Glacier rips Butte

Determined to avoid a another shootout against Butte, No. 1 Glacier piled on the points and overcame its own mistakes with strong defense against the Bulldogs (2-3), winning 55-29 in a Class AA football game Friday night at Legends Stadium.

Glacier (5-0) broke the game open in the second quarter, answering Butte’s first touchdown by outscoring the Bulldogs 27-3 over 8 minutes, 23 seconds of gameplay, including touchdowns on a kickoff return and an interception.

Butte saw its quick-strike offense flash early in the second quarter, connecting on a pair of passes to close 52-yards in two plays, the last a 15-yard strike to Connor Lane for a touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.

It didn’t take long for Glacier to answer, as junior receiver Jacob Janke took the ensuing kickoff up the left side of the field, then reversed course and out ran the entire Butte team for a touchdown.

After the Glacier defense held Butte to a field goal on its next drive, Glacier marched 60 yards in six plays, capped by Thomas Trefney’s second touchdown of the night.

On Butte’s next drive, Glacier increased its pressure, sacking Butte quarterback Dylan Cook one play before Wolfpack linebacker Josh Hill fell back into coverage, intercepting a pass over the middle of the field and returning it for a 15-yard touchdown.

Glacier needed just two plays on its next drive to find Caleb Jones tiptoeing in the back of the end zone for another score and a 34-10 lead.

It was an overwhelming offensive performance for the Wolfpack, which ran up 422 yards and its second most points of the season despite three fumbles, one coming two yards from the goal line and another inside its own 15.

Glacier’s defense forced three interceptions in the game, including two from senior cornerback Cain Boschee, who had one to start each half. The Wolfpack held the potent Bulldogs offense, which averages 356 yards a game, to 297 yards, including just 12 on the ground.

“I think our defense heard the word shootout all over the place this week and took it personal,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said. “They were motivated. They really did a great job of limiting what is such a tough crew to stop.”

Glacier scored on two of its three possessions of the third quarter and its first in the fourth to spread its lead to 55-16 before putting in the second string to ride out the win.

Trefney had his most carries of the season, toting the ball 23 times for a game-high 102 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of fumbles.

“They were trying to take our perimeter away,” Bennett said.

“The run is there, you’ve got to run it if that’s the case. The offensive line did a phenomenal job. Thomas, I’m so proud of him. I could tell that he wanted to make up for those fumbles and he ran his best of the night those last few drives.”

Logan Jones had seven catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns receiving and Brady McChesney was 17 for 24 for 249 yards passing and three touchdowns. Those incompletions were narrow for McChesney, who just missed on a few shots down field.

“That’s what’s so great about Brady,” Bennett said. “He ends up 17 for 24 and yet you think, ‘Wow, he missed some.’ He’s just so efficient with what he does.”

Cook was 24 of 49 for 285 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions for Butte. Bulldogs receiver Dalton Daum had a huge day, with six catches for 129 yards.

Butte 0 16 0 13 — 29

Glacier 7 27 14 7 — 55

First quarter

G — Thomas Trefney 1 run (Brandon Purdy kick), 5:45

Second quarter

B — Connor Lane 15 pass from Dylan Cook (Sean Staples kick), 11:12

G — Jacob Janke 89 kickoff return (Purdy kick), 10:56

B — Sean Staples 21 field goal, 7:13

G — Trefney 2 run (kick missed), 5:42

G — Josh Hill 15 interception return (Purdy kick), 4:27

G — Caleb Jones 24 pass from Brady McChesney (Purdy kick), 2:33

B — Ryson Lovshin 9 pass from Cook (kick blocked), 0:33

Third quarter

G — Logan Jones 29 pass from McChesney (Purdy kick), 8:41

G — Jones 5 pass from McChesney (Purdy kick), 3:58

Fourth quarter

G — Trefney 14 run (Purdy kick), 8:14

B — Lane 15 pass from Cook (Staples kick), 5:12

B — Willie Anderson 2 run (kick missed), 0:34

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Butte Glacier

First downs 12 17

Total yards 297 422

Rushes-yds 24-12 41-176

Passing yds 285 246

Comp-Att-Int 24-49-3 18-26-0

Punts-Avg. 6-37 1-34

Fumbles-lost 0-0 4-3

Penalties-yards 8-46 7-45

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Individual Statistics

RUSHING — Butte, Dylan Cook 11-(-8), Evan Anderson 1-3, Mason Ruppel 2-8, Bo Mortensen 8-5, Willie Anderson 2-4. Glacier, Brady McChesney 6-35, Leif Ericksen 2-0, Thomas Trefney 23-102, Logan Jones 6-47, Jacob Janke 1-11, Tucker Rauthe 1-6, John Learn 1-(-26), Pat O’Connell 1-1.

PASSING — Butte, Dylan Cook 24-49-285-3. Glacier, Brady McChesney 17-24-249-0, Leif Ericksen 1-2-(-3)-0.

RECEIVING — Butte, Mason Ruppel 1-0, Dalton Daum 6-129, Brock LaPier 3-15, Connor Lane 5-46, Ryson Lovshin 2-19, Jake Salmonsen 7-76, Will Brandon 1-3. Glacier, Thomas Trefney 2-15, Logan Jones 7-105, Sam McCamley 3-12, Devin Cochran 3-30, Jacob Janke 2-63, Caleb Jones 1-24, Riley Connell 1-(-3).