Above all else, Lane Sumner is most excited for the complete immersion into a culture dedicated to a love of football.
The Huntley Project standout running back and state champion sprinter is known for his work ethic. The Red Devils football program, one of Class B’s strongest thanks to the steady guidance of former Montana football player Guy Croy, has produced a string of Division I talent in recent years thanks in part to the culture of dedication cultivated by the coach. Strength coach Adam Husk, a former standout football player at Rocky Mountain College, has refined one of the top small-school training programs in the state.
Sumner has embraced the tenants of the program. It’s helped him turn into one of the state’s most dynamic play-makers and fastest runners. Last fall, he scored 15 touchdowns, including 13 on the ground. He racked up more than 1,200 total yards to earn Class B all-state honors. In the spring, he won the Class B state title in the 100 meters for the second straight year.
His successes in athletics caught the eye of Montana State’s coaching staff. After a thorough recruitment by MSU director of high school relations B.J. Robertson, Sumner earned a scholarship offer from the Bobcats. In July, he verbally committed, affirming he will get a chance to continue displaying his work ethic with a collection of like-minded teammates.
“Values, hard work, commitment and the little things,” Sumner said about his decision to commit to Montana State. “Sometimes you pick up your phone and there’s a positive message. It makes you want to be a part of it and have guys around you that want the same thing as you and they work for it.
“High school football, you get guys like that but you also get mixed in there with kids who are just out there dinking around. It’s nice to see that and know that you are going to be around a group of guys who are all about business and all about winning.”
Winning has been a big part of Sumner’s football career so far already. As a freshman, Sumner earned 35 carries, averaging 7.8 yards per tote (274 yards) and scoring two touchdowns. Huntley advanced to the Class B state title game but fell 14-7 to Townsend. Sumner also notched 24 tackles and a tackle for loss in his first season playing varsity.
As a sophomore in 2015, the 5-foot-9, 180-pounder rushed for 640 yards and 12 touchdowns as the Red Devils won three playoff games to earn a bid in the Class B championship game. Huntley lost to Fairfield, 27-14 that November. He claimed his first state title in the 100 meters that spring.
Last season, Sumner ran for 994 yards and 13 touchdowns while also catching 16 passes for 318 yards and two more scores. Huntley Project won the District 3B but lost 40-37 to wildcard qualifier Shelby in the first round of the playoffs.He repeated in the 100 meters while also earning a silver medal in the 200 meters at the Class B state championship meet.
“You ask me every year, I will tell you we are going to be great” Sumner said of his expectations for his senior year. “But this year, I think we definitely have a shot at it and we are going to make a run.”
The Huntley Project program has been one of the state’s strongest regardless of classification for more than a decade. In 10 seasons under Jay Santy, the Red Devils compiled an 82-18 record. The team made eight straight playoff appearances and won state titles in 2008 and 2009. Santy helped Huntley to a 24-game winning streak. He retired following the 2011 season.
Since Croy took over, the Red Devils have kept rolling. Croy is 41-12 entering his sixth season at the helm. He’s helped linebacker Koni Dole, defensive end Michael Jobman and now Sumner land spots with Montana State.
“Coach Croy brings energy and passion every day in practice and to games,” Sumner said. “He really rubs off on all of us. To have that drive and focus and love of football helps us all.”
The Huntley program also produce former Montana State standout defensive Taylor Dees and former Montana Alll-Big Sky defensive tackle Bryan Waldhauser.
Montana State first began recruiting Sumner during the fall of his junior year. He attended a home game and took a tour of MSU’s football facilities, all the while talking to Robertson and recruiting coordinator/running backs coach Michael Pitre.
Robertson and MSU offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong both spent time coaching at Rocky Mountain College in Billings. Husk played for the Frontier Conference school when both were on staff. Husk gave both good reviews to Sumner.
“The people were the deciding factor in my commitment,” Sumner said. “I really like what (Jeff) Choate is about, what he’s building. They are all good guys. I had my weights coach who was at Rocky with B.J. and just knowing that you are going to be in good hands was great.”
MSU is recruiting Sumner primarily as a running back but also like his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Given his size and speed — he ran a personal-best 11.07 seconds in the 100 meters last spring — he could fill a role similar to Logan Jones, a Kalispell product who has been productive in limited action during his three years at Montana State.
Sumner is just a grade behind Jobman, a potential-filled 6-foot-4 Buck end who has nursed a knee injury the first two weeks of fall camp at MSU. The two have been in contact throughout the recruiting process.
“It wasn’t really much of an influenced,” Sumner said. “Michael was the guy I talked to. He never really tried to say, ‘Come here, come here’. He just told me to do what was best for me. To me, I thought that was kind of cool.
“It’s nice having those guys there who have been through it to talk to but they didn’t try to actively recruit me.”
The Red Devils will spend the next several months trying to erase the heartbreak that has trademarked the end of the last three seasons. Sumner admits committing takes a weight off his shoulders and allows him to focus on his senior year.
Once he gets to Montana State, he is interested in studying either pre-law or pre-medicine. But those are choices for the future. For now, Sumner is soaking up the gratification that comes with making one of his most important choices for the present.
“It’s always been a dream of mind,” Sumner said. “I always grew up a huge Bobcat fan, season ticket, dreaming of playing there. Going to Montana State is a dream come true. I’ve been watching them for 10 years so going there to play, I’m really looking forward to it.”
Photos courtesy of Sumner family. All Rights Reserved.
