Grizzlies tackle Weber State
MISSOULA – The Montana Grizzlies have walloped Weber State 13 times in a row here at Washington-Grizzly Stadium and Saturday meet a Wildcat team that was thumped 44-0 in its last game.
If you’re thinking the Griz are heavily favored to run their streak to 14 you’re not alone.
“Nothing’s been easy this year,” cautions first-year UM head coach Bob Stitt. “Every game we’re having to grind and grind to come out on top. Every game’s come down to the very end. We haven’t played anything that’s been easy.”
The two rivals meet Saturday afternoon at 2 (KFBB TV) in a Big Sky Conference battle. The Grizzlies, winners of two straight league games behind new starting quarterback Chad Chalich, are 3-2 overall and ranked No. 11 in the FCS Coaches poll.
”Chad is a very competitive guy,” Stitt said of the Idaho transfer, who replaced injured starter Brady Gustafson and has performed capably. “He grinds it out. It doesn’t look pretty all the time but he’ll grind it out and find a way to get the ball in the end zone.”
The Grizzlies defeated UC Davis 27-13 last week as Chalich passed for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Defensive linemen Caleb Kidder led a dynamic defensive effort by collecting a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery.
And halfback Jeremy Calhoun, a 5-10, 175-pound true freshman from California, made his Grizzly debut last week and scored a touchdown.
“He’s a different kind of back,” Stitt said. “He can put his foot in the ground and get it up the field. And he’s also very powerful where an arm tackle’s not going to bring him down. He gets yards after contact and that showed (against UC Davis). He can do it all and definitely hasn’t played up to this point like a true freshman in practice or the game at Davis.”
Calhoun could become more involved against Weber as Stitt seeks more consistency from his offense.
That’s a quality that has certainly been missing in action for the Wildcats, who turned it over six times last week in the one-sided loss at home to Southern Utah. Before that, Weber posted victories over both Sacramento State, 32-14, and Northern Colorado, 38-17.
Certainly the Wildcats, goose egg last week notwithstanding, have Stitt’s attention.
“Weber State is a much better team than the score indicated last week,” Stitt said. “They turned the ball over early and things just kind of got away from them. But they’re a good football team. We’re preparing like normal to go out and earn a victory.”
The Wildcats of coach Jay Hill, the former Utah star defensive back and longtime Utes’ assistant coach, have used two quarterbacks this season. Starter Jadrian Clark and backup Justin Shaw have combined to average just 172 yards passing per game.
Neither has the Wildcat running game been very prolific (133-yard average), although sophomore Eric Wilkes is capable. Wilkes, also a dangerous return specialist, ran for 122 yards against Northern Colorado.
“Offensively they’ve got some nice skill guys outside and I really like their run game,” Stitt said. “We’ve got to control first downs and get them in some predictable situations … and let our D-Line take over.”
The Grizzlies rank fourth in the Big Sky in total defense (358-yard average). Kidder and All-American candidate Tyrone Holmes (nine sacks this season) are strong up front. Linebackers Kendrick Van Ackeren and Jeremiah Kose are among the top tacklers in the league.
Chalich has thrown for 772 yards and five interceptions, with just one interception, in his two-plus games as the Grizzly quarterback.
“He’s done very well,” Stitt said. “He’s 2-0 (as the starter). When you rate quarterbacks it’s kind of like starting pitchers. If they’re getting the win they’re doing OK.”