Braves, Wolfpack football teams rounding into shape

The familiar sounds of fall were around Legends Stadium and Glacier High School Wednesday, where both of Kalispell’s Class AA football teams kept going through the paces ahead of the 2021 season.

Also familiar: Quarterbacks singing the praises of their big guys up front.

“Everyone’s really stepped up a lot in my opinion, from our O-line to our perimeter players,” said Glacier’s JT Allen, who is back for a second season as starter. “There are seven of them (offensive linemen) that play and they’re all seniors.”

Leading the way are a couple tackles.

“Rocco (Beccari) and Riley (Roberts),” Allen said. “Everyone on the line has been playing great, but I’d say those two, everybody kind of looks up to.”

Over at Legends, new Flathead starting QB Charlie Hinchey was missing guard Logan Lang and tackle Elijah Owens, who were banged up Wednesday. He still had plenty of guys to talk about.

“Where do I start?” Hinchey began. “I love all of them. JD Bennett is filling in and doing just an awesome job – I’ve known him since freshman year. At left guard is Timber Richberg – I’ve know him since fifth or sixth grade.

“There’s Ethan Aegeter at center - ‘Bean.’ For a center he’s not the biggest but he’s got fire in him that a lot of guys don’t have. He knows his technique and knows what to do.”

Hinchey also singled out Luke Leech, a sophomore that stands 6-4.

Defensively Flathead is led by linebacker Nolan White, who has been impressed with the talent around him.

“We’ve got some dudes, for sure,” White said. “We’ve got a lot of players that like to fly round and make plays. We don’t have a lot returning but what we do have – they’re all good.”

He singled out newcomers like Alec Thomas at linebacker and Ryan Nelson, a transfer out of Washington, in the defensive backfield alongside Nate Prieto. Up front the leader remains Kayden Berkey.

At Glacier one of the leaders is defensive back Casey Peiffer, who will be starting for a third season.

“Two-a-days went really well, I think,” Peiffer said. “We didn’t have pads on for the first three days, but when we put the pads on, kids were ready.”

Beccari’s name came up again as a leader up front; Peiffer also noted linebacker Ben Stotts and safety Tyler Hausmann have stepped to the forefront.

Both teams had to navigate a camp-free summer but Allen noted that Glacier still put in good work.

“Since we first got back – June 1, when MHSA let us come back – and we started working out, I’ve noticed just huge strides,” Allen said. “All the little things, whether they’re hinge blocking on the back side, or their double-teams, or attention to detail on routes so they can get open – all the little things have improved so much since then.”

Best of all, they all were able to get out and knock pads.

“It’s awesome,” Peiffer said. “I’m glad we get the opportunity to play. There are not many places that are playing. We’re definitely lucky up here.”

“I’m loving it,” said Hinchey. “I think our whole team is doing really well. Our senior chemistry is the best we’ve had. We hang out all the time, we do dinners, all kinds of stuff. It’s going to pay off. We’ve been working for this since two weeks after last season.”

Glacier has an intrasquad scrimmage set for Sept. 3 and Flathead has one planned for Sept. 4. Both teams open their season on Sept. 11: Flathead on the road at Missoula Sentinel and Glacier at home against Helena Capital. Both games kick off at 7 p.m.