Prep Football Game Preview 9/26

This weeks Prep Football Game Preview takes a look at two teams that on paper looked to make a strong presence in Class AA football in the 2018 season but have found themselves on the wrong end of the rankings list.

At the beginning of the 2018 season as with all teams in prep football the Sentinel Spartans had their eye on the postseason and for the Spartans it was dream of taking it one step further then in 2017. Sentinel opened up the season with a win over the Skyview Falcons followed by a crushing win over their crosstown rival the Big Sky Eagles, but since then the Spartans have struggled losing all three games by three points or less. On the offensive side of the ball Sentinel has a strong senior class on the wings and a shifty running back allowing them to put up points averaging over 30 points per game, but the defense has allowed teams to keep up with the fire power the Spartans have to offer.

Since Grady Bennett has taken control of the Glacier football program the Wolfpack have found themselves on the upper end of Class AA football rankings, but the 2018 season has been a roller coaster ride. The season started out with a close game against the defending Class AA state champions Senior Broncs that found the Wolfpack coming up one point short of knocking of the Broncs. Week two was the only game this year the Wolfpack could not get into the end zone, falling to CMR 9-0, outside of that game Glacier has averaged just under 30 points per game, while allowing their opponents to earn an average of 20 points per game.

The Skinny

Every time these two teams meet there are fireworks as Coach Oliver for Sentinel and Coach Bennett of Glacier are a pair of highly skilled chess players with a tactical stance to match most generals. For the Spartans they will need to hold their water on defense to try to do what the Rustlers did in Great Falls to keep Glacier off the scoreboard while putting their foot on the gas peddle to maintain a lead. On the Glacier side of the ball expect the Wolfpack to use their speed on the edges to force the Spartans to play the pass, but Glacier will need to find a balance on defense to slow down a shifty running back who sets up the long ball for Sentinel.