Feel-good victory for Glacier

Unlike the previous three times, Brendan Hagan's final leap into the end zone came with ease.

After the fight song had been sung and the scoreboard turned off, Hagan walked hand-in-hand with his fellow senior teammates down the field. The final Glacier home football game this season was in the books, but all together, the group of seniors made one last leap into that end zone.

Score that one to good memories.

The Wolfpack regained its winning ways on Friday night with an impressive 42-12 victory over Missoula Big Sky. Hagan scored three touchdowns, classmate Colter Hanson passed for 299 yards and rushed for 127 and the feel-good victory on senior night all but ensured that Glacier (5-4) will be playing beyond October for the second year in a row.

"We needed that. That's the kind of game we needed, not just the kind of win we needed, but the kind of game we needed," Glacier head coach Grady Bennett said.

It was a cold go for starters - Glacier's opening 9-play, 90-yard drive died with a fumble on the 5-yard line - but the 'Pack started right up after that.

"Offensively we needed to really pop like that again," Bennett said. "We've been running up and down the field all year really but just have not finished. So tonight that was our point of emphasis."

Hagan turned in another workmanlike performance at the running back position. The mohawked senior, who finished with 113 total yards, scored twice in the final six minutes of the first half with leaping TD plays that gave Glacier a healthy lead going into the half.

"It's just great to win on senior night," Hagan said. "And it's great to win our last game here and leave here with a bang."

The fireworks continued in the second half as Glacier piled up three more TDs and all but settled into its biggest victory of the season. Hanson ran in the game's first score and connected on Glacier's last, a 33-yard moon-shot that landed in Kyle Griffith's arms for the score. He had a second rushing TD in the third quarter.

The Wolfpack, including an excited group of underclassmen who took over in the final quarter, tallied 570 yards on offense and limited Big Sky (0-9) to only two scores.

"Congratulations to the seniors," Bennett said. "They won their crosstown game, they won their homecoming game and they won their senior game and those are three big memories in your year. And I was really proud of just the whole team. We had a lot of guys step up."

That injury bug that has plagued Glacier all season was back again as was the penalty problems, but the Wolfpack adapted nicely. Seven different players caught passes and six different guys ran the ball. Only one turnover backtracked the offense and a fumble and interception came on defense. Role players like Paul Iavicoli and Aaron Mitchel made plays when needed. All in all, there was no question why Bennett was all smiles outside the Glacier lockerroom afterward.

"I feel like as a program, we're energized," the coach said. "We're excited. We know now, hey let's get this last one (against Missoula Hellgate next week) and then bring it on ... And this class of seniors has come so far. If anybody could see what they were like as freshman and to see where they are now as young men. I told them before the game I was so proud of them ... To see them grow for four years, that's exactly why I do what I do."

Missoula Big Sky 0 6 0 6 - 12

Glacier 0 21 21 0 - 42

Second quarter

G - Colter Hanson 4 run (Kyle Griffith kick), 11:53

MBS - Jay Owens 2 run (kick failed), 8:01

G - Brendan Hagan 15 run (Griffith kick), 5:57

G - Hagan 8 run (Griffith kick), :15

Third quarter

G - Hanson 27 run (Griffith kick), 11:38

G - Hagan 1 run (Griffith kick), 5:48

G - Griffith 33 pass from Hanson (Griffith kick), :43

Fourth quarter

MBS - Dan Miller 13 pass from Owens (pass failed), 9:10

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MBS G

First downs 13 21

Rushing 36-155 37-262

Passing yards 205 308

Com-Att-Int 19-27-1 17-24-0

Penalties 5-55 8-78

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Individual stats

RUSHING - Big Sky, Zach Sandau 18-73, Sam Damron 9-62, Jay Owens 7-26; Glacier, Colter Hanson 12-127, Brendan Hagan 12-71, Aaron Mitchel 8-47, Kyle Griffith 2-8, Kellyn Faraone 2-7, Anthony Gugliuzza 1-7.

PASSING - Big Sky, Owens 12-16-167-0, Cole Baker 6-10-31-1, Dan Miller 1-1-7-0; Glacier, Hanson 16-22-299, Taylor Hulslander 1-2-9.

RECEIVING - Big Sky, Michael Duncan 8-134, Lane Colyer 5-19, Aaron Koster 1-17, Miller 1-13, Austin Lindquist 2-9, Sandau 1-6, Owens 1-2; Glacier, Anthony Gugliuzza 4-89, Trey Griffith 4-75, Kyle Griffith 3-52, Hagan 2-42, Jacob Leininger 1-24, Bryan Chery 2-17, Adam Cebula 1-9.