Football preview: Glacier will rely on junior class; has high expectations once again
Glacier football has been in this spot before.
The Wolfpack enters the season with seven new starters on defense and as many as nine on offense. A host of talent left the program — which has gone 9-3 and reached the state semifinals each of the last two seasons — including five players destined to play college football next season and four others off to play different Division I sports.
“A lot of these kids will be new,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said. “The little worries that we did have (entering the season), or the concerns, have all been answered.”
While the depth of the departing senior class was astounding, Bennett said this year’s squad reminds him a lot of the 2011 team, which relied heavily on that large group of juniors to compliment the talented seniors left on the roster.
“We’re very excited with what we’ve seen so far,” Bennett said. “There was only 13 seniors on that team. The junior class really stepped up that year and played well, obviously, an helped those seniors get to 9-3 and the semis.
“We feel the same about this junior class. They’re real talented, a lot of depth, a lot of good players there. Even though our senior class isn’t very big in numbers, there’s some really good players in it. I think the juniors are going to fill in.”
The success of the 2011 team isn’t lost on Bennett or his players. A game away from playing in the championship each of the last two years, the expectation level has risen for coaches and players in the program.
“The kids now feel like that’s the standard,” Bennett said. “They feel that’s where we need to be and want to be. That’s the benchmark and the expectation. That’s good to see.”
As a part of the new offense, the Wolfpack will be breaking in new starters at quarterback, wide receiver and all but one spot on the offensive line.
That in mind, the ’Pack plans to lean on the shoulders of senior running back Noah James, who will be a feature back this season after two years of sharing carries in the backfield.
“It’s hard sometimes to get in a rhythm when you’re sharing carries,” Bennett said. “Now for him to touch the rock a lot and be a feature back, I think he’s going to do great things.”
Junior quarterback Brady McChesney, who played sparingly last season, will take over under center. McChesney was 4-for-7 for 116 yards and two touchdowns in parts of four games.
Those scores went to receivers Sam McCamley and Jake Barstow, both of whom will be back this season. They plan to round out a receiving group that includes utility back Logan Jones in the slot and should make heavy use of two-way players Evan Epperly and Todd Ogden.
Epperly, a third-year starter in the defensive backfield, and Ogden, a dynamic linebacker, are both fantastic athletes with power and speed. Ogden played sparingly last season as a quarterback in the Wolfpack’s Wildcat formation but his coaches figured to get him more touches on offense after a spectacular interception return for a touchdown in Glacier’s playoff win against Helena Capital.
“He picks that ball off and literally runs through the entire Capital offense,” Bennett said.
“We’re thinking if we can hit him (with a pass) up the middle and he just has a safety to beat or if we get it out in the flat and he has a corner to beat? Good things are going to happen.”
Ogden and Epperly’s presence on defense, along with linemen Austin Foucher and Brendan Windauer figure to bolster a young squad. The Wolfpack had the best defense in the state last season, and looks to keep up the same intensity that led it to the top seed in the playoffs.
“We kinda got a good solid piece at each level,” Bennett said. “Our goal this offseason was to find those replacements to step up.”
That defense will be tested early, with perennial contenders Billings West making the trek to the Northwest to open the season. The Golden Bears are in similar shape to Glacier, looking to replace a lot of senior talent. However, that hasn’t been an issue in the past, as West continues to churn out competitive, playoff-level teams.
“Billings West is Billings West,” Bennett said. “They’re always there. They’re always good. I don’t care what people are saying. I don’t care. They’re Billings West.
“Every single year there’s three teams you can say that about: CMR, Capital and Billings West. You know they’re going to be right there no matter what.
“We’ve prepared with great respect for them, knowing they’re going to come in well-coached, disciplined and run their stuff like they always have. Whether they’re state champs, or No. 1 rated or No. 8, I don’t care.”
The Bears topped Glacier in their only meeting, coincidentally against the 2011 team in the state semifinals 45-16.
That result hasn’t dimmed the hopes of the Wolfpack.
“A lot of positives,” Bennett said. “We’re to the point now where we need to hit somebody else.”
The season kicks off tonight at 7 at Legends Stadium.
2013 Wolfpack Schedule
Aug. 30 — Billings West, 7 p.m.
Sept. 6 — at C.M. Russell, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 — at Bozeman, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 — Missoula Hellgate, 7 p.m. (Homecoming)
Sept. 27 — at Butte, 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 — Missoula Big Sky, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 — at Missoula Sentinel (at Washington-Grizzly Stadium), 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 — Helena Capital, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25 — Great Falls High, 7 p.m. (Senior Night)
Nov. 1 — at Flathead, 7 p.m.