Wolves to open season at Bobcat Stadium

For the second straight season, the Three Forks High School football team will open the season with a matchup against perennial Class B power Missoula Loyola. After playing last season at Washington Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, this year's season opener will take place on August 30 at 7 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman.

"We get to play in Bobcat Stadium, which in turn will be an awesome experience for the kids. It's so cool that a lot of these kids get to play in the two best stadiums in Montana in back-to-back years," said Head Coach Connor Sullivan. "Loyola is a great program, and we will be tested again right off the bat. We're excited, the kids are excited, let's go play ball."

After last year's banner campaign, which included the program's first playoff victory in decades with a win at Malta and a trip to the Class B Quarterfinals, Sullivan said the returning players really attacked the weight room and carried that throughout the summer.

"The offseason is so important. We also had great numbers show up all summer for open fields. We're ahead of schedule, which is awesome. Here in camp, the install is coming a lot smoother to the kids," he said.

The Wolves officially opened practice on August 16, and Sullivan was pleased with the number of players who will play for the 2024 squad.

"We had a great turnout number-wise. We're in the low 40's, and the kids are excited to get back out there," Sullivan said.

Senior leadership will be pivotal for the 2024 Wolves team. Seniors on the 2024 team are Dylan Swenson, Sawyer Andersen, Logan Douma, Hunter Feddes, Dylan Andersen, Carten Allen, Carson Lattimore, Josh Barnett, Thomas Rowan, Drydan Frisinger, and Josh Delger.

"I'm very excited for this group. We're going to lean on these guys throughout the year, and so far, they have shown great leadership vocally, and they all lead by example. They know the standard, and they the know the culture that has been built, they're demonstrating that every day to these younger classmen," Sullivan said.

According to Sullivan, who will be entering his sixth season as Head Coach, the underclassmen getting experience in two playoff games last season was huge for the program.

"They've been there, and now they know what to expect and how to approach it. Anytime you get on the field, that's a chance to improve and refine your tool bag. These younger kids are hungry, and you can see that by the way they play. They want to learn, they want to be coached, and they want to be challenged. We talk about loving the process more than the result. Buy into that process, and the result will take care of itself. So far, the upperclassmen have pushed that, and the younger kids are following," he said.

The Wolves will have a new starting quarterback in 2024, with sophomore Kanon Reichman taking the reins from Shane Williams.

With two weeks of fall practice from August 16 to the opener on August 30, Sullivan said it helps anytime you get a chance to get reps for the quarterback.

"He (Kanon) showed up all throughout the summer for open fields and summer lifts. We're excited to see what he can do this year. He's an attention to detail kid. Like many others, he wants to be coached and challenged to be the best he can be," Sullivan said.

This year's Three Forks team will return a group of strong players on both the offensive and defensive line. Sullivan said the line will be very critical for the success of this year's team.

"It always starts up front with those guys. It's a great group of kids with a very strong work ethic. They're excited to put the pads on and get after it," he said.

Looking towards the season opener, Sullivan, a former standout tight end for Montana State, said returning to Bobcat Stadium will be bittersweet.

"Those were a good five years that I spent there. Bozeman was good to me. I have memories and friends that will last a lifetime. I wouldn't have changed a thing. I look at it like, 'one last hoorah.'" Sullivan said.