Wolfpack pounds Hellgate

POLSON — Rescheduled and relocated from Friday night, Glacier didn’t seem fazed, beating Missoula Hellgate 64-6 in a Class AA football rout on Saturday night.

The Wolfpack dominated every facet of the game, scoring in buckets on offense while cutting up the Knights in the air and on the ground. Taylor Hulslander threw four touchdown passes in the first half, while three different backs ran in touchdowns, including a 63-yard sweep by Evan Epperly that tore the game open late in the first quarter.

“This was one of those games there wasn’t one play I saw the kids taking a play off or taking a break, it was outstanding,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said.

On the other side of the ball, Glacier played suffocating defense, stopping Hellgate twice on goal-line stands, and forcing them into four first half turnovers, all of which led to scores.

“This is exactly what we needed,” Bennett said. “We know we’re a good team, but you lose two games and it’s pretty easy to write us off. I know Hellgate’s a little down, but to play this well, I think what we did tonight is pretty impressive.”

Hulslander finished 11 of 17 passing for 177 yards and also ran for 45 yards. Kyle Griffith led the team in receptions with five for 105 yards. Glacier rolled up 226 yards on the ground.

“Our offensive line stepped up and got our running game going, which is something we had to do,” Bennett said.

The offensive explosion came just in time for a huge matchup in Friday’s homecoming game with No. 1 Bozeman, who enters the contest at 4-0. Bennett said he hopes the win gives Glacier (2-2) a boost.

“It’s just what we needed to get our confidence back, get us into a good type of mind hosting Bozeman,” Bennett said.

Glacier 23 28 7 6 — 64

Hellgate 0 0 0 6 — 6

First quarter

G — Kyle Griffith 4 pass from Taylor Hulslander (Griffith kick)

G — Hellgate safety (high snap on punt)

G — Logan Jones 19 pass from Hulslander (Griffith kick)

G — Evan Epperly 63 run (Griffith kick)

Second quarter

G — Griffith 24 pass from Hulslander (Griffith kick)

G — James Cutler 18 pass from Hulslander (Griffith kick)

G — Todd Ogden 1 run (Griffith kick)

G — Noah James 1 run (Griffith kick)

Third quarter

G — Aaron Mitchell 13 run (Griffith kick)

Fourth quarter

G — Sam McCamley 31 pass from Brady McChesney (bad snap, no try)

H — Hunter Mahlum 6 pass from Luke Bewley (kick failed)

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Gla Hgt

Rushes-yards 37-226 34-55

Passing yards 208 144

Comp-Att-Int 12-19-0 11-28-2

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1

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Individual Statistics

RUSHING — Glacier: Noah James 4-29, Aaron Mitchell 7-26 Kellyn Faraone 7-30, Taylor Hulslander 6-45, Evan Epperly 1-63, Logan Jones 5-30, Kyle Griffith 2-1, Todd Ogden 1-1, Nic Cramer 1-6. Hellgate: John Dalpiaz 5-14, Luke Bewley 16-6, Zach Bauer 7-9, Dan Lympus 1-4, Dain Cowan 5-22.

PASSING — Glacier: Taylor Hulslander 11-17-177-0, Brady McChesney 1-2-31-0. Hellgate: Luke Bewley 11-28-144-2.

RECEIVING — Glacier: Nic Cramer 2-21, Kyle Griffith 5-102, Kalen Reed 1-15, Logan Jones 1-20, James Cutler 2-19, Sam McCamley 1-31. Hellgate: Hunter Mahlum 5-79, Mark Lebsock 1-2, Andy Nemec 2-24, Lympus 1-6, Ethan Cheff 2-33.