Glacier grinds out win over Bruins

In just 37 seconds, the Glacier defense changed the momentum on the field and the fortunes of its team, scoring two touchdowns to beat Helena Capital 21-13 at Legends Stadium on Friday.

It took just six plays, beginning with a spectacular effort by the defensive front. With Capital pinned at its own 1-yard line, senior defensive lineman Devin Jeffries hit Bruins’ running back Gunnar Brekke in the end zone, stripping the ball out for teammate Brayden Nicholson to fall on, giving Glacier its first lead of the game at 14-13.

As Capital began its next drive, linebacker Todd Ogden intercepted a pass to the sideline, returning it 50 yards for another score to put Glacier up eight with five minutes to play.

“I called everybody in and I said, ‘Defense this is our game we’ve got to make it happen. We’ve got to score some points,’” Glacier senior linebacker Shelton Todd said. “We came out and scored two touchdowns, which is amazing.”

A final interception with a minute to play ended any chances of Capital continuing its title defense.

“I don’t think there’s enough superlatives to describe that defensive effort,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said. “Not only the effort, but just taking over the game and winning. It’s just incredible how a group of kids finds a way to win.”

Both offenses struggled throughout, mired by penalties and missed opportunities. The teams combined for 26 penalties for 181 yards.

Capital took the lead early on a special teams play, when Levi Dawes scooped up a blocked punt and ran it in for a score. The Bruins regained the lead in the third when Brekke finally got around the Glacier defense to sprint 34 yards for a touchdown.

Glacier’s lone offensive score came on a 15-yard pass to Kyle Griffith from Taylor Hulslander, a one-play drive that was set up by a long punt return from Griffith.

“They made some great defensive adjustments and found some ways to bottle us up,” Bennett said.

“Unfortunately for us, a lot of it was self-imposed. We hurt ourselves, we had some big plays called back. Those are things that we have to clean up, penalties. We’re to the point now where, if we don’t clean them up we’re not going to be moving on. We’ve got to play better.”

Glacier did most of its damage on the ground, piling up 122 yards in the game, led by 32 from Noah James.

Taylor Hulslander had a productive day on the ground, often extending drives with his legs, but was sacked five times and netted only 17 rushing yards. He finished 15 of 27 for 134 yards and an interception in the air. Kyle Griffith had a game-high 59 yards receiving on eight catches.

Brekke led Capital with 56 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards. Keeley Larson finished 9 of 31 for 101 yards passing and two interceptions.

“I think the important thing is we won the game, we’re moving on to the semis,” Bennett said. “We found a way.”

The win puts Glacier in the semifinals for the second straight year, where they will host Bozeman, the fifth seed, which upset Helena High 24-23 in Helena. The Wolfpack played Bozeman earlier this season, beating the then-No. 1 Hawks 7-3.

“Obviously they’re going to be motivated to come back and battle us,” Bennett said. “It’s going to be a great football game.”

Capital 7 0 6 0 — 13

Glacier 0 7 0 14 — 21

First quarter

C - Levi Dawes 6 punt block (Kyle Nickol kick), 7:29

Second quarter

G - Kyle Griffith 15 pass from Taylor Hulslander (Griffith kick), 1:35

Third quarter

C - Gunnar Brekke 34 run (kick blocked), 3:36

Fourth quarter

G - Brayden Nicholson fumble recovery in end zone (Griffith kick), 5:29

G - Todd Ogden 50 interception return (Griffith kick), 4:54

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Capital Glacier

First downs 11 15

Total yards 192 256

Rushes-yards 28-89 41-122

Passing yards 103 134

Comp-Att-Int 10-33-2 15-27-1

Penalties-yards 12-95 14-86

Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Capital: Keeley Larson 3-1, Gunnar Brekke 15-56, Garrett Quigley 7-11, Tristan Shea 3-21. Glacier: Taylor Hulslander 19-17, Todd Ogden 1-13, Kyle Griffith 5-26, Aaron Mitchell 4-7, Noah James 9-32, Logan Jones 3-27.

PASSING — Capital: Keeley Larson 9-31-101-2, Gunnar Brekke 1-2-2-0. Glacier: Taylor Hulslander 15-27-134-1.

RECEIVING — Capital: Gunnar Brekke 3-49, Ryan Hauck 1-8, Kyle Harrington 4-25, Wyatt Gehringer 2-21. Glacier: Kyle Griffith 8-59, Aaron Mitchell 1-18, Noah James 2-21, Logan Jones 1-9, Nic Cramer 1-2, James Cutler 1-9, Kelan Reed 1-16.