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Talmage cuts mullet as Grizzlies regroup (Missoulian).
Bears start to click; Griz opponent piles up 400 yards on ISU (Missoulian).
Grizzlies brace for big-time wideout (Great Falls Tribune).
UM Sports Information Department Press Release.
Priest parts ways with Grizzly football team (Kaimin).
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Extra Point - Week Four: Facing True Adversity (Dougherty, TSN).
Don Hansen's Predictions.
The I-AA Way: A Southland 'Natch'ural (Coulson, I-AA.org).
The Cult of I-AA: Father's Day in September, the High Priest Goes Soft (Garner, I-AA.org).
For cordial Lubick, Montana ties still run deep (Great Falls Tribune).
***
Talmage cuts mullet as Grizzlies regroup
By FRITZ NEIGHBOR Of the Missoulian
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/09/23/sports/sports02. txt
At least one part of the Montana Grizzlies' offense has a new look this week. Jon Talmage cut his mullet.
"I told myself I'd cut when we lost," said the suddenly clean-cut junior wide receiver. "We lost. So it's gone."
Talmage had three catches for 15 yards in Montana's 41-29 defeat at Sam Houston State Saturday, and said that the offense got off its game plan early, making a tough situation worse.
"I think we all know that when we see coverages, we know we have to stick to the basics and do what we were taught, and not go off on our own," he said. "That's one of those things where, when we don't stick with the coaches' schemes, that's when we get ourselves in trouble.
"Like for receivers, we're not supposed to run underneath the linebackers, and we were doing that. We were cut-blocking people S it's that type of stuff, little basic stuff, that adds up to a big-game loss."
In Northern Colorado the Grizzlies play an opponent that, while it doesn't have the speed of Sam Houston, likes to play zone on defense and come up hard on the ball. "It's just like last week," Talmage said. "If we stick to the rules and sit down when we need to sit down in the seams, we'll be OK. If we got off on our own, we'll find ourselves in trouble again."
Quarterback Craig Ochs' right calf is the most troublesome injury coming out of the Sam Houston game. Head coach Bobby Hauck continues to list the senior as "day-to-day," although Ochs participated in drills Wednesday. "I think we'll have everybody else," Hauck said. "Craig's the biggest question, probably."
Backup defensive end Dan Carr, a Northern Colorado transfer who missed last week's game, won't play Saturday. Hauck said center Jay Green, whose ankle injury made him a late scratch for Sam Houston - Jeff Marshall moved into center, and sophomore Jason Frink went to right guard - would probably start against UNC.
Starting cornerback Kevin Edwards hurt his left foot on the turf at SHSU's Bowers Stadium, but feels he'll be ready to go against Saturday.
Edwards, who has eight career interceptions, said he got to bed at 6 a.m. Sunday, after the team flew out of Houston the night before. "(A loss) definitely makes the plane ride suck," the junior said. "Other than that - it's a learning experience.
"They had great receivers, but we shot ourselves in the foot a couple times. We missed probably 30 tackles."
For the junior, it was a culmination of heat, different turf and a hostile environment, along with other things. "Lack of enthusiasm," he added. "All of those things that great Griz defenses have. Hopefully we'll get it back Saturday."
Extra points: Plenty of tickets are available for the Northern Colorado game, and may be purchased at the Adams Center along with all the usual Griz ticket outlets
* The Football Gazette named Idaho State quarterback Mark Hetherington its I-AA offensive player of the week for his performance against Northern Colorado (360 yards, 4 TDs)
* The Football Gazette honored Montana State's Travis Lulay as its special teams player of the week the week before, for his efforts in the Bobcats' 19-0 win over Adams State
* Speaking of the Bobcats, the San Francisco 49ers added former left tackle Brent Swaggert to their practice squad. The Niners, who are coached by former MSU quarterback Dennis Erickson, cut Swaggert three weeks ago. He was a first-team all-Big Sky pick last season.
***
Bears start to click
Griz opponent piles up 400 yards on ISU
By FRITZ NEIGHBOR of the Missoulian
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/09/23/sports/sports01. txt
Vincent Jackson had a game that harkened to 2003, and the rest of Northern Colorado offense clicked along with him as the Bears rolled up a 34-14 lead over Idaho State last week.
That they didn't hold on to win, losing 49-42 in double overtime, still sticks in their craw.
"To be honest, I was very encouraged with the way we played," UNC coach O. Kay Dalton said Wednesday. "And extremely disappointed with the way the game turned out.
"It was a pretty disappointing loss. We had it in the bag and let it get away."
Two blocked punts doomed Northern Colorado to the home loss. The second one was the killer - it was partially blocked and traveled some 19 yards. It wasn't a disaster until the Bears' special teams crew neglected to down it; ISU's Kenyon Blue picked it up and sprinted 39 yards for a TD that sent the game into overtime. The Bears, 1-2 this season after a 9-2 campaign in '03, eventually fell in OT.
"The first one was just a breakdown in our blocking," linebacker Ryan Palmer, UNC's leading tackler, said of the punt blocks. "Plain and simple. The second one was one person got beat on the one side. We've fixed it S but you've got to realize that special teams is such an important part of the game. You've got to go b-- out on special teams, too."
Palmer is a special teams fixture, and he was also on the field two years ago when Northern Colorado came to Missoula and lost 31-14.
"They're a big, physical group," the 240-pound senior said of the Grizzlies. "When I played them before, they were more about running the ball."
This year's Grizzlies have shown more of a penchant for passing, although preseason All-America Justin Green remains a threat at running back. "I think they've gotten a little away from their running game," Dalton noted. "But they've always thrown the ball a lot at Montana."
Northern Colorado hasn't been particularly strong against either the pass (239 yards per game given up) or the run (179 per game). But the defense, led by Palmer and bolstered by free safety Reed Doughty (36 tackles) and linebacker Thomas Smith (33) looked good at times last week. That might be tied to an offense that rolled up 425 yards in regulation.
Jackson - a 6-foot-6 senior who set school records of 66 catches and 1,462 receiving yards last season - got loose for 127 receiving yards. He also had an 85-yard punt return shortened when officials ruled him out of bounds. It was a disputed call.
As it was Jackson still picked up 155 all-purpose yards, giving him 4,144 for his career. That broke the UNC school record, and his 27 career touchdown catches is another school record. The career marks for receptions, receiving yards and punt and kickoff returns could also be his before he's through.
Not bad for a player who as a 6-3 senior was passed on by every I-A and I-AA school.
"I've gotten faster since then," said Jackson, who's NFL potential was detailed in Wednesday's USA Today. "I was pretty lanky, and looked more like a basketball player early on.
"I was not very highly recruited at all. (UNC) has a great business school, and it was the best program to offer me a scholarship."
Jackson, who took advanced placement courses in high school that boosted his grade-point average to 4.1 on a 4.0 scale, reportedly runs a 4.5-second 40 yards. He still hoops it up, too - he led UNC's basketball team in points and assists last season.
And he's not the only weapon the Bears have. Andrew Wilson, a 190-pound running back, torched Idaho State for 188 yards last week. Sophomore Tony Christensen, who threw 18 TD passes last year, got time against ISU and threw his first two scoring passes of the season. Jamar Farbes, a 175-pound senior, is actually UNC's leading receiver (13 catches, 147 yards) and almost forced a third overtime with ISU, but fumbled inside the one after a reception.
It was a far cry from the week before, when UNC went to Maine - a team Montana beat 27-20 to open the season - and absorbed a 38-0 loss. "Maine just manhandled us, that's all," Dalton said. "It was a long, hard trip for us. But I do not make excuses. We didn't play well at Maine."
The Bears' last game was more of an indication of what the Grizzlies need to prepare for.
