eGriz
eGriz.com RULER!
Joined: 27 Mar 2002
Posts: 3620
Location: Missoula, Montana
1573 eGriz Bucks
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Griz face run-based PSU team (Kaimin).
PSU may give Griz happy returns (Missoulian).
Vikings Seek Comeback Win Over 4th-Ranked Grizzlies (PSU).
Vikings are playing for respect (The Oregonian).
Costa says he'll play at PSU next season (The Oregonian).
The football gods must be crazy (The Vanguard).
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Top 25 Quick Who - Where - What (I-AA.org).
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'Jacks block MSU's path to postseason (Independent Record).
Bobs On TV (Montana Standard).
SportsWest drops EWU Football (The Easterner).
***
Vote for Monte as Mascot of the Year!
http://r.espn.go.com/espn/contests/capitalone04/index
You can vote once per day.
Monte is sort of in 5th place. Current match-up:
4 Goldy (U of Minnesota) 71,218
5 Monte (U of Montana) 69,404
***
Griz face run-based PSU team
Peter Bulger, Montana Kaimin
http://www.kaimin.org/viewarticle.php?id=3049
It all comes down to the finish for the Montana Grizzly and Portland State Viking football teams.
When the teams square off in Portland, Ore., Saturday, their most glaring difference might be their late-game performances.
No. 4 Montana might look like the favorite because PSU is unranked nationally. Or because the Grizzlies are 6-1 overall, 3-0 in conference, while PSU holds 3-4 overall and 1-3 conference records. Plus, the Vikings field one of the worst passing games in the Big Sky. Then again, PSU has the rushing advantage, ranking second in the conference in that category and averaging 62.42 yards more per game than the Grizzlies. Judging by the statistics, they are better defenders than any of their Big Sky opponents.
What really matters, though, is the way the teams finish games, the last two in particular. For both teams, the drama unfolds when the clock winds down.
Montana's coming off of a bye week. Their last two games, a homecoming win over Idaho State and a road victory over a tough Eastern Washington team, were decided by a combined five points. Both games ended with the Grizzlies stopping their opponent on the goal line and blocking a field goal to preserve a lead.
The Vikings' recent fortunes are just the opposite. They lost their last two games at Montana State and Northern Arizona, victims of comebacks in the closing minutes. PSU dominated most of the statistical categories in both losses.
"We're not looking too good right now," said Vikings head coach Tim Walsh.
Still, Montana head coach Bobby Hauck isn't looking past Saturday's game.
"They're a talented and dangerous team," Hauck said. "They run the ball well, play physical on defense and play hard. That gives them the ability to beat any team they play."
Leading the cast of characters in the Vikings' tragedy are running backs Ryan Fuqua, a senior, and Joe Rubin, a junior. PSU plays a clock-managing, defensive brand of football, so their ground game is critical to their success.
Fuqua entered the season with 3,709 rushing yards, making him the active career rushing leader in all of I-AA. He averages 101.2 yards per game this year on 4.8 yards per carry with six touchdowns. His running mate, Rubin, averages 71 yards per game, with a 4.6 average per carry and four touchdowns.
"We've got a couple of outstanding running backs and a good offensive line," Walsh said. "We've had a good game plan running the ball and we need to do it this week if we want a chance to win." The Vikings' passing game is their weakness this season. Senior quarterback Joe Wiser averages a lowly 158.1 yards per game, has one more interception than he does touchdowns and completes only 46.3 percent of his passes. Junior wide receiver Shaun Bodiford averages 14.1 yards per each of his 29 catches and has three touchdowns.
Conversely, Montana tallies most if its yards through the air. Senior quarterback Craig Ochs boasts a 62.9 completion percentage and a 235.9-yard per game average. He has only four interceptions to go with 12 touchdowns. Senior receiver Tate Hancock is Ochs' favorite target of late, averaging 36.7 yards per game with two touchdowns. "The advantage goes to Montana," Walsh said about his team's defensive match up. "With Craig Ochs and those receivers, they're tough."
Sophomore Grizzly running back Lex Hilliard had a career game against Eastern and has six touchdowns and a 49.3-yard per game average. Senior running back Justin Green leads the Grizzlies with a 54.4-yard per game average. He also has four touchdowns.
PSU relies heavily on its defense, which is especially tough against the run. Junior linebacker Joey King was the Vikings' star on defense last season and leads them in tackles with 49. Senior strong safety Nick Chenault has three interceptions and 34 tackles for the Vikings. "They present some problems for us, as they have for everyone they've played," Hauck said of the PSU defense. "They're at or near the top of the conference in every defensive category."
Montana's defense is also anchored by its ability to stop rushers. Junior linebacker Shane MacIntyre's 46 tackles lead the team and he also has two sacks and an interception. Senior defensive tackle Jonny Varona heads the Montana pass rush with three sacks and 24 tackles.
"They're a great defense with a lot of tradition," Walsh said. "We've got to do the best we can versus an outstanding defensive football team."
After talk of the Grizzlies taking a bus to Portland to save money, the team will fly. Hauck stressed the importance of the decision.
"We want to win the game, so we're flying," Hauck said.
Kickoff is at 4:35 p.m. Saturday and the game will be televised locally on KPAX.
***
PSU may give Griz happy returns
By FRITZ NEIGHBOR of the Missoulian
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/10/29/sports/sports01. txt
After four weeks of tracking down squibbed kickoffs and angled punts, the Montana Grizzlies may actually be able to set up a couple decent returns when they travel to Portland State on Saturday.
Montana coach Bobby Hauck expects return men Levander Segars and Jefferson Heidelberger will get their chances from the Vikings, who host the Griz at 4:35 p.m. Mountain time at PGE Park.
"Yes I do," said the Grizzlies' second-year head coach. "They're going to kick it to us. They'll be the first ones since Sam Houston."
The loss at Sam Houston marked the last time a big kick return was seen from the Griz - a 55-yarder from Segars that came after SHSU had gone up 34-10. But the Bearkats also pooched a couple kicks that game, a common practice after Heidelberger broke a 96-yard return for a touchdown the week before against Hofstra.
Portland State is among six Big Sky Conference teams allowing 18.0-18.9 yards per kickoff return (the Vikings are third at 18.0; Montana is sixth at 18.3). The Vikings have also allowed the eye-catching average of just 4.4 yards per punt return.
"They're good on everything, and they'll kick to everybody," Hauck said. "So that fires me up."
