Wolfpack still strong on gridiron

The Glacier Wolfpack lost some serious talent off the 2023 squad that advanced to the State AA championship, as in four Division I signees and a guy who caught 1,200 yards worth of passes.

Head coach Grady Bennett feels his team, which opens its season Thursday at Great Falls High, won’t take much of a step back. 

“Just watching practice,” Bennett began, “I think we could line up four or five wideouts and throw 75 times a game. Or we could line up tight and give it to Kobe (Dorcheus) 50 times a game.  

“We can be balanced, but whatever the defense wants to give us, whatever they want to take away, we can handle it. And that’s a great place to be.” 

Helping greatly is junior quarterback Jackson Presley, who exploded onto the scene in 2023 and threw for 3,053 yards and 28 touchdowns as a sophomore. He completed 66 percent of his passes and had just four interceptions. 

“It's always nice when you can start with the quarterback position solidified,” Bennett said. “When you start the season with a guy back, especially a guy like Jackson, you feel pretty good.” 

Gone is Cohen Kastelitz, the top receiver who took his talents to Montana Tech, along with running back/safety Kash Goicoechea (Montana Grizzlies), tight end Isaac Keim (Griz) and offensive linemen Henry Sellards (Nevada) and Aiden Krause (NDSU for track and field). 

But Bridger Smith, a highly recruited senior who caught five touchdown passes last season, is back to lead a talented receiving crew that includes Cooper Pelc, Ethan Anderson and Easton Kauffman. 

“Easton Kauffman is a kid who could have started for many, or maybe every other AA team last season,” Bennett said. “He’s going to get his chance to shine this year.” 

The biggest questions are up front, where four seniors graduated — three of them being three-year starters. 

Into the breach step junior left tackle Maverick Diede, junior center Will Astle and sophomore left guard Jesse Baines. Senior Slate Burrington, new to the O-line, will man the right side along with senior Ben Winters — the lone starter back — and junior Wayne Cox. It could be Winters and Burrington at guard and tackle, or Cox and Winters and tackle and guard. 

“A lot of new guys there, but I love their athleticism and the way they play,” Bennett said. “I love what I’m seeing. I think we’re going to be fine.” 

Running behind that crew is Dorcheus, a 190-pound senior who piled up 14 touchdowns on the ground and 16 overall last fall. It’s another deep position group: Bennett likes the looks of Chase Chaffin, Bigfork transfer Asher Knopik and Tristan Pugh, who missed last season with a knee injury. All of them are juniors. 

Dorcheus, as he did at times last year, could make an impact at defensive end, where the O-line will pull some double duty alongside the likes of junior defensive tackle Kaleb Fuehr.  

The linebacking crew of Carson Baker (an outside backer/safety hybrid who had 60 tackles), Mark Ahner and Knopik appears set; Kauffman and Smith will man the corners, along with Weston and Grady Robison.  

Jack Robinson is fighting back from injury at one safety, where Eddie Foster and Ethan Kastelitz could get the most time. 

Bennett figures Helena Capital as a favorite in the Western AA; statewide Gallatin, which the Pack defeated in the 2023 semifinals, is loaded. First things first: The Bison, led by senior quarterback Riley Collette, went 5-5 last season.  

Braedon Rankin is the top returning rusher and Dane Gundlach the top receiver back, but Collette, who threw for 1,101 yards and 11 TDs last season, is the key. 

    Glacier quarterback Jackson Presley (12) completes a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Van Scholten (14) in the second quarter against Helena Capital at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Glacier defensive back Carson Baker (38) intercepts a pass in the second quarter against Helena at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)