"We've got a wide receiver who's as good as anybody they'll face," Dalton said. "And Jamar Farbes is no slouch. We've got decent kids. If we can protect the quarterback, you'll probably have problems with our guys."
That's what happened last week. An offensive line featuring four new faces gelled, and the Bears controlled the ball, for the most part.
"There are definitely things we can improve on, but it was definitely encouraging," Jackson said. "Just to get the offense going and put some points on the board."
The next step for UNC, in its second of five seasons as a "transitional" I-AA team, is to have those points hold up.
"We know we should've won last game, and that's what makes us madder than anything," Palmer said. "I think we're finally ready to go and put together a complete game.
"I think everybody got a taste of it, and everybody wants it that much more. The O-line really came around and got it done last week, and - I'm excited."
***
Grizzlies brace for big-time wideout
Great Falls Tribune
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20040923/localsp orts/1285654.html
The Montana Grizzlies have seen their share of talented wide receivers already this season. Christian Pereira of Maine, Isaac Irby of Hoftsra and Jarod Fuller of Sam Houston State come quickly to mind.
But Grizzlies haven't seen any receiver with the combination of speed, size and pass-catching ability of Northern Colorado's Vincent Jackson, who will play a featured role when the Bears come to Missoula Saturday.
"He's their best player," said UM coach Bobby Hauck. "The NFL scouts tell us he may be the most draftable receiver in the West.
"He not only catches passes, he returns kickoffs and punts. He's the real deal."
Jackson also is 6-foot-6 and 235 poinds, making the senior from Colorado Springs too big for one defensive back to handle.
"He presents big-time matchup problems," acknowledged Hauck. "They like to go to No. 81 on first down and let him make plays."
So far, Jackson's numbers aren't spectacular. He's caught 12 passes in three games for 150 yards and one touchdown. He's averaged almost 30 yards on three kickoff returns, and is averaging 16 yards per punt return.
Irby caught 10 passes for 105 yards, Fuller snatched 10 for 133, and Pereira nabbed seven for 92. If UNC is going to upset No. 7 Montana on Saturday, Jackson probably will have to produce 150 yards in receptions and another 100 or so in returns.
CELEBRATION: The 1954 UM football team, the last one coached by Ed Chinske, is planning a 50th reunion celebration in Missoula to coincide with Homecoming on Oct. 9.
Bill Gue of Great Falls and Murdo Campbell of Helena are the only Electric City natives who played on that squad, which compiled only a 3-6 record but played a brutal schedule. The Grizzlies lost 48-6 at Iowa, which was ranked the No. 3 team in the nation at the time. Another loss (19-13) as at Denver, which had a highly competitive program at the time, winning the Skyline Conference and finishing the season ranked 19th in the UPI poll. Other losses were against schools like Utah, Colorado State, BYU and New Mexico.
UM won three of its four home games including a 25-21 decision over the MSU Bobcats.
Many of the seniors on the '54 squad went on to play in the first alumni game the following spring to raise money for the athletic department (Yes, even in those days there were money problems). The 1954 team also has chipped in to establish a $20,000 endowment fund to pay for a Grizzly football scholarship.
Members of the 1953 and 1955 teams also are being asked to join the celebration in Missoula. There will be a no-host dinner Thursday night, a social and golf outing on Friday, a tailgate party before the game against Idaho State, and a party after the game.
TO TO SHINE: Jonathan Molock officially became a full-fledged starting linebacker this week at Montana State.
But this is not the way he wanted to win the job.
"Nick Marudas, that's my buddy," said Molock, referring to the Bobcat linebacker who suffered a season-ending broken leg last week. "He's a great player and I hate to see it happen. That's not the way I like to get the position. But now I'm going to make the most of it."
Molock, a swift outside linebacker, actually started the first two games this year as the Cats employed a 3-4 defense. But he was expected to go to the bench when MSU returned to its basic 4-3 set.
Not now. And that isn't necessarily a bad thing for the Bobcats. Molock has 4.55-second speed in the 40 and has attracted the interest of some pro scouts this fall.
His brother Bruce, you recall, was a running back for the Cats last year and rushed for nearly 1,000 yards. Bruce is now playing professional football in Germany.
The Molock brothers transferred to Montana State when Cal State Northridge dropped its football program a few years ago.
"Best decision we ever made," said Jonathan.
***
UM Sports Information Department Press Release
http://web.montanagrizzlies.com/mtgriz/files/news_content/Foot ball_Men/2004/GrizUNCfb.pdf
Game 4: 7th-ranked Montana hosts UNC Bears
THE GAME: The 7th-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (2-1/0-0 Big Sky Conference) return home to play the University of Northern Colorado Bears (1-2/0-0 Great West Football Conference), Saturday, Sept. 25, in UM's Washington-Grizzly Stadium (23,218, SprinTurf).
KICKOFF: Kickoff is 1:07 p.m. (MTN.).
MONTANA-UNC GAME TELEVISED BY KECI-TV
The Griz-Bear game will be televised by KECI-TV and its Eagle affiliates in Montana.
Announcers: Chris Nettleton and Matt Seigel. Coordinates: KU Band, AMC 9 Transponder 17.
Montana has been ranked in TSN's top 25 for 159 of the past 163 weeks (dating back to the 1993 season).
The Griz have been in TSN's top 10 70 of the previous 74 weeks.
CAREER HIGH AGAIN: For the third week in a row, Montana senior receiver Jefferson Heidelberger had a career-best in receving yards with 167 at Sam Houston State on nine receptions. He had career-highs of 12 catches for 147 yards vs.Hofstra.
DISNEY THROWS TD PASS: Senior back-up quarterback Jeff Disney completed 6-of-8 passes for 76 yards against the Bearkats, including a 5-yard scoring pass to senior receiver Tate Hancock for the game's final score with 1:37 to go. It was Disney's first touchdown pass in 2004 and the sixth in his career.
OCHS 9TH ON CAREER YARDAGE LIST: Ochs has now passed for 2,391 career yards in just 11 starts (eight last season), moving him up to ninth on the career list. He is the 14th quarterback in Griz history to pass for more than 2,000 yards.
ALL-TIME GRIZ PASSING YARDAGE LEADERS
Rank Player Yards Years Played
1. Dave Dickenson 11,080 1992-95
8. Brent Pease 3,655 1985-86
9. Craig Ochs 2,391 2003-current
CARPENTER STAYS PERFECT: True freshman kicker Dan Carpenter was one-of-one in field goal attempts at SHSU, connecting from 38 yards out. He has made five-of-five
attempts this season with a long of 47.
OCHS RANKED NATIONALLY: Ochs is ranked second in the league and eighth in the nation in total offense, averaging 276.0 yards a game. He is also second in the conference in passing efficiency (136.30) and is 23rd in the I-AA ranks in that category.
SKY PICK (tie) LEADER: Junior cornerback Kevin Edwards has three interceptions this season and is tied for the Big Sky in that category and is ranked sixth in the nation. Edwards led the Griz with four interceptions last season.
GREEN 17TH ON CAREER LIST: Senior halfback Justin Green has 1,265 career rushing yards in just 12 starts (nine last season). Green needs just 46 yards to pass Renard Coleman to move into the 16th spot.
MONTANA CAREER RUSHING LEADERS
Rank Player Yards Years Played
1. Yo Humphery 4,070 1998-2001
2. Rocky Klever 2,228 1977-81
13. Paul Connelly 1,348 1964-65
14. Jeff Hoffman 1,345 1970-71
15. Bob Byrne 1,313 1949-51
16. Renard Coleman 1,311 1985-88
17. Justin Green 1,265 2003--current
GREEN 22ND ON SCORING LIST: Green has 90 career points and is 22nd in Montana's career scoring list. He needs 23 points to move up to 21st.
