Crosstown is special, no matter if it is your first time or your 19th.

Both sides of the spectrum face off Thursday as Flathead and Glacier meet at Legends Stadium at 7 p.m. 

Glacier coach Grady Bennett has been on the sidelines for each Crosstown since the school opened its doors in 2007 and watched as other towns featured crosstown battles prior to that. 

“I was jealous from afar as others played,” he said. “It’s just a special night to compete, (the players) are good friends with them off the field, but on the one night you get to go play against them for bragging rights. It’s why you do all this.” 

On the other sideline, Mac Roche is in his first season as the Braves coach and agrees that crosstown is a special night. 

“It’s big for me, because it’s massive to my kids,” Roche said. “It’s such a cool rivalry, there is something different when it is in the same town.” 

The Braves, 2-4 overall and 1-4 in Western AA games, come in off their second win of the season — a 23-22 decision over Butte on senior night a week ago. 

“Coach Roche has done what I knew he would do; he is starting to build a program,” Bennett said. “Kudos to him and his guys for the progress they have made.” 

Quarterback Eli Coopman ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 149 and one more score in the Butte win. 

“He is the engine that makes their offense go. He has been getting the ball a lot the past few weeks,” Bennett said. “We just have to make sure we align and assign. The quarterback is hard to account for. 

“I think Flathead had the most speed in the state last year, they still have a ton of speed this year. We have to make sure we are matched up correctly because they have speed to hurt you.” 

A Flathead win would be an upset for the ages as Glacier comes into Thursday at 7-0 and, outside of its opener against Billings West, has not faced much adversity this season. 

Roche sawid the Braves need to make sure to execute and limit the Wolfpack’s backfield duo of Jackson Presley and Asher Knopik. 

Knopik is second in Class AA with 849 yards rushing; only Helena Capital’s Brit Linder has more with 870. He has gone over 100 yards in six of seven games and has 12 touchdowns. 

Presley is third in AA with 1,421 passing yards and has thrown 16 touchdowns with just one interception. He also has six scores on the ground. 

“Two very talented players, very impressive players,” Roche said. “We have added a few wrinkles, and the hope is to contain them.” 

Football isn’t the only crosstown matchup Thursday as the Bravettes and Wolfpack volleyball teams meet at Flathead High School at 4 p.m. 

Glacier vs. Flathead: 7 p.m., Legends Stadium 

(KZMN 103.9FM and KGEZ 96.5FM)