From the Northern C divisional to the state tournament, Tracen Jilot has dazzled audiences in Great Falls on the hardwood the last several years.
On Saturday, the Box Elder star will get to showcase his skills on the gridiron as the 78th Montana East-West Shrine Game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
Jilot, who helped lead the Bears to back-to-back Class C basketball titles the last two years and the school’s first-ever football championship in the fall, is one of three six-man players on this year’s East roster for the annual all-star contest. Joining him from the six-man ranks are Luke Kelley of Centerville and Gage Golz of Bridger, the program Box Elder met in the championship game last season.
“It’s been really fun,” said Jilot, a wide receiver. “Getting to meet new people, and play 11-man and learn new things, and I feel like it’s a big honor just to be selected for the game and being able to represent my community and stuff.”
Jilot finished his career with Box Elder undefeated over two years of basketball under coach Jeremy MacDonald, bookended by a perfect football season under mentor Thomas Dilworth.
The Montana State-Northern hoops commit led the Bears with over 1,100 yards receiving and 29 total touchdowns, with 24 coming through the air despite missing the championship game with an ankle injury. Jilot said he’s excited to earn the opportunity to strap on a helmet one more time.
“It feels good, especially because I get to play 11-man, see what it’s like to play on a bigger field, with more guys, and better competition,” Jilot said.
An all-state receiver for the Bears, Jilot was joined by five other football teammates in earning top postseason honors, including Alex Four Colors, Santana Wells Jr., Tuarie Stiffarm-Rosette, Dreyden Anderson and Timmy Stiffarm-Rosette.
Tuarie, a quarterback, has committed to the Northern football program after throwing 65 touchdowns to just two interceptions last season while completing over 71% of his passes.
“That’s like my best friend (Stiffarm-Rosette), so just having that chemistry on and off the field, it was nice to have him as my quarterback,” Jilot said.
Anderson, also a Lights signee for football at receiver, hauled in 60 catches for 1084 yards and 23 scores for Box Elder last season. Jilot said the group felt a great sense of pride in the success of the football team, as Box Elder has historically been considered only a basketball power.
“I’m extremely proud of (the team), especially the young guys,” Jilot said. “Because they can continue this and change the culture, I guess, for the Box Elder football team. I just see how hard they work, and I’m just really proud of them, and the seniors stepped up big and just, we’re working a lot harder.”
Jilot said he’s looking forward to having his good friends Stiffarm-Rosette and Anderson in Havre as they all continue their athletic careers.
“It means a lot,” Jilot said. “I’ll have a lot of my good friends there, and it should be pretty fun in the next couple of years.”
This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Montana East-West Shrine Game: Box Elder’s Tracen Jilot to compete