Crosstown IV: Braves to test Wolfpack

Records and everything else can go right out the window tonight.

It's the Black and Blue football game between the Flathead Braves and Glacier Wolfpack.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Legends Stadium.

"It's going to be fun. The crosstown is new for me as well," said Glacier coach Grady Bennett.

Bennett, Kalispell born and raised, "never got to experience this. We created our rivalries with whoever happened to be good. To have a crosstown situation, I see why it's such a special thing. The whole town gets into it and is excited about it," he said.

For the Braves (0-4), it's their first chance to get back on the field since an off-field incident earlier this week cost them four members of their team.

"We've got new starters. We have four different players on the offensive line, so that's a pretty big deal," said Flathead coach Russell McCarvel.

But the Braves worked hard this week on moving past that.

"They have to move on. Everyone knows that. We will not look back. We will only look forward," McCarvel said.

The problem in front of the Braves right now is the Glacier Wolfpack (1-3).

"They certainly run the ball well. Their quarterback (Colter Hanson) is an excellent down-the-field thrower and they play very good defense with an active defensive line," McCarvel said.

"They have a very good linebacking corps - one of the best in the state. Both inside and outside linebackers are good hitters and fly well to the ball," he added.

"They're well-balanced, lots of good players.

"They've been in every game and they've played a difficult schedule. They've played all the top teams right to the wire. They could have easily beaten Helena High last week," McCarvel said.

"Defensively, we've got to take away the big play. That's been our Achilles' heel - and it's something Glacier does well," he said.

"We are going to have to mix up the run and the pass and we are certainly going to rely on (quarterback) Mike VanArendonk to have a great game," McCarvel said.

VanArendonk is No. 2 on the total offense list for Class AA. His 1,338 total yards is second only to Bozeman's Tanner Roderick. The Flathead senior has completed 85 of 138 passes for 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's run 79 times for 309 yards.

"Mike VanArendonk is legitimate," Bennett said.

Bennett worked with the Flathead quarterback when VanArendonk was in the eighth grade.

"I knew he was going to be a good player. He's become a legitimate college prospect and Russell (McCarvel) is doing a nice job of running everything through him," Bennett said.

"He's got a good stable of receivers, a good tight end. It's run or pass and Mike is doing a nice job. We have to find a way to contain him. You aren't going to stop him."

The Braves have been able to put up plenty of points in their four games - 118 so far this year. That's behind only No. 1 Helena Capital, No. 2 Bozeman and Missoula Sentinel.

Flathead scored 42 points against Sentinel last week and 48 in a loss to Helena Capital a few weeks ago.

The Wolfpack, on the other hand, has been slow starting. It has not yet scored in the opening quarter.

"You can't keep doing that. You can't stay with a good offensive team if you continue to do that. Our defense has had their backs against the wall many times. They've done about as well as they could," Bennett said.

"Our key is we have to get off to a good start offensively," he said.

"We can't let them get rolling. We're going to try to execute and put drives together, get better at our stuff and move the chains - and keep Flathead's offense off the field."