Shane Hatchel and Elis Sly for Noxon’s three TDs, in addition to anchoring the Red Devil defense. MacArthur also gave props to Lonnie’s senior brother Cam Wengerd for his “relentless and focused play” this season.

Randy Olson threw for two touchdowns, caught a pass for another and returned a punt for yet another to lead the Rangers, Jace Bartz caught a TD pass from Olson and threw a scoring pass to Olson, and Hazen Arnston and Trey Jassak ran for two touchdowns apiece for Grass Range.

MacArthur was grateful to his players and assistant coach Jared Webley, an ex-Noxon football player himself. “This team was a lot of fun to coach and they learned a lot this year,” he said. “They probably would like a few of our losses back, we now know a little better what we are capable of, but that’s natural for a team, to want to do your best every time out.”

The Red Devils complete season play with a 5-4 record, while the Rangers improved to 9-0.