After the Hofstra game Heidelberger was averaging 57 yards a return. Since then he's returned seven kickoffs in five games, for a total of 101 yards. That's a 14.4-yard average, and that is mainly because teams have conceded decent field position with a pooch, rather than risk a game-breaker. But the Vikings may take that risk.
"It's exciting for us because we feel we're good at what we do," said Heidelberger, who is averaging 23.9 yards a return overall. "On the other hand, the reason they'll (kick to Montana) is they're good. No one's hit them yet. We need just to be solid, and if they do kick it back there and give us a chance - which a lot of teams haven't - we need to try and get something good out of it and help our offense out."
A highly-touted high school quarterback who left the University of Oregon in September confirmed Thursday he is going to visit the Montana campus.
Johnny DuRocher, a 6-foot-4, 220-pounder out of Bethel High School in Spanaway, Wash., said he'll visit UM two weekends from now - when Sacramento State also hits town - but that he is far from deciding where to continue his college career.
"I really haven't kind of sat down and narrowed it down," he said. "I'm interested in Montana, I know the reputation they have for throwing the ball, and that's what I like to do. But as far as where I'm going to end up next fall, it's a little too early to tell."
He committed to Oregon during his junior year at Bethel High, then graduated early and went through spring drills in 2003 with the Ducks. When true freshman Dennis Dixon outperformed him in this year's fall camp to take the No. 2 quarterback spot behind Kellen Clemens, DuRocher, a redshirt freshman, transferred out.
He's now at Pierce College in Lakewood, Wash., not far from his parents' home in Graham. He's not playing football, instead concentrating on getting his associate arts degree. After that, he plans to play three years at another school.
"Things weren't going the way I planned, and I felt if I was going to do what I wanted to do with my career, it wasn't going to be there," DuRocher said. "I'm not 100 percent sure I'm going to drop down to the I-AA level. I'm just going to have to kind of see what's up."
DuRocher ended his prep career ranked ninth on Washington's all-time passing list with 6,781 yards. He threw for 67 touchdowns. He also reportedly turned down scholarship offers from Stanford and Washington.
"I committed in May of my junior year and didn't take any other trips," he said. "This time I want to be more patient, look around and not jump the gun this time around."
Oregon coach Mike Bellotti reportedly granted DuRocher a "conditional" release, meaning he could have final say over where he transfers. Other Pac-10 schools are in the picture, but current league rules require such a transfer to sit out two seasons before playing.
When Craig Ochs was picked off at Eastern Washington on Oct. 16, it snapped a streak of 117 passes without an interception. Montana's senior quarterback had his second pass at Sam Houston State intercepted, then went through the Northern Colorado, Weber State and Idaho State games without a pickoff.
And he did it with a soft cast on his right (throwing) thumb. Now that cast is gone. In fact, Ochs will be free of all training room residue when he hits the field Saturday - his calf injury has healed to the point where he doesn't need it wrapped.
"I won't look like 'Robocop' out there," Ochs said Thursday. "I'm 99 percent. I feel good."
If Ochs has rated any poor marks this season, it's been on deep throws that ended up off-target. The bandaged thumb might have hurt those throws.
"Well, it hasn't helped him, that's for sure," Hauck said. "He threw the ball well this week without it."
"The hand's feeling great," Ochs said. "It's nice to be out of that cast. I couldn't get the velocity on the ball with that wrap on it, and now this week I feel I have been able to."
Ochs has completed 62.9 percent of his throws (129-for-205) this season, for 1,651 yards and 12 touchdowns. He's been intercepted four times.
Quick kicks: Montana's turnover margin of plus-11 ranks the Griz third in Division I-AA.
* Portland State's 4.4 yards allowed per punt return ranks 10th nationally.
* To MSU quarterback Travis Lulay's long list of laurels, add another I-AA national player of the week award, this one from Don Hansen's Football Gazette. Lulay shared the award with Appalachian State receiver DaVon Folkes and Samford quarterback Ray Nelson.
* Montana is ranked 14th nationally in passing efficiency, while Portland State checks in at No. 88
***
Vikings Seek Comeback Win Over 4th-Ranked Grizzlies
Portland State University
http://goviks.com/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=1304
The Portland State Vikings are coming off two of the most difficult losses a team can face over the past two weeks. But, they must put all that behind them this week when they face no less a team than the fourth-ranked Montana Grizzlies. Kickoff is 3:35 p.m. this Saturday at PGE Park.
PSU suffered a 31-24 overtime defeat to Montana State on Oct. 16 and a 21-20 loss at Northern Arizona on Oct. 23 to put the Vikings at 3-4 on the season. Now 1-3 in Big Sky Conference play, the Vikings must settle for the role of the spoiler for the rest of the season.
This Saturday would be an excellent time to start as the Vikings host Montana (6-1, 3-0), which holds a share of first place in the Big Sky. PSU has lost the last four meetings with the Grizzlies. The last time PSU beat Montana - in 1999 - the Grizzlies were ranked second in the nation.
Saturday's game will be the first at home since October 2 for the Vikings. PSU plays three of its final four games at home as it goes after a winning season. The Vikings host Idaho State on Nov. 6, travel to Weber State on Nov. 13, then host UC Davis on Nov. 20.
NEMESIS, THY NAME IS MONTANA
Throughout history, Portland State has faced Montana more than any other school - 31 times - and as a result, have lost more games to Montana - 21 - than any other school. PSU has had some memorable moments during 10 victories over the Grizzlies - most notably a 50-49 win in 1976 and a 51-48 overtime win in 1999.
GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
* Every Thursday night, Viking Sports Talk is broadcast on 620 AM KPOJ from 7 to 8 p.m. Tom Hewitt hosts the live event from Champions Sports Bar at 1401 SW Naito Parkway. Tim Walsh will preview the Montana game and review the Northern Arizona game. Special guests include 1-AA football expert Otto Fad and PSU wrestling coach Marlin Grahn.
* Portland State's pregame tailgate party will place in front of the Kingston Bar and Grill, at SW Morrison between 20th and 21st, starting two hours prior to each game.
* The Viking Family Fun Zone will open at 2 p.m. and continue through the second quarter. There will be giant inflatables and interactive games that kids - and kids at heart - will love. Other activities include bouncers to jump on, a football toss, basketball, soccer, and other activities.
TICKETS
Tickets for Portland State football games are available at all TicketMaster outlets. TicketMaster outlets are located at all G.I. Joe's stores. Prices (not including service charge) are $18.50 and $13. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the Portland State ticket office at 503-725-3307 or 888-VIK-TIKS. The PSU Box Office is located at 1825 SW Broadway in Smith Memorial Student Union.
