Missoula Big Sky went 2-6 last football season, including a pair of lopsided losses to Glacier, and graduated dual-threat quarterback Colter Janacaro to the Montana Grizzlies.

The Eagles still soared last week, bombing Billings Skyview 42-7 to improve to 1-1. So count Wolfpack Grady Bennett is cautious as his team gathers to play Big Sky Friday at Legends Stadium.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m., the same time Flathead kicks off at Helena Capital in Vigilante Stadium.

Missoula Big Sky at Glacier

“One of the things that’s so important to recognize, especially at the high school level, is that every Friday night is a new game,” Bennett said. “It’s human nature to compare scores but shoot, you never know. Every Friday night you can be really fooled by what a team does.”

Glacier is 2-0 after a 33-21 win at Great Falls C.M. Russell in which Jake Rendina ran back to the top of the Class AA rushing ranks. A week after getting 14 carries in a 52-0 win over Belgrade, he ran for 208 yards and two touchdowns on 31 attempts. Rendina now has 282 yards and five TDs on the season.

“I think the first half (at CMR) was a similar game plan; a good mix and good balance,” Bennett said. “We were up 26-0 so we leaned on the run a little more to try to run that clock. But I loved our mix again in the first half.”

Gage Sliter is completing 74 percent of his passes for the Pack, which is eye-catching. Connor Sullivan has averaged 17.3 yards a catch.

Meanwhile the defense has been stellar, a couple late scores by CMR notwithstanding. Rendina is a force at linebacker, but can concentrate more on toting the rock because of senior Royce Conklin.

“He’s really making Jake not have to play as much linebacker,” Bennett said of Conklin. “And he’s having a tremendous season. He’s a difference maker for us.

“And we continue to have younger kids step up and play really well.”

Examples: Justin Timlick had two sacks against CMR, and fellow sophomore Aiden Krause added one to bring his season total to two.

Big Sky has Caleb Hren throwing for three touchdowns (two to Louis Sanders, a top target a year ago) and Kolbe Jensen and Cole Sandberg capable of big plays at running back.

“Louis Sanders might be the best receiver in the state,” Bennett said. “They try to give him as many touches as possible. They have talent and they’re going to battle you, and you’d better be ready for a physical, four quarters of football.”

Flathead at Helena Capital

Coming off a tough home loss to Gallatin, things don’t get much easier for the 0-2 Braves with the 1-1 Bruins.

Capital began its season with a 14-12 win over Bozeman, then fell 28-0 at Billings West.

“What I saw on film was a pretty typical Capital High team,” Flathead coach Alex Cummings said. “A big, physical team. That Billings game it was hard to tell; it was really a 7-0 game for most of the game. I think they’re like us in that they definitely have some things they need to clean up this week.”

Hudson Grovom and Joey Michelotti split time at QB for the Bruins, who run a balanced attack with Dylan Graham (5.1 yards a carry) and Luke Sullivan at running back. Cummings, based on last week’s film, feels Michelotti will start tonight.

Passes go to a fleet of Bruin receivers that includes Eric Cockhill, Nicholas Michelotti and Tom Carter.

Junior quarterback Jackson Walker makes plays for Flathead when he has space, but that was hard to find last week. Shoring up the offensive and defensive lines will be a key for the Braves.

Flathead senior Chase Youso continues to lead the Western AA in tackles with 29; in second is Capital’s Joey Lauerman with 24. Gabe Lake has another 20 stops for the Braves.

“Our linebackers are doing a good job,” Cummings said. “I think some of our young D-linemen are getting there. Over these two weeks there’s a lot of really good film for them to work off of.”

Flathead is healthier than it was for Gallatin.

“I’m happy to get Nate Prieto (concussion) back at corner. I’m happy to get Kaden Henshaw back at running back,” Cummings said. “That’s a huge gain for us.”