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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Blake Thelen named starting QB for Badlands Bowl

Hailey Sutton SWX
The 2019 Badlands Bowl roster was announced on December 12. It’s no surprise that Great Falls High senior Blake Thelen was at the top of the list, and named the starting quarterback alongside Bozeman’s Kris Brown.

Hailey Sutton / SWX

According to MaxPreps, in 2018 Thelen averaged just over 273 yards per game, passing for 3,005 total yards. He completed 228 of his 365 attempted passes, 28 of which were touchdowns. Aside from his dominant throwing, he also used his 6’3” frame to get into the end zone himself. He finished his senior year with 8 rushing touchdowns. Thelen said he is appreciative of the opportunity and support of the Montana community. “I think it’s just an honor because it’s just every senior in Montana, just a big pool of players that could get it, and the fact that I got it was pretty nice,” he said. “It just says that people like what I do on the field, on and off the field, obviously, and I just couldn’t be more appreciative of how I got honored for that.” Several other recognizable players were also named to the list, including Thelen’s teammate Kyle Torgerson, Fairfield’s Ryder Meyer and Dawson Allen, and GFCC’s Noah Ambuehl. You can find the full roster below: HEAD COACH: Rob Stanton, Billings West. Assistant coaches : Matt Hollowell, Billings West Kane Claunch, Billings West Jim Stanton, Billings Central Les Meyer, Fairfield Greg Horton Great Falls Central QUARTERBACK: Blake Thelen, Great Falls High Kris Brown, Bozeman RUNNING BACK: Blake Counts, Kalispell Flathead Joe Olson, Bozeman WIDE RECIEVER: Jesse Owens, Billings West Dawson Allen, Fairfield Noah Ambuehl, Great Falls Central Ryan Simpson, Bozeman Kyle Torgerson, Great Falls High TIGHT END: Ryan Lonergan, Bozeman CENTER: Justus Perkins, Bozeman Maverick Roberts, Billings Central GUARD: Sebastian Koch, Kalispell Flathead Nico Young, Kalispell Glacier TACKLE: Holden Sampson, Helena High Sam Gray, Billings Central Andrew Siderius, Kalispell Flathead DEFENSIVE LINE: Patrick Hammond, Kalispell Flathead Ethan Baines, Kalispell Glacier Conner Paul, Billings West Marcus Wehr, Billings Central. LINEBACKER: JJ Lindsay, Billings West Ryan Tirrell, Missoula Loyola Alex Johnson, Helena High Wes Jamison, Lewistown Max Evenson, Billings Senio. DEFENSIVE BACK: Chrishon Dixon, Billings Central Kade Wilcox, Billings West Trevin Gradney, Billings West Wyatt Brusven, Shelby Ryder Meyer, Fairfield Jaden MacNeil, Kalispell Flathead Zach Spiroff, Helena High Lucas Gibb, Billings West. ALTERNATES: Quarterback — Joe Byorth, Billings Central; Mitch Norslein, Lewistown; Rylan Ortt, Missoula Sentinel. Running back — Jack Studer, Billings Central; Preston Blaine, Kalispell Glacier. Wide receiver — Cam Rothie, Hamilton; Anthony Jones, Kalispell Flathead; Tanner Trafton, Lewistown; Cooper Waterson, Missoula Loyola. Tight end — Logan Kennedy, Laurel. Offensive line — Kobe Nelson, Billings West; Spencer Warren, Bozeman; Keegan Mires, Glendive; Garrison Poetzl, Billings Senior; Riley Allen, Kalispell Flathead; Carter Slade, Billings West. Defensive line — Carter Hughes, Sidney; Nick Konesky, Great Falls CMR; Alaric Greil, Helena Capital; Mason Harrison, Lewistown; Gunnar Hegg, Billings Senior. Linebacker — Cole Crosby, Kalispell Glacier, Tristan Hirsch, Miles City; Riley Dickinson, Great Falls Central; Brody Grebe, Roundup; Hugh Edwards, Billings West; Tyler Walker, Dillon; Michael Nehring, Manhattan. Defensive back — Tucker Greenwell, Great Falls CMR; Duncan Kraft, Billings Central; Jake Clinton, Lewistown; Cade Dschaak, Wibaux; Tyson Racht, Townsend.