The dust has finally settled on the frozen turf, and if you weren't huddled under a blanket in Kalispell or Billings this past November, you missed one for the history books. Honestly, trying to keep up with mt high school football scores feels like a full-time job some weeks. One minute you're looking at a powerhouse like Billings Central Catholic cruising through a 23-game win streak, and the next, a freshman quarterback is leading a massive upset in the state finals.
That’s basically Montana football in a nutshell. It’s unpredictable. It’s gritty. It’s also exactly why we love it.
The Glacier Wolfpack’s Perfect Run
Let’s talk about the Class AA title game. Glacier went 12-0. Think about that for a second. In a state where weather can flip a game on its head in a single quarter, staying perfect is almost impossible. They faced Billings West in the final—a rematch from earlier in the year—and it was a defensive slugfest.
At halftime, it was tied 3-3. You could feel the tension in the stands. But then Jackson Presley and Asher Knopik decided they’d had enough of the stalemate. They both found the end zone in the third quarter, and the Wolfpack defense slammed the door shut. Final score: 16-3. It ended an 11-year title drought for Glacier, and they finished the season as the undisputed No. 1 in the state rankings.
The Frenchtown Upset Nobody Predicted
If the AA game was a defensive masterclass, the Class A final was pure drama. Everyone—and I mean everyone—expected Billings Central Catholic to repeat. They were the defending champs. They hadn't lost in forever. Howie Martin was under center.
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Then Frenchtown happened.
Down 14-3 early, the Broncs looked like they were in trouble. Then their starting QB, Dawson Rodoni, went down. Enter Cody Forthofer. A freshman. You’ve gotta feel for a kid in that spot, but Forthofer didn't just fill in; he took over. He threw for two scores and ran for another, leading Frenchtown to a 31-21 victory. It was their first title since 2009. People are still talking about that comeback in the diners in Frenchtown. It’s the kind of story that makes high school sports so much better than the pros sometimes.
Small Town Power: Manhattan and the Class B Dominance
Moving over to Class B, the Manhattan Tigers finally got back to the mountain top. They’d been to three straight championship games and kept coming up short. This year, they weren't taking no for an answer. They played their archrivals, Three Forks, who are only about 12 miles down the road.
Manhattan took control early, leading 21-7 at the half. But the real story was the second half. The Tigers held the ball for over 18 minutes. Basically, they just sucked the life out of the game. Three Forks couldn't get their offense back on the field, and Manhattan walked away with a 28-7 win.
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Why These Scores Matter for 2026
You might think once the scores are in, the story is over. Not even close. These games are the foundation for what we’re going to see next fall. Recruiters are already circling names like Matt Ludwig from Billings West and Jackson Presley from Glacier.
- Jackson Presley (Glacier): Finished with 27 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions.
- Kanon Reichman (Three Forks): Led the state in passing yards with 2,675.
- Howie Martin (Billings Central): Despite the final loss, his 71% completion rate is elite.
If you’re tracking mt high school football scores to see where the talent is heading, these are the guys to watch. The 2026 recruiting rankings are already looking deep for Montana, which isn't always the case for a state with our population.
The 6-Player and 8-Player Wild West
We can’t talk about Montana football without mentioning the 6 and 8-player ranks. This is where the scores get truly wild. In the 8-player bracket, Flint Creek (the Drummond/Philipsburg co-op) and Scobey/Opheim were the titans of the season.
In the 6-player world, it was all about Chester-Joplin-Inverness (CJI) and Grass Range/Winnett. These games are high-scoring, fast, and played in some of the most remote corners of the state. If you’ve never seen a 6-player game where the final score looks like a basketball game—something like 78-62—you’re missing out.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Montana Football
People from out of state think it’s all about the running game because of the cold. Sure, being able to pound the rock helps when it's 10 degrees in November. But look at the stats. We have quarterbacks throwing for over 2,000 yards in 10-game seasons. The spread offense has made its way to the Big Sky State, and it's here to stay.
The complexity of the coaching is also underrated. Seeing Frenchtown adjust on the fly with a freshman QB in a state final isn't luck. It's high-level preparation.
Staying Ahead for Next Season
If you're a fan, a parent, or just someone who likes to win the office pool, you need to look beyond the final scores. Watch the JV rosters. Look at the co-ops. Small schools are merging more than ever to keep programs alive, and those combined rosters are creating some absolute powerhouses.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Track the Freshman Class: Keep a very close eye on Cody Forthofer at Frenchtown; he's now the benchmark for young talent in the state.
- Monitor Realignment: The MHSA often adjusts classifications based on enrollment; keep an eye on Class A schools that might be teetering on the edge of moving to AA.
- Offseason Camps: Follow the Montana State and University of Montana summer camps to see which players are getting the most "look" from the Griz and Bobcats.
- Check the Brackets Early: The 2026 playoff structures usually get firmed up by late summer; knowing who has the home-field path early is a massive advantage for predicting the next state champ.
The 2025 season gave us everything: undefeated runs, freshman heroes, and rivalries that lived up to the hype. While the fields are currently under a foot of snow, the work for the next set of mt high school football scores has already begun in the weight rooms.