Ready for Rematch

A rematch with everything to play for.

Glacier and Helena Capital suit up one final time in 2024, meeting for the AA state championship Friday at Vigilante Stadium in Helena. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. 

The two sides met back on Oct. 4 with Capital taking the victory 35-14. Glacier jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Bruins scored the final 35 points. 

Glacier looks to bring home a second championship in its fifth title game appearance and second straight — the Wolfpack dropped a 35-28 decision to Bozeman in 2023. 

“I asked a question a few weeks ago to the seniors about how many of you remember the feeling in the Bozeman locker room last year, and they all do,” Bennett said. “I let the offseason captains pick the theme and right away they chose ‘break through.’ 

“They know the Wolfpack have been to the state championship game a lot of times, but we haven't broken through, it’s been since 2014.” 

That 2014 team was honored earlier this season at Legends Stadium for the 10-year anniversary of the title, and Bennett says he sees a lot of the same characteristics in this year’s squad. 

“There is so many similar qualities,” Bennett said. “The way they play, their character. The leadership. The toughness. The grit. It’s just eerily similar.” 

To bring home the title the Wolfpack need to put what happened in October behind them, and Bennett believes that last week's win over Gallatin showed how far the team has come. 

“It was very similar,” Bennett said. “We were up 20-7 and with five minutes to go in the half and all of a sudden, it’s 20-20. The difference was that nothing changed, these guys were unfazed.  

“We got in the fourth quarter and our guys were just relentless in their execution and their effort. I really felt how they stayed together, believed in each other and just kept pursuing it and it finally popped and we ended up dominating that fourth quarter.” 

Quarterback Jackson Presley picked up six touchdowns in the semifinal victory over Gallatin, finding his form in the snow early. 

Capital enters Friday’s championship game on the heels of a 35-6 home semifinal win over Billings West. 

The Bruins look to claim their 13th title overall — which would tie them with Great Falls CMR for third most in the state — and second in the past three seasons.  

“We’ve had a good week of practice, it’s chilly,” Capital coach Kyle Mihelish said. “The kids are excited; we are going to see what the weather is for tomorrow.”   

Snow affected both semifinals and a look at the forecast sees a potential for rain, snow and even ice for Friday. 

“It comes down to whoever can handle the weather the best,” Mihelish said. “You need to be able to block and tackle.” 

He added that in a game like this there isn’t as much of a home-field advantage. 

“Defenses travel,” Mihelish said. “Consistency tomorrow night is going to be the key.” 

Bennett shared a similar sentiment. 

“Last week we just removed that element,” Bennett said. “Playing on the road, three inches of snow. Who cares. It’s where you put your mind. ... Wherever you want to play the game, let’s play.” 

Mihelish says his team isn’t taking anything for granted after the first matchup. 

“To us it's obviously another game against a very good opponent,” he said. “They had success against Gallatin.” 

He noted that Capital will have to slow down Presley and Kobe Dorcheus in the backfield but also spoke highly of Glacier’s depth at receiver and is impressed with the play of tight ends Matthew Junk and Mark Ahner. 

The Bruins offense runs through quarterback Merek Mihelish — a Montana Grizzlies commit and son of the coach. While he amassed 70 yards passing and 74 yards rushing in the semifinal victory, the Bruins piled up 349 yards on the ground. 

CHAMPIONSHIP CAPSULES

Glacier (10-1) at Helena Capital (10-1) 

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Vigilante Stadium (Monster 103.9 FM). 

Glacier Leaders 

RUSHING: Kobe Dorcheus 196 carries-1,538 yards (7.8 avg.), 24 touchdowns; Jackson Presley 60-246 (4.1), 12 TDs; Cole Baker 18-149 (8.3), 1 TD. 

PASSING: Jackson Presley 153-235-8 for 2,497 yards, .651 completion percentage, 24 TDs. 

RECEIVING: Bridger Smith 58-952 (16.4 avg.), 6 touchdowns; Connor Pelc 19-481 (25.3), 7 TDs; Ethan Anderson 17-293 (17.2), 4 TDs; Easton Kauffman 16-210 (13.1), 2 TDs; Cole Baker 11-186 (16.9), 2 TDs; Kobe Dorcheus 12-151 (12.6), 1 TD; Micah Klippenstein 7-66 (9.4), 2 TDs).  

NOTABLE: Glacier, which opened its doors in 2007, has made four title game appearances and one once, in 2014 (56-19 over Great Falls CMR). ... The Wolfpack lost to Bozeman High in last year’s title game, 35-27. ... Mark Ahner has 120 tackles to lead the defense, and Asher Knopik is next with 90, including 5.5 sacks and a fumble recovery for a TD.  ... Wayne Cox has 7 sacks.  

Capital Leaders 

RUSHING: Merek Mihelish 116 carries-830 yards (7.2 average), 8 touchdowns; Brit Linder 58-375 (6.5), 3 TDs; Drew Almquist 22-348 (15.8), 4 TDs. 

PASSING: Merek Mihelish 153-210-3 for 2,560 yards, .729 completion percentage, 30 TDs. 

RECEIVING: Dylan Almquist 47-715 (15.2 avg.), 8 TDs; Drew Almquist 35-542 (15.5), 8 TDs: Conor Toivonen 25-499 (20.0), 4 TDs; Daniel Larson 24-486 (20.3), 8 Ds; Walker Desrosier 11-165 (15.0), 0 TDs. 

NOTABLE: Capital is gunning for its second title in three seasons, having beaten Bozeman 35-14 for the 2022 crown. ...  The Bruins also won AA in1978, 1987,1993, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006-08 and 2011 and are 11-5 in title games. ... Linder has 86 tackles and Jackson McMillan a team-high 87. ...  Dylan Almquist has three interceptions. ... Cole Graham has 14 sacks for the Bruins.  

    Glacier linebacker Mark Ahner (31) stops Billings Senior wide receiver Tevin Keller (14) in the third quarter at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 6. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider