The first meeting was a defensive showcase. This time, Glacier and Bozeman will be playing for much higher stakes, in much worse weather. Don’t expect anything different.

The game starts at 7 tonight at Legends Stadium.

“You never know, every game is so different,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said.

“This one tends to be pretty certain that it’s going to be a defensive slugfest. Not only because there are two very, very good defenses, but also because of the weather. That adds to it.”

With temperatures below freezing and heavy snow piling up, the state’s top two defenses are likely to dominate a contest that ended in a 7-3 victory for the Wolfpack in Week 5.

Since then, Glacier hasn’t lost, rallying for six straight wins and building off a five interception performance against the Hawks that proved just how tenacious its defense could be.

“That game for us, we were still kind of reeling a little bit, trying to figure out who we were,” Bennett said. “We were kind of questioning ourselves. They came in No. 1 ranked and undefeated. That game to us was the proof to us, we are legitimate contenders.

“That game showed us how legitimate our defense was ... that our defense is special. It’s going to give us a chance to win every single football game this year.”

Bozeman returns quarterback Will Weyer and running back Hunter Gappmayer, who teamed up to lead the Hawks’ comeback win over Helena High last weekend. The two struggled in the first meeting but have had a lot of time to learn from their mistakes.

“They’re talented,” Bennett said. “Bozeman’s as athletically gifted as any team in the state, both sides of the ball.”

Glacier’s offense has struggled in the past few weeks, needing two defensive touchdowns to beat Capital last week.

“We just have to play with confidence,” Bennett said. “We’ve been a little tight and worried, hoping things happen rather than going to compete and making things happen.”

“If we can execute at a high level, we can move the ball and put some points on the board. As good as our defense is, you hope that if you can just get a couple, it might be enough to win a game like that.”

If tonight’s game is anything like the first matchup, a few scores could mean a victory for the Pack, which is playing in the state semifinals for a second straight season.

“(Our players have) committed, they’ve worked hard, they’ve put in the time to give themselves an opportunity,” Bennett said. “Now it’s all set for them. It’s just time to go get it. You work so hard and give yourself the opportunity. Now it’s time to go take hold of it.”