Back in the state football semifinals for the third straight season, Glacier is looking to advance farther in the playoffs than it ever has as it hosts Great Falls C.M. Russell tonight at 7 at Legends Stadium.

As with Butte last week, Glacier (10-1) beat the Rustlers (7-4) earlier this season, topping them 20-14 in Great Falls in Week 2. Unlike Butte, CMR has totally revamped its program in the time since, and is playing far different than it did in the first meeting.

The Rustlers started the season with four straight losses, but have been one of the hottest teams in the state, winning their last seven games, including a 55-28 blowout of Helena Capital last week in the first round of the playoffs.

“They’re obviously the most improved team in AA,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said.

“Many teams would’ve cashed it in, or the coaching staff would’ve started over and played younger kids. CMR didn’t do that. They’ve gotten on a roll.”

Part of that change has been a shift in offensive style, playing more out of the shotgun and wing sets, and adapting to what they’ve done best this season.

“(CMR coach Jack Johnson) really makes good adjustments and tweaks his offensive schemes to fit the personnel that he has,” Bennett said. “He’s really done that this year offensively.

“Based on what they did in the first game, they’re so much different, they’re so much better. When we played Butte (last week), it was getting ready for the same thing (we saw in the first game), the same type of gameplan. This time we had to throw most of that out and start over totally, like you’re preparing for a brand new opponent.”

The Rustlers, fifth in the state in total offense, are led by senior quarterback Jayse McLean, a dual threat out of the backfield. A two-year starter, McLean has accounted for 30 touchdowns this season and has grown as a player.

“He is just markedly improved from the start of the year,” Bennett said.

“He runs the ball well but he’s really improved as a thrower with his decision making. He’s going to be tough to stop.”

CMR also seems to have found a solid running back in sophomore Andrew Grinde. Seeing time in just nine games, he has run for more than 124 yards a contest and averages nearly nine yards a carry.

“He’s going to be good,” Bennett said.

“He’s only a sophomore but he’s tough. It’s scary when CMR gets a really good back like that as a soph. Then you know you have two more years to deal with him. He’s gotten a lot better and he’s gotten more comfortable and confident too.”

For as much as CMR improved from its last contest, Glacier has gotten far better since the season’s second week. With most of its offense in just its second career start, the Wolfpack was inconsistent in the first contest.

Glacier hit its offensive stride as the season wore on. During its eight-game win streak, the Wolfpack has averaged 50 points per game.

“We watched that game (Week 2 at CMR) all week and it’s like, ‘Wow,’” Bennett said.

“We are so much better than that team that went out there in the second week. These are two good football teams that have gotten a lot better and come a long ways.”

If Glacier is to advance to next week’s state championship game, it will have to do so with out some of its top offensive weapons.

Starting running back Noah James and tight end Kevin Malloy each left last week’s game with leg injuries and will miss this week. Sophomore back Thomas Trefney will fill in the role in the backfield, splitting carries with last week’s hero, Logan Jones.

“Guys across the board are going to have to step up and play bigger and better to make up for losing guys like Noah and Kevin,” Bennett said.

“This crew has done it all year. Really risen up in the face of adversity. Done what they need to do to keep winning and keep improving. We just challenged them with the same this week.”

The winner of this game will play the winner of Billings Skyview at Bozeman. Bozeman, the state’s top seed, would host the title game with a win. Skyview would travel.