AA Football Homecoming for Flathead; Glacier at Great Falls
Flathead and Glacier are both looking to bounce back after tough losses last week in AA football play.
Flathead fell at top-ranked Bozeman 49-34 while Glacier came up short at home versus Missoula Sentinel, 34-28.
Glacier (1-5) is on the road tonight at Great Falls High (4-2) while fifth-ranked Flathead (4-2) is home for Missoula Big Sky (2-4). It’s also homecoming time for the Braves.
Both games begin at 7 p.m.
Glacier will be looking to end a two-game skid heading into the final four weekends of the season.
The combined record of Flathead’s last four foes — Big Sky, C.M. Russell, Missoula Hellgate and third-ranked Helena High — is 10-14. Big Sky and Hellgate are both 2-4, CMR is 1-5 while Helena High is 5-1.
For Glacier, it’s 11-13 with Great Falls (4-2), Helena Capital (3-3), Big Sky (2-4) and Hellgate (2-4) left on the schedule
Flathead
Flathead lost to Big Sky a year ago in Missoula in a Thursday night contest, 33-20. That left Flathead at 3-3 on the season while Big Sky improved to 5-2.
Both teams advanced to the playoffs.
Senior running back Blake Counts continues to power the Flathead offensive attack.
He had three rushing touchdowns in the loss at Bozeman and two the week before in the victory over Glacier.
Counts rushed for 1,008 yards during the first five weeks of the season.
The Braves are in excellent position for advancing to postseason action for the second straight year under coach Kyle Samson. Flathead follows the Big Sky contest with back-to-back road games with Great Falls C.M. Russell and Missoula Hellgate at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The Braves then close the regular-season at home against Helena High.
Glacier
All is not lost.
The Wolfpack can finish out what has been a disappointing season by winning four straight and ending with a 5-5 mark overall.
Bozeman managed to advance to the playoffs a year ago with a 5-5 mark, but that may be difficult to do in 2018 as eight teams currently have records of 3-3 or better.
“Hope is one of the most powerful (forces) we have as humans,” coach Grady Bennett said.
“I still have hope and still believe in this team. They are a good football team. They have just been bitten by the bug, have come up short too many times.
“I’ve enjoyed coaching them, they are fun to be around them.”
After tonight’s game ...
“Twelve practices left and three Friday nights to cherish with them,” Bennett said.
“Win or lose, it’s special.”
Regarding Great Falls High, who is tied for fourth place with two other teams, the Bison have a talented offensive unit led by senior quarterback Blake Thelen.
“I think he’s the best athlete in the state,” Bennett said.
“A 3-year starter both football and basketball. A tremendous athlete. He does a lot for them.”
The Bison are averaging 29.8 points per game while allowing 18.
Glacier has scored, and allowed, the same number of points — 151 — through six games. That averages out to 25 points a game both ways.
“You look at that number and it’s hard to believe we’re 1-5,” Bennett said.
“It has been one of those years, haven’t found a way to finish in that fourth quarter. That’s our focus ... competing hard and when we get to that fourth quarter, finding a way to break through, get it done.”
Glacier has beaten Great Falls the last two years. Bennett said both were “real tough games.”
“They have two wide receivers who have started since they were sophomores,” Bennett said.
“They are now seniors, good players.
“They are having a good year,” Bennett said of the Bison.
“It will be a great challenge to go on the road and shut them down.”
One bug not to bite the Wolfpack this year has been the injury one. The team remains pretty healthy at this stage of the season.
Glacier running back Preston Blain continues to have a good year. The senior is nearing the century mark in rushing with 790 yards on 140 attempts. He averages 5.6 yard per carry and has 10 rushing touchdowns.
Blain is the only Wolfpack rusher over 100 yards.
Junior Drew Deck continues to lead the Wolfpack receiving corps with 35 receptions for 436 yards and a 12.5-yard per catch average. He has caught four touchdown passes.
Senior quarterback Evan Todd has 888 yards passing. He has completed 67 of 114 passes for eight touchdowns.
Glacier is averaging 319 yards per game while allowing 332.
This marks Glacier’s second trip to the Electric City and Memorial Stadium this fall. The Wolfpack lost to C.M. Russell on Aug. 31, 9-0. That was the second week of the season.
