Montana
Native American ‘dunk master’ inspiring youth in western Montana
ARLEE — Out of the almost 5,000 individuals who dwell on the Flathead Indian Reservation, there’s just one who the neighborhood calls the dunk grasp.
Isaac Fisher, 23, has been taking part in basketball since he was a younger boy. He’s 6 toes, 10 inches in peak, however that’s not the one cause folks look as much as him.
“He’s a frontrunner, and he’s so younger proper now,” mentioned Arlee neighborhood basketball participant Erica Shelby. “He understands the problems on our Reservation and the way he was raised, and the way he’s attempting to raised his life. He’s only a actually good mannequin for all of our youth right here.”
Fisher teaches younger athletes on the Flathead Indian Reservation and in Missoula learn how to higher their expertise in basketball. The younger chief additionally continues perfecting his craft by one-on-one coaching in Missoula.
“Rising up on the Reservation, I do know there wasn’t a number of entry or coaching or stuff that does that,” Fisher mentioned. “So I sort of wish to convey that to the Flathead Indian Reservation and supply that to the children.”
Instructing these younger athletes in Arlee is his means of giving again to the neighborhood that formed him to be the individual he’s right this moment.
“Rising up, I had a tough hand of playing cards handled,” Fisher mentioned. “I used to be born right into a tough life with my mother and pa. They had been two, younger youngsters on the time nonetheless. They’d 4 boys. They nonetheless needed to drink and occasion and dwell that ‘Res’ life.”
At simply 2 years outdated, Fisher mentioned his mom and father had been headed their separate methods and the dad and mom needed to take two boys to dwell individually from the opposite two.
“My aunt and uncle had been like, ‘No, they’re brothers. They’ve to remain collectively. They will’t develop up with out figuring out who their brothers are,’” Fisher mentioned.
Fisher mentioned that interval of his life was tough, however he and his brothers had been later taken in by his aunt and uncle after sofa browsing in numerous homes of relations.
“Ever since we had been with them, it was simply basketball, basketball,” Fisher mentioned.
At 15 years outdated, Fisher began working towards his dunking expertise. After listening to a speech from Native American slam dunk artist Kenny Dobbs, Fisher determined he might grow to be a Native dunker himself.
“Go forward, simply title a Native American athlete or any well-known Native,” Fisher mentioned. “It’s not too many, proper? So, I’m simply attempting to be that man for these children. Be that optimistic affect, that individual for them to look as much as and say, ‘OK, I can attempt to do that. He can do it; I can do it.’”
Now, educating the youth on the Flathead Indian Reservation is his means of paying it ahead.
“These children really want a hero or like a mentor or one thing right here, particularly right here within the Valley,” mentioned Arlee resident and father Sonny Brockway. “They do not have lots of people like that. That is sort of their little dwelling away from dwelling. So many of those children, they arrive right here and it retains them out of hassle. Maintain them from doing issues they shouldn’t be doing and Isaac’s right here every so often to show them. He’s doing an important job. He’s a tremendous child.”
Brockway’s son trains with Fisher on the Arlee Neighborhood Heart. He mentioned he’s grateful that somebody locally has taken a real curiosity within the Flathead Reservation youth, and the truth that he’s Native, is a bonus.
“You don’t actually see many Native dunkers,” mentioned Bo Brockway, an Arlee basketball participant and one in all Fisher’s trainees. “I feel he’s actually cool, particularly coming from a small city like Arlee and doing all these loopy dunks. He’s gone to the most well-liked dunk contests on the planet.”
From Denver, to Spokane and within the Backyard Metropolis, Fisher competed in 4 dunk contests, gained three and took dwelling a second place title in a contest between him and dunk artist Dobbs.
“What made me wish to assist practice children and assist children on the whole simply on the Flathead Indian Reservation is my aunt and uncle, what they did for me and my 4 brothers at that younger age,” Fisher mentioned.
With out his aunt and uncle, Fisher mentioned he is aware of he would’ve had a unique life. One which’s distant from the Reservation and the courtroom. He mentioned that’s why he’s adamant about serving to the youth.
“I don’t need them falling into unhealthy stuff like gang-related stuff or alcohol, or, suicide is fairly heavy on the Reservation these days, and I simply don’t need any extra children doing that,” Fisher mentioned.
Neighborhood basketball participant and member of the Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Shelby, mentioned Fisher is her most important motivator to hit the fitness center and to be a greater individual locally.
“Oftentimes, our Native athletes are under-recruited due to detrimental stereotypes and Isaac is proof of that,” Shelby mentioned. “Basketball is greater than a recreation when it turns into an avenue to raised one’s life and Natives face extra obstacles than non-natives due to hurtful prejudices.”
She additionally mentioned Fisher is all the time on the fitness center both perfecting his dunking expertise or doing drills with younger athletes.
One of many athletes Fisher works with is Tony LaHaye, and he mentioned he’s motivated by Fisher and appears ahead to coaching on the Arlee Neighborhood Heart.
