A new class of Wolfpack take over tradition

Thirty-one games of varsity experience is hard to replace. So is Shay Smithwick-Hann.

This is what the Glacier Wolfpack football program is faced with this season: replacing a group of senior leaders with three years of playing time and the school's only varsity quarterback up until now.

"Our theme this season is ‘With tradition comes responsibility,'" Glacier head coach Grady Bennett said. "I've been challenging this senior group from the day those seniors left last year. They put up some amazing tradition in the first three years, so now these guys are responsible for taking it to the next step."

Glacier starts the season today where it left off last year, at Daylis Stadium in Billings, as the Wolfpack faces Eastern AA Billings Senior at 7:30 p.m. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on 103.9 FM The Monster.

"I'm seeing great signs in these first few days. They understand the legacy that those seniors left and they want to take it to the next level," Bennett said.

Glacier, which finished 7-4 overall and tied for third in the standings last year, had exactly 30 seniors. A good chunk of that group started every game from 2007 to last year's season-ending playoff loss against Billings Skyview.

This year's squad has 22 seniors, but barely a handful of returning starters, including 2nd-team all-state lineman and Montana State recruit Joel Horn and all-state honorable mentions Jacob Leininger (tight end), Bryan Chery (receiver), Stormy Day (kick returner) and Brendan Hagen (kicker).

"I met with the captains a couple weeks ago and one of the things they were saying is it's finally our time," Bennett said. "They watched that group before them which was a special group, they watched them play for three straight years, and now it's finally their turn to be seniors and take over the program."

Taking over the program means filling in a few key positions that have been cornerstones in years past.

A strong, senior-heavy offensive line helped the running backs tally 2,042 yards and 35 touchdowns last season. Senior running backs Taylor Hart and Wiley Fusaro combined for 1,113 yards and 20 TDs and helped Glacier build the fourth-best offense in AA.

Then there was Smithwick-Hann.

The former all-state QB and current Montana Grizzly rushed for 724 yards and 13 TDs and passed for 1,896 yards and nine TDs in '09, capping his career marks at 5,584 passing yards with 37 TDs.

From the very first game until now, the Wolfpack has thrown the ball 867 times; of those, 861 came from Smithwick-Hann.

Two passes came from senior Colter Hanson, who is today's starter. At the team's preseason scrimmage, Hanson looked impressive, starting 5-for-5 with a TD pass and a calm demeanor.

But the varsity minutes will tell the tale.

"Colter has had a good camp so far. We're both very excited," Bennett, a former Montana Griz quarterback, said. "It's fun for me because I feel like I'm back to focusing on (coaching quarterbacking) where in years past I was able to just let Shay do it a little bit on his own.

"Obviously I think the quarterback position is going to be huge for us," Bennett added. "And I think running back ... we've got a good running back battle going right now.

"Our offensive line is probably our biggest question mark ... Those guys have got to gel and get better and learn things. Across the board, I think that's kind of the way it is, but I like the way the guys are approaching it."

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Glacier Schedule

Aug. 27 - at Billings Senior, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 3 - at Great Falls CMR, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 10 - Bozeman, 4 p.m.

Sept. 17 - Helena, 7 p.m.

Sept. 24 - at Flathead, 7 p.m.

Oct. 1 - Missoula Sentinel, 7 p.m.

Oct. 8 - at Great Falls

Oct. 15 - Helena Capital, 7 p.m.

Oct. 22 - Missoula Big Sky, 7 p.m.

Oct. 29 - at Missoula Hellgate, 7 p.m.