Wolfpack dominate Bruins, 56-6

JON ALLEN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 months, 3 weeks AGO

Glacier running back Asher Knopik (11) scores a touchdown on a 65-yard run in the second quarter against Helena Capital at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier quarterback Jackson Presley (12) throws a first-quarter touchdown pass to wide receiver Cooper Pelc against Helena Capital at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier wide receiver Cooper Pelc (1) catches a touchdown reception in the first quarter against Helena Capital at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier running back Asher Knopik (11) breaks loose on a 65-yard touchdown run in the second quarter against Helena Capital at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier defensive lineman Will Astle (56) sacks Helena Capital quarterback Gunnar Fawthrop (12) in the first quarter against Helena Capital at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Defensive lineman Jesse Baines (58) returns an interception 9 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter against Helena Capital at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier defenders Will Astle (56) and Kaleb Fuehr (68) stop Helena Capital's Gavin Starcevich (11) in the first half at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier running back Eli Imperato (23) is tackled out of bounds just short of the goal line by Helena Capital defender Brit Linder (2) in the second quarter
Casey Kreider

Glacier wide receiver Dylan Banzet (40) holds on to a long reception in the second quarter against Helena Capital at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier quarterback Jackson Presley (12) scores a touchdown on a 38-yard run in the second quarter against Helena Capital at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Grady Bennett said there was a new “cast of characters” from the state championship a year ago and his Glacier squad made sure the script was new as well.

The Wolfpack moved to 4-0 on the season with a 56-6 homecoming victory over the Helena Capital Bruins Friday at Legends Stadium.

“They focused tonight, we were strong in all three phases and it was a terrific team win,” Bennett said. “So many good performances, two scores by the defense, just fantastic.”

Glacier passed their early season tests with flying colors after downing Billings West and Butte on the road and dispatching Bozeman and Capital at home. Now, Bennett says, his team needs to be more focused than ever.

“We’ve gotten through the gauntlet, but we did it to put ourselves in a position now to get what we want which is to be here in late November,” Bennett said. “Don’t rest now, now it’s time to get going because we have put ourselves in the position.

“I trust they will respond to that and get to work and be better next week.”

As for Friday, the defense highlighted the day with three turnovers and a pair of touchdowns. The first being a 12-yard interception return from Jesse Baines off a pass tipped by Will Astle; the second was a fumble in the fourth quarter by Matthew Ahner taken back 37 yards.

“I was shocked,” Baines said of his interception. “That’s something I kind of dream about and it was able to come true thanks to my boy Will Astle. It was great.”

Glacier held Capital to 136 total yards.

“We did our jobs,” Astle said. “Last year we didn’t do our jobs, we did a lot of worrying about other people’s jobs, but today we got it done.”

“It was one of those games where you look out there and there is nothing they (Capital) can do to get anything going,” Bennett said. “Our defense was just suffocating; they were lined up perfectly and assigning. I thought they were physical.”

Glacier opened the day with a turnover on downs in their first possession inside the Capital 20 — their first non-touchdown drive at home this season.

They quickly rebounded though as the defense forced a Capital punt and in two plays the Wolfpack were inside the 5-yard line. Asher Knopik punched it in from two yards out to put Glacier up 7-0.

The Wolfpack defense then forced a fumble that set them up deep in Capital territory. It took one play for Jackson Presley to find Cooper Pelc and make it 14-0 late in the first quarter. Presley threw for 160 yards, finishing 8-of-10 on the day. Pelc hauled in two catches for 58 yards.

An Astle sack led to a Bruins punt, where Presley once again made quick work, this time with his legs. He spun off a defender on his way to a 38-yard touchdown.

Knopik got back in on the fun two minutes later as he laid down a big stiff arm en route to a 65-yard scamper. Glacier had four touchdowns in a seven-minute span to lead 28-0. Knopik finished the day with 124 yards on nine carries.

Baines found the end zone next after Astle got a hand on Gunnar Fawthrop’s third down throw to make it 35-0.

Trey Ramey and Eli Imperato both found the end zone late in the second quarter to put Glacier up 49-0 heading into the locker room.

With the clock running in the second half, the scoring stopped until Kaden Smith forced a Carson Toivonen fumble and Ahner scooped it up for a score.

Capital found the end zone late in the fourth quarter as Toivonen found Joey Mergenthaler for an 11-yard pitch and catch.

Capital 0 0 0 6 - 6

Glacier 14 35 0 7 - 56

G — Asher Knopik 2 run (Austin Gragg run no good), 4:19 1Q

G — Cooper Pelc 24 pass from Jackson Presley (Knopik run good), 3:14 1Q

G — Presley 38 run (Kyle Smith kick), 11:44 2Q

G — Knopik 65 run (Smith kick), 9:43 2Q

G — Jesse Baines 12 interception return (Smith kick), 8:19 2Q

G — Eli Imperato 1 run (Smith kick), 3:20 2Q

G — Trey Ramey 8 run (Smith kick), :29 2Q

G — Matthew Ahner 37 fumble return (Smith kick), 9:37 4Q

HC — Joey Mergenthaler 11 pass from Carson Toivonen (kick no good), 1:49 4Q

Individual stats

RUSHING: Helena Capital (27-59) — Brit Linder 11-38, Gavin Starcevich 7-22, Gunnar Fawthrop 5-12, Jaysen Danzer 1-0, Carson Toivonen 3- minus 13. Glacier (23-231) — Asher Knopik 9-124, Trey Ramey 6-52, Jackson Presley 2-39, Eli Imperato 5-12, Brock Maloney 1-4.

PASSING: Helena Capital — Carson Toivonen 7-9-1 for 61 yards, Gunnar Fawthrop 4-12-0 for 16 yards, Brit Linder 0-1-0 for 0 yards. Glacier — Jackson Presley 8-10-1 for 160 yards, Cash Keim 1-2-0 for 1 yard.

RECEIVING: Helena Capital — Joey Mergenthaler 3-35, Gavin Starcevich 2-15, Gus Soper 2-13, Brit Linder 2-9, Keanen Green 1-5, Will Berg 1-0. Glacier — Hunter Daniels 3-45, Cooper Pelc 2-58, Eli Imperato 2-12, Dylan Banzet 1-43, Asher Knopik 1-3.

Glacier wide receiver Cooper Pelc (1) catches a touchdown reception in the first quarter against Helena Capital at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier running back Eli Imperato (23) is tackled out of bounds just short of the goal line by Helena Capital defender Brit Linder (2) in the second quarter
Casey Kreider