AA football: Pack looks to break through against Bozeman

A second football championship won’t be easy for the Glacier Wolfpack, since they have to go through the unbeaten Bozeman Hawks, and on the road, to make it happen.

Veteran coach Grady Bennett knows this, but also knows his seniors have come through in landmark ways many times this season, pushing through nemeses Helena, Helena Capital and Missoula Sentinel to take the Western AA title.

When you consider that, then perhaps history is on Glacier’s side for Friday’s 7 p.m. kickoff at Van Winkle Stadium.

Road teams don’t generally win the championship, but it’s possible: Sentinel proved it at Billings West three years ago, and Bozeman got its last title by winning 49-28 at Butte in 2019.

This Hawks squad is talented — and inspired, after losing to Capital in last year’s championship. Kellen Harrison has taken over at quarterback and has nearly matched Glacier’s Jackson Presley pass for pass (both have a completion percentage of .668). 

“That’s where it starts with their team; Kellen Harrison,” Bennett said. “He’s had a great year at quarterback, and he also never leaves the field because he’s a great safety. Just one of those kids who knows what it takes and does what is necessary to help his team win games.”

Harrison’s 21 touchdown passes including seven to Rocky Lencioni and six to Cordell Holzer, though the Hawks want to establish the run with Brady Casagranda and Harley Bianchini. 

In a 31-23 quarterfinal over Glacier last year. Bozeman’s run game was stymied but then-QB Jake Casagranda threw four touchdown passes. The Hawks’ 21-0 lead held up then; Harrison has stepped in nicely since.

“It starts with him but they have quite a few of those players,” Bennett said. “Lencioni, great receiver and free safety. Cordell Holzer, another receiver who plays that hybrid safety in their 4-2-5, and might be their best defender.

“It just keeps going. They’re the complete team, I think.”

Glacier is pretty complete as well. Kobe Dorcheus has over 1,000 rushing yards. Cohen Kastelitz has gone over 1,000 yards receiving. Presley has 27 TDs and just two interceptions.

Bennett feels running back/safety Kash Goicoechea might have had the play of the game in the 35-14 semifinal win over Gallatin, chasing down the Raptors’ Reece Dahlke after a 37-yard gain.

“Nobody else could have pulled him down,” Bennett asserted. Alex Hausmann intercepted a pass two plays later, and Glacier then drove to a Dorcheus TD and an 18-7 lead.

Glacier got its lone state championship in 2014; the year before that the Wolfpack fell to Bozeman in the title game, 24-14. Which calls back more history.

The Pack has been on a sort of revenge tour this season, and Bozeman signifies another itch that’s long needed scratching. Glacier is 5-11 against the Hawks, including an 0-4 mark in the playoffs.

“One of the things for our seniors is — this class has accomplished so much already. They’ve been able to put some pretty good notches in their belt,” Bennett began. “One of them is we haven’t beaten Bozeman in a playoff game. We’re oh-fer against the Hawks. 

That’s another thing that’s in front of them. Here’s another great challenge for them to accomplish.”