Knopik, defense key Pack win over West
BILLINGS — Glacier’s Asher Knopik ran for two touchdowns, the second breaking a 7-7 third-quarter tie and helping the Wolfpack win 14-10 at Billings West in AA football Friday night at Daylis Stadium.
Knopik had touchdown runs of 5 and 3 yards for the Wolfpack, which rallied from a 7-0 deficit in this defensive battle. The latter TD came at 5:52 of the third quarter.
The game came down to the final minute: Billings West drove to a first-and-goal at the Glacier 6-yard line with 1:45 left in the game, Johnson completing a 15-yard pass to Isaac Pringle.
Glacier held, forcing a first-down incompletion, then stopping West running back Payton Cicero for a 2-yard loss. Johnson threw incomplete under pressure on third and fourth down and the Golden Bears turned the ball over with 59 seconds left.
West outgained Glacier 365-245, and did a nice job against Wolfpack quarterback Jackson Presley, who was 7 of 23 for just 88 yards.
The Golden Bears were less effective against Knopik, who picked up 131 yards on 18 carries, including a 51-yard burst.
Glacier coach Grady Bennett was equally pleased with Knopik and a defense that held up after surrendering a touchdown on West’s opening drive: Johnson found Matt Ludwig for 5 yards and the score at 7:00 of the first quarter.
“Honestly, that was the finest defensive efforts in Glacier history,” Bennett said. “First game, and against a team with that many great players. Especially after the first drive — they just marched right down against us.
“They’re so resilient, and they just move on to the next play. That goal line stand was just incredible.”
Jack Robinson led Glacier’s defense with 11 tackles, including a sack. William Astle had 10 stops, 2.5 for losses. He also had a sack.
Meanwhile Knopik was a horse, helping Glacier hand West just its sixth home loss in 46 games. He had five tackles, two for losses.
“I told him, ‘We’re going to have to lean on you tonight,’ ” Bennett said. “We might need you for 25 carries. He was on special teams and he barely left the field. That’s the kind of player he is. He’s just a football player.”
Johnson threw for 227 yards for West, while Presley had his toughest game in his time at Glacier.
“We left a lot out there,” Bennett said. “I think the exciting thing, which I told the team, was we’re happy to get the win — but win or lose, we’re going to get so much better.
“Unbelievable win, to travel all day and beat that team on their field. If that’s our floor, that’s just so exciting.”
Glacier 0 7 7 0 - 14
B. West 7 0 3 0 - 14
BW — Matt Ludwig 5 pass from CJ Johnson (Jaxon King kick), 7:00-1Q
G — Asher Knopik 5 run (Kyle Smith kick), 2:54-2Q
G — Knopik 3 run (Smith kick), 5:52-3Q
BW — King 28 FG, 1:50-3Q
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Glacier (30-157) — Knopik 18-131, Eli Imperato 7-20, Jackson Presley 1-6, Team 4-0. Billings West (37-138) — Payton Cicero 20-88, Johnson 8-21, Tyreke Jones 4-15, Gabe Rosales 5-14.
PASSING: Glacier — Jackson Presley 7-23-0 for 88 yards. West — Johnson 17-30-1 for 227 yards.
RECEVING: Glacier — Cooper Pelc 3-55, Dylan Banzet 1-13, Austin Gragg 1-11, Hunter Daniels 1-6. West — Ludwing 5-68, Braedyn Foster 3-63, Elis Bonner 3-30, Westdon Kelley 2-0.