Glacier Knights ready for Year 2
If nothing else, the name promises to garner a little extra attention for the Glacier Knights football program this year.
Beau Bledsoe, the first cousin of the Dallas Cowboys' Drew Bledsoe, is one of the key offseason additions by the Knights.
Beau Bledsoe stands 6-foot-4 and weighs in at 295 pounds while Drew Bledsoe checks in at 6-5, 238.
But that's where the similarity ends - at least position wise.
Beau, you see, is an offensive lineman/defensive tackle. Drew is an all-pro NFL quarterback.
Both Bledsoes, though, are expected to make an impact with their respective new teams.
"We've gained a full defensive and offensive front," said Knights' owner/coach Ron LaTray.
"Last year we played with a very small roster. And we didn't have any legitimate lineman. We probably started eight out of the 11 both ways."
Thus, the major growing pains.
The Knights, members of the Rocky Mountain Football League, posted a 1-7 record. The lone victory - 25-6 over Mountain Home - came at home the third week of the season. The Knights, however, were outscored 328-37 through eight games.
LaTray is shooting for a 4-4 mark at the minimum this time around, perhaps even going 5-3 with a little luck.
He'd also like to see the number of players the Knights send to the all-star game double to four. Last year Jason Zielanski, a strong safety from Columbia Falls, and Patrick Doty, a cornerback from Kalispell, were the Knights' only two selections. Both are back.
In addition to Bledsoe, Steve Biggs, a 6-2, 260, offensive guard from Kalispell, joins the roster. Biggs, according to LaTray, played college football in Idaho.
The Knights, along with the Great Falls Gladiators, will feature a smallish roster with 25-30 players.
Newcomer Missoula, the Raptors, will have in excess of 80 players in uniform while Helena, the Titans, will have almost 40.
Those four teams make up the Northern Division.
LaTray says 17 players are back from last year's inaugural campaign. There are 11 new players on the roster.
The Knights will open the season Saturday, 1 p.m. in Missoula at Loyola High School's football field.
The home opener is April 23, versus the Great Falls Gladiators. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. in Columbia Falls at the high school field.
The regular season ends June 11 at Great Falls.
The Knights have home-away games with the three other teams in the Northern Division. Helena won the division title a year ago.
Division champs automatically advance to the playoffs and there are also seven wild card spots available.
The Rocky Mountain Football League has a total of 21 teams in five divisions.
"We had pretty decent attendance for a first-year team," said LaTray. "We'd like to have it grow this year."
"A lot of frustration, as a first-year team, was a lack of sponsors," he continued.
"This year we've tripled our sponsors."
The Whitefish Credit Union has donated $1,000 to the Knights this season, "which was more than we operated with last year."
For more information on the Glacier Knights, see the team's Web site: www.eteamz.com/glacierknights
Glacier Knights Schedule
April 16 - at Missoula Raptors
April 23- Great Falls Gladiators
April 30 - at Madison Lionz
May 7 - Helena Titans
May 14 - Missoula Raptors
May 21 - at Helena Titans
June 4 - Pocatello Predators (Kalispell Jr. High)
June 11 - at Great Falls Gladiators
NOTE: Home games played at Columbia Falls unless otherwise noted.