Pack look to wrap up title

Nov. 21—Glacier hopes that the third time will be the charm.

The Wolfpack are back in the AA State Championship game for the third consecutive season. This time they will face Billings West inside the friendly confines of Legends Stadium.

On the line is Glacier's second title — the first coming back in 2014 over CMR in the last state championship game to make its way to Kalispell — while Billings West looks for championship No. 5 and its first since defeating Flathead 20-14 in 2018.

Glacier coach Grady Bennett urges fans to get to Legends Stadium early for the 7 p.m. kick as he is expecting a standing room only crowd.

"Kind of like 2014, we had a good turnout for our quarterfinal and for our semifinal, but that state championship game was packed," Bennett said. "I know the crowd is going to come out and support us, it's going to be great."

Bennett added that this is a rare opportunity for Kalispell to host the state championship game. Before that 2014 game, 1980 was the last time that Kalispell — then with just Flathead High School — hosted and back to the 1950's prior.

The Wolfpack enter Friday's game off a shutout performance 35-0 over Gallatin in the semifinals. The Golden Bears held off Missoula Big Sky 20-17 for their spot in the chipper.

"It was a great week of practice, the weather really helped out, it was nice, in the mid-50's all week," Golden Bears coach Rob Stanton said. "It was fun, the kids worked hard and the kids were focused."

Glacier defeated Billings West back in Week 1 14-10 on the road. Despite nearly a whole season in between that game and Friday, Bennett expects the Golden Bears to run out a similar gameplan playing to their strengths.

"They are pretty confident on what they do on both sides of the ball," Bennett said. "So yes there will be gameplan stuff, but I don't expect either team to change too much."

To get the jump on Billings West, the Wolfpack need to slow down the state's top recruit in Matt Ludwig. The Michigan commit has 17 touchdowns on the season — 10 receiving and seven rushing — paired with a team high 64.1 yards receiving per game.

"There's just not many kids like him," Bennett said. "He is the true definition of a Division I athlete, bigger, faster, stronger than all of his peers and that is why he is going to Michigan. He is a game-wrecker, and he is a gamechanger."

Glacier counters offensively with, among others, Asher Knopik in the backfield. The senior running back leads Class AA with 1,385 yards and has gone over 80 yards in all 11 games this season.

Of course, the quarterback battle may decide the game.

Billings West's CJ Johnson has gone for 2,199 yards through the air with 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as a senior. The Wolfpack, who nabbed four picks off Gallatin's Samuel Litzen last week, have 21 interceptions and are plus-22 in turnover ratio. The Golden Bears sit at plus-3.

Glacier's Jackson Presley is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the state. The Sacramento State commit completed 67.4% of his passes in 11 games and has 2,057 yards. He has 27 touchdowns to just one interception. If Presley throws for 221 yards Friday, he will cross the 8,000-yard mark for his Glacier career.

"Jackson is a heck of a quarterback," Stanton said. "If you give him time to throw, he will pick you a part and if you pressure him, he will find the right guy."

Billings West held Presley to 7 of 22 passing for 88 yards in the first meeting.

The Golden Bears began their journey to Kalispell Thursday, stopping in Butte for practice before continuing to Missoula. They will finish the journey on Friday, stopping in Polson for a walkthrough.