Glacier manhandles Capital in battle of AA ranked football teams

Glacier’s defense stifled a talented Helena Capital team all night, giving its offense time to find its legs in a 31-7 Class AA football rout on Friday at Legends Stadium.

The No. 2 Wolfpack (7-1) held No. 3 Capital (6-2) to its lowest scoring output of the season, holding the Bruins to just 233 yards, only 140 on the ground. The ’Pack also forced four turnovers and suffocated the third-best offense in the state, one that averages 466 yards a game.

“What an outstanding effort by our defense,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said. “Our guys tonight were very disciplined and they trusted themselves and each other just to stay with it and make plays. I’m really proud of that defense.”

The tremendous defense carried Glacier through a sluggish first quarter that lacked enthusiasm on both sidelines.

The Wolfpack finally broke through with a touchdown early in the second quarter from Noah James, but didn’t really get into the game until a minute before halftime, when senior Todd Ogden blocked a punt and gave juice to a game that was lacking any until that point.

“That’s what special teams is all about,” Bennett said. “Whether it’s a big kickoff return or a blocked punt. That got us started.”

Set up at the Capital 31-yard line, Glacier needed just two plays to capitalize, with Devin Cochran hauling in a fade route in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yard score, giving the ’Pack an 18-7 lead seconds before halftime.

That score re-energized the Glacier offense, especially the receiving corps which struggled with drops early. On its first drive of the second half, Glacier needed just three plays to score, with receiver Sam McCamley hauling in a deep pass up the left sideline, making one move and finishing off a 49-yard touchdown.

The rest of the group seemed to follow, leaning on a Capital team that struggled to throw downfield and struggled more against Glacier’s stout defensive front.

“I love how this team plays together so well,” Bennett said. “They just have each other’s backs. Sometimes teams will panic a little bit and start yelling at each other. These guys don’t do that.

“It’s fun to watch when you see a group come together like this.”

Glacier forced a turnover on each of the last four Capital possessions, at the same time handing the ball to running back Noah James to bleed out the clock. James finished with 33 carries for 162 yards.

Glacier quarterback Brady McChesney was 20 for 35 for 214 yards passing and three touchdowns. Logan Jones led the team with eight catches for 77 yards and Cochran caught a pair of touchdown passes, including the final one of the game.

Capital’s lone score came off a turnover deep in the Glacier end. The Wolfpack botched a reverse handoff and gave the Bruins the ball at the Glacier 18-yard line. Tristan Shea, who ran for 101 yards on 12 carries to lead the Bruins offensively, punched in a seven-yard touchdown out of the wildcat formation two plays later to give Capital a brief lead.

“We haven’t done that all year,” Bennett said of the slow start.

“Tonight we were kind of playing worried and a little scared, a little nervous. We just reminded them they’re out here having fun. Then they did.

“We have a lot of juniors playing. A lot of these situations are still new for them. Tonight was maybe the first time they realized (the situation).”

Capital 0 7 0 0 — 7

Glacier 0 18 13 0 — 31

Second quarter

G — Noah James 3 run (kick miss), 11:22

C — Tristan Shea 8 run (Kyle Nickol kick), 9:25

G — Capital safety, 4:22

G — Brandon Purdy 23 field goal, 1:39

G — Devin Cochran 10 pass from Brady McChesney (Purdy kick), :10

Third quarter

G — Sam McCamley 49 pass from McChesney (Purdy kick), 9:49

G — Cochran 7 pass from McChesney (kick miss), :28

———

Cap Glr

First downs 9 19

Total yards 233 399

Rushes-yards 34-140 49-185

Passing yards 93 214

Comp-Att-Int 10-21-2 20-35-1

Fumbles-lost 2-2 2-1

Penalties-yards 7-57 8-67

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Capital: Keeley Larson 8-5, Bliss Collins 11-55, Tristan Shea 12-101, Mason Moe 1-1, Hunter Beto 1-(-2), Sean Mulachy 1-(-20). Glacier: Brady McChesney 8-(-2), Noah James 33-162, Logan Jones 6-24, Evan Epperly 2-1.

PASSING — Capital: Keeley Larson 10-21-93-2. Glacier: Brady McChesney 20-35-214-1.

RECEIVING — Capital: Tristan Shea 1-1, Kyle Harrington 3-25, Brad Tiefenthaler 1-0, Tyler Markle 1-11, Hunter Beto 2-44, William Murray 2-12. Glacier: Noah James 2-12, Logan Jones 8-77, Evan Epperly 4-33, Kaden Schoenthal 1-2, Devin Cochran 3-22, Sam McCamley 2-68.