BUTTE — With less than 24 hours left until kickoff between Bozeman and Butte for the Class AA state football championship, Bulldog senior defensive back Scout Allen, accompanied by cousin Jonathan, dad Russ and grandfather Jack, sat down in the KXLF studios to talk about the legacy behind the program's No. 22 jersey.
Scout currently dons the Allen-family jersey in pursuit of Butte High's first state championship since 2012. But the story behind the jersey and the stories that number could tell about the Allen family's history playing football for the Bulldogs speak to the talent level each of them have brought to their respective team.
Jack started the tradition, claiming No. 22 for Butte during his playing days under former coach Forrest Wilson. Then Russ had to take the No. 34 as his cousin, an upperclassmen, held on to the 22, but kept it in the family during the tenure of legendary head coach Jon McElroy. Jonathan sported it under current head coach Arie Grey during the magical 2012 season that resulted in Butte's last football state championship. Which leads to the present day, where Scout has the opportunity to join Jonathan as the only members of the family to win a state championship while dawning the No. 22 jersey.
The video above is the full 22-minute round-table talk between the Allens, as they touch on topics ranging from the jersey, to their coaches, to championship-game advice.
