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Three Forks sophomore Maya Noble looks for open yardage at last week's home Jamboree. Voice photo by Melissa Jenkins
The Three Forks High School Football team comes together prior to last week's game against Jefferson. Voice photo by Melissa Jenkins
Quarterback Arabella McCauley gets away from the Panther defense. Voice photo by Melissa Jenkins
After opening their inaugural season on the road at Hamilton High School, the Three Forks High School Flag Football program had its first opportunity to compete in front of home fans at a September 7 Jamboree against Jefferson and Glacier.
After a close 7-6 loss to Jefferson, Head Coach Maree Hanson said it is great to be able to have the new program in Three Forks.
“We are just one of a few states that are in this program, and this is the third season we’ve had it in Montana. To be a Class B school and to partake in it, I think, is a really big deal,” Hanson said.
With a large crowd in the stands, Sampson said it was really nice to have that much support from the community.
“Even the Jefferson community and people with Glacier traveled this far to support their girls in a predominantly boys sport. It is really great to see,” she said.
The student-athletes on the 2024 Three Forks High School Flag Football team include Hailey Williams, Claire Van Vleet, Arabella McCauley, Cammi Conaster, Emry Judd, Bella Jones, Maya Noble, Fallon Cardwell, Gracie Williams, Makenna Ewan, Alayna Payne, Devynn Judd, Anabelle Ewan, Ava Burgos-Gruby, and Sylviajean LaBonte.
“It’s great to see this big of a turnout. Having 18 girls come out for the team in the first year is a pretty big deal for this small of a school,” Hanson said.
It was a down-to-the-wire matchup with Jefferson, with Three Forks scoring on a long touchdown run from Hailey Williams and getting a huge interception from Fallon Cardwell.
After winning the first matchup against Jefferson at the Hamilton Jamboree, Hanson said they got a little bit in their heads the second time around.
“The first time they were pretty lenient about a lot of the rules, they just kind of let things go, and that’s something we’re going to have to tighten up on,” she said.
In an effort to grow girls’ flag football in Montana, the first three years of funding for the Three Forks program is being provided by the Arthur Blank Family Foundation.
After a Jamboree on September 14 at Jefferson, the Wolves will open the postseason at Divisionals scheduled for September 21 at East Helena. State is scheduled for the following week at Montana State University in Bozeman.