“I attempt to be taught my very own means, however he’s fairly good in any respect of them. All of the movies I watch on YouTube, I be taught much more from him,” LaHaye mentioned.
Along with him coaching younger athletes on the Arlee Neighborhood Heart, Fisher can also be teaching a youth basketball workforce in Missoula. He’s open to serving to extra athletes in Western Montana. Anybody can attain him by telephone at (406) 370- 7866 or electronic mail Isaac59821@icloud.com.
Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott won the 2024 Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in FCS football, beating out fellow top-three finalists Cam Miller (North Dakota State) and Targhee Lambson (Southern Utah). Mellott is the first Montana State player to win the award in its 38-year history.
PAYTON AWARD: Complete history of the top FCS offensive honor
Mellott received the Payton Award two days before playing in the 2024-25 FCS Championship game, his second appearance of his career. In 12 regular season games, the Bobcat quarterback completed 148 of 216 passes (68.5 percent) for 1,956 yards, 22 touchdowns and just one interceptions. He also ran for 640 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading Montana State to an undefeated record.
We Are All Witnesses⚡️@Tommy_Mellott #BobcatBuilt | #CATS pic.twitter.com/awenL3z6lc
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) December 15, 2024
Mellott is the 27th quarterback to win the Payton Award — the most of any position — since the award debuted in 1987. Quarterbacks have won the Payton Award in each of the last nine seasons and 20 of the last 21 seasons, with wide receiver Cooper Kupp’s 2015 win being the lone exception.
As the 2024 Walter Payton Award winner, Mellott joins an elite fraternity of FCS greats including Steve McNair (Alcorn State, 1994), Adrian Peterson (Georgia Southern, 1999), Brian Westbrook (Villanova, 2001), Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois, 2002), Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington, 2015) and more.
UNBELIEVABLE 😱
TOMMY MELLOTT IS HIM.
📺 ABC@Tommy_Mellott | #BobcatBuilt pic.twitter.com/hUWw85AtgA
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) December 21, 2024
MORE AWARDS: Buck Buchanan Award history | Jerry Rice Award history
Top moments
See some more of Mellott’s top moments from 2024 below.
76-YARD CRIB CALL @Tommy_Mellott 🏠☎️#BobcatBuilt | #CATS pic.twitter.com/xFQwQMeSgx
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) November 2, 2024
𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗜 ⛽️@Tommy_Mellott x @tym4_ #BobcatBuilt | #CATS pic.twitter.com/0wLCBF8zvO
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) November 2, 2024
TOMMY MELLOTT MAGIC 😱@Tommy_Mellott x @Rohan_Jones2 pic.twitter.com/kmQWZuAh6V
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) November 17, 2024
ABSOLUTE DIME 🎯@Tommy_Mellott x @Rohan_Jones2 pic.twitter.com/mXNAQ6MZWV
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) November 23, 2024
50 Yard BOMB 💣@Tommy_Mellott x @tym4_ #BobcatBuilt | #CATS pic.twitter.com/GPCyCKnS5H
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) October 5, 2024
Montana
Touchdown Tommy! Montana State’s Mellott wins Walter Payton Award as top FCS offensive player – WTOP News
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott won the Walter Payton Award as the Football Championship Subdivision offensive…
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott won the Walter Payton Award as the Football Championship Subdivision offensive player of the year Saturday night, two days before the top-ranked Bobcats face North Dakota State in the title game.
Called Touchdown Tommy, the speedy Mellott edged North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller and Southern Utah running back Targhee Lambson in voting announced at the FCS Awards Banquet.
The first Montana State winner of the award, Mellott had 147 points, receiving 16 first-place votes. Miller followed with 131 with 14 first-place votes and Lambson had 115 with five first-place votes.
“Very humbling moment,” Mellott said. “I’m very, very honored.”
Mellott has led Big Sky champion Montana State to a 15-0 record. The senior from Butte, Montana, topped The Associated Press FCS All-America team and was the Walter Camp FCS Player of the Year. He leads the division in passing efficiency and points responsible for.
“It’s a surreal moment for sure,” Mellott said. “Three years ago I was on the sideline after being injured in the national championship game, and I was talking on the mic to the quarterback coach at the time, Coach (Taylor) Housewright, and he said, `If you don’t become the Walter Payton Award winner, we failed you.’ So, I think it’s just a testament to what we’ve done as a program.”
Montana State and North Dakota State are set to meet Monday night at Toyota Stadium. Bobcats coach Brent Vigen received the Eddie Robinson Award as the coach of the year.
Central Arkansas defensive end David Walker won the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player.
___
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No. 1 Montana State will face No. 2 North Dakota State in the 2025 Division I FCS National Championship game. Kickoff is scheduled for Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
It would be Montana State’s first FCS national championship since 1984 when the Bobcats defeated Louisiana Tech in Charleston, South Carolina. North Dakota State is seeking its tenth FCS national championship, but the Bison have not won it all since 2021 when they defeated the Bobcats.
