MILES CITY -- On Saturday, Miles City will be playing in its first Class A state championship football game since 2010 when the Cowboys beat Billings Central 8-0 at Daylis Stadium in Billings. Several members of this year's team have memories of Miles City's last championship and want to leave their own legacy on the program.
"We've honored some state championship teams recently, and these guys have been around for that," Cowboys head coach Jeff Regan said. "A lot of those guys are still around here cheering for these guys, wanting them to be successful."
"That's been my dream, it's been our whole class' dream. Ever since we've been little kids, we've been talking about it. It's been all of our dreams and we want to be there," senior linebacker Garren Todoroff said.
A benefit for Miles City this weekend? Playing at home. Throughout the regular season and playoffs, Connors Stadium has been packed to the brim with raucous Cowboys fans.
"It's an amazing feeling just knowing everyone is watching you," senior interior lineman Jacolby Mattoon said. "You just get motivation. It's your own people, so you just want to make them happy and do your best."
"It's a great place to play," Regan said. "I think they take a lot of pride in playing in front of their friends and family. I think it gives us good energy."
To hoist their first championship trophy in nine years, Miles City will have to defeat Laurel for the second time this season. Defeating any opponent twice, let alone a conference opponent, is a difficult task. It's also the last chance for the seniors to shine in front of their hometown.
"They've had a great year defensively. They haven't given up very many points. I think the most points they gave up was against us," Regan said of Laurel's stout defense. "Offensively they've really put a big focus on running the ball, and they've been very successful doing that since then."
"We just have to execute. We have to play 110 percent. We have to play our A-game. There's no, 'I wish, I should have.' Just play all out," Mattoon said.
Miles City and Laurel are set to kick off at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon inside what should be a packed Connors Stadium.
