It was a storybook season for the Montana Tech University football team. A record 12 wins. A first conference championship since 2016. However, it came up just short of the ultimate prize: a national championship.

While the Orediggers struggled to stop the College of Idaho in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Football Championship Series quarterfinals, one player stood out. He totaled a career high in passing yards and even led the team in rushing yards. That player was former Polson High School standout Jarrett Wilson.

Wilson was one of the many pleasant surprises out of fall camp, stepping up to the challenge of becoming the Orediggers’ starting quarterback. After backing up star quarterback Blake Thelen last year, he had his chance to nab the starting role in a young quarterback room.

“You know, being able to have the kind of support from the other guys on your team gives you a lot of confidence,” Wilson said. 

It was also an all-Montana quarterback room, featuring former Class AA state champions like Merek Mihelish and former Class AA state champion runner-ups like Isaiah Claunch and Jake Casagranda.

Despite the steep competition, the former three-time first-team All-State quarterback was up for potentially the biggest challenge of his football career.

“Playing at Polson really prepared me well for playing college football,” Wilson said. “The support from the Polson fans and my family helped prepare me to be the best I could be. It also helped me learn a lot about the game and how to adapt.”

He not only earned his starting spot but also managed to become one of the best NAIA quarterbacks this season. He was 10th in passing touchdowns and 12th in passing yards this season. He also threw only two interceptions all year. It took him almost four months before he threw the second pick of his season.

Numbers like these usually come from a veteran quarterback, someone with discipline and decision-making that can take multiple seasons to develop. Despite appearing in only one game the prior two seasons, he played like it was his senior year. The poise that comes with age seemed to emerge naturally for him.

While the stats are nice, he backed up his play with results. One of the NAIA’s most talented teams was rewarded through excellent play all year. Wilson commanded the number one offense in total points and the second-best offense by points per game in the Frontier Conference.

He helped lead the Orediggers to a perfect regular season record en route to winning the conference title.

While losing in the quarterfinals was not how Wilson wanted to end the season, he still sees this team as a contender next season.

Wilson’s dedication to his craft and belief in his people stems from his long history with football. His father, current Montana High School Association associate director Scott Wilson, helped push him into football.

“All my brothers played football, my dad coached it when I was growing up, so I was just always around it,” Wilson said. “I think just being around it and my family made me fall in love with it.”

The former Polson High School football coach helped all sons find a love for the sport. Jarrett is a triplet, playing high school football with his brothers. Even though neither of his triplet siblings plays collegiate football, older brother Tanner used to be a quarterback for the University of Montana.

“My dad was always giving me little tips,” Jarrett said. “He always wanted me and my brothers to have success and, you know, he was a really big part of that.”

Football is ingrained in his life. But, more importantly, it has pushed him to a point that many Montana high school athletes covet: becoming a star in their home state.

For many states, college football is dominated by Division I teams. However, in Montana, the Frontier Conference brings just as much fanfare to these communities.

“I don’t think it gets much better than Tech fans,” Jarrett said. “Butte and the Tech community always show up on Saturdays. The fans are so supportive and it really helps.”

Jarrett is not just a football player but he is a football person. He comes from a family of coaches and players who succeeded at different levels. Now, he quarterbacks one of the most storied football programs in Montana, regardless of division.

Many things are not preordained. For Jarrett, he had to work long hours to make his dream come true. But, when it comes to the arc of a football player’s career, this chance is nothing short of destiny for the Polson kid.

“If you really want to play college football, you have to search for those opportunities at any level,” Wilson said. “If you want to get big time offers, you can work for that. But, at the end of the day, you have to love it and accept the process if you want to succeed in college football.”

    Montana Tech redshirt sophomore quarterback Jarrett Wilson rushes to the left against the University of Montana-Western on Aug. 28. (Jon Wick/5518 Designs)
  

    Montana Tech redshirt sophomore quarterback Jarrett Wilson rolls out left against the College of Idaho on Sept. 27. (Jon Wick/5518 Designs)