2024 FCS Playoff Bracket
2024 Prediction Record: 175-46
2022-23 Record: 207-75
Kickoff: 6 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Line: Montana State (-3.5)
Series History: Montana State leads 21-17
Key Players: Montana State
Tommy Mellott (QB): 190-for-276 (68.8%), 2,564 Passing Yards, 29 Passing TDs, 2 INTs, 915 Rushing Yards, 14 Rushing TDs
Scottre Humphrey (RB): 188 Carries, 1,360 Rushing Yards, 7.2 YPC, 15 Rushing TDs
Adam Jones (RB): 173 Carries, 1,134 Rushing Yards, 6.6 YPC, 14 Rushing TDs
Brody Grebe (DL): 35 Total Tackles, 10 TFLs, 8.5 Sacks, 5 PBUs, 8 QBHs, 1 FF, 2 FRs
Kenneth Eiden IV (DL): 26 Total Tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 8 Sacks, 5 QBHs, 1 FR
Key Players: North Dakota State
Cam Miller (QB): 239-for-329 (72.6%), 3,052 Passing Yards, 31 Passing TDs, 4 INTs, 510 Rushing Yards, 10 Rushing TDs
CharMar Brown (RB): 227 Carries, 1,104 Rushing Yards, 4.9 YPC, 14 Rushing TDs
Bryce Lance (WR): 66 Receptions, 964 Receiving Yards, 14.6 YPC, 16 Receiving TDs
Logan Kopp (LB): 69 Total Tackles, 8 TFLs, 3 Sacks, 3 INTs, 6 PBUs, 1 FF, 1 FR
Eli Mostaert (DL): 56 Total Tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 6 Sacks, 4 QBHs
Montana State has a chance to make history, becoming only the third team in college football history to finish 16-0, joining 2019 North Dakota State and 1894 Yale. The Bobcats have been the most dominant team in the nation all season, winning by an average of 24 points per game.
It starts with the most electric player at the FCS level, quarterback Tommy Mellott. Mellott is completing over 68% of his passes for 2,564 yards, 29 touchdowns, and only two interceptions. He leads the nation in passing efficiency while being dangerous outside the pocket with his legs. Averaging over 8.4 yards per carry, Mellott has recorded over 900 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns for the Bobcats. His playmaking ability will test North Dakota State’s linebackers and safeties in space.
The Bobcats are averaging 301 rushing yards per game this season, ranking No. 2 nationally. The dynamic duo of Scottre Humphrey and Adam Jones have combined for over 1,500 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. Montana State’s offensive line is the catalyst for its dominance on the ground, headlined by All-American Marcus Wehr.
The Bison defense has done an excellent job of generating negative plays, which will be a huge key in this game. North Dakota State led all playoff teams with a tackle-for-loss rate of over 10%, led by Eli Mostaert (11.5 TFLs) and Kody Huisman (7.5 TFLs). The interior of the Bison defensive line has continued to be dominant, which will be something to watch against an impressive Montana State offensive line.
North Dakota State’s linebackers will be in the spotlight against this dynamic Montana State offense. Logan Kopp leads the unit with 69 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks, and three interceptions. The Bison rank No. 116 nationally in tackling this season, which will be a point of emphasis on Monday night.
While Mellott will challenge the Bison defense, North Dakota State has its own dynamic weapon in quarterback Cam Miller. Miller has completed 72.6% of his passes for 3,052 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. In multiple games this season, Miller has shown an elite ability to make a play when the Bison need it most, leading game-winning drives in key moments. His connection with wide receiver Bryce Lance is dangerous, leading to a single-season record 16 receiving touchdowns.
Montana State’s secondary will be tested in this game, but the Bobcats have been outstanding against the pass, holding opponents to 190.2 passing yards per game. A key aspect of this Montana State defense is the pass rush, led by Brody Grebe and Kenneth Eiden IV. The duo has combined for 19.5 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks. North Dakota State’s offensive line allows pressure on less than 20% of all dropbacks, anchored by All-Americans Grey Zabel and Mason Miller. Will the Bobcats be able to make Miller uncomfortable in the pocket on Monday night? It will be one of the biggest keys of the game.
North Dakota State has ended Montana State’s postseason journey four times since 2018, including a dominant win over the Bobcats in the FCS National Championship game three seasons ago. Will the Bobcats finally find a way past the Bison in the postseason?
I expect an extremely competitive game on Monday night at Toyota Stadium. This North Dakota State team has silenced the doubters all season long, but there is a special feeling around this Montana State squad. From Week 0 until now, the Bobcats have been the nation’s most dominant and consistent team. Mellott leads Montana State on a game-winning drive late, securing the program’s first national championship since 1984.
Prediction: Montana State (38-31)
Behind The Numbers: FCS National Championship Preview
FCS National Championship: Offensive Spotlight
FCS National Championship: Defensive Spotlight
History Of The FCS National Championship Game
2024 FCS Playoffs: Official Bracket, Schedule, Scores
Follow FCS Football Central on social media for ongoing coverage of FCS football, including on X, Facebook, and YouTube.
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