AA playoffs: Glacier prepares for Bozeman

Friday’s football game between the host Bozeman Hawks and Glacier Wolfpack picks up a rivalry that went on hiatus more than four years ago.

“There were a number of years where we matched up with Bozeman over and over,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said this week. “Seemed like twice a year. Now it’s been a long time.”

The Class AA quarterfinal kicks off at 7 p.m., and the Hawks come in having won two straight in the series, though they were early in the 2017 (7-6) and 2018 (38-22) seasons.

Bennett thinks highly of Bozeman coach Levi Wesche and his straightforward philosophy: The Hawks (7-2) are not as multiple in formations and variations, and it hasn’t mattered. They marched through the Eastern AA 7-0.

“Not a lot of schemes or a lot of plays,” Bennett said. “Coach Wesche has always kept it pretty simple, but pretty effective because they get really, really good at what they do. You kind of know what you’re going to get, but they’re really good at it.”

It helps to have an excellent quarterback, and Jake Casagranda has thrown for 2,221 yards and 27 touchdowns with five interceptions. Those numbers aren’t miles off those put up by QB Gage Sliter, who leads the state in yards (2,955) and TD passes (35) for the 7-3 Wolfpack.

“He’s very good,” Bennett said of Casagrande. “It’s been an incredible year I think at the position, looking at all 16 teams. What a class.”

Brady Casagranda is the top rusher for the Hawks, but the 1-2 receiving punch of Rocky Lencioni and Luke Smith looks just as dangerous.

Smith is a tight end and hard-charging defensive end.

“They actually play quite a few guys both ways,” Bennett noted. “Gosh, he (Smith) might be one of the best players in the state. He is the real deal.”

Bennett also noted junior nose guard Hudson Wiens stood out on film for the Hawks.

Glacier will have its usual suspects, like running backs Jackson Hensley, Kobe Dorcheus and Kash Goicoechea. Cohen Kastelitz’ 890 receiving yards is second only to the 982 racked up by Helena Capital’s Manu Melo; Sliter also slings it to Kole Johnson, Bridger Smith and Kaid Buls.

Wesche took over the Hawks in 2016 from current Carroll College coach Troy Purcell. At that point the Hawks and Pack had met seven times in four seasons: They squared off twice in the semifinals and once for the 2013 State AA championship.

The Hawks won all three; Glacier beat Bozeman 38-8 in the 2014 regular season en route to its state crown.

Bennett is encouraged by, among other things, the health of his squad. Defensive back Aidan McShane has a fractured finger, but may play with a cast. Early-season dings to Hensley and Goicoechea seem healed up.

“At this point of the year you’re beat up pretty good because that’s the nature of a season,” Bennett said. “But I feel like we’re getting more and more healthy. Our legs are fresh, our guys feel good.”

Both teams beat Billings Senior pretty good: Bozeman prevailed 38-3 and Glacier scored a 31-0 shutout over the Broncs just last week. Bozeman lost to unbeaten Capital 28-21 early on, before Glacier fell to the Bruins 35-27 on Sept. 23.

Those are the two closest games the unbeaten Bruins have had. Bennett feels there’s more parity across AA this season than others.

“I think there’s years where pretty clearly everybody is playing for second,” he said. “Capital definitely has the edge, they’re up front. But man, I feel like it’s wide open. Why not us?

“Hopefully you play your very best at this stage of the game. You have to. If we play our best game, I think we have a shot.”

A Playoffs

Polson, 9-0 and coming off a bye, faces visiting Laurel Saturday in a rematch from last year’s semifinals. Laurel won that one 28-14; the Locomotives then lost to Hamilton for the state title.

Laurel didn’t seem to have the firepower of last year, at least before a 45-6 playoff win over Libby last Saturday.

Gus Robertus and Tanner Schwend split the snaps for Laurel; Owen Younger is a top running and receiving threat. Polson’s Jarrett Wilson is at 31 touchdowns this season; only Glacier’s Sliter has more.

Whitefish is on the road against Hamilton, which is working on a 20-game win streak. Both teams have excellent QBs: The Broncs will match Tyson Bauder against Whitefish’s Fynn Ridgeway.

Columbia Falls is also on the road, drawing unbeaten Lewistown. The Eagles have quarterback Gage Norslien and running back Jett Boyce, but have also allowed more than seven points just once this season, in a 55-18 win over Hardin.

Columbia Falls will try to keep momentum built in last Saturday’s 48-0 win over Miles City, in which quarterback Cody Schweikert and Co. scored on all seven of their possessions.

B Playoffs

Unbeaten Bigfork stays home to face Glasgow, a squad it beat 49-0 on the road in last year’s playoffs.

Tristen Herd triggers a more pass-happy offense, but he’s also one of six Vikings with 164 or more rushing yards. Joseph Farrier leads the way with 696; Bigfork still averages 224 rushing yards a game and 7.8 a carry.

The Western B went 3-1 in the first round, and both Florence (at unbeaten Huntley Project) and Missoula Loyola (at 6-4 Shepherd) are on the road. Loyola junior Talen Reynolds has run for 1,381 yards and 18 TDs this season.