Duffy calls Saturday an ‘amazing’ day for soccer in Billings

Three of the four Montana High School Association state championship matches will be held in Billings and five of the eight teams involved in those matches are from Yellowstone County.

And with the way the matches are spaced out, local soccer fans can take in all three of the championship tilts.

A doubleheader at Amend Park, hosted by Billings Central, begins the day. In a rematch of last year’s state title contest, the Central boys (14-0) will battle defending state champion Whitefish (11-2-1) for the State A championship at noon.

Then, in an incredible twist for Yellowstone County soccer fans, Central (12-0-2) will host Laurel (11-0-4) at 2:30 p.m. for the State A girls title at Amend. In two previous meetings this year, the two teams battled to draws.

The Rams-Locomotives state title matchup is historically similar to a classic World Series pairing of Dodgers-Yankees. Throughout the years, the Locomotives and Rams have played for the state title six times. Central came out on top in 2015, 2016 and 2018, while Laurel prevailed in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

In the day’s nightcap, a crosstown battle will determine the State AA boys title as Billings West (10-6-1) and Billings Senior (13-1-2) will collide at 5 p.m. at Wendy’s Field at Daylis Stadium.

And while he’ll be monitoring the games via the subscription-based NFHS Network as his Battlin’ Bears are on a road trip to Oregon, Duffy will be one of those fans tuned into the contests.

Duffy, an avid soccer fan and one of the most recognizable faces of the sport in Billings, is also the director of coaching for the Real Billings Football Club, a youth soccer program based in the Magic City. Duffy believes Saturday is going to be special for local soccer fans.

“I think it’s huge for our community,” Duffy told The Billings Gazette and 406 MT Sports in a phone interview after the Bears men and women arrived to Oregon on Thursday for matches Friday and Sunday. “I’ve been here 24 years. I’ve never really seen anything like it. We’ve obviously had some programs over the years that have kind of had a ton of success, kind of year after year. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a year where we’ve had so much success with a variety of different programs. I think it just shows the strength of soccer in this community and how it continues to grow year after year.”

Duffy, who became an assistant coach with the RMC women in 2001 and the head coach in 2002, is originally from Scotland having moved to the United States in 1995 to play college soccer. In addition, he became the Battlin’ Bears men’s head coach when the program started in 2009.

A two-time All-American (1998, 1999) at the University of Mary, Duffy maintains both Rocky head coaching jobs today.

Being around soccer his entire life, first as a player and now as a coach, Duffy is familiar with the game. When asked what he attributes the level of success the Billings-area teams achieved this season, he said many players are getting a good start at the club level, including his club and Billings United.

“I think both of those programs do an amazing job of providing offseason opportunities outside of the high school window for these kids to develop and train and be coached at a higher level. I think that’s definitely helping,” Duffy said. “So these kids are getting good coaching at a young age, and now obviously Laurel is another program we’re talking about, too. I think that community does an amazing job, too, with their youth soccer.

“So I think between the three youth soccer organizations, these players are getting not only great coaching, but they’re also getting to see different levels of play throughout the state — throughout the region.”

Duffy also said the local high school coaches are doing a good job of helping develop the players and installing their game plans.

“And I think just the quality of coaching now that we’re seeing at the high school level is exceptional,” he said. “We’ve got guys that have played college soccer that are now giving back to the community and coaching at high schools. I think that’s definitely helping with the success that we’re seeing now on a community basis.”

The Rocky program has plenty of ties to the championship matches occurring on Saturday. With Saturday being a day off between games on the road against Corban (Friday) and Bushnell (Sunday), many on the team will be watching the NFHS livestream.

Duffy’s son, Charlie Duffy, is a sophomore on the Senior Broncs squad.

While Duffy is disappointed he won’t be able to watch his son play live, sometimes things like that happen when you’re coaching a college team.

“That’s the drawback to being a college soccer coach is sometimes you’re traveling at times you don’t want to be traveling,” said Duffy. “But I know that the game will be (streamed), so I’ll be able to watch there.”

Duffy did say he has a fondness for all of the local players, but in the AA boys title game he’ll be rooting for Senior.

“I would say I’m supportive of all those kids because I’ve had the opportunity to train them at different camps and different teams throughout the years,” he said. “But obviously, with my son being on Senior, it’s definitely kind of ‘Go Broncs’ for me on Saturday afternoon.”

Two of the coaches involved in championship matches also played for Duffy at RMC. Rams first-year boys coach Bilechi Sumaili and Broncs coach Jace Beck, who was hired at Senior in Jan. 2021, both played soccer at RMC. Duffy said he’s “super excited” for his former players to experience coaching in a state title match Saturday.

“I’ve been kind of texting those guys over the last week or so, just telling them how kind of proud I am of those guys and best of luck in the games coming up,” he said.

Current Battlin’ Bears women’s players, sisters Mya and Morgan Maack, are the daughters of Laurel girls soccer coach Tom Maack.

“We were just kind of talking about it in the van on the way down,” said Duffy of visiting with the Maack sisters about the girls Class A title game. “They’re excited for that, too. And obviously, they had a lot of success playing at Laurel, too. Anytime you go through a program and you graduate and you’re an alumni of the institution or the high school, I think you’re always looking to see what’s happening. Obviously, if your dad’s coaching is another tie to the program. They’re excited. They’re obviously rooting for Laurel in this one. But I think it’s going to be another great day of the Central-Laurel, part of that rivalry they’ve had over a long time.”

Duffy said he hopes Billings fans appreciate this opportunity and attend the matches, soak in the atmosphere, and support the local teams. After all, it isn’t often three state championship soccer matches involving five teams from Yellowstone County are played in one day in the Magic City.

“My hope is it continues. My hope is that we’re going to see this on a regular basis,” said Duffy. “But the reality of the game is it’s tough to see that much success in one city. So I think Billings should be incredibly proud. I think Saturday, Billings is going to be just an amazing environment and atmosphere for the community, for the parents and most importantly, just for the kids; to be able to go out there and play in their hometown with what I expect will be huge crowds for all three games.

“I think it’s going to be an amazing, amazing day of soccer for Billings soccer.”