Still going: Wagner's run didn't end in Georgia

It was only back in December that former Havre High star Gary Wagner ran himself and the Carroll College Fighting Saints right into the history books, literally.

And ever since Wagner scored the only touchdown, an 83-yard jaunt in December's NAIA national title game, a game Carroll won 10-7, he's kept on going. And his journey will take him to St. George, Utah where he'll get a chance to play one last college football game. On Saturday, Wagner will play in the Dixie Gridiron Championship, a game made of college football stars from all levels and all areas of the country.

But before Wagner plays in Saturday's tilt, a game in which he hopes will help him get an opportunity to further his football career, he's also had plenty of time to enjoy his national championship with the Saints, and so much more.

"Winning the national championship was the pinnacle for me," Wagner said from St. George. "I've faced a lot of adversity over the years at Carroll, from injuries, to being hit by a truck then a shoulder injury this year. But I knew I wanted to stick it out because I believed in myself and I had plenty to prove, and also because I believed in my team and they believed in me. We knew we had a chance to do something special this year, and finally, something really good happened."

And it didn't just happen to Wagner, he made it happen.

His 83-yard touchdown run against Sioux Falls proved to be the game-winner, and while he already had two championship rings with the Saints, this time around, in his sixth year of college football, his third ring was possible because he was the difference-maker. And standing on the field in Rome, Ga., hoisting the championship trophy with all of his teammates he's grown so close with over the years, it was a moment Wagner still hasn't come down from.

"As for the touchdown, it was a big moment for me, because that game was two great defenses really going at it and points were very hard to come by," he said. "So to be able to score on a run like that and help my team win the national championship is something very special to me and it's something I'll never forget. But honestly, when I got into the open, I didn't think I was going to make it to the end zone…

"Fortunately, I still have just enough speed to get it done," he laughed.

And Wagner did make it, and got the moment he'd been waiting an eternity for. He'd seen Carroll win a national championship in 2005 as a redshirt freshman, watching legendary Saints quarterback Tyler Emmert, a player and now a coach Wagner respects so much. He also watched and did play sparingly as teammate Jon Barnett led the Saints to another title in 2007. Then, the following year, as the Saints were poised to make another title run, Wagner suffered a terrible leg injury in his second start, and had to watch as the Saints fell in the 08' national title game. So in his sixth year, as the starting quarterback for Carroll, Wagner finally got to put his mark on the program everyone has been chasing in the NAIA for the last decade.

"After Sioux Falls missed that last field goal, and we were able to end the game and celebrate, it was tears of joy," Wagner said. "I've been through a lot to get to that point, and to be the guy who could help lead this team to a national title, with so many teammates I respect so much, to be able to share it with my little brother who got to suit up for the game, it just meant everything to me. It was a very special moment in my life. And to have all of my family there, who mean the world to me, to be able to hug my dad after the game, it was just something I can barely put into words. Honestly, I just didn't want it to end. I didn't want to leave the field that night."

Reconnecting with a best friend

Eventually, the national title game did end for Wagner, but the fun was only just beginning. Wagner, who has already graduated from Carroll, spent time in Helena and Havre shortly after the Saints' title run. And that enabled him to finally spend significant time with someone who was having as great a personal football season as he did – longtime best friend Marc Mariani.

And from Havre to Missoula and finally to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, Wagner and Mariani were able to reconnect in ways they hadn't been able to since they went their separate ways after an amazing run in high school together.

"This last few weeks with Marc has been great, it's been an amazing time," Wagner said. "We got to spend time together that we haven't been able to in a long time. For four years of high school we were inseparable, whether it was sports, school, practices, playing tennis at the courts late at night or ping pong at his house, we spent a lot of time together. And then, when it was time to go to college, it all changed. We stayed in touch, we supported each other as best we could, but it wasn't the same. So being able to finally spend time with him these last few weeks has been awesome."

And just like Mariani being so proud of Wagner's achievements over the last year, the last few weeks, Wagner has had a ringside seat to watch his best friend ascend to heights few football players, or even fewer best friends get to watch someone do. And going with Mariani to the Pro Bowl, along with good friends and former Montana Grizzlies Ty Palmer and Tim Anderson, was another highlight in an amazing run Wagner has been on over the last few months.

"I have so much respect for what Marc has done his entire football career," Wagner said. "And I'm just so proud of him. I'm his biggest fan and I couldn't be happier for everything that's happened to him because I know how hard he's worked, I know the things he's gone through to get here, and he truly deserves all of the success he's had.

"But being at the Pro Bowl with him, going to the practices and seeing your best friend catching passes from Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers, or seeing him interact with guys like Ray Lewis and Wes Welker, it honestly gave me chills, and I found myself tearing up almost. It really put into perspective just what Marc has been able to accomplish and I just couldn't be more proud of him. And it really meant so much to me and everybody that he told us how much it meant to him to have us there with him."

And the Pro Bowl trip gave the former Havre High dynamic duo a chance to even further reconnect their longtime friendship, in some not-so-familiar and familiar ways.

"The whole week was a blast. The game was amazing and getting a chance to be around and interact with so many great NFL players, it was an awesome experience for me," Wagner said. "But we also got a chance to just hang out, we did a lot of things together…we went snorkeling, went to Pearl Harbor which was an incredible experience, and we even played some tennis (Wagner and Mariani were once two-time state doubles champions together). We played on top of this hotel and we decided to play one set, and of course, I was ahead 5-4 when we called it quits.

"So it was just a great experience, a great week and I'm just really happy I got a chance to experience those things with one of my best friends."

Fun and football not over yet

If it seems like Wagner hasn't stopped running since he scored that touchdown in December, it's because he hasn't. And shortly after the Pro Bowl ended, Wagner hopped a plane bound for Las Vegas, eventually making it to St. George, where he'll play for the Mountain team against the Pacific team on Saturday. Wagner is one of five quarterbacks selected to play in the all-star game, and he'll play alongside Weber State signal caller Cam Higgins, who is the Big Sky's all-time leading passer. Wagner's team is also coached by Weber head man Ron McBride, and the Mountain roster features players from every level of college football in the country, and Wagner is the only Frontier Conference player in the game.

And it's an opportunity that he says he'll seize as a host of NFL and other various professional scouts will be on hand, and last year's game saw 30 percent of the rosters wind up in NFL training camps the following August.

"Coach Van Diest got a call, and they were looking for someone from the Frontier Conference to be a part of this game," Wagner said. "So he got in touch with me and put me in touch with some people and they invited me to come down. It's a tremendous opportunity, and one I'm really excited about. Not only because it will give me a chance to show scouts what I can do, but because I was pretty bummed about being done playing college football. So now I have the chance to play one more game and I'm really excited about it."

And the experience has already been a good one for Wagner, who's been throwing passes to receivers from Auburn, Northern Arizona, Weber State, Cal Poly and even former rivals like Azusa Pacific and Lindenwood. He's also learning plenty while he's there and says he hopes this one last college game will become a spring board to the future.

"There are some really good players here," Wagner said. "The receivers on my team are all great players and the talent level for this game is very high. Practices have been a lot of fun, and it's exciting to be a part of this.

"And I want to make sure I at least give football a shot in the future," he added. "I continued to work out after our season ended, and this game gives me a chance to continue to try and go forward with my football career. I just want to make sure I don't look back one day and have any regrets. So I'm excited to go play one more college game and see what happens from there."

And as Wagner prepares to play in Saturday's game, which will kickoff at 12 p.m. M.S.T., the future is bright for the legendary three-sport star in Havre. And if the ride is anything like the last two months have been, Wagner won't be slowing down anytime soon.