It’s not very common for a new starting quarterback to shine right off the bat. It’s especially not common for there to be two in the same city.
But that’s the situation in Kalispell for the two Class AA football teams.
Matt Tokarz has the Flathead Braves (2-1) playing their most prosperous football in a couple seasons while Glacier (2-1), led by Taylor Hulslander, remains ranked in the top five after a comeback against top-ranked Helena fell short.
Flathead, who scored 21 points in the second half last Friday to beat Great Falls 31-20, has their first two-game win streak since Oct. 24, 2008. Tokarz, the Braves’ junior QB, is the second-best Class AA offensive player statistically, averaging roughly 280 total yards a game. The first-year starter is averaging 187 passing yards and 92 rushing yards per game. Receiver George Sherwood is averaging the second most receiving yards a game with 106.5. He’s tied for the most TDs with three.
As a team, Flathead is ranked fourth in offense (33.3 points per game) and 12th in defense (30.3 ppg). The Braves travel to Helena to play the top-ranked Bengals (3-0).
Glacier received 51 points for fifth place in the second AA prep poll of the season released on Wednesday. Ranked fourth last week, the Wolfpack fell behind 20-0 to Helena at Legends Stadium before powering back to within a score. The Bengals held on to preserve the 30-22 victory.
Hulslander is the second best QB in passing so far, averaging 249 ypg. He’s thrown five TDs and no interceptions so far and completes 67 percent of his passes. He’s the third ranked overall offensive player behind Tokarz. Receiver Kyle Griffith is ranked sixth in receiving with 70.3 ypg and teammate Anthony Gugliuzza is eighth with 64.3. Gugliuzza has three TDs and Griffith has two. Gugliuzza is also ranked third in overall yardage (171 ypg) thanks to strong punt and kick return numbers.
As a team, the Wolfpack is ranked fifth in offense (24.7 ppg) and fourth in defense (22.7 ppg). Glacier hosts Missoula Hellgate on Friday at 7 p.m.
In Class B, Bigfork (1-1) is ranked for the first time this season, earning ninth after drubbing Deer Lodge 48-13 last Friday. The defending state champs head to Conrad on Friday.
In Class A, Polson (2-0) earned a fifth-place ranking after blanking Hamilton 41-0. The Pirates host Anaconda on Friday.
The Associated Press Top 10 High School Football Poll
Released Wednesday, Sept. 14
Class AA
1. Helena (12) 3-0
2. Helena Capital 3-0
3. Billings West 2-1
4. Billings Senior 2-1
5. Glacier 2-1
Others receiving votes: Butte 19, Flathead 12.
Class A
1. Billings Central (8) 3-0
2. Miles City (4) 3-0
3. Dillon 3-0
4. Laurel 3-0
5. Polson 2-0
Others receiving votes: Hardin 18, Butte Central 18.
Class B
1. Fairfield (10) 2-0
2. Malta (1) 2-0
3. Townsend 2-0
4. Baker 2-0
5. Ronan (1) 2-0
6. Manhattan 1-1
7. Columbus 2-0
8. Missoula Loyola 2-0
9. Bigfork 1-1
10. Plentywood1Westby 2-0
Others receiving votes: Red Lodge/Belfry 10, Eureka 7, Choteau 6, Conrad 5, Huntley Project 2, St. Ignatius 1, Jefferson 1, Joliet 1.
Class C 8-Man
1. Chinook (10) 3-0
2. Fairview (1) 3-0
3. Twin Bridges 2-0
4. Wibaux 2-0
5. Absarokee 2-0
6. Drummond 2-1
7. White Sulphur Springs 2-0
8. Power-Dutton-Brady 2-0
9. Chester-Joplin-Inverness 2-0
10. Ennis 2-0
Others receiving votes: Superior 18, Belt 11, Lincoln 11, Victor 3.
Class C 6-Man
1. Denton (10) 2-0
2. Savage 1-1
3. Stanford Geyser 2-0
4. Hot Springs 2-0
5. Ekalaka 2-0
T6.Geraldine Highwood 1-1
T6.Bridger 1-0
8. Alberton 2-0
9. Fromberg Roberts 1-0
10. Terry 2-0
Others receiving votes: Jordan 16, Big Sandy 14, Valier 11, Hysham 9, Roy-Winifred 7, Winnett-Grass Range 5, Custer-Melstone 4, Lone Peak 3, Richey-Lambert 2, Reed Point-Rapelje 1.