BILLINGS — Kameron Rauser knows what this week is all about.
“Just kind of taking it all in for my one last hurrah in high school,” the former Townsend star said. “Just getting me ready to ship me off and go to the next level.”
Rauser is one of a handful of Class B all-stars who will continue their football careers after Saturday’s game, but he and Tyson Racht have something special: They’re the only pair of high school teammates headed to the same college.
“It was a decision we made separately,” Racht said, “but in the end we’re both super happy we’re going to have the opportunity to go through it all together and help each other along the way.”
It’s actually pretty wild how many similarities these two have. They’re trading Bulldogs for Bulldogs – from Townsend to Montana Western, where both will play defensive back. And both are listed between 5-foot-10 and 5-11, weighing 170 pounds, which keeps them competitive.
“I think we’re going to keep pushing each other to be our absolute best,” Racht said. “We’re going to keep holding each other accountable, and we’re both such similar body types that we’re able to help each other and push each other through.”
They do say goodbye to one connection while playing for the South team this week – touchdowns, from quarterback Racht to wide receiver Rauser.
“Today when we were throwing some routes, it just felt like another practice in Townsend,” Rauser said.
“When a play breaks down, we both exactly know where we want to go with it,” Racht added. “It’s just cool. We’ve been able to make a lot of plays in practice, and hopefully we can just keep pushing and do that in the game. We’d both like to see that.”
It would be the perfect ending before a new beginning.
“It’d be a nice last little thing to end it. It’d be cool to connect one more time,” said Racht.
“I definitely want to be in the end zone, just so I can say I scored in one of my last games,” Rauser said, “and I hope it’s from Tyson. I think that’d be the coolest part.”
The 31st annual Class B all-star game is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at Rocky Mountain College. The South and North have each won 15 games in the series.