Standings
Class AA
Overall
W L
Bozeman 6 0
Billings West 5 1
Helena High 5 1
Billings Senior 4 2
Great Falls High 4 2
Flathead 4 2
Helena Capital 3 3
Missoula Sentinel 3 3
Butte 2 4
Missoula Big Sky 2 4
Missoula Hellgate 2 4
Great Falls CMR 1 5
Glacier 1 5
Billings Skyview 0 6
Today’s Games
4 p.m.
Butte at Billings Senior
7 p.m.
Missoula Big Sky at Flathead
Glacier at Great Falls High
Helena High at Bozeman
Billings West at Helena Capital
Great Falls C.M. Russell at Billings Skview
Missoula Sentinel at Missoula Hellgate
Last Week
Bozeman 49, Flathead 34
Missoula Sentinel 34, Glacier 28
Billings Senior 35, Missoula Big Sky 28, OT
Billings West 42, Butte 6
Helena High 47, Great Falls High 21
Helena Capital 24, Great Falls C.M. Russell 8
Missoula Hellgate 41, Billings Skyview 27
Class A
Western
Northwestern
Conf. Overall
W L W L
Columbia Falls 2 0 4 1
Whitefish 2 0 4 2
Ronan 1 1 1 4
Libby 1 1 2 4
Browning 0 2 1 5
Polson 0 2 0 6
Today’s Games
7 p.m. — Ronan at Columbia Falls
7 p.m. — Whitefish at Polson
7 p.m. — Browning at Libby
Last Week
Columbia Falls 70, Browning 14
Libby 62, Polson 20
Whitefish 43, Ronan 7
Southwestern
Conf. Overall
Frenchtown 2 0 6 0
Hamilton 2 0 6 0
Dillon 2 0 4 1
Corvallis 0 2 3 3
Butte Central 0 2 2 3
Stevensville 0 2 2 4
Eastern
Conf./Overall
W L
Billings Central 6 0
Laurel 5 1
Lewistown 5 1
Belgrade 4 2
Miles City 3 3
Sidney 3 3
Glendive 2 4
Havre 1 5
Livingston 1 5
Hardin 0 6
Class B
Western
Conf. Overall
W L W L
Bigfork 4 0 5 0
Missoula Loyola 3 0 5 1
Florence 2 1 5 1
Eureka 2 2 4 2
Deer Lodge 1 2 1 4
Thompson Falls 0 3 0 6
Anaconda 0 4 0 6
Today’s Games
7 p.m. — Bigfork at Townsend
7 p.m. — Florence at Eureka
7 p.m. — Anaconda at Missoula Loyola
7 p.m. — Thompson Falls at Deer Lodge
Last Week
Bigfork was idle
Eureka 48, Anaconda 0
Florence 26, Deer Lodge 20
Missoula Loyola 41, Thompson Falls 6
Northern
Conf. Overall
Fairfield 3 0 5 0
Glasgow 3 1 3 2
Malta 2 1 2 3
Cut Bank 2 2 3 3
Wolf Point 1 2 1 4
Conrad 1 3 1 4
Harlem 0 3 0 4
Southern
Conf. Overall
Big Timber 4 0 5 0
Manhattan 2 1 2 3
Townsend 3 2 4 2
Three Forks 2 2 4 2
Columbus 1 2 3 2
Whitehall 1 2 2 4
Jefferson 0 4 1 5
Eastern
Conf. Overall
Roundup 3 0 5 0
Colstrip 2 1 5 1
Huntley Project 2 1 4 2
Red Lodge 1 1 1 4
Shepherd 0 2 1 5
Baker 0 3 1 4
8 Man
West
Conf. Overall
W L W L
Drummond/Philipsburg 6 0 6 0
Charlo 5 1 5 1
Arlee 4 2 4 2
Alberton/Superior 4 2 4 2
St. Ignatius 4 2 4 2
Darby 3 3 3 3
Seeley Swan 2 4 2 4
Plains 1 5 1 5
Victor 1 5 1 5