The PGE Park ticket office and will call, will open at noon on Saturday. Gates for this week's game will open at 2 p.m.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's game can be heard on 620 AM KPOJ and on the internet at www.620kpoj.com. Tom Hewitt and Matt James call the play-by-play. The pregame tailgate show begins at 2:30 p.m., with kickoff at 3:35 p.m. (Note: No TV coverage in Oregon except by satellite. KPAX network in Montana will broadcast the game.)
***
Vikings are playing for respect
With a postseason berth out of reach, PSU's goal now is to finish 7-4, starting with a win over No. 4 Montana
NORM MAVES JR., The Oregonian
http://www.oregonlive.com/vikingsfootball/oregonian/index.ssf? /base/sports/1099052537177610.xml
A 7-4 record can get a college football team a ticket to a lot of places. Some of them even have warm weather at this time of year.
But for Portland State, a 7-4 record will get the Vikings . . . well, a 7-4 record.
"Unlike my neighbors to the south," Portland State coach Tim Walsh noted dryly before a rowdy practice this week, "we have to do more than win six games."
That's life in I-AA football. The division has a playoff system with only 16 slots.
The Vikings won't be filling any of them this year. They're 3-4 and 1-3 in the Big Sky Conference with four games to go -- fourth-ranked Montana on Saturday at PGE Park, followed by Idaho State, Weber State and Cal-Davis.
It isn't unreasonable to think Portland State can win them all and finish at 7-4. If it does, it can start playing the what-if game with the past two excruciating weeks.
The Vikings have played well on the road at Montana State and Northern Arizona, only to let them both get away in the fading seconds of the fourth quarter.
So, what now?
"You have to play for the love of football," wide receiver Shaun Bodiford as he headed out of the Stott Center to practice. "You have your ups and downs every year, but you have to play for respect. Yeah, it was a heartbreaker, but this team is going north.
"We bounced back pretty good from Montana State. We'll bounce back this week, too."
That should be a comfort to Walsh. Last week, after the agony of the Montana State game, he called a 6 a.m. Monday team meeting to let the Vikings air out their lungs.
This week, there were no tricks.
"I like to think they'll play for all the right reasons," the coach said. "The love of the game -- I know it's a cliche, but the reality is that this is why you play. We can make a stamp for ourselves -- what better way to do it than to beat the fourth-ranked team in the country?"
It's not as if the Vikings are unarmed as they head into the game with the Grizzlies. On the average, they've outrun, outgained and outscored their seven opponents.
"I watched the film on Sunday," Walsh said, "and I saw a lot of good things. Last year, it was the Rocky Horror Picture Show."
The players insist that the Vikings have improved.
"This is a great team," said running back Ryan Fuqua, whose tender left leg muscles still are healing. "Montana State will tell you that. Northern Arizona will tell you that. This is where we find out what we're made of.
"There's been no finger-pointing here. It was rough after the (Northern Arizona) game, but we're over it."
Running back Joe Rubin, who has had two excellent games (167 and 133 yards) in Fuqua's stead, said the close losses have had a hidden benefit.
"It hasn't brought us down," he said. "It's brought us together. We took a three-hour ride (from Flagstaff, Ariz.) to Phoenix after the game, and it felt like three days.
"But this isn't breaking the team up at all."
Note:
Some broken parts are back in the Portland State lineup this week, while others need more time. Safety Jordan Senn practiced this week with a soft cast protecting a broken finger; offensive tackle Steve Blatchley is in a walking cast and will miss his third consecutive -- and probably last -- game; cornerback Reynard Carrie has a high ankle sprain and will miss this and probably next week, too.
***
Costa says he'll play at PSU next season
By Aaron Fentress and Norm Maves Jr., The Oregonian
http://www.oregonlive.com/vikingsfootball/oregonian/index.ssf? /base/sports/1099051755177610.xml
Former Arizona quarterback/wide receiver Nic Costa announced he will transfer to Portland State next term and play wide receiver for the Vikings next season.
Costa, a former standout quarterback at Aloha High School, left the Arizona football team earlier this month because of a lack of playing time.
The fourth-year junior, said he looked at other Northwest schools, but always was eyeing Portland State as his final destination. He had considered transferring to PSU last year.
"It's a good fit for me," Costa said.
Costa has one season of eligibility remaining. Portland State sports information director Mike Lund said the school could not comment on Costa until after the season.
The 5-foot-11, 220-pound Costa was a hot recruit out of Aloha in 2001. In three seasons at Arizona, Costa completed 37 of 95 passes for 512 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. He moved to wide receiver this season but played sparingly.
***
The football gods must be crazy
Two devastating losses leave the football team searching for answers
Ian Ruder, The Vanguard (PSU student newspaper), October 29, 2004
http://www.dailyvanguard.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/10/29/41 81d848d2c90
Two of the most emotionally devastating losses in recent history have left the PSU football team (3-4, 1-3 Big Sky) wondering what it takes to win as they head into this Saturday's match up with perennial Big Sky powerhouse Montana (6-1, 3-0 Big Sky).
After seemingly reaching their nadir two weeks ago when they lost to Montana State in overtime after leading for all but the last seconds of regulation, the Vikings sunk to a new low last Saturday against Northern Arizona when they blew a 10-point lead with only seven minutes remaining to lose by one point on a 48-yard field goal with 12 seconds left.
"This has probably been the toughest two weeks we've had to deal with," said linebacker Tolo Tuitele, a senior in his fifth year with the team.
"After two close losses like that, when you know you should have won...it's heartbreaking."
Any loss results in questions as to what caused it, but back-to-back losses like the Vikings have endured prompt serious soul-searching.
Head coach Tim Walsh summed up the biggest question. "When you have the ability to dominate a game for 55 minutes, why don't you do it for the last five minutes?"
After going through the mental and physical reasons for the Vikings' final-minute flounders, Walsh looked beyond reason.
"Lady Luck and the football gods haven't been exactly on our side."
Since it might be tough to pry Lady and the gods away from the Red Sox and the New England Patriots, the Vikings have turned their focus towards the things they can control.
"If there's anything we need to improve on I think it's finishing the game, said Tuitele. "Little mistakes add up to big ones and we had a couple of little mistakes that added up to huge ones."
Little mistakes, like missed blocks, dropped passes and blown coverages have obscured a Viking team that is statistically better than the teams that have been beating it. The Viking defense gives up the fewest points (19.1 pts/gm) and yards (328 yds/gm) in the Big Sky and the offense is the third most prolific (26.6 pts/gm).
