Grizzlies welcome S. Utah for Homecoming
MISSOULA – Southern Utah first-year coach Demario Warren says his Thunderbirds are “trying to pull off something that I don’t know has been done here.”
Grizzly fans know, though, and that adds even more spice to Saturday’s Homecoming game between nationally ranked Montana and highly regarded Southern Utah. Kickoff is 2:20 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium (KFBB Fox-TV; AM-1400, FM-98.3).
“This is a huge deal,” Warren said. “I don’t think we’ve ever been in this situation, where people actually think we’re good, and we’re going to a place against another great team and an environment that’s going to be hostile.
“It’s going to be difficult, but this one will be special if we can pull it off.”
The T-Birds have in fact pulled it off before.
Bobcats seek success at Sacramento State
In 1998, Southern Utah’s option attack accumulated 493 yards in a stunning 45-35 victory over UM at Washington-Griz. And four years ago in Missoula, the Thunderbirds rallied in the second half for a 30-20 triumph over the Grizzlies.
Neither of those shockers came on Homecoming. Montana is 25-4 at Washington-Griz in such games, including victories in 22 of its last 23. The Grizzlies, 0-1 in Big Sky Conference play after last week’s 42-41 setback at Cal Poly, are 2-1 overall and ranked 11th by the two polls devoted to FCS football.
Southern Utah (1-0, 2-1) is No. 24 in the FCS Coaches Poll. The Thunderbirds are the defending Big Sky champions.
“We’ve got to get back in the saddle, get our kids ready to go and get a win at home,” Grizzly coach Bob Stitt said. “Southern Utah is quality football team. When I look at their defense I don’t see a weakness. It’s just solid, a couple big dudes up front, a couple great linebackers and the DBs can cover. We definitely, again, have our hands full.”
The T-Bird defense features linebacker Mike Needham and safety Tyler Collet. In Southern Utah’s 45-31 victory over Portland State last Saturday, Needham had 15 tackles and Collet had eight stops and two interceptions.
The Thunderbird offense amassed 541 yards of offense against Portland State. Raysean Pringle is a threat both at running back and receiver, and Malik Brown is another effective ball-carrier. Mike Sharp is a talented receiver for quarterback Patrick Tyler, who stepped in when starter McCoy Hill hurt his shoulder in a season-opening 24-0 loss to Utah.
Tyler has thrown five touchdown passes.
The fine Grizzly defense was torched by Cal Poly’s unconventional option attack last week.
“That’s a very difficult scheme to go against,” Stitt said. “I like how our defense has played against traditional offenses.”
The Grizzly offense was humming at Cal Poly, as quarterback Brady Gustafson and receiver Jerry Louie-McGee had school record-breaking performances. Gustafson completed a UM-record 47 passes for 418 yards, while McGee made a record 21 receptions.
“We’ve got a very capable quarterback,” Stitt said. “I love the way Brady’s throwing the ball now. He had a great day (against Cal Poly). We finally moved the ball and played four quarters of football and were very efficient. If we don’t turn the ball over we win the ballgame.
“If we don’t turn it over we’re going to be OK.”
3 Things To Watch
1. BIG STAGE: Southern Utah won the Big Sky Conference championship last season but did not play Montana. How will the Thunderbirds react Saturday before a hostile crowd on the big stage at Washington-Grizzly Stadium? “This is a game for our program to show that we do belong at the top of the Big Sky every single year,” said Thunderbirds’ coach Demario Warren. “These are the type of games you have to win for people to start realizing that.”
2. STOP THE RUN? Montana’s defense was gashed for 274 yards on the ground last week by Cal Poly’s option offense. Now here comes Southern Utah, which is averaging 208 yards rushing. That ranks third in the Big Sky and No. 21 in FCS football. The Grizzly defensive line will be under the microscope in this one.
3. STEP ON THE G(u)S: The Grizzly passing game has never looked better than last week when quarterback Brady Gustafson was 47-for-59 for 418 yards. The senior QB from Billings broke one of David Dickenson’s UM passing records (completions) for crying out loud. The performance came just one game after Gustafson had a 14-completion, 118-yard effort at Northern Iowa. Which quarterback will show up on Saturday for the Grizzlies?
– Scott Mansch