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West wins 5th straight Shrine Game
Jun. 22—GREAT FALLS — Merek Mihelish hit Helena Capital teammate Dylan Almquist with a 26-yard touchdown pass late in the first half, Florence's Mason Arlington made a goal-line interception late and the West defeated the East 14-7 in the 78th East-West Shrine Game Saturday.
The West built a 14-0 lead on a 6-yard touchdown run by Boulder's Luke Oxarart at 4:41 of the third period, then held on at Memorial Stadium.
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The East got back into it when it stopped Mihelish on a fourth-and-1 run, taking possession at the West 35-yard line. That set up a 10-yard touchdown strike from Malta's Stockton Oxarart — first cousin to Luke — to Centerville's Luke Kelley late in the third quarter.
The East had two more chances to score: Arlington picked off a pass by Gallatin's Grant Vigen at the 2 with 3 minutes left to blunt the first.
A final possession started at the West 27 after a short punt but ended with a fourth-and-long sack of Stockton Oxarart by Boulder's Brady Armstrong.
It was the West's fifth straight win in the series, which raises money for the Spokane Shriner's Hospital.
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The West team was stocked with area athletes: running back Kobe Dorcheus, safety Carson Baker, receiver Bridger Smith and tackle Ben Winters from Glacier; defensive end Scotty Dalen and safety Carson Gulick of Whitefish; guard Lane Voermans of Columbia Falls; and tight end Bryson LeCoure of Thompson Falls.
No individual statistics were kept at the game.
NOTE: contributed to this report.
