While each side is hesitant to call it a rivalry, Glacier and Great Falls C.M. Russell have built a mutual contention on the gridiron over the last few years.

The two teams have met seven times in the last five years, seeing each other more than any other program, despite 225 miles and the Continental Divide separating the high schools.

The contention has only built from the other side as the Wolfpack has gone on to win the last four meetings, all in the last two season, including ending the Rustlers season 56-19 in the state championship game last season and 52-7 in the semifinals in 2013. Glacier is 6-1 against CMR over the last five seasons, having only beaten Missoula Big Sky as many times during that stretch.

This season, the two programs enter tonight’s game at Memorial Stadium at 4-2 this season, each looking to leap into the top four in Class AA and the driver’s seat for a home playoff game. As with the last seven meetings, this weekend’s game will likely have a bigger significance later in the season.

“I don’t know if you can call it a rivalry, but those kind of things develop because you have two good teams that end up playing each other, either more often than usual or deep into the playoffs,” Wolfpack coach Grady Bennett said.

“Whether it’s a rivalry or not isn’t the point. It’s two good football teams. Right now, midseason, both at 4-2, it’s set up to be a really important game. It’s going to be a good football game.”

While built differently over the years, the two programs are very similar this season, each relying on a workhorse running back but able to mix it up with athletes on the perimeter.

CMR is led by defending Montana Gatorade player of the year Andrew Grinde, a senior running back who is second in the state with 133.7 yards per game on the ground and averages more than six yards per carry. Since an opening loss to Flathead, the Rustlers have also turned to junior quarterback Lane Jensen, who has helped the team spread the ball to its versatile receiving corps, led by Karl Tucker III, who is averaging more than 20 yards per catch.

“We know that they want to establish the run first,” Bennett said.

“They want to give it to Grinde as many times (as they can). The good thing for them is they have so many more weapons.

“(Their quarterback Lane Jensen) has one of the stronger arms that I’ve seen. It really comes out when he throws it.

“If Grinde has it rolling, he’ll touch it 35 times. If it’s not, they can spread it around and still get him in the mix. They’re really tough to defend. They’re one of those teams that if they get it going offensively, they’re tough to stop.”

Similarly, Glacier runs its offense through senior running back Thomas Trefney, who carried the ball 35 times for 180 yards last week in a win over Missoula Sentinel and leads the state in rushing yards and touchdowns, averaging nearly 140 yards per game. The rest of the offense is also starting to click, with senior quarterback Leif Ericksen tossing for 332 yards last week and receivers Scout Willcut and Caleb Jones each hauling in more than 100 yards in catches.

“I feel like we’ve finally found our rhythm a little bit,” Bennett said.

“In those first few games we were searching for an identity.

“We knew we were going to give it to Tref quite a bit but that balance off that wasn’t quite established yet. Now we’re starting to figure that out.”

Leif is getting comfortable with his receivers and knowing where to go matchup-wise. We’ve got some receivers making big plays and starting to gain confidence. It’s all starting to come together for us.

The Rustlers are coming off a 23-16 loss to Helena Capital (4-2), facing a tough Bruins defense that held Grinde to just 86 yards on 18 carries and forced Jensen into four interceptions. The loss dropped CMR back into a mix with Bruins, Glacier and Flathead at 4-2 for fourth place in Class AA. With the top seven teams bunched up within two games of first place, a win this week could decide home playoff seeding.

“I like where we’re at, I like what our guys are doing,” Bennett said.

“In week 7, this is kind of where you want your team to be. We know (tonight’s) going to be a very good football game and we’re going to have to play very, very well to win there.”