AA football: Pack ousts Billings Senior

The Billings Senior Broncs brought a stingy defense into Legends Stadium Friday, and behind four sacks kept the Glacier Wolfpack in range after one half of play.

Then the third quarter began, and Glacier took a lot of starch out of the Broncs with a 14-play, 80-yard drive. Jackson Hensley’s 16-yard run made it 17-0, and the final of the AA play-in game was 31-0.

The Wolfpack, 7-3, advanced to quarterfinal game at Bozeman, most likely Friday at Van Winkle Stadium.

Hensley rushed for 156 yards and scored three touchdowns, including a 49-yard run on the Wolfpack’s first possession. That TD would have held up for the Wolfpack, but they figured to score more. Instead Glacier gave up the ball on downs at Senior’s 24-yard line, then later at the 27 and — after a sack on the last play of the half — the 33.

“They played Tampa-2 (defense) almost the whole game. They were tough, physical,” said Glacier quarterback Gage Sliter, who threw for one score and ran for another. “One of the more physical teams we’ve played. They’re fun to play because we know they’re going to bring it every time.”

By coach Grady Bennett’s count the Wolfpack had scored on 18 straight possessions coming in. He figured that streak would end against Senior and Broncs coach Chris Murdock.

“So my worry was, what’s going to happen when they stop us, and we get a little adversity,” Bennett said. “Sure enough we started to founder a little bit, and couldn’t get out of our way. Coach Murdock did a great job, which I knew he would, dialing up some blitzes in the first half. He kind of had us off-balance.”

The good news was Glacier’s defense was even better. Senior, who dropped a handful of passes on a crisp evening, managed just six first downs. Three came on a late drive that reached the Wolfpack 9-yard line, and ended on downs back at the 24.

“First playoff shutout in our school’s history,” Bennett noted. “The defense just kept staying so positive, kept going out and not worrying about the offense’s struggles and just kept having our back.”

The offense found its stride after halftime. Hensley had seven carries for 41 yards on the Pack’s opening march. Twice Cohen Kastelitz hauled in a short pass, made a guy miss and picked up 12 yards.

“That was a long drive,” Hensley, who had 20 carries, noted. “Seven minutes of offense, maybe eight. We just kept pounding it. We had a couple penalties set us back, but we kept pushing it.”

His 16-yard scoring came on fourth down; soon Glacier’s defense forced a 3-and-out, then drove 70 yards. The last 40 came on a pass from Sliter to Hensley, who slid out uncovered on a wheel route. He scored untouched for a 24-0 lead.

“We saw it on film late this week, and we knew Jackson would have a good look back up the sedline,” Sliter, who was 11 of 21 passing for 154 yards, said. “It worked out perfect. Jackson had a great game; I love playing with that guy next to me.”

Another Senior punt led to a third straight TD for the Pack, this time a 2-yard run by Sliter. Bennett gave a lot of credit to offensive coordinator Dustin Haines.

“Coach Haines called some masterful stuff in the second half,” Bennett said. “I felt like the first half they were a little bit ahead as far as the cat-and-mouse game that goes on. I felt the second half Coach Haines flipped on them and made some great calls.”

Kastelitz had five catches for 66 yards for the Pack, who outgained Senior 401-102. Senior gained 62 yards on its final possession.

Senior 0 0 0 0 - 0

Glacier 7 3 7 14 - 31

G — Jackson Hensley 49 run (Rhett Measure kick), 9:02-1Q

G — Measure 39 FG, 11:49-2Q

G — Hensley 16 run (Measure kick), 4:30-3Q

G — Hensley 39 pass from Gage Sliter (Measure kick), 11:00-4Q

G — Sliter 2 run (Measure kick), 5:47-4Q

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: Senior (15-28) — Jalen Rosas 6-19, Peyton Oakley 8-9, Tanner Macy 1-0. Glacier (43-247) — Hensley 20-156, Sliter 11-29, Isaac Ritter 4-22, Kash Goicoechea 3-22, Kobe Dorcheus 3-14, Jack Robinson 1-4, Kaid Bulls 1-0.

PASSING: Senior — Oakley 10-25-0 for 74 yards. Glacier — Sliter 12-21-0 for 154 yards.

RECEIVING: Senior — Maclain Burckley 5-38, Trystin Chapel 3-13, Kaden Mayhood 1-21, Izac Smith 1-2, Glacier — Cohen Kastelitz 5-66, Bulls 2-36, Hensley 1-39, Kole Johnson 1-6, Dorcheus 1-5, Alex Hausmann 1-2, Van Scholten 1-0.

Friday’s Scores

State AA Playoffs

Glacier 31, Billings Senior 0

Butte 35, Great Falls 21

Gallatin 42, Missoula Big Sky 0

Missoula Sentinel 50, Great Falls CMR 31

State AA Quarterfinals

Dates, times TBA

Glacier (7-3) at Bozeman (7-2)

Gallatin (8-2) at Helena (7-2)

Butte (5-5) at Helena Capital (9-0)

Sentinel (8-2) at Billings West (6-3)

Class A

First Round

Dillon 42, Frenchtown 34

6-Man

First Round

Big Sandy 61, Savage 6

Valier 52, Noxon 8