One Nation, Under God
One Nation, Under God
New look, new conference for Mustangs
The 2017 Malta Mustangs Football Team: (In no particular order, according to roster): #2 Kevin Henry, #10 Kolter Schipman, #12 Trace Simonson, #21 Konner Kuehn, #41 Trey Simanton, #42 Tanner Smith, #44 Andres Lopez, #50 Kaden Moore, #53 Ceaton Mears, #55 Payton Clausen, #57 Kendall Koss, #60 Tel Jensen, #73 Taylor Matthews, #75 Miles Bunk, #77 Franky Werk, #83 Kaden Bergos, #84 Rhett Simanton, #6 Kooper Oxarart, #7 Cormac Benn, #20 Magnus Franzen, #22 Callan Mears, #24 Cordel Salsbery, #25 Dustin Ostrom, #32 Cole Boardman, #34 Jayce Murdock, #35 RC Skiff, #52 Pierce Mortenson, #62 Parker Mortenson, #63 Peyton Jones, #65 Marcus Woods, #66 Bobby Dolphay, #70 Dayton Hicks, #72 Beau Simonson, #74 Jaden Keeling, #80 Jeremiah Benson, #82 Randy Garrett and #85 Colt French. Head Coach Jim Benn, Assistant Coaches Travis Somerfeld, Kevin Ebert, Ryan Tangedal and Mike Trosper. Team Managers Ezra Judd, Jacob French and Zaburo Mine.
Trey Simanton awaits the snap during the Mustangs' 2016 game against Huntley Project. Simanton played defense back, running back and kicker last year.
The Malta Mustangs will have a new look with a new coaching staff and a different conference this season.
The 2B conference is no more. With the 2017-18 Montana Football Realignment in effect, conference designations are simply, North, South, East and West. Malta's football team will be playing in the Northern B Conference, where they will face six in conference opponents which include, Shelby, Conrad, Fairfield, Cut Bank, Harlem and Glasgow.
The only time that the team will venture out of conference, is when they face Eastern B opponents Roundup on Friday, September 1 and Wolf Point on Friday, September 29.
This alignment means that every win and loss is crucial for the Mustangs, who will look to be one of four teams that punch their way into the 2017 MHSA Class B Football Championship Series.
Malta has welcomed Jim Benn, the team's new head coach.
Benn is a 1992 Graduate of Montana State University, who is in his ninth season as a head coach, with his last coaching job being for the Ronan Chiefs, who just moved up to the Northwest A in the realignment.
Coach Benn and his assistants, Travis Somerfeld, Kevin Ebert and Ryan Tangedal, will lead a team that has lost five all conference seniors to graduation.
Those seniors include Ostin Welch, who was also named to the All-State team as well as first team as a wide receiver, defensive back and returner; Peyton Meeks who was a second team center, Cru Darrah who was a first team punter, second team offensive lineman and Keenan Schipman who was a second team quarterback.
The team does return several all-conference athletes, which include senior Trace Simonson who made first team as a running back and linebacker; senior Taylor Matthews who was first team as an offensive lineman and a second teamer as a defensive end; senior Tel Jensen, who was a first team defensive end and second team tight end. Jensen will move inside to offensive tackle; and senior Trey Simanton, who made second team as a running back and punter.
The team also welcomes back senior Konner Kuehn, who will be playing tight end on offense and linebacker defensively. Fellow senior Kendall Koss will be playing offensive guard as well as defensive tackle.
Other key contributors will be junior Kevin Henry at wide receiver and defensive back. Junior Andres Lopez will play running back and linebacker. Junior Colter Schipman will play wide receiver and defensive back. Sophomore Frankie Werk will play on the offensive and defensive lines and fellow sophomore Tanner Smith will play wide receiver and defensive back.
We return with good experience on both lines and have very solid skill position players," Coach Benn said. "This group has a great attitude and has worked very hard to improve this offseason."
One of the biggest changes the team will experience is the change of a proven running back in Simonson, becoming the team's starting quarterback. Coach Benn is confident in this approach.
"He is a big kid with a good arm that can run, which kind of fits my bill at quarterback," Coach Benn said in an earlier interview. "He is smart. His demeanor and body language is phenomenal for a young man. He has got that quiet confidence that you want. He is a javelin thrower, so you know he can chuck things."
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