AA Football Preview: Glacier takes playoff hopes to Missoula

by The Daily Inter Lake
| October 23, 2009 2:00 AM

TODAY: Glacier Wolfpack (5-3) at Missoula Big Sky (5-3)

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. at Missoula County Stadium

LAST WEEK FOR BIG SKY: The Eagles struggled to keep up with Bozeman and lost for the second time in three games. Big Sky failed to score in the fourth quarter while giving up two touchdowns en route to a 48-29 loss. Running back Glen Maricelli totaled 134 yards on the ground for Big Sky and moved up to become the third-leading rusher in AA this season with 881 yards. Quarterback Eric Deneault threw 35 times, completing 22 for 317 yards and a touchdown.

LAST WEEK FOR GLACIER: Helena Capital triumphed right from the start and humbled Glacier 44-19. Late in the game, the Wolfpack picked itself up and put three scores on the board, namely with a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown by junior Stormy Day. On defense, senior defensive back Kyle Montini had six tackles and two pass breakups.

LAST YEAR'S MEETING: In the final game of the season, Big Sky edged Glacier 37-34. The Wolfpack trailed 21-14 at half and scored 13 points in the fourth but came up just short. Shay Smithwick-Hann was able to pick apart the Eagles' secondary all game and finished with 282 yards passing and three touchdowns.

TWO GAMES LEFT: Or rather, two regular season games are left. Both Big Sky and Glacier are in contention for a playoff spot, but winning in the final weeks is a must. Currently, five teams are tied for fourth place at 5-3 - Glacier, Big Sky, Helena, Billings Skyview and Bozeman - with Billings West sitting one back at 4-4. With eight playoff spots available, Glacier will need to win at least one of its last two games. At the same time, winning out means the Wolfpack has a good chance at hosting a playoff game. "We just need to take care of our business and if we do that we'll be in good shape," Glacier coach Grady Bennett said. The Wolfpack finishes against Missoula Hellgate at home on Oct. 30. "(Big Sky is) looking at their schedule and they have us and Butte left and they want to be 7-3. So it's going to be a playoff game for them and we have to treat it the same way."

PHYSICAL STYLE OF PLAY: "They're always a very physical team," Bennett said of Big Sky. "That's coach (Gary) Ekegren's style of play and they are definitely going to pack the box and try to take the run away. We have to be ready for a physical, smashmouth game."