Presley, Pack run past Knights

MISSOULA — On Friday Jackson Presley did in the other team with his legs.

Presley, Glacier’s senior quarterback, ran for three touchdowns in the Wolfpack’s 45-0 win over Missoula Hellgate at MCPS Stadium.  

He also threw for two scores, which you would expect from a player with 62 touchdown passes with the Wolfpack. Yet it was his scoring runs of 9, 35 and 8 yards that helped Glacier (5-0, 3-0 in the Western AA) to a 28-0 lead at halftime. 

“He really is a good runner with the football,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said. “He has a real knack, especially when he gets in the open field, of setting up the DBs and getting in the second level. It’s a weapon we know we can continue to develop. We know if we can get him 10, 12 or 15 carries it just gives us another weapon on offense.” 

Wolfpack running back Asher Knopik didn’t hurt his yards per carry, picking up 126 yards — including a 70-yard TD burst — on just seven carries. The senior has 600 yards on 52 rushing attempts this season.  

Presley’s TD passes covered 25 yards (Cooper Pelc) and 56 yards (Hunter Daniels) in the third quarter. He was 10 of 13 passing, with one interception. 

Hellgate’s offense never got untracked: The Knights had just three first downs to Glacier’s 17 and were outgained 414-54 in total yardage. The Knights fell to 1-4, 1-2 in the Western AA. 

“Our fronts are so good, so dominant,” Bennett said, signaling out linemen Will Astle, Wayne Cox and Kaleb Fuehr. “That’s where a lot of football games are won and lost. Asher is a really good running back, but I’m sure he’d give a lot of credit to the offensive line.  

“On defense we continue to be able to play our three-man front. If you can play the whole game with a three-man front and drop eight, that makes it really really tough.” 

Bennett noted with Brody Cook out of the lineup, sophomore Carter Knopik started at inside linebacker — putting him and his brother on the field at the same time. 

Glacier is home next week to face Missoula Sentinel, Friday at 7 p.m. at Legends Stadium. 

Glacier    14    14    14    3    -    45 

Hellgate    0    0    0    0    -    0 

G — Jackson Presley 9 run (Kyle Smith kick), 9:19-1Q 

G — Asher Knopik 70 run (Smith kick), 5:06 

G — Presley 35 run (Smith kick), 10:18-2Q 

G — Presley 8 run (Smith kick), :34-2Q 

G — Cooper Pelc 25 pass from Presley (Smith kick), 10:20-3Q 

G — Hunter Daniels 56 pass from Presley (Smith kick), 6:03-3Q 

G — Smith 28 FDG, 6:13-4Q 

Individual Statistics 

RUSHING: Glacier (23-233) — Knopik 7-126, Presley 3-52, Eli Imperato 3-24, Trey Ramey 6-18, Brock Moloney 2-9, Pelc 1-3, Cash Keim 1-1. Hellgate — Parker Link 11-7, Vince Paffhausen 8-6, Chase Kane 1-minus 2. 

PASSING: Glacier — Presley 10-13-1 for 148 yards; Keim 5-5-0 for 33 yards. Hellgate — Paffhausen 3-9-0 for 27 yards; Cannon Clark 3-6-1 for 16 yards. 

RECEIVING: Glacier — Daniels 6-94, Pelc 3-44, Ethan Kastelitz 1-13, Dylan Banzet 1-8, Tate Kahler 1-8, Imperato 1-6, Gavin Baker 1-4, Austin Gragg 1-4. Hellgate — Cooper Hogan 2-28, Evan Pyron 2-6, Ian Bullard 1-7, Isaac Wade 1-2.