Columbia Falls
Coach: Jackson Schweikert (Idaho State ’91), first season, 0-0 at Columbia Falls and overall.
Last made playoffs: 2010, lost in quarterfinals to Miles City.
Players to watch: WR/DT Dylan Watkins, 6-0, 210, sr.; WR/CB Colin King, 6-3, 180, sr.; QB/DB Jared Trinastich, 6-4, 200, jr.; OL/DL Tyler Volkman, 5-11, 250.
Frenchtown
Coach: Kyle Rausch (Montana-Western 2003), first season, 0-0 at Frenchtown and overall.
Last made playoffs: 2010, lost in first round to Polson.
Starters returning: 8 offense, 7 defense
Players to watch: RB/DB Dan Lebsock, 6-0, 160, sr.; RB/LB David Anderson, 6-0, 185, sr.; OL/DE Brady Sawyer, 6-0, 240, sr.; FB/LB Logan Fisher, 5-10, 160, sr.; QB/DB John Chapman, 6-2, 160, jr.; OL/DL Kevin Hodges, 6-0, 250, jr.
Libby
Coach: Neil Fuller (Concordia-Moorehead), 10th year, 57-35 at Libby and overall.
Last made playoffs: 2011, lost in first round to Hamilton.
Starters returning: 7
Players to watch: TE/DE Craig Nelson; K Pat Valentine; WR/DB Lane Lusher; QB Jared Winslow
Polson
Coach: Scott Wilson (Montana 1992), 12th year, 74-34 at Polson and overall.
Last made playoffs: 2011, lost in quarterfinals to Miles City
Starters returning: 5 offense, 6 defense
Players to watch: OL/DL Riley Sampson, 6-3, 250, sr.; OL/DL Eric Williamson, 6-2, 200, sr.; OL/DL Dan LaFranier, 6-4, 225, sr.; RB/SS Will Davey, 6-0, 200, sr.; FB/LB Taylor Pitts, 5-9, 190, sr.; FB/LB Beau Mills, 5-10, 185, sr.
Whitefish
Coach: Chad Ross (Arizona 1995), second year, 6-11 at Whitefish and overall.
Last made playoffs: 2011, lost in first round to Stevensville.
Starters returning: 5 offense, 5 defense
Players to watch: OL/LB Jake May, 6-0, 235, sr.; OL/DL Wolf Zinke, 6-5, 245, sr.; WR/DB Logan Harwood, 6-0, 150, sr.; RB/DB Shane Marcial, 5-10, 155, sr.; RB/LB Calub Thilmony, 5-11, 190, jr.; RB/DB Sean Foley, 5-9, 160, jr.; OL/DE Dakota Beatty, 6-0, 190, sr.
Southwestern A capsules
Butte Central
Coach: Don Peoples (Carroll College ’86), 154-65 in 24th year at Central.
Last made playoffs: 2010, lost in semifinals.
Starters returning: 9 offense, 9 defense.
Players to watch: TE-DE Connor McGree, 6-3, 215, jr.; C-DT Frank Joyce, 5-9, 220, sr.; G-DT Connor Schulte, 5-10, 220, jr.; WR-CB Kale Guldseth, 5-8, 140, jr.; RB-SS Joe Joyce, 5-10, 170, sr.; QB-FS Brady Tippett, 5-10, 180, sr.
Corvallis
Coach: Russ Hendrickson (Montana ’94), 16-37 in seventh year at Corvallis.
Last made playoffs: 2008, lost in first round.
Starters returning: 4 offense, 4 defense.
Players to watch: QB/DB Branden Butt, 6-3, 185, sr.; RB/SS Blake Sylvester, 6-1, 180, sr.; OL\DL Austin Gagnon, 6-3, 235, sr.; RB/LB Ryan Lewis, 6-5, 220, so.; RB/DB Jaron Mills, 5-6, 150, so.; WR/LB Chaney Waldo, 5-11, 175, jr.; OL/DL Tucker Neville, 6-2, 225, sr.
Dillon
Coach: Terry Thomas (Montana ‘80), 181-63 in 26th season at Dillon, 203-74 overall.
Last made playoffs: 2011, won state championship.
Starters returning: 6 offense, 6 defense.
Players to watch: QB-S Ben Folsom, 6-3, 195, sr.; WR-CB Austin Carver, 6-0, 175, sr.; OT-DE Caleb Gillis, 6-6, 220, sr.; OT-DE Dale Peterson, 6-6, 210, sr.; LB-TE Carson King, 6-3, 210, jr.; C-NG Donovan Hucke, 6-0, 265, jr.
Hamilton
Coach: Travis Blome (Montana Western 2008), 5-6 in second year at Hamilton and overall.
Last made playoffs: 2011, lost in quarterfinals.
Starters returning: 4 offense, 4 defense.
Players to watch: QB Josh Bauder, 6-0, 185, jr.; OL-LB Tyrell Born, 6-0, 210, sr.; RB-DB Matt Turley, 5-8, 155, jr.; WR-DB Kris Cleveland, 5-10, 150, jr.; WR-DB Teague Blome, 5-11, 155, jr.; WR-DB Hunter Kerr, sr.; WR-LB Dillon Pigman, sr.; OL-DL Coleman Flynn, sr.
Stevensville
Coach: Hank Praast (Montana Western ’98), 14-7 in third year at Stevensville.
Last made playoffs: 2011, lost in quarterfinals.
Starters returning: 6 offense, 8 defense.
Players to watch: TE/DE Jesse Sims, 6-4, 225, so.; WR/DB Chris Bergman, 6-1, 160, jr.; RB/LB Kyle Behner, 5-11, 185, jr.; QB/DB Jared Schultz, 6-1, 160, jr.; OL/DL Canyon Miwa-Vogan, 6-2, 180, sr.; TE/DE Zach Gavlak, 6-4, 220, jr.; OL/DL Kyle Workman, 5-7, 175, sr.; WR/DB Dylan Reed, 5-10, 160, sr.; RB/DB Jake Bartschi, 5-8, 155, jr.; TE/LB Chance Coleman, 6-1, 190, jr.
(Note: No information was received from Anaconda.)
