Wolfpack clinch top 2 seed in West with senior day win over Big Sky

Glacier running back Kobe Dorcheus (33) stiff-arms Missoula Big Sky defender Caleb Hood (11) on a run in the first quarter at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Glacier quarterback Jackson Presley (12) completes a pass to wide receiver Bridger Smith in the third quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Glacier wide receiver Cooper Pelc (8) catches an 87-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Glacier defensive lineman Ben Winters (75) stops a run by Missoula Big Sky running back Keller Heidrick (4) on third and short in the third quarter at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Glacier wide receiver Ethan Anderson (37) celebrates with running back Kobe Dorcheus (33), tight end Matthew Junk (45) and offensive lineman Maverick Diede (77) after a touchdown reception in the second half against Missoula Big Sky at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Glacier tight end Mark Ahner (31) picks up yardage after a reception in the first quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Glacier wide receiver Carson Baker (38) picks up yardage on a run in the first quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Glacier defensive lineman Wayne Cox (52) tackles Missoula Big Sky wide receiver Brady Williams (2) on a run in the first quarte at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Glacier wide receiver Bridger Smith (1) picks up yardage after a reception in the second quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Glacier quarterback Jackson Presley (12) looks for an open receiver in the third quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Missoula Big Sky quarterback Avery Omlid (9) throws in the third quarter against Glacier at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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by JON ALLEN
Staff Writer | October 18, 2024 12:00 AM

It wasn’t a walkover, but in the end Glacier took care of business.

Jackson Presley tallied four touchdowns — three in the air and one on the ground — as the Wolfpack defeated Missoula Big Sky 35-7 Thursday at Legends Stadium.

The win secured a top two seed in the Western AA and a bye for the first round of the playoffs for Glacier (7-1 overall, 5-1 in league games) and a guaranteed home game in the quarterfinals.

“It’s huge, these guys love Legends Stadium,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said. “We told them at the start of the week that this was really the start of the playoffs, because you are playing to earn the bye and play here again.”

Glacier outgained the Eagles 600-277 in the game with a 263-9 edge in rushing yards, spearheaded by senior running back Kobe Dorcheus’ 196 yards on the ground.

Dorcheus opened the scoring from one yard out in the first quarter with his 17th touchdown of the season.

Big Sky (5-3, 3-3) found a quick response to tie the game as Avery Omlid hit Mason Fulford for an 81-yard pitch-and-catch.

Omlid finished the evening 19-for-37 with 268 yards passing. Fulford led the receiving corps with 151 yards on six grabs.

Glacier answered back on their next possession as Presley sneaked it in from one yard out to make it 14-7 set up by a 51-yard pass to Pelc.

After a missed field goal for the Eagles, the Wolfpack doubled the advantage with Presley’s first of two touchdowns to Anderson — a 6-yard pass.

Presley tallied 337 yards through the air with three touchdowns and added 28 yards on the ground with the score.

Glacier had an opportunity to extend the lead just before the break but dropped a pair of sure touchdowns.

Out of the half the Wolfpack faced a bit of adversity as Presley was intercepted on the first play of the third quarter. On the next Wolfpack possession Dorcheus fumbled to set up the Eagles again.

Glacier’s defense stood strong after both turnovers, forcing Big Sky to hand it over on downs each time.

“I am so proud of our defense,” Bennett said. “We turned the ball over and then we turn it again and the defense answered the call, and there was no negativity. The defense just went out, backs against the wall and get the stop twice in a row.

I like that we had to play through some adversity, you want all your games to be beautiful and pretty, but they are not going to be. You got to learn to win ugly or through some adversity.”

After the second stop, Presley found Pelc for an 87-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 28-7.

“It all starts in practice,” Pelc said on his connection with Presley.

“We look at each other before the snap and I think we know what is going to happen.”

In the fourth, Presley and Anderson connected one more time for a 28-yard score and Glacier cruised in from there for the victory.

Big Sky 7 0 0 0 - 7

Glacier 14 7 7 7 - 35

G — Kobe Dorcheus 1 run (Kyle Smith kick), 3:44 1Q

B — Mason Fulford 81 pass from Avery Omlid (Cal Marceau kick), 3:25 1Q

G — Jackson Presley 1 run (Smith kick), :09 1Q

G — Ethan Anderson 6 pass from Presley (Smith kick), 7:22 2Q

G — Cooper Pelc 87 pass from Presley (Smith kick), 4:27 3Q

G — Anderson 28 pass from Presley (Smith kick), 8:28 4Q

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING: Big Sky (21-9) — Keller Heidrick 9-27, Eli Kasberg 1-3, Connor Stucke 1- minus 2, Brady Williams 2- minus 4, Avery Omlid 8- minus 15. Glacier (36-266) — Kobe Dorcheus 25-196, Carson Baker 3-32, Jackson Presley 3-28, Ethan Anderson 1-7, Cruz Grace 1-2, Ben Winters 1-0.

PASSING: Big Sky — Avery Omlid 19-37-0 for 268 yards. Glacier — Jackson Presley 19-28-1 for 337 yards, Bridger Smith 0-1-0 for 0 yards.

RECEIVING: Big Sky — Mason Fulford 6-151, Eli Kasberg 4-42, Blake Williams 4-30, Landis Woronik 2-18, Keller Heidrick 1-11, Connor Stucke 1-10, Brady Williams 1-6. Glacier — Bridger Smith 6-100, Ethan Anderson 3-44, Matthew Junk 3-17, Cooper Pelc 2-138, Easton Kauffman 2-12, Kobe Dorcheus 1-11, Mark Ahner 1-11, Micah Klippenstein 1-4.

Glacier wide receiver Carson Baker (38) picks up yardage on a run in the first quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Missoula Big Sky quarterback Avery Omlid (9) throws in the third quarter against Glacier at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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