Nov. 22—The Wolfpack have finally reached the top of the mountain.
After falling in the previous two state title games, touchdown runs from Jackson Presley and Asher Knopik pushed Glacier to a 16-3 victory over Billings West in the 2025 Class AA State Championship Game Friday at Legends Stadium.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"It feels amazing," Ethan Kastelitz said. "This team has worked so hard for so long, we are so happy that we can finally get it done."
The win gives Glacier its second state football championship; The Wolfpack previously won in 2014 and have reached the final in six of the past 13 seasons.
"We have been in half of the state championships in the past 13 years, I am just so proud and thankful for my coaches, the program and the kids who just keep showing up and working so hard and buying into our vision," Wolfpack coach Grady Bennett said.
As much as the offense has been talked about with this Glacier team, the defense shined its brightest.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKastelitz intercepted CJ Johnson and Glacier got in the backfield for three sacks and six more tackles for loss.
"We just really trust in our players, and we laid it all on the line," Kastelitz said. "I just had to make a play for my team."
Senior captain Will Astle led the charge with eight tackles.
Glacier's defense allowed just 10 points to opponents during the playoffs, and the Wolfpack outscored foes 493-73 for the season.
"The way those kids played defense all year long," Bennett said, noting that this defense is statistically the best in school history. "Tonight solidified it, the numbers will show it, but collectively the team speed ... that's the fastest defense we have ever put on the field."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMichigan commit and Golden Bears tight end Matt Ludwig was held to three catches for 31 yards and five carries for 13 yards.
Johnson was 14 of 23 passing for 126 yards and the interception to Kastelitz.
Presley had nine rushes for no gain and the touchdown. He was 11-for-20 throwing the ball for 158 yards and an interception — just his second of the season.
Knopik went over 100 yards rushing for the 10th time this season, finishing with 123, including a 4-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.
Billings West took an early lead as Payton Cicero broke off a 48-yard run on the first play from scrimmage, but Glacier's defense held on to force a 22-yard field goal from Jaxon King that put the Golden Bears up 3-0.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGlacier nearly responded with a quick touchdown, but Presley's pass slipped through the hands of Dylan Banzet. The junior recovered to lead the Wolfpack with five grabs for 81 yards.
"If you screw up a play, it's next play mentality and we have attacked adversity all year. So I just knew that I had to get my brothers back," Banzet said.
Glacier worked its way down to the Billings West 3-yard line on its second drive, but stalled and tied the game at 3 on a Kyle Smith 20-yard kick.
Kastelitz's interception set the Wolfpack up at Billings West's 20 in the second quarter, but two plays late Presley was picked on a tipped pass over the middle.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPresley had one more chance to throw the ball to the end zone on Glacier's next possession before the half, but was sacked. The Golden Bears got to Presley three times.
Out of the half the Wolfpack took control, driving down the field and converting a fourth-and-5 down to the 10. Two plays later, Presley took the snap and darted to the end zone to give Glacier a 10-3 advantage.
"The noise was going, but all we had to do was be us," Presley said. "We were able to lock in for that moment a convert that and just continue on with our momentum through the end of the game."
After a Golden Bears punt, the Wolfpack again drove down the field and broke in, this time it was Knopik on a 4-yard direct snap. A missed PAT left the score 16-3.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBillings West worked its way methodically downfield on the next drive and took over nine minutes off the clock before the Wolfpack defense stood strong. A fourth-and-goal pass fell incomplete and Glacier took over on downs with three minutes remaining.
Knopik rushed for a pair of first downs and the Wolfpack took to the field in celebrations as the clock ran out.
"Taking that knee, it was so special, and I was able to look up and say, 'Thank you Jesus,' " Presley said. "It's so incredible and I am just so thankful to be apart of this team."
Billings West 3 0 0 0 — 3
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGlacier 3 0 13 0 — 16
BW — Jaxon King 22 FG kick, 9:49 1Q
G — Kyle Smith 20 FG kick, :18 1Q
G — Jackson Presley 7 run (Smith kick), 7:00 3Q
G — Asher Knopik 4 run (kick failed), :26 3Q
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Billings West (25-100) — Payton Cicero 9-68, Tyreke Jones 6-17, Matt Ludwig 5-13, Braedyn Foster 1-11, CJ Johnson 4- minus 9. Glacier (40-133) — Asher Knopik 26-123, Trey Ramey 4-10, Jackson Presley 9-0, Team 1-0.
PASSING: Billings West — CJ Johnson 14-23-1 for 126 yards, Elias Bonner 0-1-0 for 0. Glacier — Jackson Presley 11-20-1 for 158.
RECEIVING: Billings West — Elias Bonner 5-60, Matt Ludwig 3-31, Westdon Kelley 3-14, Walker Olson 1-10, Isaac Pringle 1-6, Braedyn Foster 1-5. Glacier — Dylan Banzet 5-81, Cooper Pelc 3-28, Austin Gragg 1-32, Hunter Daniels 1-13, Jack Robinson 1-4.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGlacier celebrates with its Class AA State Championship trophy after a 16-3 win over Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Nov. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)'
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Asher Knopik (11) and Jackson Presley (12) splash head coach Grady Bennett with a Gatorade cooler after a 16-3 win over Billings West in the Class AA State Championship at Legends Stadium on Friday, Nov. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier head coach Grady Bennett celebrates with Asher Knopik (11) and Jackson Presley (12) after they splashed him with a cooler of Gatorade after a 16-3 win over Billings West in the Class AA State Championship at Legends Stadium on Friday, Nov. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)'
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Glacier wide receiver Cooper Pelc (1) picks up yardage after a reception in the third quarter against Billings West in the Class AA State Championship at Legends Stadium on Friday, Nov. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier wide receiver Dylan Banzet (40) catches a pass downfield in the second quarter against Billings West in the Class AA State Championship at Legends Stadium on Friday, Nov. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)'
Casey Kreider
Glacier quarterback Jackson Presley (12) scores a touchdown on a 7-yard run in the third quarter against Billings West in the Class AA State Championship at Legends Stadium on Friday, Nov. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)'
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Glacier running back Asher Knopik (11) looks for running room in the first quarter against Billings West in the Class AA State Championship at Legends Stadium on Friday, Nov. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier defensive back Ethan Kastelitz (2) returns an interception in the second quarter against Billings West in the Class AA State Championship at Legends Stadium on Friday, Nov. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)'
Casey Kreider
Glacier head coach Grady Bennett congratulates running back Asher Knopik (11) after Knopik scored a touchdown in the third quarter against Billings West in the Class AA State Championship at Legends Stadium on Friday, Nov. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)'
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Glacier wide receiver Dylan Banzet (40) catches a pass downfield in the third quarter against Billings West in the Class AA State Championship at Legends Stadium on Friday, Nov. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)'
Casey Kreider
Glacier celebrates with its Class AA State Championship trophy after a 16-3 win over Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Nov. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)'
Casey Kreider
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