Balue Chapman of Bozeman High School was named the 2015-16 Gatorade Montana Football Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior running back and defensive end rushed for 833 yards and 12 touchdowns on 132 carries this past season, leading the Hawks to a 12-1 record and the Class AA state championship. Chapman also recorded 70 tackles, 27 quarterback hurries, 10 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks. A three-time All-Conference selection, he was a Second Team All-State honoree as a junior.
Chapman is the fourth Gatorade Montana Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Bozeman High School.
Chapman has maintained a 3.67 GPA in the classroom. He has participated in a service-mission trip to Costa Rica and has volunteered locally on behalf of youth football programs.
“Chapman is a game-changer,” said Kyle Samson, head coach at Flathead High. “He’s a good running back and you really had to game-plan for him on the defensive side of the ball.”
Chapman has verbally committed to play football on scholarship at Montana State University in the fall of 2016.
Chapman joins recent Gatorade Montana Football Players of the Year Andrew Grinde (2014-15, C.M. Russell High School), Will Dissly (2013-14, Bozeman High School), Gunnar Brekke (2012-13, Capital High School), Caleb Kidder (2011-12, Capital High School), Tanner Roderick (2010-11, Bozeman High School), Matt Miller (2009-10, Capital High School), Brock Osweiler (2008-09, Flathead High School) and Casey McMillan (2007-08, Central Catholic High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.