Troy 0 6 0 6
South
Conf. Overall
Joliet 5 0 6 0
Hobson/Moore/Judith Gap 4 1 5 1
Ennis 3 2 3 3
Park City 3 2 3 2
Twin Bridges 3 2 3 3
Lone Peak 1 4 2 4
Absarokee 1 4 1 5
Harlowton 0 5 1 5
North
A Sub Division
Conf. Overall
Great Falls Central 5 0 6 0
Choteau 3 1 4 2
Chester/Joplin/Inverness 2 2 4 2
Belt 2 2 2 3
Box Elder 1 3 1 4
Hays/Lodgepole 0 5 0 5
B Sub Division
Conf. Overall
Shelby 5 0 5 0
Centerville 4 1 5 1
Chinook 4 2 4 2
Fort Benton 2 3 2 4
Simms 2 3 2 3
Cascade 1 4 1 5
Rocky Boy 0 5 0 5
East
Conf. Overall
Fairview 6 0 6 0
Culbertson 5 1 5 1
Circle 5 1 5 1
Scobey 3 3 3 3
Broadus 3 3 3 3
Forsyth 3 3 3 3
Plentywood 2 4 2 4
Lame Deer 1 5 1 5
Lodge Grass 1 5 1 5
St. Labre 1 5 1 5
6 Man
West
Conf. Overall
W L W L
West Yellowstone 5 1 5 1
Hot Springs 4 1 5 1
White Sulphur Springs 4 1 4 2
Valley Christian 4 1 4 2
Noxon 4 2 4 2
Gardiner 1 4 1 5
Sheridan 1 4 2 4
Lincoln 1 5 1 5
Lima 0 5 0 5
North
Conf. Overall
Denton/Geyser/Stanford 4 0 5 1
Geraldine/Highwood 4 0 5 1
Sunburst 4 1 4 2
Big Sandy 3 1 3 2
Power/Dutton/Brady 2 3 3 3
North Star 1 4 1 4
Valier 0 4 1 4
Heart Butte 0 5 0 6
South
Conf. Overall
Grass Range/Winnett 6 0 7 0
Roy/Winifred 6 0 6 0
Bridger 5 1 5 1
Shields Valley 4 2 4 2
Reed Point/Rapelje 3 3 3 3
Fromberg 3 3 3 3
Broadview/Lavina 2 4 2 4
Plenty Coups 1 5 1 5
Northern Cheyenne 0 6 0 6
Custer/Hysham 0 6 0 6
East
Conf. Overall
Wibaux 4 0 5 0
Richey/Lambert 4 0 5 1
Westby/Grenora 3 1 5 1
Jordan 2 2 4 2
Bainville 2 3 3 3
Savage 2 3 3 3
Ekalaka 1 4 1 4
Froid/Lake 0 5 0 5
Rankings
406mtsports.com
Through Sept. 29
Class AA
1. Bozeman (6-0)
2. Billings West (5-1)
3. Helena High (5-1)
4. Billings Senior (4-2)
5. Flathead (4-2)
Class A
1. Hamilton (6-0)
2. Billings Central (6-0)
3. Columbia Falls (4-1)
4. Frenchtown (6-0)
5. Laurel (5-1)
Class B
1. Bigfork (5-0)
2. Fairfield (5-0)
3. Roundup (5-0)
4. Big Timber (5-0)
5. Missoula Loyola (5-1)
6. Colstrip (5-1)
7. Florence (5-1)
8. Eureka (4-2)
9. Huntley Project (4-2)
10. Three Forks (4-2)
Class C 8-Man
1. Drummond-Philipsburg (6-0)
2. Shelby (5-0)
3. Fairview (6-0)
4. Great Falls Central (6-0)
5. Joliet (6-0)
6. Charlo (5-1)
7. Hobson-Moore-Judith Gap (5-1)
8. Circle (5-1)
9. Alberton-Superior (4-2)
10. Culbertson (5-1)
Class C 6-Man
1. Wibaux (5-0)
2. Geraldine-Highwood (5-1)
3. Grass Range-Winnett (7-0)
4. Richey-Lambert (5-1)
5. Westby-Grenora (5-1)
6. Hot Springs (5-1)
7. West Yellowstone (5-1)
8. Bridger (5-1)
9. Denton-Geyser-Stanford (5-1)
10. Jordan (4-2)