The 17th Crosstown football game is unique in that it has a Thursday night kickoff instead of Friday.

It also sets Flathead’s unique offense against a Glacier team with a unique set of skill players.

The 5-1 Wolfpack will be favored over the 1-5 Braves — Glacier leads the series 12-4 and has won the last four matchups — but this is Crosstown, and Flathead’s spread option has posed problems for opponents.

“It’s something you don’t see all the time, you don’t see that triple option that they run,” Wolfpack coach Grady Bennett said. “They’re getting better at it and it’s going to be a concern. Our defense is going to have to align and do their assignment correctly to stop it.”

That’s the idea behind it, Flathead coach Caleb Aland said.

“I’m a spread guy through and through and we’ve kind of adapted to running the ball out of the spread,” he said. “It’s something Coach (Conor) Fuller and I love doing.

“Against your standard offense you make a mistake defensively, luck out and still make the play. Against the triple option, especially a team that runs it well, you have to be right. We’re not a downhill team, although I’d like to be. Our guys are doing a really good job with it.”

Brett Pesola has taken most of the snaps at quarterback for Flathead, while Jaden Williams — also the Braves’ top tackler — is the leading rusher.

On the outside Brody Thornsberry, whom Bennett called one of the top all-around athletes in the state, is averaging 17.8 yards a catch, with three touchdowns.

Nolan Campbell, Stephen Riley, Braden Capser and Tanner Heichel all have over 30 tackles on defense, which had been stingy in terms of yardage allowed. A 47-14 loss at Helena indicated a step backward for Aland, but he noted the Braves have had a solid week of practice, including one at 5:30 a.m.

“One of the best practices we have had,” Aland said. “No planes flying over, no cars driving by. It was silent except for the sound of pads hitting. Fun week so far.”

Bennett hopes his team doesn’t backslide after a convincing, 56-0 win over Helena Capital last week. It’s telling that the Pack didn’t need a big game out of receiver Cohen Kastelitz to bully the Bruins: Jackson Presley threw to nine different receivers, and Kobe Dorcheus — he’s second in the Western AA in rushing — had just seven carries.

Bennett singled out Ben Winters, who added some big plays on defense to his offensive line duties, and tight end Kole Johnson.

“Kole is just so improved at safety and tight end,” he said. “He’s playing a different position this year and man, just doing a great job.

“And if we can get Ben going on defense, whoa. Wow, does that help our cause.”

Linebackers Kaleb Shine and Jaden Dannic are Glacier’s top tacklers. The Pack appears to be rolling.

Aland has been careful not to over-hype this game.

“I told the team it’s a chance to showcase ourselves and showcase our program. Rivalries are fun, and bring a lot of intensity to the game. We don't want to miss out on that but we don’t want to make it bigger than it is.”

“We’re coming off a really big and really amazing win over Helena Capital,” Bennett noted. “The focus is mainly just getting better. I want them to have fun and enjoy it; Crosstown is a blast, and they should enjoy it. But the goal is to try and get better, and take the next step from even last Friday night.”