Football in Montana isn't just a Friday night distraction. It's the lifeblood of towns like Kalispell, Manhattan, and Frenchtown. If you've lived here long enough, you know the feeling of the first frost hitting the bleachers and the smell of concession stand popcorn mixing with the mountain air. By the time November rolls around, the montana high school football standings become the most debated topic in every diner from Libby to Wibaux.
The 2025 season just wrapped up, and honestly, it was one for the history books. We saw dynasties fall, droughts end, and some of the gutsiest performances by teenage athletes you'll ever witness. If you missed the playoff run or just want to see how the final rankings shook out before the 2026 spring camps start, here is the real story of where everyone landed.
The Wolfpack’s Perfection in Class AA
Kalispell Glacier finally did it. After back-to-back years of heartbreak in the state final, the Wolfpack put together a flawless 12-0 season. They didn't just win; they dominated. In a defensive masterclass during the championship game, they stifled Billings West 16-3. It was a gritty, ugly, beautiful game that ended an 11-year title drought for the program.
Jackson Presley and Asher Knopik were the heroes of the second half, finding the end zone when the game was locked in a 3-3 halftime stalemate. It’s kinda wild to think that Billings West held them that close for two quarters. West eventually finished at 10-2, securing that second spot in the standings, but they just couldn't crack the Glacier code when it mattered most.
The AA landscape looked like this at the finish:
🔗 Read more: Buddy Hield Sacramento Kings: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
- Glacier (12-0): Undisputed kings.
- Billings West (10-2): Always a bridesmaid this year, but a powerhouse nonetheless.
- Gallatin (9-2): A solid third, proving Bozeman is still a football town.
- Big Sky (8-3): Missoula's top representative in the final four.
Frenchtown’s Giant-Slaying Run in Class A
If you want to talk about a "shock to the system," look no further than Class A. Billings Central Catholic had been the No. 1 team in the state rankings for basically the entire year. They were riding a 23-game win streak. They looked untouchable.
Then came the Frenchtown Broncs.
In a 31-21 upset that people in Frenchtown will be talking about for the next twenty years, the Broncs took down the Rams. What makes it even more insane? Their starting quarterback, Dawson Rodoni, went down with an injury. Freshman Cody Forthofer stepped in and played like a seasoned pro, throwing for two scores and running for another. It was pure Montana magic.
The final montana high school football standings for Class A showed Frenchtown at 11-1, followed by Billings Central at 11-1. Even though their records were identical, the trophy sits in the Frenchtown case.
💡 You might also like: Why the March Madness 2022 Bracket Still Haunts Your Sports Betting Group Chat
Small Town Pride: Class B and the C-Divisions
Manhattan is a town of about 2,000 people, but when the Tigers are playing, it feels like the center of the universe. They capped off a perfect 12-0 season by beating their archrivals, Three Forks, 28-7 in the Class B final. It was their first title since 2020. They basically sucked the oxygen out of the room by holding the ball for 18 minutes in the second half. That’s just old-school, smash-mouth football.
In the 6-man world, Chester-Joplin-Inverness (CJI) took home the gold in a double-overtime thriller against Grass Range-Winnett. The final score was 46-38. If you’ve never watched 6-man football, you're missing out on 100-yard sprints and scores that look more like basketball tallies.
Final Championship Results at a Glance
- Class AA: Glacier 16, Billings West 3
- Class A: Frenchtown 31, Billings Central 21
- Class B: Manhattan 28, Three Forks 7
- 6-Man: CJI 46, Grass Range-Winnett 38 (2OT)
What the Numbers Don't Tell You
The standings are just numbers on a screen, but the context matters. Take a team like East Helena. They finished 8-3 in Class A. For a program that’s relatively new, that's a massive win. Or look at Glasgow/Hinsdale/Nashua in Class B. They went 11-1 and were a juggernaut until they hit the Three Forks wall in the semifinals.
The strength of schedule in Montana is notoriously difficult to calculate because of the travel. When a team from Kalispell has to bus six hours to Great Falls or Billings, it takes a toll. That’s why Glacier’s undefeated run is even more impressive. They didn't just play well; they survived the road.
📖 Related: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
While we are currently in the thick of basketball and wrestling season, the MHSA has already been busy planning for next fall. There is a lot of talk about moving practice start dates up to early August to accommodate expanded playoffs.
If you're tracking the montana high school football standings for the upcoming season, keep an eye on the freshman classes. As we saw with Cody Forthofer at Frenchtown, the next generation is already ready to take over.
Next Steps for Montana Football Fans:
- Check the 2026 Calendar: The MHSA has tentatively set the first date for football competition as September 1, 2026.
- Watch the Transfer Portal: While not as chaotic as the college level, keep an eye on coaching changes in the AA and A ranks during the spring.
- Support Local Camps: Spring ball and summer camps start in June. These are the best places to see which underclassmen are poised to break into the starting lineup.
- Review the Roster: Most teams lose their core seniors in May. Now is the time to look at the junior varsity stats to see who is moving up.
The 2025 season is over, but in Montana, the countdown to the next kickoff has already begun.