Glendive’s Ray “Skillful Skilly” Skillestad, a three-time All-Conference selection and a member of four undefeated MCC championships, he set the early standards for passing quarterbacks on the Hilltop. But he also played defense, earning his first all-league citation as a sophomore at linebacker.
In 1952, Skillestad threw 11 touchdown passes, passed for a school-record 305 yards vs. Ricks College, and was named Catholic All-American honorable mention. His senior year, he fired 15 TD passes, while garnering his third All-Montana College Conference selection. Over the course of his time at Carroll, Ray produced 10 games with two-or-more touchdowns, five with 3-or-more.
In his career finale vs. Eastern Montana, he fired a school-record 4 TD passes and ran for another, tying the game standard of 5 scores. His other CC marks included, season – 15 passing, 19 combined; and career – 31 passing, 38 combined. His longest scoring strikes went for 75, 69, 62, 60 and 58 yards. The multi-talented Skillestad earned 12 letters – 4 each in football, baseball and track – and won 1953’s MCC javelin title.
