Football: Glacier vs. Flathead Crosstown game marks halfway point of season
By DAVID LESNICK
The Daily Inter Lake
For the first time this fall, at least through the first four weeks, Flathead and Glacier shared a couple common themes on the gridiron last Friday.
Both won on the same night — Flathead hanging on to nip Missoula Sentinel 34-31 while Glacier hammered Helena High 48-14.
And both victories came over ranked teams — Helena was No. 3 and Sentinel was No. 4.
Now it’s the midway point of the season for the Braves (3-1) and Wolfpack (1-3) with Week 5. Flathead, back in the rankings this week at No. 4, will host Glacier tonight at 7 at Legends Stadium for the annual crosstown clash.
Glacier leads the all-time series 8-3 with Flathead claiming last year’s battle 31-19. Prior to that, Glacier dominated by winning eight straight.
Looking ahead, Week 6 for both teams will be challenging as Flathead plays at top-ranked Bozeman while Glacier entertains Missoula Sentinel. Of Flathead’s final five games, three are away.
Glacier has three of its last five at home.
Flathead Braves
This will mark the fifth crosstown game versus Glacier for head coach Kyle Samson.
Having played in crosstown games while in high school in Helena, “you always say you wish you could play one more,” Samson said of looking back on those classic, meaningful matchups, “but coaching (in a crosstown) is the next best thing.”
“As a player, I think it’s all about pride. Growing up in Helena it was knowing you were going to be a Bruin or a Bengal. It’s the same in Kalispell. It’s a younger rivalry here, but you still have the pride thing, it’s a lot of fun for the kids and brings a great crowd (to the game). Kids look forward to this every year
“Coaching in the crosstown, it’s the same thing. Just always a good game. It’s a big deal.”
The Braves are coming off a pressure-tested battle with Sentinel, it’s closest encounter of the season. The Braves beat Butte by 21, crushed Capital by 28 and lost to West by 22 in previous weeks.
“They came up big in the fourth quarter,” Samson said of his players versus Sentinel at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
“It always gives you some good confidence to win close games, especially in the fourth quarter when it’s back and fourth. It was a big win for us coming off a loss against West. To beat a good Sentinel team on the road is a good thing for our program. Now we’re looking for a big challenge Friday night against a very good team in Glacier.”
And it will be just that.
“Trying to focus on fundamentals and doing our job,” Samson said of Flathead’s practice approach this week, and every week.
“I think there is a lot of emotion in crosstown games, excitement. At the same time, we have to remember it is just another football game. We can’t get caught up in everything ... just play our game.”
Samson is not fooled by Glacier’s slow start.
“They are a good football team,” he said.
“Their record of 1-3 doesn’t represent their team. I think they are one of the better teams in the state.”
The Wolfpack has been one of the dominant programs in the state, advancing to the playoffs eight straight years until 2017. Glacier was in semifinal games six times during that stretch, were state runners-up in 2013 and 2016 and state champs in 2014.
Flathead bruiser Blake Counts, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound running back, is the spark plug on offense. He has rushed for 835 yards in four games.
“Which is pretty impressive,” Samson said.
“That’s probably one of our better stats.”
Against Sentinel, Counts had 261 yards on 28 carries and touchdown runs of 9, 4 and 71 yards.
Flathead trailed 14-0 before two Counts’ touchdowns briefly tied the score at 14-all.
Despite having just one turnover on the season, a fumble recovery in the opener, the Braves had two turnover-like plays against Sentinel by blocking two field goals. Jaden MacNeil blocked the second one, a 39-yard attempt in the final seconds to preserve the victory.
Glacier Wolfpack
Head coach Grady Bennett has been on the sideline for every crosstown meeting with Flathead.
“Want the kids to enjoy it,” Bennett said, “the special atmosphere, but it’s Game 5 and we will treat it like Game 4, or Game 6. Approach it very business like, play well and keep getting better.”
That’s the focus if Glacier hopes to get back to playoff action. Starting the season 0-3 put the Wolfpack in an almost win-out scenario.
“Just to give the guys a shot of confidence, believe we could get a win, do good things,” Bennett said of how important the blowout win over Helena was.
“I knew (after Bozeman loss) this was a different team. I liked the improvement after a disheartening loss at CMR. With (quarterback) Evan (Todd) back (for Helena), it would turn our season around and the guys did in a big way.”
Todd was knocked out of the Bozeman game with a concussion.
Bennett said there was no magic formula for last week’s performance.
“We finally went out and played the game, had fun, played for each other, with each other, went back to the basics of why we play,” he said.
“ I had no idea the score would end up that way.
“I liked their attitude, the way they warmed up (before kickoff). They were in a good spirit. I felt good they would perform well. They went out loose. It was fun to see.
“Same thing to do this Friday,” he continued.
“This will be a fun atmosphere. A blast. The whole town will be there. I want then to enjoy it, suck it all up.”
Glacier will be facing a ranked team for the third straight week.
“Obviously one of the top teams in the state,” Bennett said of Flathead.
“Kyle has done what he needed to do to build that program into a winner, a contender. It’s not surprising.
“They are very good across the board, all three areas (offense, defense and special teams). I believe we can play with them, make it a competitive game ... make it one of the better matchups there has been in the series. If we make progress like we have the last couple weeks, I hope we can compete against them.”
Bennett said the big challenge for his team defensively will be stopping Flathead’s dominating ground game.