MONTANA CAREER SCORING LEADERS
Rank Player, Position Points Years Played
1. Chris Snyder, K 394 2000-03
2. Yo Humphery, RB 290 1998-2001
21. Rocky Klever, RB 112 1977-81
22. Justin Green, RB 90 2003-current
TALMAGE MOVES UP CAREER LIST: Junior wide receiver Jon Talmage has 1,290 career receiving yards and needs just seven yards to move up to 18th.
HANCOCK NEARING CAREER LIST: Senior wide receiver Tate Hancock has 1,124 career receiving yards and needs 55 yards to move up to 23rd on the career list.
MONTANACAREER RECEIVINGYARDAGE LEADERS
Rank Player Yards Years Played
1. Matt Wells 2,733 1992-95
2. Scott Gurnsey 2,574 1991-94
17. Shannon Cabunoc 1,317 1988-92
18. Justin Olsen 1,296 1995-98
19. Jon Talmage 1,290 2002-current
23. Marvin Turk 1,178 1990-91
24. Tate Hancock 1,124 2001-current
SPENCER SIXTH SACK LIST: Junior defensive end Lance Spencer has 16.5 sacks, ranking sixth on Montana's career list. He has 19.5 tackles for loss, which ranks him 10th career-wise in that category.
MONTANA CAREER SACKS LEADERS
Rank Player Sacks Years Played
1. Tim Bush 34.5 2000-03
5. Jay Turner 19 1991-94
6. Lance Spencer 16.5 2002-current
GRIZ-BEAR SERIES Montana leads the series 4-1:
1976: @UNC 27, Montana 19
1977: @Montana 34, UNC 11
1978: @Montana 31, UNC 14
1979: Montana 20, @UNC 10
2002: @Montana 31, UNC 14
NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS NOTES:
UNC HEAD COACH
Bear head coach Kay Dalton (Colorado State, 1954) is 34-16 in his fourth season at Northern Colorado and 67-28 in 9+ seasons overall.
RESULTS TO DATE: The Bears are 1-2. UNC opened the season with a 15-13 home victory over North Dakota State; then dropped a 38-0 at No. 8-ranked Maine; and a 49-42 double overtime home setback to Idaho State last Saturday. Next week UNC hosts UC Davis in its conference opener.
UNC LAST WEEK: The Bears led the Bengals 34-14 late in the third quarter, but ISU scored with 25 seconds to go to tie the game at 42-all at the end of regulation. The Bears led 31-14 at halftime.
Against ISU, junior QB Tony Christensen (6-2, 210) threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns, while All-American wide receiver Vincent Jackson (6-6, 235) had eight catches for 127 yards and a score. Sophomore halfback Andre Wilson (6-1, 190) had 32 carries for 188 yards and a TD.
BEAR LEADERS: Christensen has thrown for 494 yards and two TDs this season. The leading receiver is senior Jamar Farbes (6-0, 175) with 13 receptions for 147 yards and a TD, while Jackson has 12 for 150 yards and a score. Wilson has 72 carries for 335 yards (4.7-yard average) and a TD.
On defense the leaders are senior middle linebacker Ryan Palmer (6-1, 240) with 37 tackles, junior free safety Reed Doughty with 36 stops, and junior outside linebacker Thomas Smith (6-0, 230) has 33 tackles. Palmer had 16 tackles against ISU.
UNC LAST SEASON: The Bears were 9-2 last season and are reclassifying to the Division I-AA level, thus they were not eligible for the playoffs. The Bears' two losses last season were at Idaho State (42-33) and to Florida Atlantic (21-19).
WHOSE BACK?:UNC returns 13 starters and 32 lettermen from a year ago.
NEW CONFERENCE: The Bears are a member of the new Great West Football Conference, which includes North Dakota State, UC Davis, Southern Utah, Cal Poly, and South Dakota State.
BIG SKY MEMBER SOME DAY?: UNC is one of a handful of schools moving up from Division II to the I-AA level, and the Bears have Paspirations of joining the Big Sky Conference in the near-future.
2004 OFFENSIVE DEPTH
WR-2-Jon Talmage. 6-4, 195, Jr., 2V
9-Ron Rodamer, 6-5, 220, Sr., TR
81-Mike Costanzo, 6-1, 190, Sr., 1V
WR-1-Levander Segars, 5-9, 175, Sr., 3V
30-Tate Hancock, 5-10, 170, Sr., 3V
WR- 8-Jefferson Heidelberger, 5-10, 165, Sr., 3V
3-Ryan Bagley, 6-4, 197, Fr., HS
88-Brandon Dwyer, 5-10, 188, Fr., RS
LT--75-Cory Procter, 6-5, 295, Sr., 3V
68-Jason Frink, 6-4, 280, Jr., 1V
LG- 69-Chris Orwig, 6-5, 288, Jr., 2V
60-Dan Carter, 6-5, 315, Fr., HS
72-Colin Dow, 6-5, 275, Fr., HS
OC-66-Jay Green, 6-3, 285, Sr., 1V
64-Dylan Brown, 6-4, 290, Sr., 1V
RG-73-Jeff Marshall, 6-5, 275, So., SQ
68-Jason Frink, 6-4, 280, Jr., 1V
78-Eric Michel, 6-6, 270, Fr., RS
RT-76-Brad Rhoades, 6-5, 285, Jr. ,2V
74-Ryan Gustafson, 6-5, 270, Fr., RS
71-Cody Balogh, 6-7, 290, Fr., HS
RB-33-Justin Green, 6-0, 225, Sr., 1V
38-Lex Hilliard, 6-0, 220, So., 1V
20-JR Waller, 5-9, 210, Jr., 2V
41-Brady Green, 5-9, 195, So., 1V
QB--7-Craig Ochs, 6-2, 205, Sr., 1V
5-Jeff Disney, 6-1, 198, Sr., 1V
14-Cole Bergquist, 6-2, 192, Fr., HS
TE-87-Willie Walden, 6-7, 270, Sr., 2V
89-Ja'ton Simpson, 6-5, 244, Jr.,1V
FB-45-Colt Palmer, 6-1, 230, Sr., 3V
48-Kyler Noel, 6-1, 235, Jr., 2V
2004 DEFENSIVE TWO-DEEP
DE-90-Mike Murphy, 6-3, 240, So., 1V
92-Mike Potts, 6-4, 235, So., 1V
DT- 55-Jonny Varona, 6-3, 280, Sr., 2V
95-John Cahill, 6-2, 280, Sr., 3V
98-Kerry Mullan, 6-3, 290, So., 1V
DT-42-Blake Horgan, 6-3, 275, Sr., 3V
99-Alan Saenz, 6-2, 292, Jr., 2V
DE -96-Lance Spencer, 6-2, 255, Jr., 2V
21-Dustin Dlouhy, 6-2, 238, So., 1V
LB(mike)-52-Nick Vella, 6-2, 230, Sr., 2V
46-Kyle Ryan, 6-3, 222, Fr., RS
LB(will)-50-Adam Hoge, 5-11, 215, Sr., 3V
43-Alex Hawthorne, 6-1,215, Fr., RS
OLB(sam)-47-Shane MacIntrye, 6-3, 222, Jr., 2V
37-Loren Utterback, 6-2, 218, Fr., RS
CB(B)--23-Kevin Edwards, 6-2, 195, Jr., 2V
18-Jimmy Wilson, 5-11, 175, Fr., HS
CB--13-Tuff Harris, 6-0, 185, So., 1V
36-Chris Polhemus, 6-2, 195, Jr., 1V
FS--27-Matt Lebsock, 5-11, 185, So., 1V
32-Torrey Thomas, 6-0, 175, Fr., HS
SS--19-Van Cooper Jr., 6-2, 210, So., HS
31-Tyler Thomas, 6-0, 190, Jr., 2V
SPECIAL TEAMS
PATs, FIELD GOALS
29-Dan Carpenter, 6-2, 190, Fr., HS
KICKOFFS (Home Games)
