Glacier faces another Helena heavyweight

Wolfpack plays host to No. 3-ranked Bengals

In the last four weeks, Glacier has played three of the top five teams in Class AA. Tonight at 7 at Legends Stadium, the Wolfpack face its fourth heavyweight opponent - Helena High (5-1).

Last Friday, the young Wolfpack (2-4) lost handily to Helena's other top-ranked team, Capital, but Glacier head coach Grady Bennett said his team came away with several positive signs, especially considering they were playing the two-time defending state champions.

The Bruins jumped out to a 35-0 first quarter lead that would urge most opposing teams to start warming up the bus. But Glacier, led by the school's first-ever senior class, played with a newfound sense of pride.

"When it's all said and done, I'm just really proud of our kids," Bennett said. "They really never quit and our sidelines stayed with it the whole time. They all kept cheering for each other and playing hard."

Quarterback Shay Smithwick-Hann and the offense have continued to improve.

"I really thought our offense played pretty well," Bennett said. "We had two extended, really long drives against (Capital's) No. 1 'D'. You watch those on tape and just think 'Wow, that was a really nice drive.'"

Smithwick-Hann, a junior, had three interceptions in the game, but considering he threw the ball 37 times, it's impressive that his arm didn't fall off. He ranks second in Class AA in passing with 1,329 yards this season and has 11 touchdown passes.

Then there's power running back Taylor Hart, who took 13 carries for 50 yards and scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Receiver Tyler Lincoln made big catches all night and compiled 76 yards.

The special teams have been a reliable bright spot for the Wolfpack all season, and last week's game was no different. Kickoff-return specialist Phil Heimerl, leading the state with 301 yards, sparked the Wolfpack offense in the second half with an 89-yard return to the 1-yard line. Glacier scored on the drive.

"Our special teams are very solid," Bennett said. "(Heimerl) almost took that one to the house."

Going into tonight's game against the Bengals, the Wolfpack defense will be tested similar to last week. The scouting report is out on Helena High and senior quarterback Matt Upham - they like to establish the running game early thanks to their burly offensive line. The trio of Upham, Nick Trapp and Tyler Ishak each have the potential for 100-yard games. With that established, Upham comes out throwing and catches opponents off-guard. Against Flathead earlier this season, Upham only threw the ball six times - but four were touchdowns.

"(Upham) is very efficient and he does exactly what they want him to do," Bennett said.

In practice this week, Bennett and the other coaches emphasized the need for eliminating big plays on defense among other areas they hope to keep improving on. With the help of seniors and team leaders, the results were good.

"We've had a great week of practice," he said. "It might be one of our best weeks of practice ever."

Class AA Standings

W - L

Helena Capital 6 - 0

CMR 5 - 1

Helena High 5 - 1

Billings West 5 - 1

Great Falls High 4 - 2

Billings Skyview 3 - 3

Big Sky 3 - 3

Sentinel 3 - 3

Flathead 3 - 3

Bozeman 2 - 4

Glacier 2 - 4

Billings Senior 1 - 5

Butte 0 - 6

Hellgate 0 - 6

Today

Helena at Glacier

Billings West at Billings Senior

Billings Skyview at Butte

Great Falls CMR at Bozeman

Missoula Hellgate at Missoula Big Sky

Saturday

Great Falls at Flathead

Helena Capital at Missoula Sentinel