East wins 71st Shrine Game

Billings Senior star Nate Dick made sure the first-ever Montana East-West Shrine Game played in his hometown was a good one.

Dick, a University of Montana signee, threw four touchdown passes to lead the East to a 38-24 win in the 71st Annual Montana East-West Shrine Game Saturday night at Herb Klindt Field in Billings. Dick was also named the game's MVP.

The East team also featured former Havre Blue Pony Jase Stokes, who started at linebacker, but was also in on some offensive plays for the winning squad. Stokes is headed to Montana Tech to play for the Orediggers this fall. Harlem's Reece Hutton was on the victorious side as well, as were a plethora of Montana State University-Northern recruits.

The West started the scoring thanks to a Tanner Wilson 13-yard scramble to put them up 7-0 in the first two minutes. Dick found Bozeman's Bailey Paddock for a 29-yard touchdown pass not too long after to get the East on the board.

Dick found Fairfield's Chandler Allen on a 10-yard score in the third quarter to give the East a 23-14 lead. After Patrick O'Connell of Kalispell Glacier hit a 31-yard field goal to give the West a 24-23 lead, Dick found former Bronc teammate Keaton Anderson on a five-yard score.

Paddock was the Offensive MVP for the East while Sidney's Michael McGinnis was the Defensive MVP. On the West side, Helena Capital's Marcus Welnel was named the Defensive MVP and Polson's Matthew Rensvold was the Offensive MVP.