Eli Pike a defensive catalyst for Great Falls High football team
As his head coach puts it, Eli Pike’s ascension to a Great Falls High football team captain didn’t happen overnight.
It was a steady growth through dedication and preparation that guided the senior linebacker into the leadership role for the Bison. After two strong offseasons and some valuable playing time as a junior, Pike has grown into a guiding light for the Bison defense.
“You could see the growth in the weight room and just his leadership with how hard he worked,” Great Falls High mentor Coda Tchida said. “The kids kind of gravitated to him in that way and he’s done a great job for us overall. He’s very big on our defense for us and makes big plays and is always on the field. It’s really good for our team.”
Pike and the Bison (0-2 Eastern AA, 2-2 overall) will look to rebound from a back-to-back road losses Friday as they return to Memorial Stadium for a 7 p.m. clash with Eastern AA foe Bozeman Gallatin (1-1, 3-1).
C.M. Russell High (2-0 conf., 3-1 overall) aims to build on its two-game winning streak as it faces off with Billings Senior (1-1, 1-3) on the road at Daylis Stadium.
Pike has emerged as one of Class AA’s leading tacklers this season, racking up 13 total stops in last week’s loss to Billings West including seven solo. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound outside linebacker now has 38 total tackles through four games, ranking him sixth among AA defenders and tops on a stout Bison defense.
“Knowing this is my last year playing football here, I know I’ve got to dedicate,” Pike said. “During summer I’d come and work my butt off, stay after and get some footwork done with my boys. I think just overall, I’ve improved as an athlete.”
Pike, one of four Great Falls High captains along with Reed Harris, Rafe Longin and Wyatt DeVoss, said earning that recognition from his teammates is a privilege he doesn’t take for granted.
“It’s an honor,” Pike said. “I just love my team. I think we’re just one big family and everyone loves everyone.”
Despite consecutive road losses to Bozeman and Billings West, respectively, the Bison defense has allowed just three offensive points in the second half in the past two games. Sophomore middle linebacker Mason Kralj is also a top-10 tackler in the AA, and All-State defensive end Wyatt DeVoss has four sacks through four games.
“(The defense) sets the standard for our team,” Tchida said. “We know that the defensive side of the ball has a bunch of seniors and two juniors that are really hungry and super dedicated to making that side of the ball our best side.”
The Great Falls High offense has turned the ball over three times apiece in the losses to Bozeman (24-14) and West (14-0), including a fourth-quarter pick-six against the Bears last week.
“Offensively, we can make some big plays here and there,” Tchida said. “We’ve just got to be more consistent in what we do. And hope that teams kick us the ball. Last game we didn’t get one, and in Bozeman we only got to return one kick. Special teams is one of our best (aspects) as well, we just haven’t had the opportunity.”
Senior quarterback Ashton Platt was knocked out of last week’s contest with a concussion, but has cleared medical protocols and will start under center Friday.
“The kids believe in him, he runs our offense smoothly and does a great job for us,” Tchida said of Platt. “We just need to stay away from the turnovers and execute in short third downs and in the red zone. The sky’s the limit for this team if we focus on one play at a time, one game at a time.”
Gallatin is in its third year as a program since the second Bozeman high school opened in 2020. The Raptors, boasting the AA’s top scoring defense at under eight points per game, are coming off a 14-10 home victory over Billings Senior.
“We’ve just got to keep our spirits high,” Pike said. “Yeah, we’ve played some pretty tough teams, but I think we’re a great team. We’ve just got to keep our young guys’ heads up and our older guys’ heads up. Maximum effort every day.”
CMR going for three in a row
Meanwhile, the Rustlers of head coach Dennis Morris are riding a two-game winning streak after blowing past Belgrade and Billings Skyview, 63-6 and 63-0 respectively, in their last two games.
In last Friday’s drumming of Skyview, senior tailback A.J. Lafurge rumbled for 151 yards on 12 carries and three touchdowns, while Izayah Brown added 102 on the ground and two total touchdowns.
Senior receiver Gus Nunez continues to lead Class AA with 440 yards through four games along with six touchdowns, while quarterback Cole Taylor is second in passing at over 307 yards per game, throwing 10 touchdowns to just three interceptions.
Junior Dorian White paces the CMR defense with 33 tackles in four games, followed by Cayden Doran and J.J. Triplett with 25 apiece.
Billings Senior, which defeated common opponent Skyview 30-0 two weeks ago, is coming off a 14-10 defeat to Gallatin last week in Bozeman.
Grady Higgins covers prep sports and more for the Tribune. He can be reached at ghiggins@greatfallstribune.com. Follow him on Twitter @GFTribGHiggins.
This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Pike's leadership has Great Falls defense ready for Bozeman Gallatin
