Football: Trefney scoring big in leading role for Glacier

Glacier junior running back Thomas Trefney, the leading scorer in Class AA, crossed the goal line just once last season for a mere two-point conversion. It wasn’t because of a lack of talent, but a lack of opportunity.

Sitting behind all-state senior running back Noah James, Trefney received just 14 carries during his sophomore season in 2013.

When James broke his leg in Glacier’s 62-34 quarterfinal playoff victory over Billings Skyview, the opportunity arose for Trefney to assert himself as the running back of the future in the Wolfpack’s semifinal contest against Great Falls C.M. Russell.

Alas, Trefney succumbed to a tragedy of his own.

“Noah broke his leg in the first playoff game (last season) and Trefney actually had a chance to be the guy in that semifinal game,” Glacier head coach Grady Bennett said.

“Unfortunately, he had a freak injury that night. He ended up with 20 stitches in his head. It was just a weird thing. He fell down going to the bathroom. He slipped and ended up not being able to play in that game.”

With an open spot on the depth chart at running back for the 2014 season, Trefney was not going to squander another chance to be featured in Glacier’s juggernaut offense.

“Everyday (in 2013) I wanted to practice like I was going to be starting next year, to fill in that role for the leading running back,” Trefney said of preparing for this season.

“It was a position that needed to be filled. There was a tryout for it, pretty much. I prepared by going to all the camps that were provided for us and getting in the weight room and getting more weight on the bar.”

He must have done something right.

Heading into the state title game tonight at Legends Stadium, Trefney leads the state in scoring, rushing for 26 touchdowns while adding two receiving scores and a 62-yard punt return to his total. Should he rush for three more scores against the Rustlers, he’ll tie the state record for rushing touchdowns in a season set by Cut Bank’s Mike Kowalski in 1990.

His 928 rushing yards are good for fifth-best in Class AA this season and he’s in the top 10 for all-purpose yards with 1,082.

“We knew he had a lot of talent, but you never know how a guy is going to react in that role, under the Friday night lights, until he gets there,” Bennett said.

“Coming into the season, we had Thomas (Trefney) and Tucker Rauthe at running back. The more Thomas emerged we knew we could keep Tucker on defense and Thomas has just played so well. He’s just really become our guy. He’s improved, I think, every week as a complete running back all year long.”

As the 6-foot, 183-pound junior continues to improve, his final test of 2014 is against another running back with similar impressive numbers — the Rustler’s Andrew Grinde.

While Grinde has rushed for more yards on more carries than any other back in the state, toting the ball 305 times for 2,070 yards and 20 touchdowns, only Trefney has crossed the goal line more frequently than the junior from Great Falls.

In a championship game featuring two of the state’s best running backs, it’s only natural for the competitor to come out in Trefney, hoping to bring home Glacier’s first ever state football championship.

“He’s had a really good season,” Trefney said of Grinde.

“I’m proud of what he’s done. He’s doing really good this year and he’s got good things going for him right now. It makes me want to go harder. I want to beat him in yards this game.”

“The main difference is Grinde got to play all of last year as a sophomore. He was their man and had that full year of experience,” Bennett added.

“(Grinde) runs angry. He’s so tough to bring down and he does not want to go down. There’s not a lot backs like that. He is the complete package. Thomas is still kind of proving himself and he’s on his way. Grinde has already proven himself.”

A year ago, Glacier ultimately fell to the Bozeman Hawks and the state championship eluded its grasp with Trefney watching from the sidelines.

Relished with another occasion to put it on the line, this time at home, Trefney is taking advantage of this opportunity with a clear head.

“I’m really excited. It’s my first state championship game I’ve been able to play in. It’s my first year to do it,” Trefney said.

“It’s good for the community. Everyone is going to be together with Flathead and Glacier fans in the stands, I think it’ll be good for us.”