“Sometimes it’s harder to repeat than to get to the top,” Grady Bennett said.

The Glacier Wolfpack reached the top in November for the second time in school history with a 16-3 win over Billings West at Legends Stadium. 

The two teams will rekindle that fire as they open the 2026 campaign in the same location Friday at 6 p.m. 

Bennett will not be on the sidelines as he begins a two-game suspension handed down by the MHSA for a recruiting violation. Safeties and special teams coach Jareth Wilson will act as head coach Friday, and for the Wolfpack’s second game against Bozeman. 

It will be a different look for Glacier, which has the near impossible task of replacing QB Jackson Presley and running back Asher Knopik. 

Guiding the offense will be junior Cash Keim, brother of Montana Grizzlies defensive lineman Isaac Keim. Keim beat out Latham Leeper to be named the starter Monday according to Bennett, though he adds that Leeper is more that capable if called upon down the line. 

“We have two guys who can win football games for us this weekend,” Bennett said. 

As for running back, Trey Ramey and Elijah Imperato saw plenty of action last season alongside Knopik and should be able to help fill in for the now graduated back. 

Out wide, Glacier sees Cooper Pelc move into the senior leadership role, already a key contributor in last season’s title run. 

Pair Pelc with Dylan Banzet at tight end and Glacier keeps two big downfield targets. 

Imperato, Pelc and Banzet are part of a senior class that could complete a rare achievement in 2026: making four state championship games in four years. 

Bennett says that this year’s group is not resting their laurels on the 2025 season. 

“Last year was last year, and it is in the past as soon as that game ended,” Bennett said. 

To start 2026 on the right path, Glacier will open with the Golden Bears and Hawks, two of the toughest teams in AA. 

“I like it, we play two of the top teams right away,” Bennett said. “We are going to know what our football team is right away. 

“We prepared hard knowing it is going to be a great challenge. They work so hard for such limited opportunities, you only get so many shots to take the field.” 

West returns eight defensive starters from a team that had two losses in 2025 — both to Glacier — including its two leading tacklers in Lane Humphrey and Jack Ryan.