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Joined: 27 Mar 2002
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Location: Missoula, Montana
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The stories are in order as they appear in this content area:
Griz QBs look sharp as offense finds end zone twice at second scrimmage (Missoulian).
Colt Anderson commits to Griz (Montana Standard).
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Griz QBs look sharp as offense finds end zone twice at second spring scrimmage
By JON KASPER of the Missoulian
Overtime wasn't kind to the Montana Grizzlies in 2003.
Bobby Hauck's club lost extra-inning games to Idaho State in the regular season and Western Illinois in the Division I-AA playoffs, both by scores of 43-40. Both went two overtimes. In the Grizzlies' four overtime possessions, UM scored just one touchdown.
In Saturday's second spring scrimmage at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, the Grizzlies practiced their overtime offense. The results were impressive with two passing touchdowns on two possessions. The OT touchdowns were the only two during the 70-play scrimmage where the offense looked crisper than it did two weeks ago, but the defense still dominated much of the action.
"I thought we were really sharp,'' said Hauck. "I thought both sides of the ball played very physical. I thought we were crisp in our execution. I liked the fact we didn't turn the ball over on offense."
In the first spring scrimmage, the Montana offense turned the ball over six times with five interceptions. The quarterbacks completed just 44 percent of their passes. Saturday, Griz signal callers completed 82 percent.
Starter Craig Ochs completed 11-of-14 for 90 yards. Ochs saw action in just three series. His final pass was a 15-yard scoring strike to junior wide receiver Jon Talmage. Talmage ran a fade route and beat sophomore cornerback Chris Clark.
"Craig saw the safeties rolling down before he snapped the ball and he kind of gave me that look like he knew he was coming to me,'' said Talmage, who caught three passes for 33 yards. "He knew it was going to be open. I beat Chris Clark off the ball and got out on top of him. Craig just put it right on my outside shoulder, right where it was supposed to be.''
Backup Jeff Disney found the mark on his first 10 passes, and finished
13-of-16 for 99 yards. His final attempt was a shovel pass to running back JR Waller, who found a hole up the middle and rumbled for an 18-yard touchdown.
"The young guys at the receiver spots played better,'' Hauck said. "I thought both QBs were sharp. When people didn't know where they were supposed to go, they got them lined up. They know where everybody is. I thought their checks were good. I was impressed with both Craig and Jeff.''
Disney struggled two weeks ago, completing just 2-of-11 passes with two interceptions as he worked with the young walk-on wide receivers.
"I've got some new guys on my squad,'' Disney said. "It takes a little time to learn the offense. Most of them are new, especially the wide receivers.
It just takes time. We did look sloppy in the first one. This one we got things shored up, had less bad routes and had a lot more catches.''
Disney also had another near touchdown when he lofted a ball to the back of the end zone. Freshman James Williams caught it, but was ruled out of bounds.
Disney said he would like the opportunity to take some reps with the No. 1 offense.
"That's what the No. 2s, my whole squad is looking to do, get some reps with the ones,'' he said. "Hopefully we did something on the field today. That's the goal for all of us.''
Sophomore defensive end Dustin Dlouhy made the most of his chance to run with the first-team defense. The 6-foot-2, 217-pounder from Idaho Falls, Idaho, stepped in for Mike Murphy, who sat out with a minor shoulder injury.
Dlouhy was in on three tackles for loss, including one where he dropped Waller for a 5-yard loss.
"Murphy stung up his shoulder a little bit and I was able to get in there and get a few more reps, which is definitely what I need,'' Dlouhy said.
"I'm trying to move up. If I get a chance to go against the No. 1 (offense), that's when I really need to show if I can make a play or two. Still, Murphy will be fine. We definitely need him with Lance (Spencer out)."
Spencer is still recovering from knee surgery last fall, although he is expected to be ready this season.
The Grizzly defense allowed just 21 rushing yards on 23 attempts, not including yardage lost from three sacks. Utah State transfer Jaison Carriger and freshman Ross Brunelle from Spokane were credited with sacks.
Linebackers Kyler Noel and Alex Hawthorne combined on a sack.
