Capital's fast start sinks Glacier
HELENA - Helena Capital scored on its first play from scrimmage, then held off a hard-charging Glacier Wolfpack for a 35-23 Class AA football victory on Friday night at Vigilante Stadium.
Capital led 28-3 at the half, but the Wolfpack (7-2) scored 20 points in the second half while holding Capital to just one score.
"I was proud of the kids' second half. We didn't start well. (The Bruins) are just too good to make mistakes (against). If you play them even Steven and don't make any mistakes, it's difficult. But if you give them short fields or turn the ball over, it's going to be a tough chore," said Glacier coach Grady Bennett.
"I was really proud of how our kids battled," he added.
The Wolfpack had a couple chances early on that it will be regretting.
"If Kyle (Griffith) gets in (on the final play of the first half) and you take away the pick-6, it's a tie game," Bennett said.
"I think our kids still struggle with belief," he said.
There have been two games this season where the Wolfpack has been tentative at the start - Helena High and Capital.
"Once we settle down and play, we're fine. It's just a matter of getting past the belief," he said.
Taylor Hulslander connected with Kyle Griffith from 14 yards out in the third quarter for one score. Kellyn Faraone and Aaron Mitchell scored on three and one-yard runs in the fourth.
Offensively, Glacier outgained the Bruins 386 to 334. Of those, 335 were through the air.
Hulslander was 25-for-38 for 327.
"(Hulslander) stood in there strong and tough all night and really picked at them. He stood tough in the pocket, took shots. The o-line gave him time. I really thought those guys did a good job," the coach said.
Anthony Gugliuzza and Kyle Griffith each turned in stellar games. Gugliuzza had five catches for 108 yards and Kyle Griffith had 11 catches for 99 yards with a touchdown. He also kicked a 37-yard field goal.
Bennett complimented the play of Caleb Harris, Luke Halliburton and Shelton Todd as well as secondary members Reid Siderius, Evan Epperly and Tyson Hubbard.
"There's a lot of good things we are going to build on," he said.
The Wolfpack finishes the season next Friday at home against Big Sky.
Glacier 0 3 7 13 - 23
Capital 14 14 7 0 - 35
First Quarter
CAP - Slaten Long 30 pass from Riley Sampson (Caleb Sparks kick), 10:27
CAP - Brice Burton 1 run (Sparks kick), 3:38
Second Quarter
GLA - Kyle Griffith 37 FG, 7:37
CAP - Gunnar Brekke 2 run (Sparks kick), 3:20
CAP - Caleb Kidder 37 interception return (Sparks kick), 1:21
Third Quarter
GLA - Griffith 14 pass from Taylor Hulslander (Griffith kick), 4:01
CAP - Long 21 pass from Sampson (Sparks kick), :15
Fourth Quarter
GLA - Kellyn Faraone 3 run (conversion failed), 7:58
GLA - Aaron Mitchell 1 run (Griffith kick), :55
GLA CAP
First downs 18 19
Total yards 386 334
Rushes-yards 25-51 47-196
Passing 26-39-3 7-14-0
Passing yards 335 138
Fumbles-lost 1-0 0-0
Punts-average 2-35.5 3-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING - Glacier: Griffith 6-1, Hulslander 4-3, Anthony Gugliuzza 1-16, Mitchell 7-13, Faraone 3-7, Noah James 4-11. Capital: Brekke 19-98, Sampson 14-51, Burton 12-49, Andy Waterman 1-2, Cale Jacobsen 1-(-4).
PASSING - Glacier: Hulslander 25-38-3 327, Griffith 1-1-0 8. Capital: Sampson 7-14-0 138.
RECEIVING - Glacier: Griffith 11-99, Gugliuzza 5-108, Faraone 2-8, Kalen Reed 2-19, Andrew Nelson 3-68, Nic Cramer 1-19, Mitchell 1-6, Luke Halliburton 1-7.
Capital: Long 2-51, Connor Lamping 2-57, Brekke 2-22, Waterman 1-8.