AA football championship game: Wolfpack looks to limit explosive Broncs

This is the game Glacier football has been playing for.

After a season of running nearly game for game with Billings Senior (12-0) at the top of the Class AA standings, the Wolfpack (11-1) will finally meet the high-flying Broncs for the first time.

While geographically as far apart as possible, there are plenty of similarities between the programs. Each will look to take advantage of their speed and talent on the edges, and each is guided by a handful of extremely talented seniors.

“They really remind me a lot of our team in 2014,” Glacier head coach Grady Bennett said of his state championship winning squad that won its games by an average of 37 points. Senior has won its 11 games this season by an average of 32 points.

“(They’re) very, very talented with tons of speed, tons of weapons on offense. They’re just really balanced with a lot of depth across the board, in all three phases. They’re scary.”

The Billings Senior duo of senior quarterback Nathan Dick and junior receiver Gabe Sulser has drawn the most attention, each a matchup nightmare despite his small stature because of speed and athleticism. Dick, the returning Class AA offensive MVP, has completed 70 percent of his passes this season for 2,451 yards and 33 touchdowns and run for 1,106 yards and 18 touchdowns in the Broncs’ read-option system. Sulser is his main target in the passing game, hauling in 77 catches for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns, an average of more than 16 yards a catch and 112 yards a game. Sulser has also rushed for more than 8 yards a carry with five touchdowns this season.

“You have to contain Nathan Dick because he’s so good,” Bennett said. “You try to contain him, but there’s no way you’re going to take everything away. If you pay too much attention to Sulser, they’ve got other weapons, too. If it was just the two (it’d be different), but it’s not. They’ve got a lot of good guys.”

A trio of tall receivers has at least 20 catches this season for the Broncs, with 6-foot senior Jake Orvis leading the pack with 333 yards and six touchdowns. Junior back Nolan Askelson is the bruising option in the backfield, standing 6-2, 205 pounds, with 573 yards rushing and five touchdowns.

“You have to make a game plan that you feel good with,” Bennett said. “We feel like we have that. The key is going and executing it. We’re going to have to contain them the best we can. Our defense is playing very, very good right now. (The Broncs) have a little different element that they can bring. If we can contain it and not have breakdowns which give up huge plays, that’ll be the key defensively.”

Glacier’s defense has allowed just 14 points in each of its first two playoff games, and is holding teams to less than 300 yards per game in its current five-game winning streak.

The Wolfpack will look to ride its strength up front to hang with Senior, and possibly wear down the state’s top scoring defense. The Glacier offense has averaged 300 rushing yards in the playoffs and running back Drew Turner has run for 443 yards in two games. Turner has run for 1,548 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, just 106 yards short of the school record.

“We’ve been playing such physical football, I hope that we can continue to do that with our offensive and defensive lines,” Bennett said. “Really play physical up front. I’m so proud of our guys and what they’ve done the last few weeks in that area.

“Hopefully we can put some pressure on them. If we execute well and just kind of go blow-for-blow with them. It’s going to be a great challenge.”

Bennett is hoping the Wolfpack can keep the game close and force Senior into a high-intensity game. The Broncs have typically been up multiple touchdowns by halftime, but got their closest contest last week against Helena Capital in the semifinals. The Bruins held Senior to a 21-13 lead through three quarters before the Broncs pulled away in the fourth for a 35-21 win.

“I really think the key is for us offensively to execute like we have been and stay with them, maybe even stay out in front of them,” Bennett said. “All we can ask for is to make the game close and be around in the fourth quarter.”

The Glacier buses left Kalispell to a police escort on Thursday afternoon to make the long jaunt to Billings. They are hoping the sirens great them on the way back with the team’s second state title.

“What a great challenge though,” Bennett said. “In the back of our minds we were just hoping we could get a chance at them. That’s all you can ask is to get a chance to play them and let the chips fall where they may.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. today at Daylis Stadium in Billings. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Ticket are $7 for adults and $6 for students. Wolfpack fans are asked to access through the 3rd Ave. and Grand ticket booth.

For those unable to attend the game, it will be streamed through the NFHS Network. To access the network, go to mhsa.org. The cost is $9.95.