High school football players sign with colleges

Three Bigfork High School seniors will trade in their Viking helmets for college football careers in the 2012 season.

Connor Coleman signed with Montana State Northern and will play for the Northern Lights. Coleman was the Viking's tight end and defensive end. He will be playing as linebacker and tight end next season.

All-State football players Cody Dopps and Dillon Fraley will play for the Montana State University Bobcats. Dopps and Fraley accepted preferred walk-on offers from MSU after taking a recruitment trip to the campus last week.

Montana Tech is currently looking at BHS senior Austin Cantrell, according to coach Todd Emsley. BHS senior Ian Lorang is also being pursued by Pacific University in Oregon.

No official decision has been made by Cantrell or Lorang and BHS senior Dillon Charlebois was undecided as of Feb. 3.

“I think it's absolutely fantastic, they are excited about their new endeavor in football,” Emsley said. “The program is in good shape and colleges are seeing the talent we have in Bigfork. It's great.”

Dopps and Fraley were recruited based on their performances as BHS Vikings They helped the school win it’s first state championship in 2010. Both players were named as class-B All-State players this year.

Dopps totaled 2,025 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns as running back.

The Vikings were undefeated in conference for 2011, claimed District 7B for the second year in a row, and ended the season with an 8-2 record.

“It's a tribute to those young men, they are hard workers and had great careers,” Emsley said. “They are just great athletes, worked hard in the weight room and on the field and they are very deserving, all of them can play college football.”