Glacier can't keep pace at Big Sky

The Daily Inter Lake

MISSOULA — Glacier nearly rallied from a three-touchdown deficit but fell short at Missoula Big Sky, falling 43-41 in a Class AA football game on Friday at Missoula County Stadium and taking a hit to its playoff hopes.

Glacier (3-5) held the lead early in the second quarter but was plagued by turnovers late in the first half. The Wolfpack turned the ball over on three straight possessions and watched its lead disappear.

Big Sky quarterback Levi Janacaro, a frontrunner for player of the year, ran for two touchdowns, including a 94-yard scamper, and passed for another to take advantage of the miscues, giving the Eagles a 27-14 lead at half. The Eagles pressed down the field for another score at the start of the third quarter to stretch their lead to 35-14.

Glacier kicked into high gear after that, with senior back Drew Turner breaking loose for a 59-yard touchdown run two plays later. After holding Big Sky to a three-and-out, Glacier quarterback Evan Todd hit Drew Deck on a flea flicker for a 36-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 35-28.

Turner nearly erased the deficit on the next drive, scoring from a yard out, but the point after kick was blocked to hold the Big Sky lead at 35-34.

Big Sky drove the length of the field on its next drive, capped by a Janacaro touchdown from 36 yards out. A two-point conversion stretched the Eagles lead to nine points.

Turner added his fifth touchdown of the night with 2:12 to play, but Glacier couldn’t recover the ensuing onside kick attempt and Big Sky (7-2) ran out the clock.

Turner rushed for a school-record 276 yards on 28 carries for the Wolfpack, tying the record for most touchdowns.

Janacaro finished with 234 yards rushing on 36 carries and had four rushing touchdowns and one passing for Big Sky.

The loss delivers a blow to the Wolfpack’s playoff hopes, though it doesn’t completely end them. Glacier now needs to win next Friday night at home on Senior Night against Missoula Hellgate (0-9) and hope for a loss from either Missoula Sentinel (4-4) or Bozeman (4-5).

Sentinel hosts Helena Capital (6-3) and Bozeman hosts Billings Skyview (3-6).

Glacier 14 0 14 13 — 41

Big Sky 7 20 8 8 — 43

MBS - Levi Janacaro 5 run (Rylan Wilcox kick)

KG - Drew Turner 1 run (Carter Purdy kick)

KG - Turner 11 run (Purdy kick)

MBS - Janacaro 1 run (kick failed)

MBS - Janacaro 94 run (pass failed)

MBS - David Gibson 16 pass from Janacaro (Janacaro run)

MBS - Kadin Lahti 5 run (Janacaro run)

KG - Turner 59 run (Purdy kick)

KG - Drew Deck 36 pass from Evan Todd (Purdy kick)

KG - Turner 1 run (kick blocked)

MBS - Janacaro 36 run (Janacaro run)

KG - Turner 6 run (Purdy kick)