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The Pack is Back

By Beacon Staff

Most high school football teams need the first few practices to regain their gridiron cadence. Not Glacier.

The most prolific offense in Montana last year is back. The Wolfpack enter the fall campaign with almost every starter on offense returning from last year’s 9-3 playoff team, including an all-state quarterback, all-state wide receiver and honorable-mention running back.

After falling one game shy of playing in the state championship, this season’s team of talented veterans looks poised to carry on the program’s trend of improving every season. And an appearance in the big game certainly seems within reach.

“These guys know what it’s like to play AA football and they know what it’s like to win games and have success,” head coach Grady Bennett said. “It sets them up to take the next step.”

Glacier’s first game is Friday in Billings against Skyview. Flathead is home against Billings Senior and kickoff is 7 p.m. at Legends Stadium.

After winning the first playoff game in program history in 2011, the Wolfpack were shoved out of the semifinals by eventual runner-up Billings West, 45-16. The defeat marked the end of a memorable and record-setting season. With the addition of a new fast-paced, no-huddle offense, Glacier averaged 36 points per game – the most in Class AA – and scored 54 touchdowns while amassing 5,695 all-purpose yards, all record highs for the six-year program.

Quarterback Taylor Hulslander, a senior this year, rewrote every single-season school passing record, surpassing the previous marks set by current Montana Grizzlies quarterback Shay Smithwick-Hann. Hulslander, a 6-foot-1 second-team all-state selection, threw for a state-best 2,804 yards and 26 touchdowns. He completed 61 percent of his passes and only threw 13 interceptions, four of which came in the final game against the Broncs’ fifth-ranked pass defense.

“We have a great team and have a lot of talent,” Hulslander said. “We’ve been playing together for a long time. Hopefully we take the next step.”

Early signs seem to foreshadow another landmark season for Glacier and its quarterback. The return of honorable mention all-state center Chase Eisenzimer is integral, Bennett said. The up-tempo offense that Glacier now runs – similar in design to the University of Oregon’s – tries to perform 10 or more plays in a five-minute span. It can keep defenses scrambling and force breakdowns. But there needs to be a cohesive rhythm, especially between the quarterback and center. Even if the stats show no indication, it took a little time to develop last season, Bennett said. That’s no longer an issue.

“Now we get it. It’s been amazing to watch it go,” Bennett said. “Our tempo in practice has been unbelievable from drill to drill. We are running so many plays so quickly.”

Hulslander has almost every target back from last year’s offense.

Senior Kyle Griffith overtook almost every single-season school record for receivers and broke every kicking record. The first-team all-state wideout and kicker caught 83 passes for 919 yards and nine touchdowns. He also kicked nine field goals, finishing the season with 135 total points.

Senior Aaron Mitchell rushed for 737 yards, including a 197-yard, five-touchdown game against Missoula Big Sky. Mitchell, an honorable mention all-state pick, finished with 13 total TDs.

Last year’s ninth-ranked defense did lose a few notable standouts, including all-state defensive linemen Caleb Harris and Luke Halliburton. But there are returning senior leaders who Bennett believes will pick up the slack. Senior defensive lineman Devin Jeffries had 45 tackles and four sacks, earning all-state honorable mention as a junior. Senior defensive back Rial Gunlickson, also honorable mention, had 98 tackles and four interceptions. Senior defensive back Reid Siderius had 41 tackles and three interceptions last year and was another honorable mention honoree.

Wolfpack quarterback Taylor Hulslander throws to a teammate while warming up before a practice at Glacier High School. Lido Vizzutti | Flathead Beacon

“I think we’re one of those teams that’s right in there with everybody else,” Bennett said. “Hopefully they realize how hard it is to finally get to that last step and win a state championship. It takes so much time, so much effort and things just have to go right and fall into place. They can’t take anything for granted.”

The Flathead Braves return a standout quarterback of their own. Senior Matt Tokarz led the Braves to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2008. Tokarz was the top offensive player in the state during the 10-game regular season, compiling 1,656 passing yards and 911 rushing yards, averaging 256.7 yards per game. Tokarz, who was an all-state honorable mention, had 28 total TDs, including 20 passing.

“We’ll look for some electric plays out of Tokarz,” Flathead head coach Russell McCarvel said. “He obviously adds another dimension.”

In 2011, Flathead earned the last playoff seed with a 4-6 record and lost to West in the opening round.

This year’s starting roster is ripe with opportunities. Both all-state lineman Nick Riley and all-state receiver and punter George Sherwood graduated. Senior receiver Kevin Grosswiler and running back Austin Root are talented returnees who McCarvel expects to help Tokarz power the offense.

Flathead ranked third in total offense last season, averaging 381 yards per game. But the defense ranked last, allowing an average of 404 yards per game.

McCarvel is encouraged by the large number of underclassmen playing football and is anxious to see who emerges to fill the open positions. But experience and depth remain a concern.

“We will have more guys going both ways this year than we’ve had in my five years,” he said. “In AA, it’s always tough. My biggest concern is will we have enough depth to hang with teams, especially up front?”