"We're rolling up a lot of offense and our defense is playing pretty well. It just doesn't work out for us in the end," senior offensive lineman Mike Stachowiak correctly noted.
Since they left their dreams of reaching the Division 1-AA playoff somewhere on the field at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman two weeks ago, the Vikings will have to look for new sources of inspiration come game time at PGE Park this Saturday.
Walsh is aware of the difficulty of staying motivated. "Any time a team works as hard as this team has they deserve better than what we've gotten. We've had two losses that make our players wonder whether working hard is really the answer.
"It is a tough time for everybody in our program. It'd be real easy for the average person to say, 'Aw, that's enough.' We're not going to be average."
Stachowiak agrees that the team won't quit, saying, "With this group of guys that's not going to happen."
Instead, Stachowiak and the Vikings will look to exact some revenge on a Montana team that has owned PSU over the last 15 years and won eight of the last 10 meetings. The last two defeats at the claws of the Grizzlies have been particularly galling and are riddled with disturbing similarities to the recent collapses.
In 2002, the Vikings led the Bobcats for all but the final 51 seconds when the Grizz scored an 11-yard touchdown and 2-point conversion to cap an 11-point fourth quarter rally that sealed a 24-21 Viking defeat.
Last year, after the Vikings missed a field goal that could have cut the deficit to 3, the Grizz blew open a close 20-14 game with 22 fourth-quarter points en route to a 42-14 win. Like last year, the two teams meet in week eight of the season, and like last year Montana comes in as one of the top ranked teams in Division 1-AA, while PSU is desperately searching for an identity.
For Stachowiak and Tuitele, two of the most tenured Vikings, Saturday's showdown will be their last chance to notch a win over the Grizzlies before they leave PSU, having lost the last four years. Tuitele for one is looking forward to the opportunity. "Hopefully we can deal them a little payback," he said grinning.
If not, maybe it's time to give up once and for all on the football gods and leave Lady Luck standing on the corner.
*** ***
Top 25 Quick Who - Where - What
I-AA.org
http://www.i-aa.org/article.asp?articleid=62708
(Poll: Sports Network. Notes are by I-AA Conferences and Schools)
Between Ranked I-AA:
8. Sam Houston State (6-1) at #13 Stephen F. Austin (5-2).
12. Lehigh (6-1) vs. #18 Colgate (5-2).
Ranked I-AA vs. I-A:
3. Delaware (6-1) at Navy (6-1).
Ranked I-AA Idle:
6. Furman (6-2).
14. Hampton (7-1).
20. Jacksonville State (6-1).
Ranked I-AA Capsules:
1. Southern Illinois (7-1) vs. Western Illinois (4-4)
6:00 p.m. CST, McAndrew Stadium (17,000), Carbondale, IL.
Coaches: Jerry Kill (71-46 overall, 22-21 at SIU), Don Patterson (45-22 overall, 45-22 at WIU)
Radio: 95.1 FM, Mike Reis and Gene Green
Series: WIU leads, 33-12-4
First / Last meeting: 1933 / 2003 (Southern Illinois won 37-32 in Macomb)
Series Note: Southern Illinois' back-to-back wins over the Leatherenecks snapped an 18-game Western Illinois winning streak (1984-2001) in the series. The streak is still the longest over an opponent in Gateway history.
2. Georgia Southern (7-1) vs. South Dakota State (4-3)
1:00 p.m. EST, Paulson Stadium (18,000), Statesboro, GA.
THE GAME: This will be the first-ever meeting between Georgia Southern and South Dakota State.
THE COACHES: Georgia Southern head coach Mike Sewak (Virginia '81) is in his third season with the Eagles and has a record of 25-8 ... Sewak led the Eagles to the SoCon championship in 2002 and a trip to the Division I-AA national semifinals ... South Dakota State head coach John Stiegelmeier (South Dakota State '79) is in his eighth year with the Jackrabbits and has a career record of 46-36 including a 4-3 mark this season ... Stiegelmeier was an assistant at SDSU for nine years before becoming the head coach in 1997.
GAME NOTES: Georgia Southern will be playing its final regular season home game of the season when it hosts South Dakota State ... The Eagles have clinched at least a share of the SoCon crown with a 6-0 league record ... GSU's only remaining conference game is at Furman on Nov. 6 ... The Eagles have won seven straight games and have won five straight at Paulson Stadium ... The Eagles have won 14 straight at home against regular season non-conference opponents ... GSU last lost a regular season home non-conference game to William & Mary on Sept. 6, 1997 by a 29-28 score ... The Eagles continue to lead the nation in rushing, scoring offense and passing efficiency ... GSU averages 355.5 yards rushing per game, 50.4 points per game and has an efficiency rating of 186.7 ... QB Chaz Williams is fifth in the country in scoring with 10.8 PPG ... South Dakota State is coming off a 22-20 loss to Montana State after the Bobcats kicked a game-winning field goal with two seconds left in the game ... The Jackrabbits are in their first year of reclassifying into NCAA Division I-AA after many years at the Division II level ... Statistically, all SDSU stats are included nationally among other Division II institutions ... SDSU is a member of the Great West Football Conference.
3. Delaware (6-1) at Navy (6-1)
1:30 p.m. EST, Navy Marine Corps Stadium, Annapolis, MD.
TV: CN8
Radio: 94.7 FM (WRDX)
THE SERIES: This week's game is the 13th meeting between these regional rivals with the series all tied at 6-6. The teams first met in 1931 with Navy winning 12-7 in Annapolis, but the series did not continue until 1985 when Delaware posted a 16-13 win in Newark. Navy had won two straight meetings before Delaware posted a 21- 17 comeback victory last season at Navy Marine Corps Stadium before a Homecoming crowd of 34,982. The series is also tied 4-4 in games played at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium. Six of the 12 games have been decided by five points or less. The teams played ever season for eight straight years between 1985-92 with Delaware winning five of those games. Navy is 4-0 at home this season, the Midshipmen's lone setback was a 27-9 defeat to Notre Dame.
4. Montana (6-1) at Portland State (3-4)
3:35 p.m. PST, Portland, Ore., PGE Park (20,000 NexTurf).
The series: Montana leads 21-10 and has won four straight.
Last meeting: Chris Snyder tied a school record with four field goals and Montana scored 22 fourth-quarter points to pull away from the Vikings 42-14 on Oct. 25, 2003 in Missoula, Mont.
The coaches: Portland State's Tim Walsh is 73-58 in his 12th season with the Vikings. He is 1-7 against the Grizzlies. Montana's Bobby Hauck is 15-5 in his second season, including a 1-0 mark against the Vikings.
