Copyright Kalispell Inter Lake
It’s win or go home time for the Glacier Wolfpack. Glacier opens its playoff run Friday at Legends Stadium at 6 p.m., welcoming in the Bozeman Hawks in a rematch from Week 2. The Wolfpack cruised to a 62-21 victory in the first meeting, but coach Grady Bennett expects the Hawks to come out with a new game plan. “We got after them the first time so clearly they aren’t going to come in and do the same thing,” Bennett said. “The key for us is to determine the changes that they made.” The Wolfpack had a bye last week after securing the top seed in Western AA. Bozeman dispatched Missoula Hellgate 38-7 in their first-round matchup as the No. 4 seed in the East. “A good stretch to heal up and get healthy,” Bennett said. “We have been healthy, but you still have these pain in the butt, nagging things.” Despite the high stakes, the Wolfpack are in a business-as-usual mindset. “I think all year, this group has been so good at understanding their goals; it really wasn’t us (the coaches),” Bennett said. “It was them setting their sights for where they want to be. We never had to consider things like trap games; every week the hunger was there for the guys. This is just week No. 10 in their journey.” It might be a tall task for the Wolfpack to shut down Bozeman quarterback Van Shockley, Class AA’s leader in passing yards at 2,204. The junior has 20 touchdowns in 10 games. He also has 14 touchdowns on the ground. Glacier held him to 14 of 26 passing and 199 yards the first time they played, though he did add two late scores in the running game. Senior Evan Hughen and junior Walker Roodell are Shockley’s favorite targets. Hughen is averaging 66.5 yards per game, while Roodell is at 64.7. Both have five touchdown grabs. Glacier counters with the backfield pairing of Jackson Presley and Asher Knopik. Knopik tops AA with 1,119 rushing yards in nine games. He has found the end zone 15 times. Presley is fourth in AA in passing yards at 1,754, but his 23 touchdowns top AA. His one interception also leads the state among quarterbacks with more than 50 attempts. Bennett reminds fans to be at Legends Stadium for an earlier kickoff time at 6 p.m. The winner Friday faces the winner of Missoula Sentinel at Gallatin in the semifinals on Nov. 14. The state championship game is set for Nov. 21.
