Four Lone Peak seniors find blue turf in their final Big Sky football game
By Jack Reaney ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Correction: This article previously stated that Lone Peak would play Arlee High School in their first round playoff game. Lone Peak will face Fort Benton High School.
Just as Lone Peak High School football has in multiple home games this year, they made an immediate statement on Friday, Oct. 20.
On the first play of the game, senior quarterback Juliusz Shipman tucked and ran into traffic. He changed direction, and then dodged and stiff-armed defenders on his long route to a 60-yard touchdown. After a quick punt by the Wardens of visiting Powell County High School (Deer Lodge), it took just two plays for Shipman to break free for his second rushing score. This time, Shipman scrambled 40 yards, creating an open field with an ankle-breaking cutback move.
“Everybody’s comin’ at him. He stops. And then they all run by him,” one fan observed from the sideline.
After the game, Shipman explained what inspired his performance.
“Just kinda playing for the seniors and everyone on the team. Just coming out, knowing we have to win the game and doing what I’ve been taught by my coaches to do,” he said.
Three offensive plays into the first quarter, the Big Horns led 15-0. By the end of the first quarter, the scoreboard showed 43-0.
Lone Peak celebrated five graduating seniors—Shipman, Aidan Germain, Charlie Distad, David Perdue and Bryce Houghteling—in a must-win season finale on Friday night at the Big Horn Coliseum. With their 64-18 victory, which included some rare extra-point kicks by Shipman and sophomore Ebe Grabow, the Big Horns earned their first-round playoff berth. Lone Peak will face the Fort Benton High School Longhorns on Saturday, Oct. 28.
Head coach Dustin Shipman said everyone played well against Deer Lodge, but he’s especially proud of the five seniors.
“I mean, we’ve been talking all week about what these kids have meant to the program… I’m really, really thrilled for them,” he said.
Coach Shipman said three of the five seniors were four-year starters.
“I think they had a zero-win season, a two-win season, last year a five-win season, and this year, to go six-and-three, finish in front of a good crowd at home with a victory, probably a playoff berth next week. I’m just really thrilled for the guys,” coach Shipman said.
David Perdue said he’s sad to play his last game on home turf. He said Lone Peak has the nicest field he’s ever played on.
“I’m glad we won. I’m glad we have more games upcoming, hopefully… Obviously it’s emotional, last game at home,” he added.
The running back rushed for a 35-yard touchdown and broke loose again for a 47-yard run—he was pushed out of bounds on the three-yard-line. Perdue praised his “amazing teammates” for being behind every big play, blocking for ball carriers like himself.
Charlie Distad said Lone Peak has the best home-field atmosphere in the conference, and it’s awesome to wrap up his career with a home win—Distad’s game highlights included a fumble recovery.
More Big Horn defense came from sophomore Eli Gale, who nabbed a pick-six for the Big Horns’ third touchdown in the third minute of the game, and junior Grady Towle, who belted a fearsome scream after his first quarter sack—Athletic Director John Hannahs tentatively declared that Towle is now Lone Peak’s all-time sack leader.
“It feels great,” Distad said of the dominant win. “It’s all the hard work that us seniors and all the other players on the team have put in. And all the coaches as well.”
Bryce Houghteling said it feels good to win, but he’s also sad to play his final home game.
“I wasn’t ready for this to be my last,” Houghteling said. He rushed for a three-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Houghteling credited the second-string players for holding things together while the starters took turns on the bench, resting up for playoffs.
Aidan Germain said the team’s depth and chemistry have improved throughout the season as younger players adjust to the pace of high school football. He’s excited for the team’s future: sophomores Ebe Grabow and Eli Gale already play key roles, and sophomore Jed Clack will be another name to remember next season.
“Matthew Tompkins, he’s gonna be a beast next year. Everybody—it’s really awesome to see,” Germain said.
Although playing his final home game is “a bummer,” Germain is excited to wrap up with a strong win. He caught an interception, rotated in at quarterback and jumped to grab a corner fade from Shipman for the team’s final regular season touchdown.
“I mean, it’s honestly crazy,” Germain said. “I’ve loved playing here. This atmosphere, this field with everyone who comes out to our games. It’s like nothing else.”
The Big Horn seniors are locked in for next week’s playoff matchup.
“I feel really confident,” Houghteling said. “Our team is running very strong off five wins, now, in a row. I think we’re ready.”
“I think we can beat any team that comes our way. We are more than capable… I’m ready, for sure,” Perdue said.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Germain said. “I think our team’s hungry, and I think if we work together as a team and play like we’ve been playing, we can come out with a win.”
“We started 1-3, and now we’ve [won] five in a row,” Juliusz Shipman said. “We’ve got a lot of momentum so I think we could do pretty well.”
Coach Shipman pointed out that his Big Horns beat two teams with one loss apiece, ranked fifth and sixth in the state.
“I think we can play with anybody in the state when we come ready to play,” he said.
