AA football: Fourth-ranked Glacier going for 4 in a row vs. Missoula Sentinel

Riding a three-game win streak, the atmosphere was decidedly light-hearted at Glacier football practice on Thursday. The Wolfpack (4-2), ranked fourth in the most recent Class AA poll, has gone into each of the last few games with a focus on keeping the pressure and expectations of success from getting the team down.

The results have followed.

“A few weeks ago we were 1-2, since then we’ve just tried to focus on having fun,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said.

“This crew has done a great job with that. With the senior leadership we have, they understand how to have fun and yet still be focused and do good things.”

Glacier hosts Missoula Sentinel (2-4) tonight, looking to keep on its hot streak. The Wolfpack has outscored its opponents 126-23 in the last three games and hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in a game while forcing 14 turnovers.

“I think we’ve shown progress in so many areas since the Hellgate game,” Bennett said.

“I like our improvement, I like where we’re at. That’s what we talked about this week, just continuing to get better.”

Sentinel is 2-2 in its last four games, but has shown that it can put up points, scoring 48 in a win over Flathead and 35 in a loss to Billings Senior.

The Spartans are led by senior Tanner Rheinschmidt, a tough running back who has averaged just short of 100 yards per game this season, and senior quarterback Tres Cunningham, who is one of the most accurate signal callers in the league.

“When they’re good, they’re pretty good,” Bennett said.

“Like every Friday night we know we have to play good football or Sentinel is a team that can beat us.”

The Wolfpack is looking to get its defense off the field quicker this week. While the unit has been outstanding, it has given up yards the last few weeks, only to create a turnover deep in its own zone.

“We talk a lot about once we get inside the 20, having a different attitude,” Bennett said. “Our guys have done that this year.

“We’ve got to get off the field on third downs a little better. Our defense has been amazing all year, but that’s probably the one area we can improve a little bit.”

The game begins at 7 p.m. at Legends Stadium.