Crosstown football: Flathead, Glacier meet with playoffs on the line

There hasn’t been this much riding on crosstown football in Kalispell in the history of the rivalry.

Glacier (6-2) and Flathead (5-3) are each playing for playoff position, and each has a real possibility at hosting a playoff game at Legends Stadium in two weeks. But, only with a crosstown win. The game kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. at Legends Stadium.

Glacier rides into the game on a six-game win streak, beating Butte 46-6 in the Mining City last Thursday. The Wolfpack again has the state’s top scoring offense, averaging 35 points a game this season. Senior quarterback Leif Ericksen leads the state in passing yards and passing touchdowns, averaging more than 215 yards in the air each game. Senior running back Thomas Trefney has a state-high 1,072 rushing yards and each has improved as the season has progressed behind a rebuilt offensive line and a young receiving corps.

The Glacier defense has also stepped up, allowing 16.5 points during its win streak, and just 21 total points the last two weeks.

Flathead hit a speed bump last week, falling to Helena Capital 24-21 after a slow first half doomed its chances to move into a tie for third in Class AA.

Even with the loss last week, the Braves are off to their best season since 2008. The Braves come into today’s game with the state’s third-ranked defense and fourth-ranked offense.

Senior running back Josh McCracken has 1,000 rushing yards through eight games, third-most in the state, and junior quarterback Bridger Johnson trails only Ericksen in passing yardage this season, throwing for 1,394 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“Offensively, they have as good of skill people as anybody,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said. “They’ve got a full compliment of great receivers, great running back, obviously, and Bridger Johnson is getting better and better.

“They’re scary on offense. I expect it to be a great football game.”

Glacier has won the last six meetings and leads the all-time series 6-2.

“At this time of year, you have to do what you do,” Flathead coach Kyle Samson said.

“We’ve seen a lot of film on them, they’ve seen a lot of film on us. It’ll be fun. We’re looking forward to it.”