Notes: Portland State's last victory over Montana was a 51-48 overtime thriller in 1999 at PGE Park (then Civic Stadium)...This is Montana's final regular-season road game...Montana is seeking a five-game winning streak, which would be the longest of the Bobby Hauck era. UM has won four straight three times under Hauck...Portland State continues to lead the Big Sky in scoring defense (19.1 points per game) and total defense (328.4 yards per game)...Montana is first in rush defense (118.4 ypg), while Portland State is second (119.0 ypg)...PSU will be playing at home for the first time since Oct. 2. The Vikings went 1-2 on their recent three-game road trip...Montana did not play last week...PSU's Joe Rubin and Ryan Fuqua combined for 223 yards and two touchdowns against Northern Arizona...PSU has allowed a leaguelow 10 sacks this season, but surrendered four to NAU...The Vikings average a conference-high 92.7 penalty yards per game...Montana is last in the league in total defense, and last in the nation in pass defense.
5. Cal Poly (7-0) vs. UC Davis (5-2)
6 p.m. PST, San Luis Obispo, CA, Mustang Stadium (cap. 9,100, natural grass).
NOTES: Cal Poly and UC Davis are meeting for the 30th time and the visiting team has won the last four contests. Cal Poly won 18-14 a year ago in Davis as Jordan Beck scooped up a UC Davis fumble and raced 41 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. The Aggies have a 14-13-2 edge in the series. Rich Ellerson is 2-2 against UC Davis, including a 26-19 loss while he was head coach at Southern Utah in 1996. Bob Biggs is 6-5 against the Mustangs. Cal Poly has lost its last three games against UC Davis in Mustang Stadium and is 8-6 at home and 5-8-2 at Toomey Field.
6. Furman (6-2) - IDLE.
7. Western Kentucky (5-2) vs. Illinois State (4-3)
7 p.m. (CST), L.T. Smith Stadium/Jimmy Feix Field (17,500), Bowling Green, Ky.
The Series: WKU 8, ILS 2
In Bowling Green: WKU 4, ILS 0 / In Normal: WKU 4, ILS 2
First Meeting: WKU 24-14, Sept. 20, 1975 in Bowling Green
Last Meeting: WKU 27-24, Oct. 18, 2003 in Normal / In BG: WKU 9-0, Nov. 2, 2002
Last ILS win: 23-7, Nov. 7, 1992 in Normal
Current Series Streak: WKU, 3 (2001-03) / In Bowling Green: WKU, 4 (1975-02)
WKU has defeated the Redbirds in all three meetings since joining the Gateway Conference in 2001, and has won all four contests in the series in Bowling Green. Since scoring just 15 points in the two series losses, the Hilltoppers are averaging 31.3 points per game against ILS.
8. Sam Houston State (6-1) at #13 Stephen F. Austin (5-2)
2:00 p.m., Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, Texas.
Series: SHSU leads 42-33-2
Last Meeting: Stephen F. Austin 34, Sam Houston State 31 in 2003
Last Week: SHSU 20, No. Colorado 7; Texas State 17, SFA 14
Coaches: SHSU's Ron Randleman: 127-122-3 (23rd year at SHSU) 214-164-6 (36th year overall)
SFA's Mike Santiago: 38-24 (7th year at SFA)
Notes: Stephen F. Austin goes into must-win mode after losing a 17-14 decision at Texas State last weekend. Only once in the previous 40 years of Southland Conference football has a team lost two league games and won a championship. That was in 1991 when SHSU finished 5-2 and tied with McNeese State, which posted a 4-1-2 record for identical .714 win percentages. The Bearkats are playing their second Southland game after defeating Nicholls State, 38-10, two weeks ago. SHSU has a five-game win streak heading into the contest. The lone loss for SHSU this year was a two-point (33-31) setback at Southwest Missouri on Sept. 11. SFA has lost two of its last three after starting the year 4-0. SFA snapped a three-game win streak by SHSU in the series with its three-point win in 2003. SHSU has won five of the last eight meetings. Last year, Ryan Rossner kicked a 54-yard field goal with one second left to give SFA its first victory in four years over the Bearkats. A fumble and a punt block allowed SFA to rally for 10 points in the fourth quarter, the only scoring in the frame, and take the 34-31 win. SFA's Miguel Toulonhad seven receptions for 119 receiving yards last week in the loss. SHSU's Jason Mathenia caught six passes for 113 yards, including a 51- yard touchdown that put SHSU up 10-7 last week over Northern Colorado. Mathenia moved up to number nine in all-time SHSU receiving with 79 catches for 1,282 yards in just two seasons. Byran Richmond intercepted two passes in SHSU's win last week.
9. James Madison (6-1) vs. VMI (0-8)
3:00 p.m. EST, Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field (13,559), Harrisonburg, VA.
Radio: 550 AM (WSVA)
Last Meeting: James Madison 38, Virginia Military Institute 15 (11/5/03)
All-Time Series: James Madison leads, 6-3
The Series: JMU leads the series with VMI 6-3 and has a 4-0 advantage in games in Harrisonburg, but the teams haven't met since 1994 when JMU posted a 38-15 victory in Lexington. The 1994 win came during a 10-3 season in which JMU reached the second round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. The teams first met in 1982 and played on a regular basis until 1990 when VMI's then-Southern Conference and JMU's then-Yankee Conference slates began making scheduling more difficult. The 1994 game is the teams' only meeting since 1990. In games at JMU, the Dukes have won 21-17 in 1984, 39-7 in 1986, 37-0 in 1988, and 25-0 in 1989.
10. New Hampshire (5-2) at Northeastern (3-4)
12:30 p.m., Parsons Field, Brookline, Mass.
Radio: 740 AM WJIB
Series: UNH leads 37-11-1
First meeting: 10/7/39 (UNH 15-6)
Last meeting: 11/16/02 (NU 49-17)
Last UNH win: 9/16/00 (24-7)
NOTES: Northeastern meets New Hampshire for the 50th time, putting it one behind the NU-URI rivalry as the second-most frequently played in the annals of Husky football. The Wildcats hold a commanding 37-11-1 lead over the Huskies, which dates to 1939. That year, UNH came away with a 15-6 win. The two teams played in 1942, 1946-49, 1958-59 and 1962-2002, before taking a break last season. The Wildcats won 19 straight contests, from 1973-91. Northeastern's longest winning streak is four (1963-66). The largest margin of victory for either side is 52, that in a 59-7 UNH win in 1990. The Huskies' biggest win was a 49-17 triumph in 2002.
