Prep football poll: Glacier moves up to No. 2

Glacier continued its climb up the poll, while Columbia Falls and Bigfork held their spots among the elite in this week’s Associated Press prep football poll.

Glacier, fresh off a 59-41 shootout victory over Missoula Sentinel at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, capitalized on a loss by former No. 2 Helena High to slide in behind unanimous No. 1 Bozeman. Helena dropped to No. 5 behind fourth-ranked Butte and the Wolfpack’s next opponent, No. 3 Helena Capital.

Columbia Falls, one of two undefeated teams left in Class A, still sits at No. 3, continuing to trail top-ranked Dillon and Billings Central in the poll. The Wildcats will look to clinch at least a share of the Northwestern A title this weekend at Libby. Laurel and Belgrade held on to their spots at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively. Whitefish was the only other team to receive votes.

Bigfork continued its run at the top of the conference, ranked third in Class B, behind defending champion Missoula Loyola and Baker as the only undefeated teams in the class. Huntley Project jumped a spot to No. 4, following a loss by formerly-undefeated Forsyth, which fell to fifth. Glasgow, Boulder, Fairfield and Townsend remained steady and Deer Lodge is back in the rankings at No. 10. Eureka, which will play Bigfork for the 7B title on Friday, received two votes this week.

Ennis and Geraldine-Highwood narrowly kept their spots atop the Class C 8-man and 6-man polls, facing close competition from the state’s other unbeaten teams. Perennial 8-man power Wibaux fell one point shy of the top spot and Savage, which received a first-place vote, was four points shy of a No. 1 ranking.

Montana Prep Football Poll

Class AA

Record Pts Prv

1. Bozeman (8) 7-0 80 1

2. Kalispell Glacier 6-1 72 3

3. Helena Capital 6-1 61 4

4. Butte 5-2 51 5

5. Helena 6-1 48 2

Others receiving votes: Great Falls Russell 8.

Class A

Record Pts Prv

1. Dillon (7) 6-0 79 1

2. Billings Central 5-1 70 2

3. Columbia Falls (1) 6-0 64 3

4. Laurel 5-2 57 4

5. Belgrade 5-2 43 T5

Others receiving votes: Whitefish 7.

Class B

Record Pts Prv

1. Missoula Loyola (7) 5-0 79 1

2. Baker (1) 6-0 73 2

3. Bigfork 6-0 64 3

4. Huntley Project 6-1 55 5

5. Forsyth 5-1 43 4

6. Glasgow 5-1 40 6

7. Jefferson (Boulder) 6-1 29 7

8. Fairfield 4-1 25 8

9. Townsend 4-1 20 9

10. Deer Lodge 6-1 4 NR

Others receiving votes: Whitehall/Harrison 3, Manhattan 3, Eureka 2.

Class C 8-Man

Record Pts Prv

1. Ennis (3) 6-0 48 1

2. Wibaux (2) 7-0 47 2

3. Charlo 6-0 40 3

4. Belt 6-1 31 5

5. Chester-Joplin-Inverness 6-1 29 4

6. Superior 5-2 21 6

7. Simms 6-1 19 8

8. Victor 5-1 16 7

9. Drummond 5-1 15 T9

10. Broadview-Lavina 5-1 8 T9

Others receiving votes: White Sulphur Springs 1.

Class C 6-Man

Record Pts Prv

1. Geraldine-Highwood (4) 6-0 49 1

2. Savage (1) 6-0 45 2

3. Hobson-Moore-Judith Gap 6-0 39 3

4. Hot Springs 3-1 31 4

(tie) Westby-Grenora 5-1 31 7

6. Stanford Geyser Denton 5-1 27 6

7. Winnett-Grass Range 5-1 21 8

8. Alberton-St. Regis 4-1 13 5

9. Jordan 4-2 9 NR

10. North Star 5-1 8 10

Others receiving votes: Terry 2.