KALISPELL -- Jake Rendina scored four times, JT Allen threw three touchdown passes and Kalispell Glacier's defense stifled Missoula Big Sky in a 63-0 throttling of the Eagles to open the Class AA football playoffs on Friday night at Legends Stadium.
The Wolfpack, the No. 3 seed in the Western AA, started their postseason campaign with a three-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by Allen's 53-yard strike to Jake Turner, and the momentum carried for the next 40 minutes.
Rendina plunged in for a 1-yard score five minutes later, then opened the second quarter with a 5-yard touchdown to push the Wolfpack out front 21-0. Allen found Mason Naomi for a 25-yard touchdown pass barely two minutes later, and, following a Tyler Hausman interception, Rendina added his third rushing score of the half and 26th of the season, according to MaxPreps.
Glacier led 35-0 at halftime.
The assault continued in the second half, with Rendina taking the ball from the Wildcat formation, bouncing off defenders and finding himself 45 yards downfield for his fourth and final touchdown of the game. Allen continued his impressive game, as well, with an 87-yard touchdown pass to George Herne that put Glacier ahead 49-0 after three periods of play.
Wyatt Thomason added the final score for the Glacier offense, a 36-yard touchdown run, while Connor Sullivan returned an interception 40 yards for the last points of the game.
Glacier (6-2) dominated offensively, gaining 602 yards to Big Sky's 216. Rendina finished with 19 carries for 126 yards and the four scores, while Allen completed 16 of 21 passes for 402 yards and three touchdowns. Turner had seven receptions and 173 yards with the first-quarter touchdown.
"Felt really good to just come out here and let it loose," said Allen. "We clicked really well on the perimeter, just something we’ve struggled with all year. Our line showed up and did what they’ve done every game, blocked really well and we just made plays."
The Wolfpack also intercepted four Colter Janacaro passes. The Big Sky quarterback was also sacked once but rushed for 105 yards.
"Them coming off a 60-41 huge win last week against Flathead and us getting drugged 44-0, mentally they are riding high and we’ve got our heads down," said Glacier head coach Grady Bennett. "So that was the question coming in, how are both teams going to react? All week long we just talked about pursuing excellence. We asked for four quarters and our guys did it. They played four beautiful quarters of football (Friday night) and that’s what you have to do when you get into the playoffs."
Glacier will move on to the second round of the Class AA playoffs, playing at Billings Senior next Saturday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Daylis Stadium.
