The Box Elder Bears are football champions in the state of Montana. The team traveled down to Bridger on Saturday and beat the Scouts, (84-56). It was the most points scored in a 6-man state title game ever and was the first championship in the history of the Box Elder football program.
New Media Broadcasters spoke with head coach Thomas Dilworth and he shared the critical moment in the second half when the game went the Bears’ way and how the defense got the stops needed to pull away.
“I think it was just nerves that first half,” Dilworth said. “We knew what we wanted to do. The kids did an excellent job studying film (that week).”
“We planned a couple days on that onside (kick, which flipped the game from a 38-36 halftime deficit to 20 points unanswered in less than six minutes),” Dilworth continued. “We worked really hard on that.’
“At halftime, we just talked about containing (Bridger quarterback Gage) Goltz. We had a plan to not let him run,” Dilworth said. “Once we got that corrected and got him forced into starting to throw the ball a little bit, that kinda turned for us and we were able to step it up on defense and get the stops we wanted and the offense just started clicking.”
Most of the roster for the Box Elder football team also played basketball this past season. Between the two programs, the Bears are (37-0) since the conclusion of a (3-5) football campaign last season. Dilworth said why this group of kids is so special in his eyes.
“Well, I think they’re arguably one of the best teams to win it,” Dilworth said. “We lost one of the best players in the state (in receiver Tracen Jilot) in the semifinal game (against Hot Springs, then) set a record for scoring in the final.”
“I think that just speaks to what a team they are,” Dilworth said. “It’s just not just one individual effort.”
“(Senior quarterback) Tuarie (Stiffarm-Rosette) is an exceptional leader (who broke the record for most touchdowns thrown in a game with 11, most passing yards in a game with 673, and most pass completions in a game with 46),” Dilworth said. “These young guys, these are freshmen and sophomores stepping up (and) playing big. We had a great season, but I think the best is yet to come for Box Elder football.”
Congratulations to the 2024 6-man football champions in the state of Montana, the Box Elder Bears.
