With the defense turning in a masterful performance and the ground game running wild, No. 4 Glacier blew away Missoula Sentinel 51-14 on Friday at Legends Stadium.

The Wolfpack (5-2) defense was stifling, holding Sentinel (2-5) to just five rushing yards in the game, a product of five sacks that took 48 yards off the ledger. Even more, Glacier held the Spartans to just five first downs.

“They just continue to play so well,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said. “They’re well coached, they play hard, they play physical, they play nasty. It’s just outstanding to watch.”

Glacier also got another two interceptions, with linebacker Kellyn Faraone taking one back 38 yards for a touchdown, bringing its total over the last four games to 15. Senior cornerback Reid Siderius picked off his state-high seventh interception and just missed on another.

“With the fact that (the defensive line) can stop the run and put so much pressure on the quarterback, it’s just a dream for your back seven,” Bennett said.

“Those guys can sit in coverage and just trust that they’re gonna get pressure, force the quarterback to hurry and throw it up a little bit for them. And I love how our guys are going after the football. I just love how we’re ball hawking.”

The Wolfpack slashed through Sentinel on offense, racking up 303 yards on the ground led by senior back Aaron Mitchell, who became Glacier’s all-time leading rusher with a 103-yard performance.

“We practiced all week on a couple new runs,” Mitchell said. “I’ve got to give a lot of credit to the linemen and the receivers who helped me.”

Four Wolfpack runners finished for at least 50 yards, including 62 from Noah Jones and 58 from Logan Jones. Glacier quarterback Taylor Hulslander ran for 70 yards and a touchdown.

“Our backs are running hard, they’re seeing things really well, and our line is blocking great,” Bennett said. “That’s exciting. If we can run the football, that makes us pretty tough to stop.”

Hulslander went 15 for 25 with 169 yards in the air and three touchdowns. Senior receiver Kyle Griffith caught seven passes for 82 yards with two touchdowns to lead the ’Pack.

Though the ground game was almost non-existent for the Spartans, quarterback Tres Cunningham was able to throw for 227 yards. Cunningham connected on a couple of deep balls to Jake Messerly, including an 80-yarder just before halftime that got Sentinel on the board. Messerly finished with four catches for 144 yards.

“Our defense is playing lights out and they’re making our offense better in practice,” Bennett said. “The good thing is we played great, but we’re excited to get back to work Monday.”

Glacier heads back on the road this week, playing at Great Falls (1-6). The Bison lost at Missoula Hellgate 6-0 on Friday.

Sentinel    0    7    0    7    —    14

Glacier    13    10    21    7    —    51

First quarter

GLA - Kyle Griffith 9 pass from Taylor Hulslander (Griffith kick), 7:21

GLA - Hulslander 9 run (kick failed), 1:42

Second quarter

GLA - Griffith 37 FG, 9:27

GLA - Griffith 5 pass from Hulslander (Griffith kick), 3:55

SEN - Jake Messerly 80 pass from Tres Cunningham (Gabe Pepperinger kick), 0:31

Third quarter

GLA - Noah James 6 run (Griffith kick), 9:50

GLA - Kellyn Faraone 38 interception return (Griffith kick), 8:11

GLA - James 5 pass from Hulslander (Griffith kick), 6:09

Fourth quarter

GLA - Todd Ogden 11 run (Griffith kick), 8:46

SEN - Justin Smith 6 pass from Cunningham (Pepperinger kick), 7:02

   ———

    Sentinel    Glacier

First downs    5    22

Total yards    232    472

Rushes-yards    25-5    48-303

Passing yards    227    169

Comp-Att-Int    12-21-2    15-26-1

Penalties-yards    5-35    6-50

Fumbles-lost    2-2    3-2

—————

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Sentinel: Tres Cunningham 8-(-40), Tanner Rheinschmidt 9-34, Jadyn Wilson 2-2, Logan Ganieany 3-7, Jake Messerly 2-0. Glacier: Taylor Hulslander 9-70, Brady McChesney 1-0, Todd Ogden 2-10, Kyle Griffith 1-0, Aaron Mitchell 14-103, Noah James 14-62, Logan Jones 7-58.

PASSING - Sentinel: Tres Cunningham 12-17-227-2, Kade Paffhausen 0-4-0-0. Glacier: Taylor Hulslander 15-25-169-1, Kyle Griffith 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING - Sentinel: Jake Messerly 4-144, Justin Smith 3-21, Ty Martin 2-24, Tyler Richtmyer 2-3, Sean Laughnan 1-35. Glacier: Kyle Griffith 7-82, Aaron Mitchell 1-6, Noah James 1-5, Nic Cramer 4-53, Kelan Reed 1-10, Evan Epperly 1-13.