During the first round of the football playoffs of the 2007 season, the Helena Bengals went up against C.M. Russell in Great Falls. Yours truly was listening to the game on the radio, when Bengal quarterback Matt Upham was forced out of the game with a shoulder injury.

The Great Falls radio broadcasters noted that Upham could barely lift his arm while attempting a couple warm-up tosses on the sidelines. Several minutes later, when HHS' junior signal-caller did get back in the game, one of the sportscasters said something about the bad shoulder, and how they didn't think they'd have to worry about anything deep. He said he didn't believe Matt could throw a ball 10 yards at the time.

So on the very next snap, Upham fired a 47-yard touchdown bomb to Reil Cornelius, and Helena went on to beat the Rustlers 21-7 to advance to the semifinals.

Upham's achievement reminded this reporter of the 1988 World Series between the Dodgers and the A's, when Kirk Gibson was barely able to hobble up to the plate, but then proceeded to hit the game-winning homer off Dennis Eckersley.

The theme song from the movie "The Sting" also came to mind.

Upham was a two-time honorable mention all-stater. He guided the Bengals to a combined record of 15-7 as a junior and senior, making the playoffs both years.

He established four Helena High grid records, including 3,896 total career offensive yards, breaking the old mark of 3,115 by Kevin Flatow (1997-98); 25 career passing touchdowns, eclipsing Flatow's standard of 24 TDs; 42 lifetime combined passing and rushing TDs, surpassing the 32 by Mike Ferriter (2002-04); and a 58 percent season completion rate, erasing the old mark of 55 percent, shared by Mark Seacat (1996) and Seth Jamison (1999).

Upham is third on the school's season total yards list with 2,055, fifth with 14 season passing touchdowns, and sixth with 2,161 career passing yards, 160 pass completions and 1,735 career rushing yards.

He also ranks sixth on HHS' list of longest TD runs, producing an 87-yard jaunt to pay-dirt.

A three-sport athlete, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior is on pace to earn eight varsity letters -- four in wrestling, three in football and one in track. He has been timed in 4.66 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and owns a 405-pound squat in the weight room.

On the mats, Upham placed third in the 171 class at the latest CMR Holiday tourney. His current record is 12-4, with six pins.

Upham sports a 3.83 GPA in the classroom.

Q Who has had the most influence on your athletics?

A My dad, Greg Upham. He coached football at Helena High for about 10 years. He taught me how to play the game, and play it the right way.

Q What is your favorite subject, and who's your favorite teacher?

A I like math, and my English teacher, Mrs. Murgel.

Q Do you have any buddies on the Capital team?

A Yeah, (center) Louie Blood and (quarterback) Matt Reyant. Matt and I have a lot of respect for each other.

QWere there any older teammates who took you under their wing and taught you the ropes?

A Definitely Ryan Fetherston. He helped show me how to play quarterback, and how to be a team leader for the Bengals.

Q What was the highlight of your career?

A Beating CMR in Memorial Stadium two years ago in the 2007 playoffs.