93-Pete Sloan, 5-9, 175, S., SQ
PUNTS
26-Tyson Johnson, 6-2, 180, So., 1V
PUNT RETURNS
1-Levander Segars, 5-9, 175, Sr., 3V
KICKOFF RETURNS
1-Levander Segars, 5-9, 175, Sr., 3V
8-Jefferson Heidelberger, 5-10, 165, Sr., 3V
HOLDER
26-Tyson Johnson, 6-2, 180, So., 1V
SNAPS
45-Colt Palmer, 6-1, 230, Sr., 3V
52-Nick Vella, 6-2, 230, Sr., 2V
2004 GRIZ BIG LEADERS (National Ranking)
Rushing None in Top 7
Passing Avg.Game
2. Craig Ochs 259.7 ypg
Pass Efficiency
2. Craig Ochs 136.4 (23rd)
Total Offense
2. Craig Ochs 276.0 ypg (8th)
Receptions/Game
1. J. Heidelberger 9.33cpg (8th)
Punt Return Average
4. Levander Segars 4.5 avg.
Kick Return Average
9. Levander Segars 18.2
All-purpose Yards
1. J. Heidelberger 188.7 ypg (7th)
7. Levander Segars 115.0 ypg
Punting
6. Tyson Johnson 42.90 avg. (23rd)
Scoring
2. Dan Carpenter 8.3 ppg (38th)
Field Goals
2. Dan Carpenter 1.67 FG pg (6th)
Tackles
19. Shane MacIntyre 6.7 tack. pg
Field Goal Pct.
1. (T) Dan Carpenter 1.000 (5-of-5)
Interceptions
1. (T) Kevin Edwards 1.5 pg (6th)
MONTANA IN NATIONAL RANKINGS (TEAM STATS)
Rushing Offense 94. 99.7 ypg
Passing Offense 6. 286.7 TPG
Pass Efficiency 25. 139.34
Total Offense 30. 386.3
Scoring Offense 26. 32.33 ppg
Rushing Defense 50. 134.22 ypg
Pass. Eff. Def 94. 138.56
Pass Defense 116. 313.0 yog
Total Defense 109 447.33
Scoring Defense 81. 28.00
Net Punting 9. 39.77
Punt Returns 92. 4.50
Kickoff Returns 13. 24.82
Turnover Margin 35. +.67
QUOTING MONTANA HEAD COACH BOBBY HAUCK:
ON UNC: "Northern Colorado is better than their record. Without a doubt, they are a good football team. They beat a good North Dakota State team, and they really gave away a game against a pretty good Idaho State team.
"They have a lot of weapons on offense and that starts with Vincent Jackson. You have to take him (Jackson) away first as best you can, and I don't know if we can take him completely away. They have a potent running game which makes their passing game that much better.
"They are a sound defensive team and are very physical on defense.
ON GRIZ: "We (Montana) went on the road and didn't play very well. We need to shake that off and come back and play a good football game this Saturday, and continue to improve. We didn't take a step forward last week, which was disappointing, and we need to obviously do that this week."
GRIZ GAB:
SEGARS BREAKS ANOTHER BIG SKY RECORD: Segars added to his Big Sky punts return records. He now has 117 career punt returns for 1,263 yards.
COLORADO NATIVES: Segars is from Colorado Springs, Colorado and is one of five players from Colorado playing for the Grizzlies. The others: senior defensive end Dan Carr (Greeley), sophomore safety Van Cooper Jr. (Denver), freshman linebacker Tyler Joyce (Aurora), and Ochs (Boulder).
GRIZ SECOND IN ATTENDANCE LAST SEASON: Montana was second in Division IAA in total attendance last year, averaging 22,469 for eight games in expanded Washington Grizzly Stadium. Yale led I-AA averaging 23,578 in five games.
18TH WINNING SEASON IN A ROW!: The Grizzlies begin the 2004 season with 18 straight winning seasons in a row -- dating back to 1986.
LEAGUE TITLE/PLAYOFF REGULARS: Montana has now won out-right or shared the Big Sky titlethe last six years in a row and nine of the past 11 seasons. Montana advanced to the I-AA playoffs in 2003 -- its 11th straight playoff berth, breaking the record it had shared with Eastern Kentucky, (10 straight, 1986-95) for the most consecutive playoff appearances.
***
Priest parts ways with Grizzly football team
Peter Bulger, Montana Kaimin
http://www.kaimin.org/viewarticle.php?id=118
The Rev. Jim Hogan is no longer the chaplain for the University of Montana football team after holding the position for 23 years. He hasn't been with the team since before the season began.
Hogan, a Catholic priest at Christ the King church, issued a written statement to the Kaimin. In it, he said, "Coach (Bobby) Hauck wanted me to "say Mass" for the team on Saturday mornings. For various reasons I consider that an inappropriate time and declined, while suggesting an alternate time. He then informed me that I was no longer needed to minister as team chaplain. Beyond that I have no comment."
Hogan would not answer further questions. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be involved with the team. He said that his and Hauck's ideas of his role as Chaplain differed and although he's disappointed with the decision, he respects Hauck's responsibility and wishes the Grizzlies luck.
Both Hauck and UM Athletic Director Don Read preferred not to comment on the situation. Read coached the Grizzlies when Hogan began working with the team in 1986. When asked what effect team chaplains have on teams, Hauck said none and added, "We're a state university. We have no official affiliation with any church or chaplain."
When Read coached, he said, Hogan acted as a type of counselor for players, listening to their concerns on any subject. He said most of the time Hogan also "gave chapel," a gathering the Grizzlies have before games when somebody shares inspirational or spiritual words.
"When I was here, most institutions across the country had spiritual counselors to help students with their concerns," Read said. He added that he considered the position a valuable one.
Hogan received nothing in return for his service from the department, Read said. Grizzly fans have been critical of Hogan lately on www.egriz.com, a Web site on which fans can post their thoughts on matters involving the team.
Former Grizzly linebacker Adam Boomer, who played from 1996 to 2000, said Hogan was good at including everyone in "chapel," regardless of their religion. "He was a great influence and a great man," Boomer said. "He always had an open heart for us."
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Extra Point - Week Four: Facing True Adversity
By Matt Dougherty, The Sports Network
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page= cfoot2/news/AGN3512794.htm
Matt Dougherty Picks:
Griz 38, UNC 10
EWU 45, ISU 35
Portland St 24, McNeese St 17
Colorado St 20, MSU 3
NAU 35, Weber St 17
UC Davis 31, Sac St 24
Sam Houston St 42, SEn La 31
Hofstra 41, Rhode Island 38
Furman 20, Pitt 14
UMass 24, Delaware 17
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - As a sportswriter, I'm one of the guilty ones that sometimes makes the game larger than life. When an athlete gets hurt or a team struggles, we talk about how hard it will be to recover and what they have to do to overcome the challenge.
We say a team faces adversity when it loses a few games and might not make the playoffs. A player that is performing below his capabilities is supposed to need to dig deep and find himself to get back in the groove.
This week in I-AA, a pair of teams reminded us what facing adversity really means. Tennessee Tech and Bethune-Cookman both faced sad circumstances that extended far beyond the football field.
Tennessee Tech was playing a pretty good game on September 11th at South Florida until one hit changed everything. Drew Hixon was hit helmet-to-helmet at the end of a 22-yard reception in the second quarter, and was rushed to the hospital. Hixon, the son of Washington Redskins assistant coach Stan Hixon, has not regained consciousness and remains in critical condition in a medically induced coma.
