Milestone victory for Wolfpack

The Daily Inter Lake

BUTTE - Last year's perpetually overmatched Glacier football team couldn't help but chuckle when head coach Grady Bennett insisted it practice its "Victory" formation.

Pups no longer, the Wolfpack experienced a different emotion Friday night when quarterback Shay Smithwick-Hann took a knee to ice Glacier's first Class AA win, 21-14 over Butte in the season opener for both teams.

"I'm just so happy for those kids for hanging in there and keeping at it and just believing they could get it done," Bennett said.

"I really liked the way the kids approached it. I really liked the way they believed they could win."

The Bulldogs drove inside the Wolfpack red zone with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter, but Glacier's defense, which surrendered 40 first-half points to Butte in last year's season opener, forced four straight incomplete passes, rendering the Wolfpack's final snap a joyful formality.

Led by Taylor Graham, Connor Fuller, Logan Quay and Kramer Wilson, the Wolfpack secondary came up big late, just as it had all night, allowing Butte quarterback Skyler Criscuolo to complete just 10 of 25 passes for 127 yards. Wilson had a momentum-changing interception, as did linebacker Garrett Conners.

Glacier took its first lead on Smithwick-Hann's 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. The Bulldogs tied the game at 7 on Mike Euland's scoring jaunt about 4 minutes later, but the Wolfpack enjoyed a 14-7 halftime advantage thanks to Taylor Hart's 7-yard touchdown run with 1:39 on the clock.

Glacier pulled ahead 21-7 late in the third quarter when Smithwick-Hann hooked up with BJ Corpron on a 12-yard scoring strike.

Criscuolo narrowed the gap when he found Keaton Lappin open for a short touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the Wolfpack wouldn't be denied.

"I never once thought, 'Oh, no, we're going to self-destruct and let this thing slip away,'" Bennett said.

Smithwick-Hann completed 13 of 20 passes for 149 yards, but it was Glacier's remarkable balance that keyed its offense. The Wolfpack gained 131 yards rushing, including 85 by Hart on 10 carries, after managing just 295 yards on the ground last season.

"The step we had to make to start being competitive was to run the football," Bennett said. "The offensive line got off the ball and moved the line of scrimmage."

Linemen Dan Gilbert, Max Echelard, Kieran Hagen, Matt Russell, John Frandsen and Leroy Doty also allowed the passing game to click.

Connor Fuller had three receptions for 26 yards to lead Glacier, followed by Kyle Montini with two for 29 and Corpron with two for 25.

"Shay had time all night," Bennett said. "He always had a pocket to step up into. It didn't seem like he was ever under duress."

Euland rushed for 164 yards, but needed 39 carries to do so.

Though understandably elated, Bennett said the Wolfpack kept their celebration in check until they reached the locker room, where tears flowed freely.

Glacier's victory came at the expense of Arie Grey, who made his debut as Butte head coach after tutoring the Wolfpack receivers last year. Bennett said Grey jogged across the field to congratulate his former players.

"The things we stress about character and class: When you see that actually come out during the game, that's what makes it all worth it," Bennett said.

The Wolfpack shoot for their first winning streak next Friday when they host Bozeman (0-1) at 7 p.m.

"What I told them was, 'Now that you've tasted it, you come back Monday and you have the best week of practice that you've ever had,'" Bennett said.

"I don't think they'll rest on any laurels at all. I think it's going to be a fantastic week of practice."

Glacier 0 14 7 0 - 21

Butte 0 7 0 7 - 14

Second Quarter

Glacier-Shay Smithwick-Hann 1 run (Taylor Graham kick), 9:46

Butte-Mike Ueland 5 run (Matt Berg kick), 5:25

Glacier-Taylor Hart 7 run (Graham kick), 1:39

Third Quarter

Glacier-BJ Corpron 12 pass from Smithwick-Hann (Graham kick), 2:20

Fourth Quarter

Butte-Keaton Lappin 4 pass from Skyler Criscuolo (Berg kick), 8:08

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Glacier Butte

First downs 14 19

Rushes-yards 26-131 45-162

Passing yards 149 127

Comp-Att-Int 13-20-1 10-25-2

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0

Penalties-yards 8-65 3-25

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Glacier, Smithwick-Hann 8-34, Wiley Fusaro 5-12, Hart 10-85, Corpron 2-2, team 1-(-2). Butte, Euland 39-164, Criscuolo 6-(-2).

PASSING-Glacier, Smithwick-Hann 13-120-1-149. Butte, Criscuolo 10-25-2-127.

RECEIVING-Glacier, Hart 1-14, Graham 1-7, Kyle Montini 2-29, Connor Fuller 3-26, Chad Gassaway 1-19, Corpron 2-25, George Werk 1-19, Fusaro 1-9, Tyler Lincoln 1-1. Butte, Levi Lovshin 7-105, Lappin 2-17, Ueland 1-5.