Brotherhood in the trenches

Some guys are born to command the spotlight. Some get their names and numbers announced on nearly every down.

Other guys ... hope they never hear their number announced.

But whatever happens on a football field - it all begins and ends in the trenches with that second group.

The Glacier Wolfpack (6-1) has scored 250 points and gained more than 2,500 yards of offense this season. Without its offensive line, the Wolfpack isn't going anywhere.

But for all the work the guys on the line do, nobody knows who they are.

For the record, the senior members of Glacier's o-line are Jackson Thiebes (6-foot-4, 200 pounds), Mack Sutherland (6-0, 240), Logan Connolly (6-2, 275) and Trent Halstad (6-2, 275).

"For the time they put in and the work they go through ... they have the team's best interest in mind, for sure," said Glacier offensive line coach Arron Deck.

"They're executing, that's for sure," he said.

Offensive line is new territory for Deck, who changed from defense just last year.

"They made the transition great for me. They took care of me - and they've taught me a lot about football," he said.

"They're outstanding young men who are going to be successful whatever they do," he added.

"They're a close-knit group and they're doing a heckuva job protecting Taylor (Hulslander)," Deck said.

So far as being anonymous, that's just fine with them.

They say they get all the recognition they could ever want from their quarterback, running backs and wide receivers.

"They tell us how much they appreciate us. We know (how much we do). Our brothers know it. That's all we need," Sutherland said.

"They know. It's all worth it," said Halstad.

Everyone on the team understands moving the ball is a group effort, they said.

"It takes 11 guys on the field," Sutherland said.

"They wouldn't be good without us. We wouldn't be good without them," Halstad added.

"We can block for them, but if they don't catch the ball ... (nobody is advancing)," Connolly said.

They're also quick to spread the compliments to other members of the team - the younger members of the line and the defensive players who go against them every day in practice "make us who we are," Connolly said.

There is no better example of unselfishness than in their favorite memory (so far) from this football season.

Ask and you will hear all about Glacier's Sept. 2 game-winning drive against CMR.

Trailing by four points, the Wolfpack got the ball with four minutes left in the game.

"It was all on us," Sutherland said.

Glacier converted two fourth downs on the way - and with five seconds remaining, Glacier's Aaron Mitchell scored on a one-yard dive.

"I've never had a feeling inside quite like it. I was just so happy, I couldn't stop smiling," Connolly said.

None of them would like to switch positions.

"I love the team and that's where the team needs me," Halstad said.

"I just like (being on the line) - the brotherhood we have together," Thiebes said.

"There's no other spot on the team where you bond as much," Halstad agreed.

He did add that he would be willing to be on the defensive line - but "only if I could be o-line, too."

The guys have classes together, watch film together during lunch and hang out at one another's homes.

They say they can tell one another anything.

"I love these guys. Each one of them is unique. They bring something different to the table and I love it," Thiebes said.

This football season has definitely gone well for the Wolfpack. The 6-1 start is among the best in Kalispell's history.

But there is one more goal out there.

"We've got to get a playoff game," Sutherland said.