Doctors have said Drew could regain consciousness at any time. But with the Tennessee Tech football family still in shock, Saturday's game with VMI still had to go on.
The players dedicated the game to Drew, though the weekly preparations took place under a cloud of uncertainty about his condition. "Our practices have been a little bit more low key than what we hope for in a normal week," TTU coach Mike Hennigan said. "I think the players are a little bit distracted because of their thoughts for Drew."
Tennessee Tech played with heavy hearts Saturday against the Keydets, and played inspired football to win one for their injured teammate. The Golden Eagles got a fourth quarter interception return from Brandon Shelby, and shut down VMI for a 16-10 victory.
As the team prepares for Murray State this weekend, Drew is still in critical condition and remains the first thing on everyone's mind. The football team and the entire Cookeville community will send their support to the Hixon family by taking a huge aerial photo and sending a giant card to the hospital room in Florida.
At Bethune-Cookman, the first three weeks of the season have included twists and turns that no person would wish upon their worst enemy. The school, located in Daytona Beach, Florida, lies in one of the hardest hit areas of Hurricane Frances. The September 4th game against Savannah State was cancelled, and the Wildcats players and coaches were forced to leave the powerless campus to get ready for the next week's game at Arkansas Pine-Bluff. After four days of preparation in Arkansas, the Wildcats scored 24 points in the third quarter and went on to an impressive 27-14 win in their season opener.
Finally able to return to campus, life was going to be back to normal for everyone at Bethune-Cookman. Soon after the Wildcats began practicing for the Proctor and Gamble Classic game against Grambling State, the focus shifted from natural disaster to loss of life.
Freshman offensive lineman Kovensky Pierre was killed in a tragic accident while returning to Daytona Beach from Tallahassee. Pierre was pronounced dead at the scene, and fellow freshman Willie Jackson was listed in critical condition in the hospital.
Pierre was a freshman and set to redshirt the 2004 season, but had already made an impact on the team at Bethune-Cookman. "It's like someone dropped a ton of bricks on my head," said head coach Alvin Wyatt. "The entire coaching staff is disheartened and confused about this tragic accident. I am finding it difficult to comprehend."
Suddenly, the hurricanes didn't seem like such a big problem anymore. With Pierre on their minds, the Wildcats had to play a second straight game under dire circumstances as they traveled to Cincinnati to meet the Tigers. Bethune- Cookman played well, taking a 13-0 lead into halftime before eventually falling, 24-23, as the Tigers nailed a field goal in the final seconds.
The Wildcats now try to prepare for this week's home matchup with Norfolk State as the community continues to overcome losses suffered in the hurricanes and attempts to deal with the grief of a fallen teammate.
Teams will have conflicts, athletes will play below expectations, and fans will continue to wonder how their squad will cope with its problems on the field. The next time you hear about your team facing a tough situation, remember the Hixon and Pierre families and what Tennessee Tech and Bethune-Cookman went through in the past week. And remember that football is just a game, and real adversity comes with much more serious circumstances.
WEEK THREE NOTEBOOK
Team of the Week: Georgia Southern
Welcome back, Eagles. Many programs in I-AA don't want to hear it, but Georgia Southern's time away from the national championship picture lasted just one year. Any doubts about the Eagles should be gone, and the fear of Georgia Southern has to be creeping back for Southern Conference and national powers. The Eagles showed signs of their capabilities in a good showing at Georgia and complete pasting of Johnson C. Smith. But what they accomplished in a 58-14 rout of then No. 3 Wofford Saturday still sent shockwaves through I-AA. The Eagles made one of I-AA's top teams look like a JV squad. Georgia Southern scored on all six of its first half possessions to take a 38-0 lead at the break. They tallied 347 yards of total offense in the first half alone and eclipsed the 500 yard mark for the game. Georgia Southern ran for more yards (313) than Wofford had total (226). And, all the production came without starting fullback and Payton Award candidate Jermaine Austin, who is nursing an injury. Through three games, the Eagles are averaging 384.3 yards per game and have 19 touchdowns in the running game alone. Georgia Southern hasn't missed two straight postseasons since 1991-92, and that streak is beginning to look very safe with this year's squad.
Mid-Major Teams of the Week: Central Connecticut State and St. Francis (PA), Tie
In the Mid-Major ranks, 19 of the 22 teams had earned a spot in The Sports Network poll at one point in the past three seasons. The Blue Devils and Red Flash, however, had yet to receive a sniff of the Top 10 in that time. Now, they can both add their names to the list. Central Connecticut State upended St. Peter's, 30-15, to debut at No. 7 in this week's poll. St. Francis upset Valparaiso and comes in at No. 9. Both teams improve their record to 2-1. Central Connecticut State last posted a winning season in 1984, while St. Francis has won a total of seven games since 1996. The Red Flash have not won more than three games in a season since 1992. The Blue Devils and the Red Flash are off to a good start in turning those fortunes around in 2004.
Best Top 25 Win: No.15 Maine 9, Mississippi State 7
The Atlantic 10 now has two wins over BCS level opponents, but beating a team from the SEC is different from knocking off a Big East opponent. The SEC is, year and year out, the best conference from top to bottom in all of I-A football. The Black Bears came in and showed that I-AA teams can compete with anybody with a strong defensive effort and timely offense. The Black Bears struggled offensively in the first half, but were able to hang around throughout with the stellar defense. In the fourth quarter, Maine quarterback Ron Whitcomb found Kevin McMahan in the endzone for the gamewinning touchdown. It was Maine's first win over a I-A opponent, and with a 2-1 record against Montana, Northern Colorado and Mississippi State the Black Bears are in great shape going into the tough Atlantic 10 schedule.
Worst Top 25 Loss: Richmond 24, No. 9 Massachusetts 14
To be fair to the Minutemen, six of the top 10 lost and Villanova and New Hampshire both fell at home to teams that aren't much better than the Spiders. But UMass' loss might end up hurting the most in the long run. Richmond is one of the few A-10 teams that doesn't have a legitimate shot at making a playoff run, and it beat Massachusetts on the Minutemen's home field. Massachusetts had a golden opportunity to go 4-0 in the month of September, but now has to knock off defending champion Delaware just to avoid falling to the .500 mark. With games remaining at Boston College, James Madison, New Hampshire and Northeastern and a home matchup with Maine, the Minutemen may feel the sting of this defeat when it comes time for postseason selections.
Best Game: Idaho State 49, Northern Colorado 42 (two overtimes)
With a number of close games, picking one was a tough task. But the matchup between the Bengals and the Bears had more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. Northern Colorado jumped out to a 34-14 lead in the third quarter and appeared to be on its way to extending a school record 16-game home winning streak. The Bengals recovered a fumble in the endzone to cut the score to 34-21. Then, the Idaho State special teams took over as a blocked punt and bizarre punt return put the Bengals up, 35-34. On the return, Kenyon Blue picked up the ball on the ground and went 39 yards for the score after a Northern Colorado player blocked ISU's Anthony Melvin away from ball. The Bears struck back to take a 42-35 lead, and nearly had the game put away when Vincent Jackson took a punt back for a score. However, Jackson was ruled out of bounds on the return and the Bears went on to turn the ball over at the ISU five. Idaho State then proceeded to drive 95 yards and tie up the score at 42-42. After a scoreless first overtime, the Bengals took the lead on the first possession of the second extra period. The Bears moved to the two-yard line, but Jamar Forbes fumbled into the endzone and the Bengals recovered to win the seesaw game. Idaho State avoided an 0-3 start with the win, while the Bears are off to a disappointing 1-2 start to the season.
