Loutzenhiser brothers to team up at Montana State Northern

SANDPOINT — One will chase quarterbacks, and one hopes to play quarterback, as the brothers Loutzenhiser signed letters of intent this week to play football next season at Montana State University Northern, in Havre, Mont.

Nate Loutzenhiser, who helped lead the Bulldogs to the semis of the 4A state tournament as a senior quarterback, is relishing the chance to play alongside his older brother Josh Loutzenhiser, two years removed from his playing days at Sandpoint.

Last year, Josh played defensive end for Southern Virginia University, and like Nate, can’t wait for the chance to pad up together. Surprisingly, the brothers have never shared the same field together, and after a visit to the campus, decided to give it a try.

“I get to look forward to playing with my brother. We went down there and liked what we saw,” said Nate, who left his name on the record books at Sandpoint and hopes to earn a shot at playing QB in college. “It’s going to be tough, but I think it will make me a better person in the long run. The challenge and rush you get in the game is pretty crazy.”

Loutzenhiser, 5-11, 185 pounds, passed for more than 3,300 yards and 30 touchdowns as a Bulldog signal caller. Bulldogs head coach Satini Puailoa said Nate is also athletic enough to see minutes elsewhere.

“He can do more than one thing, he could play receiver. It’s a chance to go on and play, compete,” said Puailoa, happy to see his players moving to the next level. “It can be one of the most rewarding things in your life. Not a lot of people get that opportunity.”

Josh, who played his first season of college ball last year as a 6-0, 235 pound defensive end, plans to study criminology at the NAIA school that plays in the Frontier Athletic Conference. The brothers will each receive 75 percent off their tuition, with the usual chance to play their way into a full ride.

Josh hopes to play on the defensive line, but should the coaches mandate,would gladly switch to the offensive line, a position he played well in high school. There’s a chance he could line up against former teammates Tim and Todd Pays, each of whom is playing offensive line at Carroll College, a scenario he’d love to see happen.

“The bond that you get with teammates, there’s no other friendship like it,” said Josh, noting the Pays brothers are two of his best friends. “You’re in the trenches together fighting, you get that bond.”

Both Nate and Josh played for their dad Chad Loutzenhiser, a member of the SHS coaching staff, but never at the same time. They also both played for Puailoa, who only got to coach Josh for one season and is happy to see him pursuing his passion.

“There’s a lot of different ways to fulfill your dream. In his third year (since high school), he gets to play with his brother closer to home, their parents can see them,” described Puailoa. “Josh’s story is you don’t have to give up on your dream.”