It’s a small world. I have proof.

Well, not proof, but a good anecdote, and who doesn’t like those? (Well, some writing coaches and crusty editors, but that’s another story.)

Yesterday in my duties as sports editor, I called Dayton High School senior tight end Hayden Craig to talk with him about the University of Montana’s firing of its AD and its football coach the day before. Craig signed in February to play football for the Grizzlies beginning this fall.

One of the coaches who recruited him is Shalon Baker, who coaches wide receivers and is the passing game coordinator. He is also an integral part of the story of one of the greatest games I ever covered.

In a 1994 Division I-AA quarterfinal in Missoula, Mont., the Grizzlies defeated McNeese, 30-28, on a field goal in the final seconds as snow fell on a frozen, muddy, sloppy field. McNeese trailed 27-7 early in the fourth quarter, and Cowboys quarterback Kerry Joseph rallied McNeese for a 28-27 lead late in the game.

When the Cowboys were unable to pick up a fourth-and-1 from the Montana 12-yard line, with snow falling hard and coach Bobby Keasler not at all confident the Cowboys could make a 29-yard field goal under such conditions, it left the Grizzlies a crack, and they slipped through it. Started on their 13-yard line with 41 seconds left, they started their game-winning drive.

A key play: Scott Gurnsey caught a short pass, and as he was being tackled, he flipped a lateral to Shalon Baker, then a receiver for the Grizzlies. He hustled to the 35, and the drive had life. Baker gained 20 and 25 yards on subsequent catches, and Montana twice stopped the clock with spikes before lining up for the game-winning field goal. Andy Larson lined up to kick his 37-yarder with 12 seconds left on the clock. He nailed it, snow be damned.

Baker was right there in the heart of the comeback for Montana. Now, he’s the WRs coach who helped recruit a player from Oregon’s 2011 3A state runner-up Dayton High School, a short drive from my new home in McMinnville. Dayton was the best team we covered the last two years. The Pirates lost the state championship game on a last-second 47-yard field goal. Go figure.

Oh, and the quarterback who threw those passes to Baker in 1994? Bert Wilberger, a seldom-used backup who replaced injured starter Dave Dickenson early in the game and had a career in an afternoon. Wilberger completed 38 of 67 passes for 476 yards and three touchdowns.

Oh, and he’s from Ashland.

Oregon.

Small world.

I’m discovering all kinds of other connections, but listening to Craig talk about Baker definitely woke up an echo.