Glacier turns focus to Rustlers
The Daily Inter Lake
Glacier football is focusing on physicality after getting pushed around in an opening week 37-21 loss to Billings Senior last Friday in Columbia Falls.
The Wolfpack was exposed on the offensive and defensive lines in the first half, falling behind 31-0 before it was able to find a rhythm in the run game and narrow the final score.
“It started with being more physical in our mindset (this week in practice),” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said.
“That’s one of our goals all the time, especially in the run game. We felt like Senior really set the tempo up front with their line. Our line is inexperienced, so I feel like that first game was an eye-opener for them. All week long, (we’ve focused on) being really physical in the run game.
“We play a team (CMR) that is very physical in both fronts. Football is always won on the fronts. That’s where the game is played. This team especially is a great challenge because they’re very physical. We’re going to have to be better in both areas physically.”
Glacier settled on running its offense through running back Drew Turner in the second half last week, steadying its attack as the senior accounted for more than 200 yards on the ground.
While it warmed up to clearing lanes in the run game, the Wolfpack’s green offensive line may need to improve quickly in its pass protection if it wants to continue to improve this season.
“Just like our young front is learning on how to be more physical together — and they will, I’m very confident they will — it’s the same thing with pass protection,” Bennett said. “Senior did a great job of testing us with tough stunts and blitzes and got after us a little bit. It was bullets flying. We improved even in the second half last week and we’ve worked really hard on it because CMR will also bring a lot of pressure. Better protection will allow (quarterback Brady Peiffer) a chance to settle down and make his reads, if they bring the blitz, find those hot receivers. I think we’ll be OK.”
CMR nearly knocked off Helena High in the opening week, falling short on a late two-point conversion to lose 28-27. CMR piled up 350 yards in the game, but like Glacier, struggled with inexperience, unable to pick up a first down until late in the second quarter.
Rustlers quarterback Garrison Rothwell provided most of the offense, as he ran 23 times for two touchdowns and threw for two more, picking up 239 yards passing despite only completing 12 of 25 passes with two interceptions. It was his conversion run that was controversially called short at the goal line.
“That physical play on both fronts is where it’s going to start,” Bennett said. “They’re just a real patient team. They play field position really well. So special teams (will be important). That’s an area that both teams focused on this week and could be a big factor in the game.”
Bennett said the most important part of the week will be continuing to get better across the board.
“Teams make a big stride between Week 1 and Week 2, normally,” Bennett said. “We really wanted to see great improvement every single day this week. Really make this week a huge growth week and then see the results on Friday night. Whether it’s alignment, assignment, finishing plays, across the board we want to see great improvement from the first week.”
The game is scheduled to kick at 7 p.m. tonight at Satterthwaite Field in Columbia Falls. This is the last week the Wolfpack is expected to play its home games away from Legends Stadium, with the turf install on the Kalispell field nearing completion.