11. Wofford (5-2) vs. The Citadel (1-5)
1:30 p.m. EST, Gibbs Stadium (13,000), Spartanbug, SC.
THE GAME: The Citadel and Wofford have both the third-oldest and third-longest series in the Southern Conference ... The two clubs first met in 1916 and will be playing for the 57th time when they meet in Spartanburg on Oct. 30 ... The Citadel owns a 40-15-1 advantage in the series though the Terriers have won five straight and five of the seven since Wofford joined the SoCon prior to the 1997 season ... Each of the last five games have been decided by 13 points or more ... The Citadel holds a 10-9 edge in games played in Spartanburg ... The Citadel's last win in the series was a 20-14 decision at Wofford in 1998 ... The Terriers have won 11 straight home games, the longest active streak in the SoCon ... Wofford has also won nine straight home regular season games and six straight at home against SoCon opponents ... The Citadel has dropped six straight road games since winning at Georgia Southern last Oct. 25 ... Wofford head coach Mike Ayers is 10-8 all-time vs. The Citadel including an 8-7 mark with the Terriers ... Last year's game, a 42-16 Wofford win at Johnson Hagood Stadium, was for first place in the Southern Conference.
THE COACHES: Citadel head coach John Zernhelt (Maryland '77) begins his first year as head coach after serving as offensive coordinator last season ... This is Zernhelt's first head coaching position though he has served as an assistant for 27 years at South Carolina, Duke, Rice, Maryland, East Carolina, Marshall and James Madison ... Wofford head coach Mike Ayers (Georgetown, KY '74) is in his 17th year with the Terriers and has a record of 107-79-1 ... Ayers is in his 20th year as a college head coach with a record of 118-100-2 ... He was the SoCon Coach of the Year in 2000, '02 and '03 and is the winningest coach in Wofford history.
GAME NOTES: Both clubs are coming off losses to nationally-ranked clubs last week ... Wofford dropped a 38-17 decision at #23 Appalachian State while The Citadel is coming off a 42-7 home loss to #2 Georgia Southern ... The Terriers are second in the SoCon and third in the nation in rushing offense with 289.9 yards per game ... The Citadel is sixth in the SoCon in rushing defense, allowing 210.5 YPG ... Wofford is third in the SoCon in fourth down efficiency, converting 17 of 26 opportunities ... The Citadel leads the SoCon in defensing fourth down conversions, stopping five of seven attempts ... The Terriers have won seven straight games the week following a loss.
12. Lehigh (6-1) vs. #18 Colgate (5-2)
1:00 p.m. EST, Goodman Stadium (16,000), Bethlehem, PA.
NOTES: Colgate leads the all-time series between these two schools, 24-16-2. The two teams have split the last six meetings. The series began in 1922, with Colgate picking up a 35-6 win over Lehigh in Binghamton, NY. At Goodman Stadium, the Mountain Hawks have captured five of the previous eight meetings. The winner of the Lehigh-Colgate game has gone on to at least share in the Patriot League title in each of the last seven years. These two teams have won more league games and league titles than anyone else. The Lehigh defense leads the Patriot League and ranks seventh nationally, allowing just 15.6 points per contest in 2004. Colgate's defense is second in the league, allowing 16.4 points per game. Since 1997, both Lehigh and Colgate have won at least seven games every season.
13. Stephen F. Austin (5-2) - See #8 Sam Houston State.
14. Hampton (7-1) - IDLE.
15. Northwestern State (5-2) at North Dakota State (5-3)
1:00 p.m., Fargodome, Fargo, N.D.
Series: First meeting
Last Meeting: First meeting
Last Week: Nicholls St. 40, NWLa. 14; Cal-Poly 13, No. Dakota St. 10
Coaches: NWLa.'s Scott Stoker: 20-12 (3rd year at NWLa.)
NDSU's Craig Bohl: 13-6 (2nd year at NDSU)
Notes: The Demons take a break from conference play. Northwestern State tries to rebound after a stunning 40-14 loss at Nicholls State in its last outing. North Dakota State is playing its third in a row at home and for the sixth time in nine games on the season. North Dakota State won at Nicholls State, 24-14, back on Oct. 2. The Bison managed 224 yards rushing and 122 passing against Nicholls. Demon safety J.D. Henry blocked two field-goal attempts last week at Nicholls State.
16. William & Mary (5-2) at Towson (3-4)
6:00 p.m. EST, Minnegan Field at Johnny Unitas Stadium (cap. 11,198, artifcial turf), Towson, Md.
All-Time Series - W&M leads 1-0.
Last Meeting - W&M won, 43-15, in Williamsburg on Oct. 17, 1992.
Inside Slant: William &Mary wideout Dominique Thompson had three touchdown receptions in 37 career games before his four-touchdown effort at Delaware on Sat. Thompson garnered I-AA.org and ESPN/USA Today honors for his efforts...Tribe senior QB Lang Campbell is two scoring passes shy of moving into sixth-place in school annals for career touchdown passes with 37...Towson had gone two consecutive games without allowing a pass completion before yielding 19 for 232 yards and a pair of touchdown passes in its 41-6 defeat at Villanova on Sat...Tigers senior P.D. Moore ranks fifth in the Conference with 8.5 tackles for loss.
17. Appalachian State (5-3) at Chattanooga (1-6)
6:00 p.m., Finley Stadium/Davenport Field (20,668), Chattanooga, TN.
THE GAME: Appalachian State owns an 18-9 lead in the series with Chattanooga that dates back to 1977 ... The Mountaineers have won three straight and 14 of the last 15 games ... UTC's lone win since 1988 was a 30-27 decision in Chattanooga in 2000 ... ASU owns a 7-6 lead in games played in Chattanooga and has won six of the last seven in the Scenic City ... The last two games between these two clubs played in Chattanooga have each been decided by three points ... ASU head coach Jerry Moore is 14-1 lifetime against UTC and Chattanooga head coach Rodney Allison is 0-1 vs. Appalachian ... Allison, one of the all-time great quarterbacks at Texas Tech, was given his first full-time coaching job at Tech in 1981 by then-head coach Jerry Moore.
