Wolfpack shut out Bruins, 31-0

HELENA — Twenty-six is a nice, round number.

Cash Keim threw for 134 yards and two touchdowns Friday, as Glacier improved to 2-0 in the Western AA and 3-1 overall with a win at Helena Capital. 

But that defense: Holy moly. 

Defensive end Matt Ahner had two sacks to lead a Wolfpack defense that allowed the Bruins just 112 yards of offense, making it six games and change without giving up a touchdown.  Glacier’s Tate Kahler intercepted a Carson Toivonen pass, but mostly the Pack just put up a wall.  

Trey Ramey ran for 51 yards, including a 4-yard score; Eli Imperato’s 61 rushing yards including a fourth-quarter 1-yard TD, capping a 41-yard drive.  

Keim found Dylan Banzet for a 44-yard touchdown and Ryne Gillette for another score, both in the third quarter. The defense did the rest, allowing the Bruins 38 rushing yards. 

“Carter Knopik and Kruz Robinson didn’t play,” Glacier coach Grady Bennett said. “Maybe our two top defenders — and guys are just stepping in and keeping it going.” 

Bennett handed part of the credit to his coaching staff. The rest is about the players. 

“The kids are really believing in those game plans and dialing it in and executing, and that’s what it’s all about,” he said. “The kids are the ones who have to believe in it. It’s about the kids being coachable and executing on Friday nights.” 

Glacier’s loss came in its season opener, 6-3 in overtime to Billings West; the Golden Bears won with two field goals. Capital (2-2, 0-2 in league) beat Glacier for the 2024 State AA title but couldn’t get going at Vigilante Stadium.  

The Bruins suffered a home shutout loss for the first time since Sept. 3, 2021 against West (28-0). The defending champion Wolfpack haven’t given up a touchdown since the second quarter of their 42-7 win over Bozeman High in last year’s quarterfinals. 

Glacier    10    0    14    7    -    31 

Capital    0    0    0    0    -    0 

G — Trey Ramey 4 run (Ty Sherrill kick), 9:46-1Q 

G — Sherrill 25 FG, 2:13-1Q 

G — Dylan Banzet 44 pass from Cash Keim (Sherrill kick), 10:00-3Q 

G — Ryne Gillette 13 pass from Keim (Sherrill kick), 1:21-3Q 

G — Eli Imperato 1 run (Sherrill kick), 8:24-4Q. 

Individual Statistics 

RUSHING: Glacier (31-160) — Imperato 8-61, Ramey 11-51, Kyle West 7-36, Keim 5-12. Capital (30-38) — Gavin Starcevich 14-46, Justin Derby 10-23, Carson Toivonen 6-minus 31. 

PASSING: Glacier — Keim 7-13-0 for 134 yards. Capital — Toivonen 8-17-1 for 74 yards. 

RECEIVING: Glacier — Gillette 3-46, Cooper Pelc 2-26, Banzet 1-44, West 1-8. Capital  — Chase Wacker 4-29, Rieker Sayers 1-19, Keanen Green 1-15, Greyson Levin 1-11.