“I thought I should do it for him, play for him.” 

This is what Big Sky junior Eli Kasberg said when asked about stepping into the role of varsity football quarterback after his friend and teammate Avery Omlid suffered a major knee injury during the previous track season. 

Omlid was the starting quarterback for Big Sky during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and was planning on continuing his position into his senior year.

Omlid’s knee injury meant Big Sky was in need of a new varsity quarterback. And although Kasberg  has stepped into the varsity quarterback role this year for the first time, it wasn’t his first time playing varsity football. He was involved on offense last year as a tight end/full back for the Eagles. 

Anytime a major starting player is injured, people question how the season will go without them, but Kasberg proved he was prepared and ready. 

Throughout the regular season, Kasberg has maintained a top three ranking among Class AA Montana Quarterbacks, according to Max Preps. Throughout the regular season, he recorded 2,354 total running and passing yards, while scoring 19 touchdown passes and running in 7 more, Max Preps shows.

During summer practices , Kasberg put a lot of work into throwing the ball and got used to the receivers he was throwing to. This was a key component to his success this season.

Outside of practice, Kasberg says he focuses on working out, plyometrics, and working with his connection with his wide receiver, Mason Ramos. 

Kasberg and Ramos have been playing football together for 11 years, and continue to constantly work together in order to improve. When asked what made Kasberg a special quarterback, Ramos said, “He’s talented obviously, but the team rallies around him, he brings the energy every practice.”

Big Sky’s head football coach Matt Johnson also commented on Kasberg’s energy and leadership. “ Eli has a pretty quirky personality,” Johnson said. “Once he honed in (on) that, ‘hey, I can use this for good and help our team,’ it’s been great.”

On Friday, November 7, Big Sky will take on Greats Falls CMR in the second round of playoffs at MCPS Stadium in Missoula. The Eagles finished the regular season in second place, earning them a bye into this playoff game. 

So far, Kasberg has felt confident and proud of his season, but going into the playoffs, he has one goal in mind. 

“I want to win state,” Kasberg said. 

To reach that goal Kasberg says, “we gotta take each game at a time and persevere through.”