Glacier powers through the snow to down Gallatin

BOZEMAN — Glacier football is championship-bound once again. 

Jackson Presley tallied six touchdowns — three through the air and three on the ground — and the Wolfpack knocked off previously unbeaten Bozeman Gallatin 46-27 in a snowy semifinal Friday at Van Winkle Stadium. 

“I couldn't be prouder of the guys focus and attention to detail,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett. “They executed brilliantly tonight. I loved our fight, our relentless grit. Defensively, in the second half we made some adjustments and tackled better and got to the ball better, they really just had the one good drive.” 

Glacier (10-1) outscored the Raptors (10-1) 26-7 in the second half to advance to their fifth state championship game and second straight. They will take on Helena Capital, who handed Glacier their only loss of the season. The Bruins downed Billings West 35-6 in similar conditions in Helena. 

“I don't know if it (the weather) hampered us at all, we run Kobe (Dorcheus) downhill so much, and we did Jackson tonight too,” Bennett said, also noting that Gallatin pressed their wide outs in cover zero all game. “Our receivers are good, and they started getting by them and Jackson threw some dimes.” 

Presley got the scoring started on Glacier’s first drive of the game, capping off a long drive with a 17-yard keeper. A missed PAT kept it 6-0. 

Gallatin answered back right away as Reese Dahlke broke one for 47 yards to give Gallatin a 7-6 lead. 

Both teams rushing attacks were in form early as Presley used his legs to put the Wolfpack back in front 13-7 on a 2-yard scamper. 

After forcing the Raptors to punt Presley used his arm to extend the lead, finding Bridger Smith for the touchdown from 5 yards out putting Glacier up 20-7. 

Gallatin battled back late in the half as Carter Dahlke scored on an 18-yard run. On the next drive Reese Dahlke pounded one in from 1-yard out to tie the game at 20 heading into the half. 

The defenses stepped up out of the break as neither team could find the end zone in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter. 

Presley and the Wolfpack broke the deadlock as Easton Kauffman reeled in a 30-yard pass to make it 27-20. 

"Presley was phenomenal, he really showed who he is tonight,” Bennett said. “He was a leader. He was tough. It was an amazing effort, leading our offense.” 

Gallatin responded in 30 seconds as Reese Dahlke capped off the quick drive from 2-yards out to tie it back up. 

Glacier took control in the fourth quarter as Presley found paydirt for the third time on the ground from 5 yards out, giving the Wolfpack a 34-27 lead. 

After a Raptors punt, Cooper Pelc hauled in a 24-yard pass on fourth down to grow the lead. Gallatin blocked the PAT to keep it 40-27. 

To cap things off Ethan Kastelitz intercepted Grant Vigen with 20 seconds left to cap off Glacier’s second semifinal win over the Raptors in as many years. 

Asher Knopik had 14 stops to lead Glacier’s defense, and Mark Ahner had 11 tackles. Knopik also had a pass breakup and two tackles for loss. Maverick Diede had a sack, and Dorcheus had three tackles along with his 142 rushing yards.  

Glacier    13    7    7    19    -    46 

Gallatin    7    13    7    0    -    27 

G — Jackson Presley 17 run (kick failed), 8:27 1Q 

B — Reese Dahlke 47 run (Mikey Anderson kick), 6:42 1Q 

G — Presley 2 run (Kyle Smith kick), :43 1Q 

G — Bridger Smith 5 pass from Presley (Smith kick), 5:21 2Q 

B — Carter Dahlke 18 run (Anderson kick), 2:57 2Q 

B — Reese Dahlke 1 run (kick blocked), :40 2Q 

G — Easton Kauffman 30 pass from Presley (Smith kick), 1:57 3Q 

B — Reese Dahlke 2 run (Anderson kick), 1:27 3Q 

G — Presley 5 run (Smith kick), 11:20 4Q 

G — Cooper Pelc 24 pass from Presley (kick blocked), 5:59 4Q 

G — Kobe Dorcheus 9 run (kick blocked), 2:02 4Q

Individual Statistics 

RUSHING: Glacier (39-249) — Dorcheus 19-142, Presley 20-107; Gallatin (26-142) — Carter Dahlke 12-80, Reese Dahlke 11-58, Grant Vigen 3-4.  

PASSING: Glacier — Presley 16-24-1 for 218 yards; Gallatin — Grant Vigen 9-24-1 for 167 yards. 

RECEIVING: Glacier — Smith 9-112, Pelc 4-81, Easton Kauffman 1-30, Dorcheus 1-1, Carson Baker 1-minus 6. Gallatin — Carter Dahlke 6-117, Tommy Springman 2-25, Reese Dahlke 1-25.