In recent years, predicting who would win the Class AA state football title usually came down to picking between only a few schools. But this year, parity is the name of the game.
Glacier head coach Grady Bennett said No. 1 Bozeman, undefeated at 10-0, is a “little bit above” the rest of the field, but any team in the tournament could realistically win it all.
Over the past half-decade or so, Helena Capital and a couple of other schools were often playing at a considerably higher level than the lower-seeded teams. Capital, the fourth seed this year, has played in the last five championship games, winning three straight from 2006-2008.
“I think it’s as wide open of a league as it’s been in many years,” Bennett said. “There have been years that one or two teams were way above everybody and everybody else has been playing for second or third. But this year I feel anybody can beat anybody.”
Glacier, 6-4, is the seventh seed in the eight-team Class AA tournament. Last year, the Wolfpack earned a fifth seed and lost in the first round to No. 4 Billings Skyview 28-14. C.M. Russell won the tournament, defeating Capital 28-14 to end Capital’s three-year championship streak.
The Wolfpack play Helena High, 9-1, on the road in the first round on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. Helena wrapped up its season by shutting out Flathead 35-0 on Oct. 29. The Braves were 1-9 on the season.
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Wolfpack head football coach Grady Bennett calls plays during an afternoon practice at Glacier High School earlier this year. |
Glacier qualified for state after scoring four unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Missoula Hellgate to come from behind and win 32-15 in the final game of the regular season on Oct. 29.
While Helena’s 9-1 record is certainly formidable, the manner in which the Bengals won many of their games demonstrates Bennett’s theory on parity. Helena beat C.M. Russell, which failed to make the state tournament, by only two points and Missoula Sentinel, another team that didn’t qualify for state, by a score of 25-20.
Helena won other games 14-7, 17-14 and 20-14. That 20-14 win was over Glacier on Sept. 17 in a game where the Wolfpack had a shot to tie the score up or win on the final drive. But senior quarterback Colter Hanson’s interception in the final minutes ended the game.
Helena’s one loss came to Bozeman, 35-28, on Oct. 8. Glacier lost to Bozeman 35-13 on Sept. 10. The Wolfpack’s other losses were 24-17 to Helena Capital and 29-13 to Billings Senior.
Bennett said the Wolfpack’s tough early-season schedule was beneficial in the long run. The Wolfpack started out 1-3, with their only victory coming against defending champion C.M. Russell, 31-21, on Sept. 3. Glacier finished the season 5-1, its lone loss to Capital on Oct. 15.
“They learned they could play with everybody,” Bennett said. “I remember sitting in the locker room after that third loss, thinking, ‘We can play with everybody.’”
As the players have matured as a team, so have they individually. In particular, Hanson has grown up before Bennett’s eyes. Hanson played wide receiver last year and saw minimal snaps at quarterback. Thrust into the starting varsity role this season, Hanson has adapted admirably, Bennett said, learning to read defensive schemes and make adjustments.
Bennett, who played quarterback at the University of Montana, has a history of coaching good quarterbacks. Unlike many of them, however, Hanson wasn’t brought up through the system and nurtured for the position. Hanson has thrown for 1,969 yards, with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He has also rushed for 475 yards.
“He’s improved so much,” Bennett said.
Glacier has one of the best scoring defenses in the state, holding opponents to fewer than 20 points per game. And the Wolfpack’s offense has produced 74 points over the last two games. They appear to be clicking at just the right time.
“These kids believed from the very beginning that they were a playoff team,” Bennett said. “That’s why you play; that’s what you hope for at the start of the season. Everybody has those goals and dreams of contending for a title.”