Wolfpack back in playoffs

For the second November in a row, the Wolfpack is still playing football.

After starting out 1-3, Glacier turned this season around and won five of its next six games to earn the second playoff berth in the program's four-year history.

Tonight at 7 p.m., seventh-seeded Glacier (6-4) will try to keep the season alive in an opening round Class AA playoff game against second-seeded Helena (9-1) at Vigilante Stadium in Helena.

"All year you have hopes and dreams that you are a playoff team, and you work hard to get a shot at the playoffs. So when you get in, everybody knows anything can happen," Glacier coach Grady Bennett said. "I think everybody knows we played with (Helena) the first time, and everybody knows that if we go play well, we can play with this team."

Glacier lost a close one to the Bengals at Legends Stadium on Sept. 17. The first half was one to forget for the Wolfpack, but after halftime a rejuvenated Glacier squad came back and tied the game at 14-all midway through the third quarter. The comeback came up short after Helena managed one last touchdown and relied on the top-ranked defense in the state to save the 20-14 victory. The Wolfpack finished with only nine yards rushing and 163 passing.

Since that loss, things have changed at Glacier. In the last six games, the Wolfpack has regained confidence, found a reliable offensive set, gotten within eight minutes of beating third-ranked Capital for the first time and averaged 409 yards-per-game.

And offense isn't the only strong-suit at Glacier these days. The defense has improved into the third best in the state in points allowed (18.2 ppg) and second best in yards allowed (264 ypg).

"I just told the kids I love our gameplan and the kids are confident and we've executed it all week. We've seen it, and we're excited," Bennett said. "But now they have to go execute it."

Overall this season, Glacier's offense is ranked sixth with 24.7 points-per-game. Helena's offense is ranked 10th with 21.7 points-per-game, but the Bengals' defense remains the state's toughest, allowing only 13.2 ppg, or 19 TDs in 10 games. On average, teams have averaged only 174.2 ypg against Helena. The rush defense has allowed only 465 yards this season, or 46.5 ypg, which is more than half of the next team's total, Bozeman (1,063).

"I don't know if the matchup is any more favorable if I was looking at any other teams," Bennett said. "I just think the league is so wide open. Bozeman obviously is a little bit above everybody else, but I really wouldn't be surprised to see some upsets in the first round. I think all eight teams right now are excited about a shot. We feel like we have as good a shot as anybody to win a playoff game and that's what we're going to try to go do."

This year's group at Glacier has already experienced the win-or-go-home atmosphere of playoff football. Last year's 7-4 squad traveled to Billings for a first-round matchup with Skyview. The game was up for grabs until a few Glacier turnovers led to 14-straight Skyview points in the fourth and the Falcons won 28-14.

This season's squad has a mix of talent that evens out the load. Senior running back Brendan Hagan is averaging 72.4 ypg. Senior quarterback Colter Hanson is the fifth best passer in the state, throwing for 1,948 (194.8 ypg) and 13 TDs. A threat with the scramble also, Hanson has scored eight TDs on the ground and ran for 475 yards. His favorite receiving target this season has been senior Jacob Leininger, who has 505 yards and 4 TDs. Senior Bryan Chery is next with 423 yards and a score and junior Anthony Gugliuzza has 420 yards and four TDs. Brothers Trey and Kyle Griffith round out the catching corps with a combined 497 yards.

On defense, senior Boyce Ballard leads with 110 total tackles, two sacks and two interceptions.

"When you finally get in (the playoffs), it's a big accomplishment," Bennett said. "We're in our fourth year and we've been in the playoffs half of them. That is a neat thing, when you put it in perspective."

Correction: Glacier finished 7-4 last year, not 6-4 as was previously reported.