BILLINGS – The Midland Roundtable’s next Athlete of the Year finalist helped dominate the football field at Billings Senior.
Team captain Nolan Askelson accounted for all sorts of passing touchdowns and ran for a few more, earning all-state honors at quarterback.
But he admits he’d rather drill, than be drilled, which earned him all-state linebacker honors.
Helping Senior dominate on both sides of the ball, Askelson and his crew won 26 consecutive games and back-to-back State AA titles. During that run, no team stayed within single digits of the Broncs until last November’s 21-12 championship win over Helena High.
Askelson’s reward? A full-ride scholarship to play football at Montana State.
“It’s a great program right now,” said Askelson. “I think they’re going up. I think it’s pretty evident that they’re getting better. This coaching staff is (loaded with) awesome dudes, you get along with them, they’re high energy. They care about the players and the game, and that’s meant a lot to me. It was a big reason I picked them.”
Askelson understands the collegiate pecking order, but he’d love nothing more than to make an instant impact.
“I mean, if I can play I want to play. But, obviously, red-shirting would be good for me, too, just for a year to get some school done and stuff. But I love the game of football, so if I can play, I want to be out there playing,” he said.
The Midland Roundtable announces its male and female Athlete of the Year winners Wednesday, March 16 at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.
Former University of Montana women’s basketball coach Robin Selvig will be the banquet’s featured speaker.
