Montana East-West Shrine Game rosters announced

Several local football players have been honored as participants in the 73rd Annual Montana East-West Shrine Game.

The Montana Shrine Game is the premier all-star game in Montana and has a long history of distinguished players and coaches.

It is also the oldest, continuous running high school all-star football game in the United States, according to a press release from the player selection chairman.

Every year since 1947, Montana high school players have been selected to compete and to raise money to help make the public aware of the expert orthopedic and burn care available at the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Spokane, Wash.

In recent years, the Montana game has become the top Shrine Game in the nation for donations.

In the last 10 years, the game has raised nearly $1 million.

The game will be played July 20, 2019 in Butte.

The West Team will be coached by Mike Cutler of Flint Creek (Drummond/Philipsburg), while the East Team will be coached by Les Meyer of Fairfield.

Players were nominated by their schools and coaches across the state.

Forty Montana football players are picked for each team, as well as two players from Calgary, Alberta, — one for the East and one for the West.

On the roster for the West are: Ethan Baines (6-3 210, DE), Glacier, Dillon Botner, (6-6 240, TE), Whitefish, Blake Counts (5-11 205, RB), Flathead, Anders Epperly (5-11 180, WR), Bigfork, Logan Gilliard (6-3 255, C), Bigfork, Carver Gillman (5-10 175, K), Whitefish, Tanner Gove (5-10 220, ILB) Columbia Falls, Anthony Jones (6-1 200, WR) Flathead, Gage Karlin (6-2 305, G) Columbia Falls, Sebastian Koch (6-3 235, G), Flathead, Jaden MacNeil (5-9 165, QB) Flathead, Colten McPhee (5-10 200, RB) Columbia Falls, Drew Morgan (6-2 190, CB) Columbia Falls, Andrew Siderius (6-4 250, T) Flathead, Randy Stultz (5-10 185, S), Bigfork, and Keegan Wold (6-1 250, C) Whitefish.

Local players who are alternates on the West Team are: Jacob Beich (6-4, 240, T) Columbia Falls, Preston Blain (5-10, 190, RB) Glacier, Mason Davis (6-0 190, DE) Eureka, Parker Green (6-2 205,OLB) Columbia Falls, Patrick Hammond (6-4 220, DL) Flathead, Garrett Lally (6-4 265, T) Glacier, Gunnar Landrum (5-11, 190, ILB) Flathead, Zach Pletcher (6-3 215, DE) Columbia Falls, Lane Sapa (5-8 175, S) Columbia Falls, Logan Siblerud (6-3 180, TE) Flathead, and Nico Young (6-2 250, G) Glacier.