AA Football: Glacier airs out Great Falls in shootout win

GREAT FALLS — Caught in a shootout in the first half, Glacier pulled away late behind an impressive performance from its offense, beating Great Falls High 53-36 on Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

Glacier quarterback Leif Ericksen overcame a pair of interceptions to complete 21 of 36 passes for 359 yards and a school-record six touchdown passes in the win. Ericksen connected with Scout Willcut for three of those touchdowns, Willcut tying a school record set by five different receivers (Sam McCamley, Logan Jones, Evan Epperly, Devin Cochran and Kyle Griffith).

The two teams traded scores for most of the first half, Glacier (2-2) taking an early 10-3 lead only for the Bison (2-2) to answer with an 85-yard kick return touchdown. The Wolfpack would score just four plays later on Ericksen’s second touchdown pass of the game, a five-yarder to Noah Lindsay with 1:38 left in the first quarter, and took an eight-point lead after a successful conversion.

Great Falls answered with a touchdown early in the second but missed the extra point kick to fall behind two points. The teams traded touchdowns on their next two possessions before Ericksen closed the half with a deft two-minute drill, moving the length of the field in four plays and less than a minute to connect with Willcut for his fourth touchdown of the first half, giving Glacier a 32-23 advantage at the break.

On the first possession of the second half, Ericksen added to the lead, connecting with Caleb Jones for a 55-yard touchdown, his second scoring throw to the senior receiver, tying the school record.

After Jaxen Hashley intercepted a screen pass early in the fourth quarter to set Glacier up at the Bison 7-yard line, Ericksen connected with Willcut one play later for the record touchdown and a 46-29 lead.

Thomas Trefney would add a late touchdown to cap the scoring for the Wolfpack. Trefney finished with a school-record 218 yards rushing on 30 carries. Lindsay had six receptions for 111 yards, Jones five catches for 110 yards and Willcut added to his three touchdowns with five catches for 90 yards.

Bison quarterback Kaden Sukut was 17 for 31 for 188 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Maxx Sitzmann had five receptions for a game-high 127 yards, catching two touchdowns and throwing another.

Glacier 18 14 7 14 — 53

Great Falls 10 13 6 7 — 36

First quarter

GLA – Scout Willcut 13 pass from Leif Ericksen (Cameron Anderson kick)

GFH – Tallon Gray 23 field goal

GLA – Cameron Anderson 27 field goal

GFH – Jamison Hermanson 85 kick return (Tallon Gray kick)

GLA – Noah Lindsay 5 pass from Ericksen (2-point successful)

Second Quarter

GFH – Maxx Sitzmann 25 pass from Kaden Sukut (Gray kick no good)

GLA – Caleb Jones 18 pass from Ericksen (Anderson kick)

GFH – Sitzmann 16 pass from Sukut (Gray kick)

GLA – Willcut 10 pass from Ericksen (Anderson kick)

Third quarter

GLA – Jones 55 pass from Ericksen (Anderson kick good)

GFH – Robert Bruskotter 25 pass from Sitzmann (2-point unsuccessful)

Fourth quarter

GLA – Willcut 7 pass from Ericksen (Anderson kick)

GFH – Bryce Vaughan 7 run (Gray kick)

GLA – Thomas Trefney 1 run (Anderson kick)