Play of the Week: None of the great finishes were as shocking as the Monmouth- Robert Morris game. The Colonials took a 27-23 lead when Drew Geyer hit Dante Settles from 18 yards out with just 23 seconds left. The Hawks had little hope and little time. Quarterback Brian Boland connected with Tim Hiltwine for a 31- yard completion to move the ball to the Robert Morris 32. With time left for just one play, Boland threw a heave to the endzone. The Colonials defenders knocked the ball out of the air, and appeared to give Robert Morris the win. But Hiltwine was in the right place at the right time as he caught the deflection while lying on the ground. With the win, Monmouth stayed undefeated and became the No.1 Mid-Major team in the nation.
Stat of the Week: -9
Northwestern State held Texas Southern to -9 total yards for the game. That's right; -9 combined rushing and passing yards for the Tigers. Northwestern State outgained the Tigers, 441 to -9, and just missed setting the NCAA record for yards allowed in a game, which stands at -12. The Tigers actually put together a drive with 10, 14 and nine-yard gains to recover from being 42 yards in the red at the start of the fourth quarter. The Demons defense doesn't figure to put up the same production this week against Appalachian State, but looks ready enough to give the Mountaineers a major challenge.
Quote of the Week: New Hampshire and Maine already own wins over BCS level opponents, and West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez isn't about to take his A-10 opponent lightly. This week, Rodriguez said of the Atlantic 10: "I think the Atlantic 10 is starting to become the MAC [Mid-American Conference] of last year. It's the statement conference of this fall."
Now, we'll take a look at the week that was, and the week that will be, in I-AA football:
DOWN TO THE WIRE
Many I-AA fans probably had to get their heart rates checked after wild finishes in last week's games. As mentioned, Idaho State and Monmouth captured victories on the final play of the game. But they were not alone in this week's last minute heroics. Grambling's Brian Morgan nailed a 36-yard, gamewinning field goal with nine seconds left as the Tigers rallied to beat Bethune- Cookman, 24-23. Tennessee State's Charles Anthony continued his torrid start to the year by catching the winning touchdown with six seconds left in the Tigers 21-20 win against Jackson State. Texas State kicker Steven Dietz missed gamewinning attempts in regulation and the first overtime, but the third time was a charm as Dietz' 23-yarder in the second extra period lifted the Bobcats over Southeastern Louisiana, 31-28. Colgate held a 17-9 lead over Dartmouth, but the Big Green scored from 19 yards out on the last play of the game to come within a two-point conversion of tying the contest. Dartmouth quarterback Charlie Rittgers had his pass attempt batted down at the line, and the Raiders held on for the two point win.
TOP 10 NOT PLAYING LIKE IT
Proving that the first couple polls are more guesses than answers, six of the nation's top 10 teams lost on Saturday. Four of the losses came at home, and four also came to unranked opponents. No. 1 Montana went down at Sam Houston State, 41-29, and fell to No. 7. No. 3 Wofford was blasted, 58-14, at Georgia Southern. The Terriers dropped to No. 9, while the Eagles went up from No. 8 to No. 3. No. 7 Northern Iowa lost at home to No. 13 Stephen F. Austin, which has now beat two top 15 teams in as many weeks. The Panthers fell to No. 13, while the Lumberjacks are now No. 5. The biggest surprises came in the deep Atlantic 10. No. 5 Villanova, No. 9 Massachusetts and No. 10 New Hampshire all lost at home to previously unranked opponents. Massachusetts had the biggest slide of the group as the Minutemen fell to No. 16.
NO BREAKS IN THE SCHEDULE
It's becoming obvious that the Atlantic 10 is the deepest and best conference in the country. James Madison, Richmond and William & Mary all won on the road and the Dukes moved into the top 25. The Spiders and Tribe just missed, and the conference has nine of the nation's top 30 teams. Just qualifying for the playoffs will be a daunting task for every A-10 team. Texas State has the toughest remaining schedule in the country according to NCAA statistics, but A-10 teams come fast and furious after the Bobcats. Massachusetts, Delaware, Northeastern and Maine all have schedules ranked in the top 10, and five more teams are in the top 16 in schedule strength. Only William & Mary (#45) is out of the top 25. If the Atlantic 10 teams continue to beat each other up and no clear favorite emerges, the selection committee will have its hands full to determine which squads merit a playoff berth.
FLY, I-AA, FLY
While out watching the Minnesota-Philadelphia Monday Night Football game, the Eagles rally song "Fly Eagles Fly" seemed to blare from the loudspeakers every second as Philadelphia posted a 27-16 victory. Without the production of two I- AA standouts, the win would not have been possible. Brian Westbrook, the Villanova graduate and 2001 Walter Payton Award winner, ran for 69 yards on the ground and caught five balls for 69 more yards through the air. Terrell Owens, formerly a Chattanooga Moc, put the game away with a 45-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Delaware graduate Rich Gannon and Northern Iowa's Kurt Warner also led their teams to victory, but the I-AA alum making the biggest news was Jerry Rice. Rice, arguably the greatest NFL player of all- time, did not catch a pass in the Raiders win over Buffalo and saw his 274 game streak of catching at least one ball come to an end. Rice's streak will be tough for anyone to break, and will serve as a reminder to the skeptics and scouts that I-AA players are more than capable of excellence in the NFL.
COACHING TIDBITS
Duquesne coach Greg Gattuso became the all-time winningest coach in school history with a 45-7 win over Georgetown Saturday. Gattuso career record at Duquesne stands at 92-30-0, and he is ranked third among active I-AA coaches (with at least five seasons) with 8.2 wins per season. Gattuso, who set the record in 12 years, broke the old mark of 91 that Dan McCann set in 19 years at the helm for the Dukes... After three games in the press box, Massachusetts head coach Don Brown finally gets to coach the Minutemen from the field on Saturday against Delaware. Brown suddenly left Northeastern for Massachusetts, and after the Huskies filed an injunction a Suffolk County judge advised the schools to work out a settlement. Brown was forced to sit out the first three contests, and Massachusetts also had to pay Northeastern a cash settlement and issue a public apology. Brown was able to conduct practice and all other weekly activities while serving his three game suspension. For future reference, the Minutemen visit the Huskies on Nov. 6... Southern coach Pete Richardson is in the final year of his contract, and talks between Richardson and the school aren't expected to resume until later in the season. Richardson rejected the school's offer worth approximately $205,000 in the past year. However, negotiations have been positive and Richardson should sign a long-term deal with the Jaguars in time.
THE GAMES
I could have flipped a coin and done almost as well as last week's picks. I went 23-13 (.659) for the week, as I didn't exactly forecast for six top 10 teams going down. The season record is still pretty solid at 74-29 (.712), but I'd like to get back to hitting three out of every four this week.
