Everyone in the state knows about one element of Billings Senior’s explosive backfield in quarterback Junior Bergen, but don’t let that overshadow tailback Jacob Miller. Miller is listed at 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds, but he packs a punch.
“I like to think that I’m short but I’m not small. There’s a difference there. It’s just a mental thing out there. You’ve just got to go hard and go every play," Miller said.
“Having watched Jacob run the ball in middle school, he’s been a special, special athlete that way," Billings Senior head coach Chris Murdock said. "Maybe having an older brother that would beat up on him, maybe that’s part of it, too, but he’s just an extremely good athlete.”
Miller is blessed with tremendous acceleration, vision and wiggle, which has allowed him to thrive behind Senior’s hogs up front.
“I think we have one of the best lines in the state for one of the best teams in the state. You can’t do anything without a good line. It really makes the whole game," said Miller.
“They don’t expect any accolades or anything like that," Murdock said. "They’re blue-collar guys that are willing to just lead the way for the other guys to get yards and get touchdowns.”
Several time this season Miller has watched Bergen break loose a long scoring play. Miller busted one free against Great Falls CMR on Oct. 16 and got to enjoy the herd of Broncs stampeding after him to celebrate.
“I want to see him just break one and go because he gets those eight yards then it’s a shoe-string tackle here or there. It was fun to see him break one off finally," said Murdock.
Bergen and Miller provide a one-two punch in the backfield as explosive as any in the state. As defenses key in on Bergen, the holes open up for Miller.
“As a guy that likes to coach defense, when you have a quarterback like Junior that can open up the game, it keeps you up at night and it forces you to give opportunities to other players, like Jacob," Murdock said. "Our O-line, whether they’re blocking for Jacob or Junior, they do a really wonderful job executing and creating lanes.”
Senior’s vaunted rushing attack takes to the road to face Bozeman Gallatin on Friday night in its final tune-up before postseason play.
