High-Stepping Up

Havre High senior Thurman Holdsclaw has only been playing high school football for two years. But he's now one of the top college prospects in Montana.

When describing a 6-2, 205-pound athlete that runs a 4.6 second 40-meter dash, as well as an 11.5 second 100-meter dash, what do most people see?

If you instantly thought of a golfer, you actually wouldn't be wrong in the case of Havre High senior football star Thurman Holdsclaw. But if you thought of a tyrant on the football field, on offense and defense, then you hit the nail on the head too.

Holdsclaw is just that, a 6-2, 205-pound football beast for the Havre Blue Ponies who has quickly emerged as one of the top athletes in the state.

But before Holdsclaw was terrorizing quarterbacks from the defensive end position, and before he was throwing, catching, and rushing for touchdowns (sometimes all in one game), he was spending hours on the links, hopefully driving onto the fairway, and chipping onto the green. His freshman and sophomores years, Holdsclaw was a Blue Pony golfer, not a Blue Pony football player. But now a senior, Holdsclaw has turned away from golf, and has been one of the top HHS football players over the last two seasons. "In middle school I ended up playing football as a lineman," Holdsclaw said "And heading into high school, I really didn't want to get stuck playing on the line for the next four years. I figured I would just take my freshman year off and I ended up really liking golf, so I played my sophomore year too. But I always planned on playing football my junior year, and yes, I (heard it everyday), my golf coaches even asked me why I wasn't playing football. I am glad I did it though, I met a lot of people, and golf is something that I can play the rest of my life"

But the rest of his life can come later, for the next four years; Holdsclaw is hoping to play college football.

Over the summer, Holdsclaw attended the University of Montana Grizzly football camp in Missoula. He got to talk with the coaching staff, and they did show some interest, telling him that they would be in contact with him later in the season. But he has also received several calls from Rocky Mountain College, as well as Carroll College, all showing interest in having Holdsclaw catch passes for their offense.

"I am glad I made the switch to football," Holdsclaw said. "Mainly because it is going to open up a lot of college opportunities for me. I am looking forward to playing college football more than anything else, but I am looking to get playing time, not just be on a scout team for four years. If somebody asked me to redshirt my freshman year, then I wouldn't mind that too much, but I really want to work into getting real playing time my junior and senior seasons."

And what makes Holdsclaw such a promising recruit at the next level is that he still has plenty of room to improve. Not to mention, he also adds a lot of versatility to any offense.

Holdsclaw is somewhat behind the curve compared to a lot of four-year players with college hopes. But you wouldn't know it by his numbers. In just his second season of high school football, Holdsclaw is a key component to the HHS offense, lining up as a wide receiver, running back, and quarterback this season. And eight weeks into the season, he has already accounted for 14 total touchdowns, three rushing, eight receiving, two passing, and one on a kickoff return.

Did I forget to mention he is also a talented return man?

"I am probably not where a lot of four-year players are at." Holdsclaw said. "Sometimes I still find it hard to think like a football player because I don't have the experience I guess. But I just work hard, it is like coach (Havre High head coach Jason Christenson) says, if you are going 100 percent, you can't be wrong.

"But it can get frustrating at times." he added. "I have to know where to be when I am playing running back, I have to know where to go when I play wide receiver, and then I have to know where everybody is at when I am at quarterback. This year it has been more difficult and I have to look at the playbook everyday. But I am glad we are doing things this way because I can give the team different looks out of it."

His natural size, speed and ability have been some of Holdsclaw's best assets the last two years. That is a big reason why he has been able to get into the end zone on so many occasions, as well as break off big runs and catches. If he can't run by with his speed, he will most likely run over you with his power. But he has also put in the work necessary to take his game to the level he has reached. Last year he was named an All-Conference defensive end and tight end, as well as a Class A All-State tight end. This season he is looking to better those accomplishments, being named All-State on at least one side of the ball again, but also making the annual East-West Shrine Game.

"I have been coming in every morning at 6:30 since two-a-days started over the summer," Holdsclaw said. "I will do sprints, or lift most of the time, but I also have fourth period aerobics class and we do a lot of running in that, and that helps too."

Holdsclaw also hopes he has anothern run in the Class A playoffs in his and his team's immediate future. HHS will try and clinch a spot in the playoffs when the Ponies close out the regular season Friday night in Livingston.

Havre High senior Thurman Holdsclaw (right) runs by a Libby defender during a Class A football game earlier this month in Havre.