BILLINGS -- Red Lodge's John Fitzgerald and Butte's Arie Grey are the head coaches for the 74th annual Montana East-West Shrine Game. The rosters for the game, which will be played July 18, 2020 in Billings, were released Christmas morning.
The Montana East-West Shrine Game is one of the oldest high school all-star football games in the country, with some of Montana's finest athletes competing in the game every year since 1947. The game raises money and awareness for the "expert orthopedic and burn care available at the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Spokane, Washington," according to a Shrine Game media release.
"In recent years, the Montana game has become the top Shrine Game in the nation for hospital donations. In the last ten years this game has raised nearly $1,000,000," the release continued.
Fitzgerald, a Columbus native who played in the 1997 Shrine Game and collegiately at the University of Montana, will lead the East Team. He started his coaching career in 2002 at Cut Bank and is in his second stint coaching the Red Lodge football program. The Rams advanced to the semifinals of the Class B state playoffs this year. Three of Fitzgerald's former players will join him on the East roster: receiver Braden Tomlin, defensive lineman Preston Erlich and outside linebacker Finnegan Davis.
The East roster also includes players from state champions Bozeman, Miles City, Fairview and Jordan. Bozeman is represented by running back Asher Croy, receivers Carter Ash and Brett Clark, tackle Tom Walkup and inside linebacker Kaelen Patton. Miles City has tackle Mason Harding, center Jacolby Mattoon and inside linebacker Aidan Barrows on the roster. Fairview's Cody Asbeck was selected as a specialist, and Jordan's Keenan Murnion was selected at outside linebacker.
Grey is a Deer Lodge native and also played in the 1997 Shrine Game. He continued his playing career at Montana State before entering the coaching ranks. Grey has been the head coach at Butte High for 12 years and led the Bulldogs to a runner-up finish this past fall. Five Bulldogs are on the West roster: safety Scout Allen, tackle Konor McClafferty, quarterback Tommy Mellott, running back Kameron Moreno and inside linebacker Kobe Moreno. Mellott was named the Montana Gatorade player of the year.
Cornerback Hank Dunn and outside linebacker Jake Kindel are also on the West roster after helping Eureka to the Class B state championship.
The rosters for the 74th annual Montana East-West Shrine Game are below.
EAST ROSTER
Head coach -- John Fitzgerald, Red Lodge.
Quarterbacks -- Josh Erbacher, Billings West; Conner Schwend, Hardin.
Running backs -- Demarcus Carr, Billings West; Asher Croy, Bozeman; Tanner Parsons, Shelby.
Wide receivers -- Carter Ash, Bozeman; Keeley Bake, Fairfield; Brett Clark, Bozeman; Cayden Redfield, Hardin; Braden Tomlin, Red Lodge.
Tight ends -- Nick Eliason, Billings Senior; Hunter Morse, Billings West.
Offensive tackles -- Sam Carson, Henry Wisewood (Calgary, Alberta); Mason Harding, Miles City; Kasee Henderson, Havre; Ricky Preese, Columbus; Tom Walkup, Bozeman.
Offensive guards -- Jaden Bienvenue, Billings West; Conner Klick, Fairfield; Quinn Springer, Havre.
Offensive centers -- Jacolby Mattoon, Miles City.
Defensive ends -- Justin Anderson, Browning; Alex Balkenbush, Billings Central; Cam Younger, Laurel.
Defensive linemen -- Preston Erlich, Red Lodge; Journey Grimsrud, Huntley Project; Trey Yates, Colstrip.
Inside linebackers -- Aidan Barrows, Miles City; Nelson Crisafulli, Glendive; Ben Held, Great Falls High; Kaelen Patton, Bozeman.
Outside linebackers -- Finnegan Davis, Red Lodge; Mason Dionne, Havre; Keenan Murnion, Jordan.
Cornerbacks -- Oran Nash-Bergen, Billings Senior; Bryce Nelson, Great Falls CMR; Tanner Smith, Malta.
Safeties -- Tel Lunde, Wibaux; Conner Ryan, Billings West.
Specialists -- Cody Asbeck, Fairview; Garrett Deikhans, Fort Benton.
Alternates
Quarterbacks -- Jake D'Agostino, Bozeman.
Running backs -- Makale Kembel, Roundup; Brock Proulx, Big Sandy; Ethan Renner, Laurel.
Wide receivers -- Josh Mason, Billings Skyview; Ed Murnion, Jordan; Charlie Parkan, Billings Central; Caden Rettig, North Star.
