Wolfpack blank Bulldogs in Western AA opener
LUKE SCHMIT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 21 hours, 55 minutes AGO
Glacier running back Eli Imperato (23) heads to the end zone on a 20-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier tight end Hunter Daniels (13) scores a touchdown on a 12-yard, fourth down reception in the second quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier tight end Peyton Johnson (41) picks up yardage after a reception in the second quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier defensive lineman Lincoln Ledingham (79) sacks Butte quarterback Raeder Grey (13) in the third quarter at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier offensive lineman Jesse Baines (58) celebrates with running back Kyle West (11) after West's 20-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier defenders Neil Pepe (25) and Eli Imperato (23) celebrate after a stop against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier defenders Jesse Baines (58) and Eli Imperato (23) tackle Butte quarterback Raeder Grey (13) in the first quarter at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier running back Trey Ramey (3) makes a move to the outside in the first quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier wide receiver Tate Kahler (4) catches a pass across the middle in the first quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier quarterback Cash Keim (9) drops back to pass in the first quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
SPORTS REPORTER, KEEPING SCORE AND BIG SKY NOW PODCAST HOST Luke Schmit leads the charge on our local and regional sports podcast shows. His coverage includes regional and college athletics connected to Montana and the broader Big Sky Conference. Schmit reports on major games, athletes, and sports trends affecting teams across the region. He also contributes interviews, analysis, and multimedia coverage for digital audiences. His reporting helps readers stay connected to the teams and athletes that shape Montana sports. IMPACT: Luke’s work brings readers closer to the teams and athletes that define Montana’s sports culture. | September 12, 2026 12:10 AM
Grady Bennett returned to the sideline for Glacier on Friday night, and the Wolfpack welcomed their head coach back in dominant fashion.
The Wolfpack opened Western AA play by shutting out Butte 37-0 at Legends Stadium, earning their second straight shutout and improving to 2-1 overall.
"It was a gift tonight to be back with the guys," Bennett said. "I just love it."
Glacier's defense continued its dominant start to the season, holding the Bulldogs (1-2 overall, 0-1 in Western AA games) to just 104 yards of offense. Through three games, the Wolfpack have yet to surrender a touchdown.
“We’re not very big out there,” Bennett said. “There’s times where I look out there and I’m like, man, we are small on defense, but we have great speed and we just fly around and play with great heart and intensity.”
The first score of the game came on a jet pass from Cash Keim to Kyle West, who took it 22 yards for a touchdown on the Wolfpack’s opening drive. A bad Butte punt snap resulted in a safety shortly after, giving Glacier a quick 9-0 lead.
In the second quarter Glacier did most of its damage, scoring 21 points. Trey Ramey scored on a 30-yard run before Keim found Hunter Daniels for a 12-yard touchdown.
Eli Imperato added a 15-yard score before half to give Glacier a 30-0 lead.
Butte had its best chance to score early in the third quarter, driving into Glacier territory before back-to-back sacks from Lincoln Ledingham and Neil Pepe forced a turnover on downs.
Imperato later intercepted a pass from Raeder Grey and capped the final scoring drive with his own 12-yard touchdown run.
Ramey led the Wolfpack with 119 yards on 17 carries, while Imperato added 71 yards on seven attempts. Keim finished 12 of 19 for 193 yards.
“Our thunder-and-lightning approach on offense, how good is that?” Bennett said. “The defense kind of has to settle in, hunker down to tackle Trey’s power, and then all of a sudden here comes Imperato with his hips and speed.”
Glacier finished with 416 yards of offense despite being flagged 12 times for 99 yards. The Wolfpack will travel to Helena to face Capital next Friday.
Butte 0 0 0 0 - 0
Glacier 9 21 7 0 - 37
G — Kyle West 22 pass from Cash Keim (Ty Sherrill kick), 7:22 1Q
G — Safety, 4:24 1Q
G — Trey Ramey 30 run (Sherrill kick), 11:51 2Q
G — Hunter Daniels 12 pass from Keim (Sherrill kick), 5:22 2Q
G — Eli Imperato 15 run (Sherrill kick), 2:50 2Q
G — Imperato 12 run (Sherrill kick), 1:38 3Q
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Butte (22-25) — Raeder Grey 12-29, Miner Lee 6-17, Jaeger Hansen 1-3, Xavier Jory 2-3, Tegan Duffy -27. Glacier (35-223) — Trey Ramey 17-119, Eli Imperato 7-71, Kyle West 5-24, Cash Keim 1-10, Brock Moloney 1-4, Team 3-0, Latham Leeper - 5.
PASSING: Butte — Raeder Grey 8-17-1 for 72 yards, Troy Samson 2-5-0 for 7 yards. Glacier — Cash Keim 12-19-1 for 193 yards, Latham Leeper 0-1-0 for 0 yards.
RECEIVING: Butte — Ryan Bache 2-37, Koda Schleeman 2-8, Kodye Kjersten 1-11, Chase Nasheim 1-10, Brady Walsh 1-5, Troy Samson 1-4, Miner Lee 1-3, Evan McEwen 1-1. Glacier — Tate Kahler 3-32, Cooper Pelc 2-38, Dylan Banzet 2-25, Hunter Daniels 2-24, Peyton Johnson 1-30, Kyle West 1-22, Ryne Gillette 1-22.
Reporter Luke Schmit can be reached at 406-758-4441 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.
Glacier tight end Hunter Daniels (13) scores a touchdown on a 12-yard, fourth down reception in the second quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier tight end Peyton Johnson (41) picks up yardage after a reception in the second quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier defensive lineman Lincoln Ledingham (79) sacks Butte quarterback Raeder Grey (13) in the third quarter at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier offensive lineman Jesse Baines (58) celebrates with running back Kyle West (11) after West's 20-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier defenders Neil Pepe (25) and Eli Imperato (23) celebrate after a stop against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier defenders Jesse Baines (58) and Eli Imperato (23) tackle Butte quarterback Raeder Grey (13) in the first quarter at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier running back Trey Ramey (3) makes a move to the outside in the first quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier wide receiver Tate Kahler (4) catches a pass across the middle in the first quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier quarterback Cash Keim (9) drops back to pass in the first quarter against Butte at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
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