AA football: Wolfpack burns Hellgate, 77-8
<p>Glacier's Scout Willcut is chased by Missoula Hellgate's Andrew Heng after catching a long pass during the first quarter of a Sept. 25, 2015 game at Legends Stadium. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake, file)</p>
<p>Glacier wide receiver Noah Lindsay is pulled down by Missoula Hellgate's Brooks Washatko after hauling in a long pass during the first quarter of the Wolfpack's rout at Legends Stadium on Friday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
There wasn’t much of a contest for Glacier on Friday night against Missoula Hellgate at Legends Stadium in a 77-8 Class AA football victory.
In the first 16 minutes, 12 seconds of play, Glacier (3-2) compiled 270 yards of offense and led 43-0.
Starting running back Thomas Trefney ran for 135 yards on just 17 carries and scored five touchdowns, tying a school record. Starting quarterback Leif Ericksen completed just four passes for gains of 52 yards, 38 yards, 34 yards and an 11-yard touchdown pass to Noah Lindsay.
The starters didn’t play another down and the team still scored 34 more points.
A minute into the second half, Glacier’s backup running back Drew Turner had three more touchdowns and backup kicker Caden Harkins was being used for extra points.
Adding to the misery in the fourth quarter, Hellgate (0-5) threw an errant option pitch that bounced into the hands of Wolfpack cornerback Matt Winchester, who streaked 46 yards for the capping score.
Hellgate didn’t score until there was 2:03 to play, and after the ensuing kickoff, Glacier kneeled out the final minutes to end the game.
“Knowing that Hellgate’s struggling a little bit, our focus was on us and getting better and doing what we need to do to take the next step in our season,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said.
“Our offense was perfect on (six) drives, then with seven minutes in the second quarter, they’re out. Their work was perfect. They were crisp, they were sharp, the tempo was good. Our defense allowed only one first down in that same amount of time before their night was done.
“As far as what those groups needed to do, our starters, I can’t say enough about it. That’s how you handle a week like this. You focus, you get better, do your thing and if that’s the way the game works out, you’re done. You turn it over to your young guys and let them play.”
Glacier’s defense forced three punts to start the game, intercepted the ball twice and got a fumble recovery at the Hellgate 13-yard line before ending its night.
The Wolfpack as a team held Hellgate to 120 total yards.
Ericksen finished with 135 yards passing to lead Glacier, while Lindsay had two catches for 49 yards.
Scout Willcut had one catch for 52 yards and Caleb Jones one for 34 before the Wolfpack grounded the air attack in the second quarter.
Nathan Hammer and Jack Wahlder each had an interception and Gary Kenfield and Thomas Chalfant each had a sack on the Glacier defense.
Kenfield, Adam Heaston and Winchester each recovered a fumble.
After a 0-2 start to the season, Glacier seems to have figured out its new team.
“We knew those first two games were going to be difficult and we knew our team was new,” Bennett said.
“It was a matter of coaching them through that, keeping them believing and keeping them working hard and focused on how good they can be.
“Sure enough, they did a good job of working through that. I really like the way this team (responds) … I like the demeanor of this team and the way they go about their business everyday. I like the character they’re starting to show.”
Hellgate 0 0 0 8 — 8
Glacier 22 38 7 10 — 77
First Quarter
G—Thomas Trefney 2 run (Trefney run), 9:45
G—Trefney 6 run (Cameron Anderson kick), 4:48
G—Noah Lindsay 11 pass from Leif Ericksen (Anderson kick), 1:23
Second Quarter
G—Trefney 8 run (Anderson kick), 10:20
G—Trefney 10 run (Anderson kick), 9:48
G—Trefney 3 run (Anderson kick), 7:48
G—Drew Turner 12 run (Anderson kick), 6:37
G—Anderson 30 field goal, 2:50
G—Turner 39 run (Anderson kick), 0:50
Third Quarter
G—Turner 5 run (Caden Harkins kick), 11:10
Fourth Quarter
G—Harkins 20 field goal, 11:01
G—Matt Winchester 46 fumble return (Harkins kick), 8:56
H—Connor Schenk 26 pass from Dylan Botsford (Schenk pass from Botsford), 2:03
———
Hellgate Glacier
First downs 6 15
Total yards 120 384
Rushes-yards 33-74 35-249
Passing yards 46 135
Punt Returns 4-64 0-0
Kickoff Returns 8-147 2-17
Interceptions Ret. 0-0 2-9
Comp-Att-Int 3-10-2 4-15-0
Sacked-Yards Lost 2-16 0-0
Punts 7-30 1-33
Fumbles-Lost 6-3 0-0
Penalties-Yards 7-43 5-36
Time of Possession 17:33 22:31
—————
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Hellgate, Jameson Morrison 11-46, Evan Kalm 11-34, Brady Needles 2-6, Connor Schenk 4-3, Casey Martin 1-2, Dylan Botsford 4-(minus 17). Glacier, Thomas Trefney 17-135, Drew Turner 9-83, Matt Winchester 5-11, Tadan Gilman 1-11, Scout Willcut 1-9.
PASSING—Hellgate, Dylan Botsford 3-8-1-46, Connor Schenk 0-2-1-0. Glacier, Leif Ericksen 4-10-0-135, Bennett McChesney 0-4-0-0, Brady Peiffer 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING—Hellgate, Connor Schenk 2-30, Bob Schenk 1-16. Glacier, Scout Willcut 1-52, Noah Lindsay 2-49, Caleb Jones 1-34.
INTERCEPTIONS—Glacier, Nathan Hammer 1-9, Jack Wahlder 1-0.