HELENA — In Class AA high school football, the cream has certainly risen to the top.
The top five teams in the 406 MT Sports rankings have a combined record of 23-1. Those teams — Kalispell Glacier, Bozeman Gallatin, Billings West, Missoula Big Sky and Missoula Sentinel — haven’t lost to any unranked teams yet this season.
The only loss suffered by any of them was No. 3 Billings West losing to No. 1 Glacier 14-10 in Week 1. Among the top four teams, that game, and a 23-16 win by Gallatin over Bozeman last week, was the only game decided by single digits.
Sentinel has won three of four games by single digits. The Spartans have won mostly with defense and that defense will be challenged Friday in Kalispell.
Here’s a look ahead to each game in Week 6.
No. 5 Missoula Sentinel (4-0, 3-0) at No. 1 Kalispell Glacier (5-0, 4-0) Friday, 7 p.m.
In the only battle of undefeated teams this week, the Spartans will try to corral top-ranked Glacier and the most explosive offense in Class AA football. Glacier is leading Class AA in scoring (43.8 points per game). Jackson Presley, the Sacramento State commit, has thrown nine touchdown passes compared to one interception. Running back Asher Knopik is leading Class AA with 599 rushing yards to go along with 10 touchdowns.
Defensively, Glacier is allowing 7.4 points per game. Sentinel is also allowing 7.5 points per game, but is averaging just 18. Quarterback Rudy Hess, who averages 188 total yards per game, with 63 on the ground, combines with Kaden Thennis (4th in Class AA in rushing yards per game) to form a rushing attack averaging 151 yards per game.
Kalispell Flathead (1-3, 0-3) at Helena Capital (1-4, 0-3) Friday, 6 p.m.
Two teams in need of a win will meet Friday night in Helena. Flathead has played much better this season, but if the Braves hope to make the playoffs, that improvement needs to start showing up in the win column.
Capital, the defending state champ, also needs to start winning games if the Bruins want to avoid missing the postseason.
Eli Coopman has been a driving force for the Flathead offense. The Braves are scoring 22 points per game and averaging 354 yards. Capital is scoring just 15 points per game; however, the Bruins have the second-most productive running back in Class AA in Brit Linder (104 yards per game). Carson Toivonen had two touchdown passes in his first varsity start for the Bruins.
While each team has playmakers, this matchup might come down to defense. The Bruins have allowed 33.8 per game this season, while Flathead is giving up more than 37.
Missoula Hellgate (1-4, 1-2) at No. 4 Missoula Big Sky (5-0, 3-0) Friday, 7 p.m.
The Eagles have been dominant so far this season, scoring 42.6 points per game and averaging 419 yards of total offense. Quarterback Eli Kasberg leads Class AA in touchdown passes (15), completion percentage (66.7) and is second with 237 passing yards per game. The dual-threat quarterback has also rushed for 275 yards (7.6 yards per attempt, most among AA quarterbacks) and four rushing touchdowns.
Big Sky has the second best scoring defense in Class AA (36 points allowed in five games) and will be challenged by Hellgate’s own dual-threat quarterback Vince Paffhausen.
No. 2 Bozeman Gallatin (5-0, 3-0) at Great Falls High (1-3, 1-2) Friday, 7 p.m.
The Bison might have just one win, but their offense is averaging 372 yards per game. Over the past two weeks, the Bison have been averaging 46 points per game, which included a 42-0 win over Skyview last week. Steele Harris has been a huge part of that. He’s averaging 138.7 yards from scrimmage this season with 555 rushing and receiving yards in four games.
The Gallatin offense is also averaging 372 yards per game. Yet, the Raptors defense doesn’t get enough credit and through five games, it has 52 tackles for loss, 16 sacks and 12 interceptions.
Billings West (4-1, 3-0) at Billings Skyview (1-4, 1-2) Friday, 7 p.m.
The Golden Bears have outscored their opponents 113-6 over the past four games. The Bears have the No. 1 scoring defense in Class AA with just 34 points allowed. Even with a loss, no team has scored more than 14 points. The offense is scoring 35 points per game in its own right, thanks to running back Payton Cicero, quarterback Colt Johnson, Michigan commitment Matt Ludwig and two-way standout Elias Bonner.
Helena High (3-2, 2-1) at Butte (1-4, 0-3) Friday, 7 p.m.
Following a dramatic crosstown win over Capital last week, the Bengals will hit the road to take on Butte High, still searching for its first win in Western AA conference play after losing games to Missoula Big Sky, Missoula Sentinel and Glacier.
Bengals QB CJ Danforth accounted for three total touchdowns last week against the Bengals in his first career start. Butte’s offense, on the other hand, has been held to 13 points or fewer in four of five games.
Bozeman (3-2, 2-1) at Belgrade (1-3, 1-2) Friday, 7 p.m.
The Panthers had a breakthrough win last week, knocking off Billings Skyview 44-25. Belgrade’s defense had four sacks and two interceptions. Hudsen Rask threw two touchdown passes, but the Panthers will be tested this week against Bozeman, which has Class AA’s leading passer in Van Shockley (1,287 yards).
The Hawks are also looking to bounce back from a 23-16 loss to Gallatin last week. Wesley Ehret, a Montana commitment, leads the way for the Belgrade offense with 19 receptions for 283 yards and one touchdown. He also has a kickoff return for a touchdown.
Great Falls CMR (2-3, 1-2) at Billings Senior (0-5, 0-3) Friday, 7 p.m.
The Rustlers have dropped their past two games by a combined score of 74-7. When CMR was winning games, which it did against Belgrade and Capital, Donavin Scribner rushed for a combined 210 yards. Over the past two weeks, the running back has had 17 carries for 48 yards. Quarterback Severen Cellan leads a Senior offense with 156 total yards per game (21 rushing). The Broncs are averaging 14.4 points per game. CMR is scoring 14.6.
For tips, email: chris.peterson@406mtsports.com or text/call: 406-475-4292.
You must be logged in to react.
Click any reaction to login.
Love
0
Funny
0
Wow
0
Sad
0
Angry
0
Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter
Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Chris_Peterson
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today