QUICK HITS
Johnson C. Smith (0-4) at No. 9 Wofford (1-1), 7:00
The last time we saw Johnson C. Smith, Georgia Southern was running rings around the Division II Golden Bulls in an 84-3 victory. Of course, the last time we saw Wofford, Georgia Southern was pretty much doing the same thing in a 58-14 win. Don't get me wrong. I'm not implying that the Golden Bulls, who have been outscored 216-30 in four games, will hang in with the Terriers. Wofford will get back on track with an easy win, it just won't be by 80 points. Prediction: Wofford 59, Johnson C. Smith 0
No. 1 Southern Illinois (2-1) at Delaware State (0-3), 1:00
Give the Hornets credit for scheduling tough. Delaware State opened the season against Massachusetts, and was drilled 51-0. The Hornets have also suffered a loss to NC Central and were blown out by Elon. Now, Delaware State gets to match up against the No. 1 team in the nation. The Salukis main goals in the game are to stay healthy and get the starters out early in the second half, because the Hornets won't be much of a test. Southern Illinois will end the bad luck for No. 1 ranked teams, and for the first time all season we should not have a new No. 1 squad when the polls come out Monday. Prediction: Southern Illinois 63, Delaware State 0
VMI (0-3) at William & Mary (1-1), 1:00
The Keydets and the Tribe meet for the 61st straight season and 82nd time overall, and to say the least the series has been all William & Mary. The Tribe has capture the last 18 against VMI and has not lost to the Keydets since 1985. William & Mary won last year's contest, 34-24, and should be even better this season. Leading wide receiver Josh Lustig is out indefinitely for the Tribe, which could be a problem in the packed A-10. Against VMI, his absence won't matter too much. Prediction: William & Mary 35, VMI 7
Rhode Island (2-0) at Hofstra (1-1), 3:30
When two teams averaging over 450 yards of total offense per game meet up, there's bound to be some fireworks. The Rams do it on the ground, with a 370- yard per game average The Pride average 400 yards per game through the air. Nine Atlantic 10 teams are in the top 30, but neither of these two is among those squads. That does not mean anyone should be taking them lightly. The Rams have a win over Fordham and are averaging 38 points per game, while Hofstra played Montana tough on the road before bowing out. If they were in any other conference, both teams would be in the middle of the pack or better. But stuck in the tough A-10, each team badly needs a win here. Bobby Seck hits one more big pass than Jason Ham makes a big run, and Hofstra takes a high-scoring affair. Prediction: Hofstra 41, Rhode Island 38
Eastern Illinois (0-2) at Eastern Michigan (1-2), 6:00
The Panthers deserve a better fate than an 0-2 record. In the opener, Eastern Illinois squandered a lead in the closing seconds and lost in overtime, 33-30, against Indiana State. Last week, the Panthers were on their way to an impressive road win at Illinois State before two late scores gave the Redbirds a 35-31 triumph. Eastern Michigan is the type of bad MAC team that I-AA teams can compete with and often beat, and the Eagles shoddy defense will keep Eastern Illinois in the game. The Panthers will score big again, but a third straight loss is in store. Prediction: Eastern Michigan 38, Eastern Illinois 28
Tennessee Tech (2-1) at Murray State (1-2), 6:00
The Golden Eagles pulled together after receiver Drew Hixon was put into a coma after a helmet-to-helmet collision against South Florida. Tennessee Tech knocked off VMI, 16-10, and improved to 2-1 on the season. The Racers had two 100-yard rushers but fumbled away the game in a 28-21 loss at Indiana State a week ago. Murray State's Ron Lane and Nick Turner have the ability to put up similar numbers on the ground against the Golden Eagles, and Murray State will come away with the victory. Prediction: Murray State 31, Tennessee Tech 17
Samford (1-2) at Southeast Missouri (0-3), 7:00
If history and statistics are any indicators, the Bulldogs and Indians could be set for a shootout in Cape Girardeau. In each of the previous four meetings, the winning team has scored at least 40 points and Samford won last year's contest, 41-31. Southeast Missouri has allowed over 40 points in every game this season, although they must be happy to see an opponent on their level after playing Southern Illinois and two MAC schools. With Ray Nelson and Efrem Hill leading the offense, the Bulldogs have a good shot to become the fourth team to score 40 on the Indians. Samford's defense is a little bit better, too, and should be the difference in the outcome. Prediction: Samford 42, Southeast Missouri 27
Lafayette (2-1) at Richmond (2-1), 1:00
The Spiders have a golden opportunity to build on last week's momentum with a win against the Leopards. Richmond's next three games are against Maine, Villanova and James Madison, and a matchup with Delaware still looms later in the season. For fans of the passing game, UR Stadium is not the place to be this weekend. Both teams average more yards on the ground than through the air, as Joe McCourt leads the Leopards against Stacy Tutt and the Spiders. Richmond's defense is the better unit, though, and has allowed just 21 points in the past two games. Lafayette struggled to stop Princeton a week ago, and will have problems shutting down the Spiders as well. Prediction: Richmond 31, Lafayette 10
Western Carolina (2-1) at Gardner-Webb (1-2), 6:00
Both teams got a dose of reality last week. Western Carolina bursted out to a 2-0 start and was on the doorstep of the top 25 before Alabama blasted the Catamounts, 52-0. A fellow Southern Conference squad, Furman, broke a tight game open in the second half and overwhelmed Gardner-Webb, 38-6. Gardner-Webb has the home field advantage, but Western Carolina has the talent on offense to get the job done. The Catamounts get back on track with a win. Prediction: Western Carolina 38, Gardner-Webb 27
Georgetown (1-2) at No. 10 Colgate (1-1), 1:00
There have to be a few red flags up in Hamilton, N.Y. The Raiders struggled in a 30-20 loss to Massachusetts in their first game, and needed two late scores and a stop on a two-point conversion to hold off Dartmouth, 17-15. With the exception of a 45-yard touchdown scamper against the Big Green, Payton winner Jamaal Branch has had to grind it out for every yard in the first couple games. Georgetown should be a good remedy for Colgate's offensive woes. Duquesne lit up the Hoyas for 45 points, and Colgate's offense has the potential for a breakout game. The Raiders extend their Patriot League win streak to 14 games, and get the offense back on track before next week's matchup at Yale. Prediction: Colgate 38, Georgetown 10
Yale (1-0) at Cornell (0-1), 1:00
Yale just escaped Dayton with a victory, while Cornell took Bucknell down to the wire before falling by six points. Yale quarterback Alvin Cowan was not his usual self against the Flyers, throwing for 176 yards after averaging 300 yards through the air a season ago. On the bright side, running back Robert Carr stepped up with 172 yards on the ground. Carr's production is for real, and Cowan doesn't figure to have two straight sub-par games. The Big Red will land in the bottom of the Ivy League, and Yale, like Colgate, will get the offense on track before next week's game. Prediction: Yale 35, Cornell 13
Harvard (1-0) at Brown (1-0), 12:00
The Crimson and the Bears cruised to easy victories against overmatched competition in their openers. Harvard, with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback and Clifton Dawson at running back, is capable of putting up points in a hurry. Brown's Nick Hartigan led the nation in rushing yards per game a year ago, so the question mark will be quarterback Joe DiGiacomo. DiGiacomo looked good in his collegiate debut against Albany, but Harvard isn't Albany. The defenses and running games are close to equal, but Fitzpatrick figures to break out after a quiet day a week ago and lead the Crimson to the victory. Prediction: Harvard 34, Brown 20
The Citadel (0-1) at AP No. 9 Auburn (1-0)
Many teams in the country, including both I-A and I-AA, would be thrilled to post a few wins against The Citadel's early opponents. The Bulldogs lost to Appalachian State, 28-14, and now get Auburn, Duke, Furman, Georgia Southern and Wofford in five of the next six weeks. Auburn, which beat LSU 10-9 a week ago, is clearly the best of that competition. The Bulldogs will be battled tested by the time the Southern Conference powers come calling, but will have to take their licks against the Tigers. Prediction: Auburn 52, The Citadel 7
GOOD GAMES
Florida A & M (0-3) at Tennessee State (3-0), 3:00
The Rattlers are paying for their failed jump up to I-A. Florida A & M has already faced established I-A programs Illinois, Tulane and Temple on the road and still has meetings left with Virginia Tech and Florida Atlantic. Just seeing a I-AA team on the other end of the field has to make head coach Billy Joe breathe a little easier. However, seeing Tennessee State running back Charles Anthony on that I-AA team gets the rate of breaths going quicker again. If the Payton Award was given out after three games, Anthony would win going away. He has averaged 6.4 yards per carry, nearly 180 yards per game and scored five touchdowns. Anthony's numbers can't be pleasant news for a Rattler defense that has surrendered over five yards per carry in the first three outings. Tennessee State will go to Anthony early and often, and come away with a close victory. Prediction: Tennessee State 27, Florida A & M 24
