Eight straight great years of gridiron excellence, and the proof is in the playoffs.

Coach Jesse Allan and his St. Regis Tigers clinched an impressive eighth straight high school football playoff appearance in either Montana or Idaho, earning the latest berth with a 54-12 victory over Arlee in Arlee Friday.

Now 7-1 in conference and overall, the Tigers host Plains Thursday for senior night in St. Regis. The Tigers complete regular season play at Superior Oct. 23 in one last opportunity to possibly improve playoff position or even win the Western C title outright.

“With the win (over Arlee) we have clinched a spot in the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season in two different states,” Allan, who has been co-head coach or head coach for the Tigers all eight of those post-season years, said. “This is a pretty amazing accomplishment for our kids, program and communities.”

Although the majority of the Tigers are from St. Regis, neighboring communities Mullan and Alberton have provided varying numbers of players to the program as well over the years, including to this year’s team. The cooperative program in fact competed in Idaho, out of Mullan, and qualified for the playoffs in the Gem State, earlier this decade.

Back here in Big Sky country, players from all three schools contributed to the win in Arlee Friday.

Allan said Cameron Bolen forced fumbles by the Warriors on two first-quarter kickoff returns after early St. Regis touchdowns and the Tigers were able to convert those opportunities, building a four score lead by the end of the first quarter and never looking back after that.

Tucker Desoto, Nathan Bohn and Conner Lulis were once again the statistical leaders for the Tigers in Arlee.

TD Desoto as he is coming to be known, ended up gaining 141 yards rushing on 11 carries for two touchdowns and catching three passes for 37 yards and another TD, in addition to pulling down 11 tackles on defense.

Bohn played his usual outstanding all-around game, catching eight passes for 89 yards and a pair of touchdowns, packing the pigskin once for 48 yards and another score on offense, and intercepting two passes, recovering a fumble and securing nine tackles while leading the Tiger defense.

Lulis, as always it seems, capably directed the Tiger attack at quarterback, completing 14 of 18 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns, adding 54 yards rushing and another TD on eight carries.

Cael Sala, one of this season’s Mullan boys on the team, caught two Lulis aerials for another 58 yards.

Allan appreciates the diversity of weapons he has at his disposal with the Tigers.

“Multiple guys truly contributed in big ways Friday night,” he said. “Tucker had another good night on the ground, and Nathan showed again that he's one heck of a football player, he had an impact in all three phases of the game.”

This week’s foe, Plains fell to unbeaten Superior in Plains Friday.