Montana State holds its special teams meetings on the other side of the wall from the Bill Ogle Hall of Fame room. Trevor Bolton sits a room away from his father’s Hall of Fame plaque on an almost daily basis.
Bolton punting against EWU
When Bolton first came to Montana State, the legacy of his father weighed heavily on him. Pat Bolton set the NCAA record for most points scored by a kicker with 234 during his career that culvinated in 1975, a record that was broken nationally years ago but that stood at Montana State until Jason Cunningham broke it in 2010.
Tyler Bolton came to Montana State in 2004 and could not outlast Jeff Hastings, Eric Fisher or Cunningham for the starting kicker job. Trevor Bolton came to Montana State in 2011 after two Class AA all-state seasons at Great Falls High as a receiver and a kicker. He hoped to live up to his family name.
“I came here wanting to chase those records,” Bolton said. “But like him and I have talked about, everyone makes their own story. That’s what I had to do.”
Bolton served as MSU’s specialist roll punter to diversify from Rory Perez as a redshirt freshman in 2012. In 2013, Perez beat out Bolton to follow Cunningham’s record-breaking career. Bolton maintained anticipation he would take over for Perez as MSU’s starting kicker as a junior.
The Bobcats signed Luke Daly out of Billings Central in 2013 and Trevan Thompson from Helena High in 2014. Spring drills and fall camp of last season served as a competition between the three. Freshman Matt Stewart initially battled quarterback Jake Bleskin for the starting punting duties. Bolton looked like the odd man out.
Bolton’s “rugy-style” punt
One day midway through fall camp in 2014, Bolton showed MSU special teams coordinator Daniel DaPrato just how far he could kick the ball if he moved to the left, like on his rugby-style roll punts punts, and took a full leg swing.
“About a year ago today, he told me, ‘Hey coach, I can kick if I go to the left a little bit,” DaPrato said on the second week of fall camp last August. “He kicks it and I was like, ‘Holy cow, where you been on that for the last six months?’’
The revelation helped carve out a niche. Bolton beat out Stewart, who redshirted last fall and left the program in the spring. Now Bolton is a key weapon in MSU’s special teams arsenal even if he’s used sparingly some Saturdays. Last season, Bolton averaged 44.4 yards on 40 punts, the third-best in the Big Sky Conference despite continuing to employ his rugby style when called upon. The Bobcats led the Big Sky and the FCS in net punting, averaging more than 40 yards per boot.
“It is a remarkable story because we never really thought of Trevor as a punter when he came in here,” MSU ninth-year head coach Rob Ash said. “Last year, he developed as half roll, half steps that worked out really well and he’s become a tremendous weapon for us as a punter. He’s very athletic and quick. He’s become really good at pinning people. He’s become a very, very important weapon for us and a very surprising career path.”
MSU punter Trevor Bolton against Fort Lewis
Last Saturday, Montana State goes to punter’s paradise: the Walkup Skydome at Northern Arizona University, elevation 7,200 feet. It remains to be seen if Montana State’s explosive offense will provide any opportunities for Bolton to shine.
Bolton punted more times (four) in the first half in a 45-14 win over Division II Fort Lewis than in Montana State’s last two outings combined. Before each game, DaPrato said he wishes Bolton luck and then follows it up by telling him he hopes he does not play. Last week in MSU’s 45-28 win over Cal Poly, DaPrato’s wish came true — almost.
MSU’s second drive stalled out in three plays. With the Bobcats clinging to a 7-0 first quarter lead, Ash dialed up a fake on his own 40. Bolton rumbled for 12 yards and a first down. Montana State then ran an “element” play — read: trick play — for a 51-yard gain and scored two plays after Bolton’s burst.
“I think Trevor is like everybody else on our team: he loves to win,” Ash said. “He knows that his contribution to the game even though it was just on one play was significant. He got us a first down, helped us keep the ball away from Cal Poly, gave us a chance to get a two-score lead early in the game. He’s very happy with his contribution to the win.”
MSU kicker Luke Daly & Trevor Bolton on sidelines during EWU
Bolton said he sometimes thinks about how his career might have played out had tried to play receiver or safety in the Frontier Conference. Ash has called on Bolton three times in the last four years for a first down run on a fake. Bolton gained 23 yards on his only carry in 2012. Last season, he rushed for a 25-yard first down at FBS Arkansas State. On Saturday, he moved the sticks to help the Bobcats bury the Mustangs.
“‘Ol’ T Bolt, he can get out and go a little bit. People might not know but he’s fast,” DaPrato said. “He can run. It’s nice to have that back there because he’s a thick, physical, good athlete who can make a play for you.”
This season, the Bobcats are averaging 47.5 points and 581 yards per game. The Bobcats have punted eight times in three games. Bolton admits he gets a little bored on the sidelines but at least he has a “good seat to watch one of the most explosive offenses in the country.”
Bolton practicing his drop
Bolton is closing in on a degree in community health. He wants to give the real world a try, maybe in medical sales, before considering returning for a master’s degree. Until then, he’s focusing on closing out his career with a championship ring to add one more atypical chapter in the book of Boltons at MSU.
“I’m very competitive,” Bolton said. “I like to play. So even if I get one play, it’s nice to get in there, do my job. I just try to think of the big picture, winning a Big Sky Conference title and ending this senior year right.
“This punting thing has become my own niche, my own thing. My dad never punted in college. It’s cool to write my own story and not have to be compared but still be a part of the legacy.”
Photo by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
