A lot has changed in Montana’s 6-Man high school football division over the past few years, but a lot has stayed the same too. Through plenty of realignment and programs going between 6-Man and 8-Man, the biggest constant has been the dominance of the Eastern division, which has captured the last three state championships. The last two title games have been All-Eastern affairs, featuring Jordan and Wibaux.
While the 6-Man season is set to begin with games this week, conference games have been moved up. Some leagues such as the East have been delayed a week. Jordan, the defending state champion, won’t start the season until Sept. 4 at Richey-Lambert. The 6-Man East will even have a new feel after the departure of Westby-Grenora, the 2017 state champion to 8-man football. As a whole, 6-Man football is going from four divisions to five this year and here’s a look ahead to the 2020 season.
While Jordan had six players earn all-state honors in 2019, only two of them return in Derek Reis and Dawson Murnion. Wibaux is also losing some top-notch talent, but returns two all-state performers in its own right in Colton Miske and Wyatt Davis.
Richey-Lambert, another perennial contender in the East, also returns all-state standout Grady Gonsioroski and will be looking for yet another playoff berth after losing out in the first round to Big Sandy last year. Speaking of the Pioneers, the Northern division champions return star running back Kade Strutz and fellow all-state performer Parker Proulx.
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