Illinois State (2-1) at Florida Atlantic (3-0), 4:00
Florida Atlantic has suddenly become the media darling in I-A football. With longtime Miami and Louisville coach Howard Schnellenberger at the helm, the Owls have already won on the road at Hawaii, North Texas and Middle Tennessee State. The Redbirds could also look back to last year, when the Owls made the I-AA semifinals, to recognize how good Florida Atlantic can be. Last season, the Owls won at Hancock Stadium, 28-10. The Redbirds played well in a loss at Minnesota, so they have already proven capable against I-A competition. All the statistics for the teams are close, but Florida Atlantic has played a tougher schedule and has the overall edge against Illinois State. Prediction: Florida Atlantic 34, Illinois State 24
Southwest Missouri State (3-0) at Tulsa (0-3), 7:00
After Sam Houston State's win against Montana, SMS' undefeated record now looks a little more impressive. The Bears have won all three games at home and Sam Houston was the only I-AA playoff conference team they faced, but 3-0 is still 3-0. Cody Pratt has led a quality offensive attack as the Bears have eclipsed the 30 point mark in every game. Tulsa's offense hasn't went over 30 points all season. The Golden Hurricane scored three points against Kansas and was shut out last week against Navy. Tulsa is shaping up to be one of the worst teams in I-A, and the Bears should at least be able to have the game close in the fourth quarter. Southwest Missouri State could go a long way towards proving themselves here, but will fall just short in the upset bid. Prediction: Tulsa 21, SMS 20
Sam Houston State (2-1) at Southeastern Louisiana (2-1), 7:00
The Bearkats find themselves in the same position the Lions were in a week ago. Southeastern Louisiana shocked I-AA by pummeling McNeese State. Though they played a good game and had a great chance to win, the Lions did not live up to the win with a loss at Texas State. Sam Houston State really took it to Montana a week ago. The Bearkats had a 41-10 lead at one point before a few late scores by the Grizzlies made the final tally a little closer. Somehow, the Bearkats stayed out of the top 25 after beating up on the No. 1 team in the nation and can prove the game wasn't a fluke against the Lions. Both teams play an exciting, wide-open offense with Dustin Long and Jarrod Fuller hooking up for the Bearkats and Martin Hankins throwing to Felton Huggins for the Lions. The stellar passing games will cancel each other out, so the outcome comes down to other phases of the game. The Sam Houston defense is tougher and the running game is better. The Bearkats will get the win that should vault them into the rankings. Prediction: Sam Houston State 42, Southeastern Louisiana 31
Sacramento State (1-1) at UC Davis (2-0), 3:30
The Causeway Classic game is a must-win for fans of both teams. No current member of the Hornets has beaten the Aggies, so Sacramento State will be fired up to end the four-game UC Davis win streak. The Hornets showed improvement from week one to week two in taking down Southern Utah. Quarterback Ryan Leadingham and wide receiver Fred Amey connected eight times and freshman Ryan Mole rushed for over 100 yards to lead the offense. Sacramento State has lost seven straight on the road and has not started 2-1 since 2001, and would love to snap both of those streaks against its rival. The Aggies have posted two wins to open the year and are trying to start 3-0 for the first time since 2001. They had to hold on to beat Weber State a week ago, but the offense appears to be in rhythm already. Sacramento State already has nine sacks, so Aggie quarterback Jon Grant could be under some pressure. Grant has enough weapons to burn the Hornets defense, and the Aggies will make it five in a row against Sacramento State. Prediction: UC Davis 31, Sacramento State 24
Idaho State (1-2) at Eastern Washington (1-2), 9:05
Both teams would like to flip their records around at this point, and the loser here is in big trouble for any hopes of a playoff berth. Idaho State won last year's game, 55-52, in double overtime as the teams combined for nearly 1,000 yards of offense. The Bengals and Eagles each have stellar offenses again, so the scoreboard operator will be busy in this year's track meet. The Eagles had a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter a year ago, but couldn't run out the clock. Eastern Washington was a popular pick to emerge in the Big Sky this season, and has played better after a season opening loss to an emotional Nicholls State team. The Bengals could easily have fallen to 0-3 last week at Northern Colorado, but staged a wild, late comeback to earn the victory. Idaho State's Mark Hetherington and Eastern Washington's Erik Meyer will air it out throughout the game, but the Eagles defense should post a few more stops and help earn the victory. Prediction: Eastern Washington 45, Idaho State 35
Alabama State (2-0) at Alcorn State (2-1), 7:00
It's rare to be able to use the common opponent argument this early in the season, but the Hornets and Braves have both taken on Howard in the first few weeks. Alabama State knocked off the Bison, 27-12, in the season opener on Sept. 4 while Alcorn State fell, 17-10, to Howard last week. Alabama State had last week's game with Arkansas Pine-Bluff postponed until Dec. 4, and will go in fresh for the SWAC East Division clash with the Braves. It's only September, and a lot can still happen between now and the end of the season, but the winner here has an excellent shot to represent the division in the SWAC title game on Dec. 11. Alcorn State looked explosive in a season opening win against Grambling, but the offense hasn't shown much since. Alabama State has the top defense thus far in the SWAC, and should prove too much of a match for the Braves offense. Prediction: Alabama State 20, Alcorn State 13
Jacksonville State (2-0) at Eastern Kentucky (0-2), 6:30
The struggles of the Ohio Valley Conference must be keeping Jacksonville State outside the top 25. There's no other reason for the Gamecocks to remain a few spots outside the rankings. Jacksonville State is the defending OVC champion, has a good nucleus back from last year, and has a 2-0 record, which includes a 65-20 win over Chattanooga. The Gamecocks are off to a good start in proving they are more than a one-year wonder in the OVC. Eastern Kentucky, on the other hand, has been one of the bigger disappointments in the first few games of the season. Losing to Appalachian State and Western Kentucky is acceptable, but the Colonels were not that close in either game. The Colonels were most people's preseason favorite in the OVC, but they have to start playing like it. Saturday's contest may end up being the most important game of the weekend, as the winner has a huge leg up in the run for the OVC title and automatic playoff berth. I chose to attend this game because I believe Eastern Kentucky will be a strong team this year. After Saturday, we'll all know if the first two games were an aberration or if we just drank the kool-aid on the Colonels. For at least one more week, I still think Eastern Kentucky has a capable team and will respond with a victory. Prediction: Eastern Kentucky 27, Jacksonville State 24
No. 24 James Madison (2-0) at AP No. 7 West Virginia (3-0), 4:00
James Madison's defense has carried it into the top 25. The Dukes set a school record by allowing just 91 yards against Villanova, and have allowed just seven points in the first two games. The Dukes are one of just two remaining undefeated teams in the tough A-10, but they didn't schedule the Mountaineers with improving the record in mind. West Virginia had an emotional, overtime win against Maryland last week and may drag a bit at the beginning of this game. James Madison will lose, but with the track record of the A-10 this season in mind the Dukes might keep it respectable. Final Score: West Virginia 31, James Madison 10
Weber State (0-3) at No. 23 Northern Arizona (0-2), 9:05
The Wildcats and Lumberjacks could both have at least one win on the year. Weber State lost by three points and two points to Southern Utah and UC Davis, respectively, while Northern Arizona lost an overtime battle at Stephen F. Austin. Too bad being close only counts in horseshoes. In football, a loss is still a loss and each team needs to win the Big Sky opener badly. Jason Murrietta hasn't matched his 2003 success as of yet, but the Lumberjacks faced two very tough defenses in Arizona and SFA. This could be the game Murrietta gets back on track. He tossed for 340 yards and five touchdowns against Weber State last year, and the Wildcats have won just twice in Flagstaff since 1972. Murrietta doesn't have the same weapons at receiver as a season ago, so he likely won't match last year's production. He will, however, do enough to get the Lumberj
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