Prep football: Flathead, Glacier ready to battle in crosstown

Oct. 14—The Glacier Wolfpack and Flathead Braves are coming off their best football games in a while, so the head coaches are looking forward to Friday at Legends Stadium.

The 16th Crosstown battle kicks off at 7 p.m., and while last year's game was not close, Glacier coach Grady Bennett expects a battle from Flathead, which lost 34-7 last week at Western AA front-runner Helena High.

"I feel they've gotten better," Bennett said of the Braves. "Obviously there's been a couple lopsided scores, but watching them on film I can see they're improving.

"They play hard and play with a lot of emotion, and I think Coach Aland has them on the right track. When you hustle and play hard, good things happen. I've seen progress every single week on film."

Flathead is 1-6 on the season and 0-5 in league games. First-year coach Caleb Aland came back from Helena encouraged.

For starters, quarterback Jackson Walker ran for 114 yards — take away 35 yards in sacks and he's up to 149 — and threw for another 146.

"I feel like we competed really well," Aland said. "We came out on the first drive and scored. I don't think Flathead has done that for a long time.

"Our whole focus this week is finishing drives on offense, and on defense. We'd have them in a predicament, third and long, and they'd get the first down. We turned the ball over four times, two of those in the red zone, and one of them was on the 5-yard line."

Jaden Williams and Gabe Sims, both juniors, were Walker's main targets in Helena. Williams had nine catches for 80 yards and scored Flathead's lone TD.

"The game was 34-7 with five minutes left and we didn't stop," Aland said. "I was really proud of the guys and it gives me a lot of confidence going into this weekend."

Glacier's offensive numbers are gaudier, moreso after a 55-point outburst against Butte.

"We just really want to keep building on the momentum we seized in that second half," said Bennett, whose club put 28 points in the third quarter. "That feeling of winning again, after a game. When you lose three straight in the manner we did, it feels bad. It's taxing emotionally and physically."

Gage Sliter triggers Class AA's most prolific passing offense, and has thrown for 23 touchdowns. Cohen Kastelitz has become a go-to receiver but the Wolfpack (4-3 overall, 2-3 in league) is loaded on the edge.

Glacier is also benefiting from the improved health of safety-running back Kash Goicoechea and defensive end Isaac Keim, and others.

Kobe Dorcheus has the fifth-most rushing yards in the Western AA, and only Capital's Tom Carter has more rushing TDs than his eight.

"They have some really good players," Aland said. "Obviously, No. 7 (Sliter). I feel like we've played some really good quarterbacks this year, and he's another one."

Glacier holds an 11-4 edge in this series.

"There's always fun hype when it comes to rivalries, but you can over-hype them," Aland said. "If we can go out and execute I feel good about Friday night."

Bennett, a 1984 Flathead High graduate, wishes he'd had one of those games in high school.

"I always say, I grew up here, played and coached here and we never had Crosstown," he said. "I'm just so glad our kids get to experience Crosstown. High school sports. It's what it's all about."

Whitefish at Columbia Falls

The marquee battles continue in the quarterback-rich Western A, with Columbia Falls junior Cody Schweikert squaring off with Whitefish senior Fynn Ridgeway.

The visitor has won the last two matchups: Whitefish won 21-7 on the road in 2020 and Columbia Falls won in Whitefish 35-19 last season.

For the second straight year, both are postseason-bound. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.