Tight ends -- Mason Yochum, Billings Central.
Offensive tackles -- Ethan Cooper, Bozeman; Stetson Lefurgey, Fort Benton; Conor Reitler, Billings Skyview; Kyle Smith, Billings Senior.
Offensive guards -- Kirby Basta, Glendive; Austin Dennis, Park City; Nathan McAvoy, Miles City.
Offensive centers -- Will Harr, Great Falls CMR; Quinn Pray, Great Falls Central.
Defensive ends -- Clint Darlington, Big Sandy; Morgan Harmon, Billings Senior.
Defensive linemen -- Garrett Dostal, Billings Senior; Zayne Konkol, Belgrade; Jason Langen, Bozeman; Brody Schwartz, Billings Senior.
Inside linebackers -- Duane Otto, Lewistown.
Outside linebackers -- McCade O'Reilly, Bozeman.
Cornerbacks -- Kordell Ellis, Huntley Project; Tyson Krahe, Great Falls High; Hudson Willett, Bozeman.
Safeties -- Ridge Sargent, Westby-Grenora; Alex Schriver, Fairview; Zach Tallman, Billings West.
WEST ROSTER
Head coach -- Arie Grey, Butte.
Quarterbacks -- Tommy Mellott, Butte; Carson Rostad, Hamilton.
Running backs -- Jaxon Lee, Missoula Sentinel; Kameron Moreno, Butte.
Wide receivers -- Drew Deck, Kalispell Glacier; Bridger Grovom, Helena Capital; Parker Johnston, Helena Capital; Preston Jones, Missoula Sentinel; Guido Ossello, Butte Central; Avery Stiles, Jefferson.
Tight ends -- Sam Coffin, West Yellowstone.
Offensive tackles -- Konor McClafferty, Butte; Spencer Oldenburger, Manhattan; Aaron Richards, Butte Central.
Offensive guards -- Maddoxx Fucci, Kalispell Glacier; Coen Guisti, Jefferson; Chris Schedlbauer, Libby.
Offensive centers -- Max Anderson, Kalispell Flathead; Brandon Spencer, Missoula Sentinel.
Defensive ends -- Josh Dyk, Manhattan; Hank Rugg, Frenchtown; Tanner Russell, Kalispell Flathead.
Defensive linemen -- Jaden Lamb, Townsend; Hank Nuce, Kalispell Glacier; Monte Pearson, Helena Capital.
Inside linebackers -- Cooper Hoffman, Dillon; Zane McCormick, Helena Capital; Kobe Moreno, Butte.
Outside linebackers -- Hayden Ferguson, Helena High; Tucker Jones, Hamilton; Jake Kindel, Eureka.
Cornerbacks -- Cade Baker, Frenchtown; Hank Dunn, Eureka; Nate Turner, Bishop O'Byrne (Canada); Lane Veltkamp, Manhattan; Ryker Wenderoth, Polson.
Safeties -- Scout Allen, Butte; Thomas McGree, Butte Central; Jett Rebish, Missoula Big Sky.
Specialists -- Trey Green, Alberton-Superior; Rollie Worster, Missoula Hellgate.
Alternates
Running backs -- Devin Beale, Whitefish; Kadyn Craigle, Helena Capital; Landon Duce, Hamilton; Miguel Salinas, West Yellowstone.
Wide receivers -- Brandon Colandonato, Missoula Hellgate; Ben Maehl, Missoula Big Sky; Trever Neumann, Butte Central; Kyler Tesch, Helena High.
Offensive tackles -- Tanner Marshall, Libby; Jade Morast, Dillon.
Offensive guards -- Lucas Kingston, Butte; Keith Kipperhan, Deer Lodge.
Offensive centers -- Preston Hales, Dillon.
Defensive ends -- Derek Nygaard, Jefferson; Booker Perkins, Helena High.
Defensive linemen -- Dakota Friesen, Missoula Hellgate; Keyshawn Newby, Helena High.
Inside linebackers -- Logan Drown, Whitefish; Nate Konen, Twin Bridges; Chet McCully, Eureka; Nelson Smith, Darby.
Outside linebackers -- Pete Gibson, Dillon; Bo Kelly, Polson; Bradley Nieves, Columbia Falls; Quinn Sullivan, Butte.
Cornerbacks -- Justus Peterson, Dillon; Chance Sheldon-Allen, Kalispell Flathead.
Safeties -- Brandon Knudsen, Hot Springs; Jaxson Yanzich, Jefferson.