THE COACHES: Appalachian State head coach Jerry Moore (Baylor '61) is in his 16th yeas as the head coach of the Mountaineers and is the winningest coach in Southern Conference history with a 127-62 record ... Moore is the winningest head coach in ASU history and was the SoCon Coach of the Year in 1991, '94, and '95 ... He is in his 23rd year as a college head coach and has a career mark of 154-110-2 ... He also has served as head coach at North Texas and Texas Tech ... Chattanooga head coach Rodney Allison (Texas Tech '80) is in his second season as head coach of the Mocs and has a career record of 4-15 ... Allison spent four seasons as the defensive ends coach at Clemson and has also coached at Texas Tech, Duke, Southern Miss and Auburn.
GAME NOTES: Appalachian State comes into Saturday's game following a 38-17 win at home against Wofford on Oct. 23 ... The Mocs earned their first win of the season with a 27-24 decision at Western Carolina ... Appalachian State is 5-0 at home but 0-3 on the road ... UTC is 0-3 at home and has lost four straight at Finley Stadium ... ASU's last road win was a 34-12 decision at Elon on Nov. 8, 2003 ... The Mocs' last home win was a 29-20 decision over The Citadel on Nov. 8, 2003 ... Appalachian State leads the SoCon and is 20th nationally in passing offense with 253.3 yards per game ... ASU brings the SoCon's leading passer into this game in Richie Williams who leads the SoCon with 286.6 YPG and 17 touchdowns ... Williams has been fantastic at home, throwing for 1,378 yards and 11 touchdowns with just one interception ... He has also completed a remarkable 112 of 139 passes at Kidd Brewer Stadium, an 80.6 completion percentage ... On the road, Williams has completed 50 percent of his passes with six TDs and six interceptions ... Chattanooga is eighth in the SoCon in pass defense, allowing 210.7 YPG and a league-high 47.9 points per game ... The Mocs are third in the SoCon in passing offense with 215.3 yards per game.
18. Colgate (5-2) - See #12 Lehigh.
19. Maine (4-3) at Massachusetts (3-5)
1 p.m. EST, McGuirk Alumni Stadium (17,000/Grass), Amherst, Mass.
NOTES: UMass holds a 36-13-1 lead in the all-time series against Maine. The Minutemen stand at 20-3-1 against Maine in Amherst and 16-3 all-time in McGuirk Stadium. UMass has won five of the last six games in the series and the last three at home. The last game at McGuirk in the series came at Homecoming 2002 on Oct. 12, 2002, a 20-10 UMass win. From 1991-96, every game between the Minutemen and Black Bears was decided by eight points or less. Then from 1997-2001, the closest game was decided by 21 points. The last two games have been decided by 10 and eight points (UMass won 24-16 last season in Orono). UMass' 36 wins are tied for third-most against any team as well. The series with Maine is the fifth-most played one in UMass history as the teams have met 50 times. Head coach Don Brown is 1-2 all-time vs. the Black Bears, all coming while he was the head coach at Northeastern from 2000-2003. Maine's Jack Cosgrove is 5-6 against UMass, all-time.
20. Jacksonville State (6-1) - IDLE.
21. Harvard (6-0) at Dartmouth (0-6)
12:30 p.m., Memorial Field, Hanover, NH.
WDCR Radio (1340 AM), Hanover, N.H.
WWZN Radio (1510 AM), Boston, Mass.
THE GAME: Dartmouth and Harvard are meeting for the 108th time with the Crimson holding a 57-45- 5 series advantage ... Last year Harvard entered the matchup with a 6-0 record and had beaten the Big Green six straight times ... But Dartmouth stunned the Crimson, 30-16, behind a memorable goal-line catch by Andrew Hall (Greene, Maine) ... The Big Green has not won at Memorial Field in Hanover in this series since 1993.
22. Penn (5-1) vs. Brown (4-2)
1:00 p.m., Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pa.
ESPN Radio (920 AM), Philadelphia, Pa.
WSKO Radio (790 AM), Providence, R.I.
THE GAME: Penn and Brown are meeting for the 73rd time with the Quakers holding a 53-17-2 series advantage ... The Red & Blue has won four straight times against the Bears, but really struggled to win a year ago in Providence ... Penn led 21-0 early in the third quarter, but Brown stormed back to make it 24- 21 with 3:50 left and recovered an onside kick ... The Quaker defense then held firm for the win.
23. Villanova (5-3) at Rhode Island (4-3)
12 p.m. EST, Meade Stadium (7,460), Kingston, RI.
Radio: 990 AM (WNTP); 920 AM (WHJJ)
All-Time Series: Villanova leads, 11-1
Overall Under Talley: VU leads 11-1
Last Villanova Win: Oct. 11, 2003 (21-17)
Last URI Win: Nov. 4, 1995 (27-10)
First Meeting: Oct. 29, 1988 (20-14, VU)
Last Meeting: Villanova 21, Rhode Island 17 (10/1/03)
Inside Slant: Villanova has won the last five meetings in the series, including four by double digits...Rhode Island's lone series win came in 1995 (27-10)...'Nova overcame five interceptions to defeat the Rams last season in Kingston, 21-17, on a one-yard run by Joe Casamento with 20 seconds remaining...VU senior RB Terry Butler ranks second in the Conference with nine rushing touchdowns...URI junior QB Jayson Davis is six rushing yards shy of becoming the seventh player in program history to surpass 2,000 yards for his career...the Rams have recorded 67 or more rushes in five of their seven contests this season.
24. Montana State (5-2) at Northern Arizona (4-3)
6:05 p.m., Flagstaff, Ariz., Walkup Skydome (15,300 Artificial Turf).
The series: Northern Arizona leads 21-17.
Last meeting: MSU quarterback Travis Lulay scored two touchdowns in the final 1:07 to rally the Bobcats to a 21-17 victory over the Lumberjacks on Oct. 25, 2003 in Bozeman. NAU's Jason Murrietta threw for 431 yards in the loss.
The coaches: Northern Arizona's Jerome Souers is 40-37 in his seventh season. He is 4-2 against the Bobcats. Montana State's Mike Kramer is 24-31 in his fifth season. He is 4-6 against the Lumberjacks, which includes his time at Eastern Washington.
Notes: The last three meetings between the teams have been decided by seven points or less....Montana State has lost 12 straight in Flagstaff. The Bobcats last win in the Walkup Skydome was a 10-7 decision in 1979, four years before Bobcat QB Travis Lulay was born...MSU is gunning for its first five-game winning streak since its national championship season of 1984...NAU has won 13 of its last 15 regular-season home games...MSU is 5-2 for the first time since 1998...MSU has rolled up at least 400 yards of offense each of the last three weeks...NAU linebacker Vince Henman, a product of Laurel, Mont., tallied 13 tackles - nine solo - with three sacks last week...NAU's defense has surrendered a league-low 123 first downs...The Lumberjacks have been penalized a league-low 44 times...NAU's Paul Ernster and MSU's Travis Lulay are first and second in the league in punting...MSU tight end Blake Wolf had a career-high 11 catches for 137 yards last week.
