Football: Return, kicking teams have been 'special' for Wolfpack

In a dominant season on the football field, one aspect of Glacier’s game has been accentuated in the last few weeks.

Despite wielding an offense that averages more than 50 points a game, opponents have chosen to cede field position on kickoffs rather than let the Wolfpack set up a return. Instead, they’ve kicked short to the blocking team or chosen to simply kick out of bounds.

With three kickoff returns and four punt returns for touchdowns this season, it might be a good strategy.

“Teams have basically said, ‘We’ll give you the ball at the 35,’” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said.

“That’s part of special teams play. To me it’s all about field position.”

The return game has been led by seniors Logan Jones and Jacob Janke.

Jones, a veteran in the Wolfpack offense who has seen playing time for three years at positions all over the field, has three punt return touchdowns and a kickoff return. His 38-yard punt return touchdown in the first round of the playoffs last week against Billings West put a bow on a game that showed how dominant Glacier can be when hitting on all cylinders.

“Logan is a threat every time he touches it, he does a great job,” Bennett said. “Our guys have really done a fantastic job of blocking and allowing him the opportunities.

“He makes a lot of plays on his own, but the returns we’ve taken back have really been blocked well. If he gets an opening, he has a chance to take it to the house.”

Janke, a foreign exchange student from Canada, is newer to the program, having joined just a few weeks before the season started. Nonetheless, he’s returned two of his four kick returns for touchdowns, leading the state with an average return of 57.5 yards.

“Those two back there, it’s pretty exciting,” Bennett said.

“When Jacob came, we weren’t quite sure. He definitely has some athletic ability and some knowledge of the game. He played up in Canada.

“He showed flashes. Then obviously in game two against CMR he caught that slant and took it the distance. Then against Butte he took a kickoff home.”

Before this season, the Wolfpack hadn’t returned a punt for a touchdown in team history.

The return team was on full display in Glacier’s toughest game of the season to date. After giving up a kick return touchdown to Great Falls C.M. Russell, Glacier trailed 31-20 in the third quarter.

To answer, Jones took back a 91-yard return of his own, scoring a touchdown and sparking 28 unanswered points that vaulted Glacier to a decisive victory.

Glacier hasn’t been challenged since.

Along with a punt team that has pinned opponents to long fields all season, and a kickoff coverage that has contained return yardage, the special teams are a big reason why.

Even in the kicking game, senior Brandon Purdy leads the state with six field goals, making them from as far as 48 yards.

To put it simply, the Wolfpack’s special teams has been, special.

“Regardless if you’re getting a chance to return and doing damage, or if it’s such a threat that they’re basically conceding field position, we’ll take it,” Bennett said.

“If our offense doesn’t have to drive as far, and if we make their offense have to go a lot farther, that’s the biggest key. That’s what our special teams has done all year.”