BILLINGS — Clutching the Roger Silvernale award as the night’s most outstanding player, Kalispell Glacier’s Kash Goicoechea found himself in a position he didn’t anticipate three hours earlier.
However, the future Montana Grizzly left no doubt about his significance or impact on Saturday at Wendy’s Field at Daylis Stadium, leading the West All-Stars to a 48-20 victory over the East in the 77th edition of Montana’s Shrine football game.
PHOTOS: 77TH MONTANA EAST-WEST SHRINE GAME
“It’s huge. I’m really honored,” said Goicoechea after the West secured its fourth consecutive win in the series. “But go West. We had a great, great week of camp, and this is just awesome to see all the work we put in come together.”
Goicoechea rushed for 169 yards on just 12 carries and scored two long rushing touchdowns. His first was a 57-yard run to the end zone on the sixth play of the game, giving the West a 7-0 lead.
But he delivered a momentum-shifting play late in the second quarter.
With less than 30 seconds remaining before halftime, Goicoechea made a dazzling 70-yard touchdown run after a pitch to his right, solidifying the West’s 28-0 lead at the break. By halftime, Goicoechea had amassed 133 rushing yards on eight carries.
Slim Kimmel / MTN Sports
“That set the tone going into halftime,” Goicoechea remarked. “You’re pretty hyped. But all the other touchdowns made a huge impact, too.”
After Goicoechea’s first touchdown, the West extended its lead with Missoula Big Sky’s Joey Sandberg’s 4-yard touchdown and Helena’s Carter Kraft’s 3-yard touchdown in the first half.
Although the East showed some life in the third quarter with a touchdown from Billings Central’s Adam Balkenbush to Bozeman’s Rocky Lencioni, the West maintained control throughout the game.
Slim Kimmel / MTN Sports
The West’s strong defense, highlighted by interceptions returned for touchdowns by Hamilton’s Lucas Lant and Florence-Carlton’s Tyler Abbott, secured the victory as they held the East in check. Despite a late comeback attempt by the East, the West’s dominance on both sides of the ball led them to a convincing win.
The West, which set a new Montana Shrine Game rushing record with 337 yards, extended its winning streak in the series to four, though the East still leads the all-time series 41-36.
Individual awards were also handed out, with Goicoechea earning the most outstanding player honor for the West, Glacier’s Cohen Kastelitz receiving the offensive MVP award, and Glacier’s Isaac Keim being named the defensive MVP. On the East side, Lencioni was named the offensive MVP and Great Falls CMR’s River Wasson received the defensive MVP award.