25. Eastern Washington (5-3) vs. Sacramento State (2-5)
2:05 p.m., Cheney, Wash., Woodward Stadium (7,000 Natural Grass).
The series: Eastern Washington leads 10-2.
Last meeting: Eric Kimble scored three rushing touchdowns and the Eastern Washington defense intercepted five passes as the Eagles beat the Hornets 38-21 on Oct. 25, 2003.
The coaches: Eastern Washington's Paul Wulff 30-22 in his fifth season at Eastern Washington. He is 2-2 against Sacramento State. Steve Mooshagian is 4-14 in his second season at Sacramento State. He is 0-1 against the Eagles.
Notes: Eastern Washington won its first eight meetings against the Hornets. Since 2000, the series is 2-2...EWU reserve running backs Dezmon Cole and Toke Kefu combined for 288 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns against Weber State...EWU leads the Big Sky in rushing offense (195.6 yards per game), scoring offense (35.6 points per game) and in total offense (452.2 yards per game)...Sacramento State is last in scoring offense (15.4 points per game) and seventh in scoring defense (33.1 ppg.)...EWU can clinch its sixth straight winning season with a victory...Sac State is 0-9 in road games under Steve Mooshagian...Since joining the Big Sky in 1996, the Hornets are 6-26 in conference road games...Sac State has seven interceptions the last two games, after not having any in its first five games.
*** ***
'Jacks block MSU's path to postseason
By TOM STUBER, Helena Independent Record
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2004/10/29/sports/b03102904_0 3.txt
All eyes will be on the flag this week in the Big Sky. Flagstaff, Ariz., that is. With the league being pared down to four teams with realistic hopes of capturing the Big Sky regular season title, Montana State, 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the Big Sky, will travel to Flagstaff to take on Northern Arizona (4-3, 3-1) in a game that could go a long way toward deciding this year's automatic bid for I-AA postseason play.
The Big Sky's other two title contenders - Montana (6-1, 3-0) and Eastern Washington (5-3, 4-1) - are also in action Saturday as they look to maintain their standing. The league's other game pits winless Weber State (0-8, 0-5) against Idaho State (2-5, 1-3).
Montana State has a number of issues to deal with when it comes to playing at NAU.
First, the Bobcats haven't won there since 1979. Second, they left the Lumberjacks with a bad taste in their mouths after scoring twice in the final 67 seconds a year ago in a 21-17 win. Otherwise, there's NAU quarterback Jason Murietta and running back Roger Robinson to deal with - not to mention the high altitude.
Considering how the Bobcats have been winning games lately it's hard to count them out of this one. MSU has made three fourth quarter comebacks in its last four games and has scored on its final drive to win the last three.
Montana gets a trip to Portland to face a Viking team that has been no patsy this year. PSU (3-4, 1-3) has seen apparent wins go by the boards the past two weeks against MSU and NAU.
The Grizzlies, however, have two weeks to prepare for the Vikes. Not to be left out of the excitement that is Big Sky football this year, Montana has posted back-to-back wins on blocked field goals.
UM will have to contend with a vastly improved defense at PSU, which ranks first in total defense and with the No. 2 pass defense and rush defense.
Over the years the Vikings have been known for their offensive fire power, but all that has changed this season.
The Grizzlies lead the league in turnover ratio this year at plus-11.
UM has turned the ball over just six times and they are second in the league in scoring.
EWU is still stinging from its loss to Montana and has just two games remaining on its league schedule. The Eagles battle Sacramento State (2-5, 1-3) this week, then wrap up their Big Sky schedule against MSU in two weeks.
They blasted Weber State 51-7 last week and are primed to do the same against the Hornets today.
EWU leads the league in scoring (35.6) and total offense (452). The Eagles are second in total defense and are plus 115 yards per game - by far tops in the Big Sky.
Idaho State (2-5, 1-3) looks to make it two in a row by beating WSU. Last year, Nick Chournos ran for 227 yards in a 38-21 win for the Wildcats. ISU has downed WSU just twice since 1985.
***
Bobs On TV
Montana Standard
http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2004/10/29/sportscollege/hj jfijhajjgigd.txt
Omega TV plans to broadcast the Montana State-Northern Arizona and Carroll-Rocky Mountain college games on Saturday - MSU-NAU at 6 p.m. after Carroll-Rocky Mountain at 12:40.
***
SportsWest drops EWU Football
By Earl Leitz, The Easterner (EWU student newspaper)
http://www.easterneronline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/10/26/ 418065aac8368
EWU football fans who are hoping to tune in and watch the Eagles on television this weekend during their game against Sacramento State had better go out and buy tickets to the game instead.
Fans will not be able to find the game on KGPX-TV, the PAX affiliate in Spokane, because SportsWest, the production company that produced the Eagle's Oct. 9 game against Northern Arizona, decided not to produce the game due to scheduling conflicts that arose when they decided to pick up some Mountain West football games that had been dropped by ESPN.
In the end EWU gets left in the dark.
"At the last hour SportsWest pulled out," said EWU Athletic Director Scott Barnes, who went on to comment that the athletic department was "taken by surprise."
Barnes further specified that although SportsWest had fulfilled their contract to broadcast at least three Big Sky Conference football games, SportsWest "did not fulfill their verbal agreement" with EWU.
He also went on to say that the situation was "very frustrating" for him personally.
When asked whether there were any plans to televise any other EWU football games this year, Barnes said "At this point, the one that might be (broadcast) would be Montana State."
Eastern fans would have to drive to Montana to watch that Nov. 13 game if it is not broadcast, since it is an away game.
There is a "realistic chance" of that game being broadcast, if the football team finishes the year strong, said Barnes.
Despite the misgivings, the athletic department will probably be more than willing to get Eagle athletics exposure once again for next year.
"I am looking forward to televising more games next year," said Barnes.
He also went on to say that five games were televised last year, and that while it was exciting to see EWU football on television, the locally televised games also hurt attendance at the games.
EWU has worked with Q6, PAX 34, FOX 28, KREM2 and Fox Sports Northwest in the past.
The challenge is scheduling, said Barnes, and the fact that none of the stations have the capabilities to produce a game. Because none of the stations can produce a game it makes broadcasting games an expensive proposition for Eastern, forcing EWU to rent a truck and other necessary equipment.
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