“They have a big, powerful, offensive line,” he said. “Blake Counts is very good. You almost know you can’t stop him, just contain the best you can and limit the damage. He’ll get three, four yards if you have a good play (against him).”
Flathead, on the other hand, will have to contend with Glacier’s big play, explosive offense.
Todd, a 6-2 senior, was 16 of 23 passing last week for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Senior running back Preston Blain, 5-9, 180, had 122 yards on 26 carries and two scores.
“I don’t know if there would be an edge (for us in this game),” Bennett said.
“We”ll have to play a good football in all three phases, will have to play well.”
Crosstown Series
Glacier leads 8-3
2017 — Flathead 31, Glacier 19 (Week 5)
2016 — Glacier 43, Flathead 6 (Week 9)
2015 — Glacier 41, Flathead 6 (Week 9)
2014 — Glacier 27, Flathead 7 (Week 10)
2013 — Glacier 56, Flathead 7 (Week 10)
2012 — Glacier 55, Flathead 14 (Week 6)
2011 — Glacier 56, Flathead 44 (Week 6)
2010 — Glacier 48, Flathead 35 (Week 5)
2009 — Glacier 41, Flathead 7 (Week 5)
2008 — Flathead 38, Glacier 28 (Week 8)
2007 — Flathead 49, Glacier 13 (Week 8)
Standings
Class AA
W L
Bozeman 5 0
Billings West 3 1
Great Falls High 3 1
Helena High 3 1
Flathead 3 1
Billings Senior 3 2
Helena Capital 2 2
Missoula Sentinel 2 2
Missoula Big Sky 2 2
Butte 1 3
Great Falls CMR 1 3
Glacier 1 3
Billings Skyview 0 4
Missoula Hellgate 0 4
Thursday
Bozeman 36, Billings Senior 29
Today’s Games
7 p.m. — Glacier at Flathead (Legends Stadium)
7 p.m. — Billings Skyview at Billings West
7 p.m. — Great Falls C.M. Russell at Missoula Hellgate
7 p.m. — Helena Capital at Helena High
7 p.m. — Missoula Big Sky at Great Falls High
7 p.m. — Missoula Sentinel at Butte
Last Week
Flathead 34, Missoula Sentinel 31
Glacier 48, Helena High 14
Billings Senior 35, Great Falls C.M. Russell 14
Billings West 28, Great Falls High 14
Bozeman 48, Butte 16
Helena Capital 49, Billings Skyview 15
Missoula Big Sky 35, Missoula Hellgate 27
Class A
Western Division
Northwestern Conference
Conference Overall
W L W L
Columbia Falls 0 0 2 1
Whitefish 0 0 2 2
Browning 0 0 1 3
Libby 0 0 1 3
Ronan 0 0 0 3
Polson 0 0 0 4
Southwestern Conference
Frenchtown 0 0 4 0
Hamilton 0 0 4 0
Corvallis 0 0 3 1
Butte Central 0 0 2 1
Dillon 0 0 2 1
Stevensville 0 0 2 2
Eastern Division
Conference/Overall
W L
Belgrade 4 0
Billings Central 4 0
Laurel 3 1
Lewistown 3 1
Sidney 2 2
Glendive 1 3
Havre 1 3
Livingston 1 3
Miles City 1 3
Hardin 0 4
Class B
Western Division
Conference Overall
W L W L
Bigfork 3 0 4 0
Missoula Loyola 1 0 3 1
Eureka 1 1 3 1
Deer Lodge 1 1 1 3
Florence 0 1 3 1
Thompson Falls 0 1 0 4
Anaconda 0 2 0 4
Tonight’s Games
7 p.m. — Thompson Falls at Bigfork (HC)
7 p.m. — Eureka at Missoula Loyola
7 p.m. — Anaconda at Florence
Deer Lodge is idle
Rankings
By 406mtsports.com
Through Sept. 15
Class AA
1. Bozeman (4-0)
2. Billings West (3-1)
3. Great Falls (3-1)
4. Flathead (3-1)
5. Billings Senior (3-1)
Class A
1. Hamilton (4-0)
2. Billings Central (4-0)
3. Belgrade (4-0)
4. Columbia Falls (2-1)
5. Frenchtown (4-0)
Class B
1. Bigfork (4-0)
2. Fairfield (3-0)
3. Roundup (3-0)
4. Big Timber (3-0)
5. Eureka (3-1)
6. Colstrip (3-1)
7. Columbus (3-1)
8. Missoula Loyola (3-1)
9. Townsend (3-1)
10. Huntley Project (3-1)
Class C 8-Man
1. Drummond-Philipsburg (4-0)
2. Shelby (3-0)
3. Fairview (4-0)
4. Great Falls Central (4-0)
5. Joliet (4-0)
6. Hobson-Moore-Judith Gap (4-0)
7. Charlo (3-1)
8. Centerville (4-0)
9. Culbertson (4-0)
10. Choteau (3-1)
Class C 6-Man
1. Richey-Lambert (4-0)
2. Wibaux (4-0)
3. Grass Range-Winnett (5-0)
4. Westby-Grenora (3-1)
5. White Sulphur Springs (4-0)
6. Geraldine-Highwood (3-1)
7. Hot Springs (3-1)
8. Bridger (3-1)
9. Big Sandy (2-2)
10. Denton-Geyser-Stanford (3-1)