Safety Nathan Adkins, cornerback Michael Rubie and linebacker Joel Carlson all had some big hits.
"I like where our defense is at,'' Hauck said. "I think they are getting better as they go. I like the physical play and hitting on both sides of the ball was very good.''
Kickers Paul Cahill, Lucas Langbehn and Pete Sloan all made two field goals from 30 yards out. The trio also got an opportunity from 35, but all missed.
Cahill made an extra point following Talmage's touchdown. The ball was tipped by Jonny Varona, but still found its way through the uprights.
"We need to keep improving,'' Hauck said. "I was glad to see the balls go between the posts for all three guys. We'll tally the numbers up from spring and see where we are. The majority of our kicks weren't really pretty going through the uprights, but most of them did go through. Those three guys are trying hard and they'll keep working hard next week.''
Junior wide receiver Jefferson Heidelberger and Clark both had impressive kickoff returns.
Heidelberger, who averaged 28.55 yards per kick return last season, broke free up the sideline for a 53-yard pickup.
Clark, who started late in the season as a true freshman, showed a great burst of speed on his 57-yard return.
"When we're working on it, we want to make sure to keep the ball in play,''
Hauck said. "We don't get many live reps. We made sure we kept the ball in play. Those were good kick returns. A lot of the guys on that team led the nation a year ago. We expected them to be good at it.''
Montana averaged 28.14 yards per return last season, tops in Division I-AA.
Garth Enger, who started at right guard and also played center, suffered a left knee injury on Waller's touchdown. Enger was blocking down field and fell to the ground in the end zone. He was helped off the field and examined by a team doctor.
"The early indications are he's going to be all right,'' Hauck said. "You never know until next week. We think he's going to be OK.''
Tight end Willie Walden, cornerback Tuff Harris and wide receiver Tate Hancock were among the players who sat out the scrimmage with injuries.
Junior Ja'Ton Simpson took a lot of reps at tight end senior backup Conor Molloy is out with an injury this spring. Simpson caught one pass for 5 yards.
The Grizzlies will practice Monday, Tuesday and Thursday next week. They'll close out spring drills with a scrimmage next Saturday at Nelson Stadium in Helena beginning at noon. Carroll College will scrimmage at 1:30 p.m. in what's being billed as "A Day of Champions.''
Scoring
Jon Talmage 18 pass from Craig Ochs
JR Waller 15 pass from Jeff Disney
Unofficial statistics
RUSHING - Lex Hillard 3-12, Carrier Morrell 7-9, Justin Green 2-6, JR Waller 6-4, Brady Green 4-(-5), Casey Cordial 1-(-5).
PASSING - Craig Ochs 11-14-0 for 90 yards, Jeff Disney 13-16-0 for 99 yards, Casey Cordial 3-3-0 for 22 yards, Drew Hedrick 1-2-0 for 3 yards.
RECEIVING - Brandon Dwyer 4-36, Jon Talmage 3-33, JR Waller 3-29, Jefferson Heidelberger 3-27, Lex Hilliard 3-14, Brady Green 3-14, Jake Larson 2-23, James Williams 2-15, Ben Winn 1-9, Mike Lund 1-8, Ja'Ton Simpson 1-5, Trevon Hegal 1-3, Levander Segars 1-(-1).
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Colt Anderson commits to Griz
By the Montana Standard Staff
Butte High's Colt Anderson has committed to play football for the University of Montana Grizzlies.
Anderson was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs in the defensive secondary. He also started at running back his senior year, carrying the ball 181 times for 868 yards.
As a team captain his senior season, Anderson led the Bulldogs with 147 tackles and was honored as first-team All-State safety and honorable mention All-State running back. The 5-foot-11, 175 pounder will play in the 2004 East-West Shrine Game this summer.
Anderson was also a team captain for the 2003-04 state runner-up Butte High basketball team and will start at shortstop for the third season this spring for the Butte Miners.
The National Honor Society member who has accumulated a 3.7 GPA plans to major in
business.
Source: Tom Griz Fan
April 11, 2004
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