Glacier back in state title hunt

After six straight trips to the state semifinals, Glacier football has cemented itself as a perennial title contender in Class AA. In 10 seasons as a program, the Wolfpack has made the championship game more times than it has missed the playoffs.

The Wolfpack enters this season with the same expectations and will find out early on if it has the type of team that can continue the program’s historic run.

Glacier returns all but 13 players from a team that lost in the championship game a year ago, and will start the season with two players that have already committed to Division I programs and another that remains the top uncommitted recruit in the state.

“I think the thing that stands out this year is our depth is so much better,” Wolfpack head coach Grady Bennett said. “Last year we had a small senior class, only 13 guys. So, we really had a lot of guys playing both ways and we were one injury away from being in big-time trouble. This year, that’s not the case. We have 26 seniors and, I think, 25 or 26 in every class. Our depth is very good.”

What should be one of the state’s most potent offenses returns most of its skill position stars, led by senior running back Drew Turner, who came within a few yards of setting the school’s single-season rushing record as a junior, leading the state with 1,617 yards in parts of 11 games in 2016.

“In the back of our minds there’s the concept of riding Drew Turner and giving him 35 touches if we can,” Bennett said.

“Then, at the same time, I think we’re still good enough, and have enough weapons, that if teams are going to pack the box, I think we still have to take what the defense gives us. If people are going to pack the box and take Drew away, I think we have enough where we can say, ‘Okay, fine,’ and we’ll go to those other people and make them play that. Then if people are going to take that away, we’ve got Drew, which is a pretty good special weapon. Hopefully, that’s been our M.O. the last five, six years with this offense. Whatever the defense is giving us that’s what we’re going to take. Hopefully we can continue to do that.”

University of Montana recruit Jackson Pepe and fellow burner Ethan Larson, both members of Glacier’s championship 4x100 relay team, return on the outside and the Wolfpack adds senior transfer Mark Estes, who also committed to the Griz this summer after starring for Drummond.

“He’s a special player,” Bennett said of Estes. “He’s a dynamic athlete and you don’t see guys like that very often.

“He’s just a football player. Kind of like the game comes naturally to him ... We’re putting him all over the place because he is so talented. It’s going to take awhile for him to get really comfortable. But, we’re definitely finding ways to use him as much as possible.”

However, for all of the flashy pieces the Wolfpack possesses, the team is still untested at some of its most important positions. Senior quarterback Brady Peiffer looked comfortable while playing in parts of six games last season but hasn’t been tested as a starter.

“He’s a kid who’s really smart and knows the offense very, very well,” Bennett said of Peiffer. “He may not have the athletic tools that some of the guys have had, but he definitely has the mental stuff. He knows where to go with the ball. He runs our offense very well. So, we’re always going to get lined up right and execute very well. That’s all you need. When you play quarterback in this offense you just have to run the system correctly and Peiffer is perfect for that.”

Bennett said having the wealth of skill position talent around should help Peiffer in the early stages.

“It’s big for Peif. That’s what he needs to know and he can have confidence in as a quarterback. It’s not on him. He doesn’t have to do anything special. All he has to do is run the system and get the ball to those athletes. He’s got a lot of weapons around him. Just get the ball to them and let them make plays for you.”

Glacier will also have to replace departed talent along the offensive and defensive lines, including graduated star Jaxen Hashley, who anchored both lines last season.

The new replacements have size, but may take some lumps in the early season.

“Replacing Jaxen Hashley, that’s a big one,” Turner said. “We’ve got Garrett Lally, another big kid that weighs 270 pounds. That’s a big fill in. Then Phil Rhodes, that kid will be amazing to see what he can do.”

“I’m really excited about the group,” Bennett said. “I think they’re going to be excellent, maybe as good as we’ve had. They’re just green right now. They need experience. We’ve got some really talented kids, on both fronts, really. But, they just haven’t had many reps. What we see Game 1, I’m really not concerned with. This team can be really special as it grows. We’re going to get better and better. As that O-line grows together, they just haven’t played together and they’re still learning big time, but what we’re going to see as the season continues is going to be really special.”

The standout characteristic of the Glacier defense should be speed with guys like Pepe and Estes protecting the backfield and senior captain Jared Brenden at linebacker.

“We always try to play fast on defense, play with great pursuit,” Bennett said. “That’s usually kind of our signature and I’m proud of our guys on that side.

“I think this year can be really special. We have speed over there that can get to the ball and really pursue well. Which, sometimes enhances luck because you’re getting to the ball, and sometimes eliminates mistakes because you’re getting to the ball and you’ve got people there.”

Glacier won’t have much time to ease into the season, starting the year with a championship rematch against Billings Senior. That game will be played Friday at Columbia Falls because of a delay in the turf install at Legends Stadium.

The Wolfpack should know pretty early where it stands in the state pecking order. If anything like the last decade, it should be pretty high.

“We definitely have talent,” Bennett said. “I keep telling the guys talent can only take you so far, though, it’s how you come together as a team. We’re really focusing on that aspect of it, the team unity and really building that team. That’s what’s going to make our talent be effective.”