Football: Big Horns win ‘heck of a game’ on Senior Night, Homecoming 

Ebe Grabow battles bruises, leg cramps to score four touchdowns  

By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR 

The Lone Peak High School football team came together and got the job done against Powell County High School (Deer Lodge) in front of a vibrant crowd for Homecoming Week and Senior Night. 

After being blanked on home turf the previous Friday, the Big Horns knew their homecoming game on Oct. 4 would determine how the rest of the season would unfold, according to head coach Dustin Shipman.  

“It was a test of toughness tonight,” Shipman said after the game, adding that the Big Horns and Wardens went blow-for-blow. 

In the second quarter, junior Ebe Grabow spent minutes on the turf after taking hard contact from multiple defenders—despite the scare, he returned two plays later and immediately caught a toe-tap touchdown—and he missed much of the third quarter due to apparent leg cramps.  

Otherwise, Grabow kept busy scoring four touchdowns, including the game’s deciding score—with four minutes left in the game, he took a direct snap on fourth-and-one for a dramatic 21-yard touchdown. Two possessions later, he grabbed an interception to seal the Big Horns’ win.  

“I just now told Ebe Grabow that was probably one of the toughest performances I’ve seen by a high school football player in my life,” coach Shipman said after the game.  

“Hats off to Deer Lodge,” Shipman added. “We’ve played them three, four years in a row now. And their coaches have got it going on, they’re building a program, they’ve got a lot of players out.” 

Shipman said Warden receiver Shawn Lombardi is probably the best player the Big Horns have faced this season. He beat countless tacklers with his speed and agility, helping the Wardens surge to a second quarter lead of 20-8.  

But the Wardens would score only once through the final two-and-a-half quarters. As the third quarter expired, Lombardi caught a screen pass and completely switched fields, scurrying behind the line of scrimmage for a 25-yard touchdown.  

Otherwise, the Big Horn defense stood up to the Wardens’ efficient passing game. Shipman credited defensive coordinator Adam Farr for making adjustments, notably blitzing more against Warden quarterback Kaiden Beck, who seemed to struggle under pressure. 

In a pivotal moment with one minute before halftime, senior Joe Gale brought pressure and sacked Beck, resulting in a turnover on downs.  

The Big Horns took over near midfield, trailing 20-14 with only one timeout. Quarterback Will Helms rushed three times—earning extra yards with a facemask penalty—and with two seconds remaining, he scrambled left for a two-yard, game-tying touchdown.  

The Big Horns held their momentum in the second half, backed by strong defense and Grabow’s heroic effort. 

With Friday’s 34-26 win, and two games remaining, the Big Horns will need to win both to make the Montana eight-man playoff tournament. If they lose at Lodge Grass or Flint Creek Co-Op (Drummond and Philipsburg), playoff chances will rest in the balance of other teams’ wins and losses. 

Seniors reflect on final home game  

Coach Shipman said the group of five seniors played their hearts out.  

He pointed out Jack Laxson, who has been impactful even after two years away from football. Laxson batted away multiple passes in the game’s final minutes.  

“It was a hard fight,” Laxson said after the game. “It was a dogfight… It was like street ball out there, it was fun.” 

Laxson moved to Big Sky in the end of fifth grade, and played football throughout middle school and freshman year, before taking a two-year break. He plans to attend Montana State University. 

“We’re gonna miss those guys,” Shipman told EBS. “Jose Chairez has been with us for four years, Joe Gale has been with us for four years. It’s the same every senior night, right? I miss ‘em.” 

Born and raised in Big Sky, Joe Gale has played football since sixth grade. He’ll remember beating Ennis his freshman year. 

Chairez has lived in Big Sky since fifth grade, and played football through high school. His favorite memory was making the playoffs in 2023. He has not decided which university he’d like to attend, but he wants to enter the medical field. 

He said everybody did their job and gave everything they had in their final home game. 

“It just means everything, because this is the last time I’m touching this field [in] a game,” Chairez told EBS. “I’ve really enjoyed playing for this team, and it just brings me closer to them as a family.”  

Tanner Slieff said although it was his final moments playing football at home, he’ll cherish the memories for the rest of his life. Slieff moved to Big Sky his freshman year, and shares a favorite memory with Gale. He plans to study business in college. 

“We’re working like a team,” Slieff told EBS. “We had chemistry tonight… We worked hard today. We played hard like no other. It was a heck of a game.”  

Team manager Walker Bagby said it’s been an honor to share the field with his fellow seniors throughout high school. Bagby moved to Big Sky in fourth grade. He’ll attend Montana State University and hopes to study film and photography. 

“I saw hard work, and when it really came down to it, pure motivation to win,” Bagby said. “Sent everyone home happy. It’s been such a fun ride.”  

Isaac Bedway moved to Big Sky three years ago, and started playing football this season. He plans to study in business but is unsure where. 

Grady Towle grew up in Big Sky, and has played football since seventh grade. Unfortunately, an injury kept him away from the game his senior year, but he enjoyed helping coach the Ophir Miners football team. Towle plans to join the U.S. Navy.  

He believes his class has a comeback spirit.  

“It’s kind of the thing for the season,” Towle said. “I mean we came back from that game, we were down at the start. We had kids come back—I mean, we had Jack Laxson who didn’t play for two years, had two huge pass stops. That’s what the senior class is, it’s just been resilience and coming back, and not giving up forever.”