Braves, Wolfpack begin grid rivalry

Flathead, Glacier face off tonight at Legends Stadium

Future editions of the Flathead-Glacier high school football rivalry will have more at stake than tonight's inaugural cross-town clash.

Subsequent match-ups should be more competitive once the Wolfpack develops the size, experience and depth to measure up with the Braves.

But there's nothing like the first time, and today's 7 o'clock Class AA game at Legends Stadium offers several intriguing story lines.

Glacier (0-7) hosts Flathead (4-3) in the Braves' home stadium, while Wolfpack coach Grady Bennett faces the program he tutored for 16 years, including the last three as head coach.

First-year Braves head coach Russell McCarvel also is familiar with both teams' strategy and personnel after coaching Flathead's running backs last fall.

Flathead junior quarterback Brock Osweiler looks to light up the scoreboard, while Glacier sophomore signal caller Shay Smithwick-Hann plays opposite the Braves, whom he started for last fall when Osweiler was injured.

"It'll be pretty different for me just because I played JV last year and most of the kids who played on JV are up on the (Flathead) varsity now," Smithwick-Hann said.

"Those kids definitely taught me a lot."

Smithwick-Hann (856 passing yards and five total touchdowns) said he learned the most from Osweiler, who has piled up 1,956 yards passing and 22 total touchdowns after earning all-state honors as a sophomore.

"This year I learned how amazing that was by him," Smithwick-Hann said. "He's a great quarterback. We just want to try to do the things we're capable of. We just want to try to get the ball moving and win our own battles."

Osweiler understands the baptism of fire Smithwick-Hann is enduring while surrounded by fellow underclassmen during Glacier's first season.

"I wish the best for him," Osweiler said. "I hope he has a great career and gets everything he wants out of his career up at Glacier. I hope he can find and create some success up there with the cards he's been dealt."

Flathead won four straight games before falling at Great Falls High last Saturday, rendering tonight a chance to right its ship.

"Really, in a way, this game came at a good time for us because our kids took that loss pretty hard, and it's not going to be difficult for them to get up for this game," McCarvel said. "Our kids are excited and honored to play in the very first cross-town game.

"The biggest thing we talked about (this week) is making sure we come out and execute, and play with emotion."

Flathead finishes its regular season at home against Missoula Hellgate and Helena Capital, working to climb out of seventh place before the playoffs begin.

"We need to get some momentum going into the final two weeks of the season, so we do have more at stake (than Glacier)," Osweiler said. "I have full confidence in our team that we'll get done what we need to."

That doesn't mean the Braves expect an easy victory.

"I've learned with all my years of playing football and basketball … there's nobody you can look past, no matter how bad their record is, no matter how bad they might look," Osweiler said.

Bennett said preparing for Flathead's spectacular aerial attack has been a rewarding experience.

"When you work so hard to build a program and you coach kids for that many years, you have a lot of pride," he said. "Flathead's a good team, they're a playoff-bound team."

Braves wide receiver Mike Gallagher has snared 50 passes for 799 yards and seven touchdowns, followed by Travis Andrus with 30 catches for 384 yards and three scores.

Wolfpack defensive backs Kramer Wilson, Logan Quay and Connor Fuller have more than 40 tackles apiece, but many of those have come against the run.

"I think our secondary is pretty decent," Bennett said. "I've been very happy with that group, but they really haven't had a chance. I'm excited to kind of watch these guys get a chance to do their thing."

Flathead has allowed 25.1 points per game, but Glacier has scored only 35 points all season.

Wolfpack running back Wiley Fusaro has caught 29 passes for 265 yards while running for 131 more. Fuller leads Glacier with 36 receptions for 236 yards at wide receiver. Tight end Kyle Montini has nine catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

Glacier is an overwhelming underdog, as it has been all season. But Bennett hopes the Wolfpack puts up a fight while playing carefree football.

"This week we've just challenged them to compete," Bennett said. "Just come out and let it fly.

"This is a year of firsts, a year of history, a year of establishing things for the future. I guess the key is to focus on the success of the journey. This journey is going to be really, really fun."

McCarvel has reminded the Braves that they will remember tonight long after their prep careers end.

"There is no other first game," he said. "I told them it's like your first kiss: you only get one."