eGriz
eGriz.com RULER!
Joined: 27 Mar 2002
Posts: 3620
Location: Missoula, Montana
1573 eGriz Bucks
|
Souers seeking 1st win over UM (Great Falls Tribune).
Griz want to forget nightmare in Portland (The Daily Inter Lake).
UM Sports Information Department Press Release.
---
Official Payton and Buchanan Lists Revised (TSN).
Not everything went right for MSU in win (The Daily Inter Lake).
***
Vote for Monte as Mascot of the Year!
http://r.espn.go.com/espn/contests/capitalone04/index
You can vote once per day.
***
Souers seeking 1st win over UM
By George Geise and Scott Mansch, Great Falls Tribune
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20 041104/SPORTS/411040332/1006
Jerome Souers is 70 percent finished with his long-range plan at Northern Arizona, and the ultimate goal is to match the accomplishments of his former boss, Don Read.
Souers was a defensive coach at Montana from 1986 through 1997, serving under Read for 10 of those years. Even though Read immediately turned around a slumbering UM program, it took Papa Bear 10 years to win a national championship in NCAA Division I-AA. That happened in 1995, and Read retired a few months later.
He has since reinvented himself as UM's new athletic director.
"Don had a 10-year goal when he went to Montana," said Souers, who will bring his NAU squad to Missoula Saturday to face the Montana Grizzlies. "I'm in year seven of (my plan), and although we've had some struggles, we're on track."
The Lumberjacks are 3-2 in Big Sky play, 4-4 overall heading into Saturday's game. That includes a 60-14 beating last Saturday night against Montana State, the worst loss of Souers' career.
He's won 40 games and lost 38 as a head coach, not a great statistical record, but better than any other NAU coach since Joe Salem in the mid-1970s. Souers' record would be a lot better if not for an 0-6 record against Montana --the only Big Sky opponent he hasn't defeated.
Souers had his best team in 2003, going 8-3 in the regular season and tying UM and Montana State for the Big Sky championship with 5-2 records. The Jacks stunned No. 1-ranked McNeese State in the I-AA playoffs, but lost the following week against Florida Atlantic.
This year's team wasn't expected to be quite as good, after NAU lost superstar receivers Johnny Marshall and Clarence Moore, along with most of the offensive line.
Star quarterback Jason Murrietta and running back Roger Robinson haven't been nearly as prolific this season, and that's hurt the offense.
"Nine of our top 10 offensive linemen are new," Souers said. "It's hard for your skill kids to have success when the guys in front of them aren't used to playing together."
NAU also lost defensive standouts Bruce Branch and Shannon Butler to injuries, and linebacker Ian Gunderman was suspended.
Souers said he doesn't get a chance to talk often with Read, but hopes the old friends can get together Friday or Saturday.
---
Last week against Sac State, Eastern Washington quarterback Erik Meyer completed 20 of 33 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. He also hurt the Hornets with his feet, scrambling away from what Mooshagian figures were five QB sacks.
"He's the best quarterback in the conference, in my opinion," Mooshagian told the Spokesman-Review.
Now the Hornets must deal with Montana State's Travis Lulay, a quarterback who has thrown for more than 1,000 yards in the last three weeks.
"I've always been impressed with Travis," Mooshagian said Wednesday. "He's the best fourth-quarter quarterback in the conference and undoubtedly one of the best in the league."
---
Sacramento State has had six true freshmen start at one time or another this season, and four of them are expected to be in there from the get-go Saturday when the Hornets play host to Montana State.
All the frosh starters are on defense, including safeties Brett Shelton and Brent Webber, and cornerback Bryan Parker. Defensive tackle Chris Hurts is also expected to start Saturday. Freshmen halfback Ryan Mole and receiver Nick Miller have also been key players this year for Sac State coach Steve Mooshagian.
"We had a good recruiting class," Mooshagian said, "even better than I thought it would be."
---
Montana State's defense has built a tradition of excellence under head coach Mike Kramer, who defers to defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski.
"We're a team built on defense," Kramer said. "How well we're able to play on the D-Line, how consistent we're able to play on the D-Line is really a big part of our success. And it starts with Pete, who was a defensive lineman himself (at Boise State)."
Kramer said Kwiatkowski, whose quiet demeanor belies an obvious intense desire to succeed, is a tremendous motivator.
"And he does it without having to be a screamer," said Kramer.
The MSU defensive line features seniors tackle Beau Clark, and ends Chad Gluhm and Raymond Sebestyen.
Said Kramer: "Ray Sebestyen is one of the best defensive ends in the history of the Big Sky Conference, and you can put that in writing."
***
Griz want to forget nightmare in Portland
By ANDREW HINKELMAN, The Daily Inter Lake
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2004/11/03/sports/sport s03.txt
Halloween came a day early for the Montana Grizzlies. A nightmarish first half Saturday against Portland State for the offense and special teams had the Griz defense on the field in bad situations too many times to not create a deficit.
"We made a lot of mistakes in the first half and put ourselves in the hole," UM coach Bobby Hauck said Tuesday.
That Montana was down only a touchdown at the half was a testament to how well the defense played in the opening 30 minutes.
"The defense did a great job in the first half," Hauck said. "As always, our guys played hard for four quarters. It just wasn't enough with the mistakes in the kicking game, then the turnovers on offense."
Montana fumbled on its first possession, giving the Vikings the ball at the Griz 30. The defense held and PSU missed a field goal.
UM got the ball back, but a 3-yard punt gave Portland State the ball at the Griz 32. Again the defense stopped PSU and again PSU missed field goal.
Another fumble turned the ball over at the Griz 27, and finally Portland State scored a touchdown.
And that was just the first quarter. Later in the second, another bad punt, this time for 5 yards, set PSU up at the 35 and led to another touchdown.
By halftime, the Vikings had had four possessions start inside the Montana 35-yard line but only scored on two of them.
Now the Griz have to put the loss behind them and focus on the upcoming game with Northern Arizona.
"The big deal for us is to look forward to NAU and not back at Portland State," Hauck said. "We got beat by a good, veteran team on the road, and that is behind us."
* FIRST QUARTER FAILURES: In eight games this season, Montana has scored a total of 31 points in the opening quarter while opponents have tallied 39.
* HILLIARD HELPS OUT: Former Flathead star Lex Hilliard returned to the valley during Montana's bye week to help coach up some little guy football.
Hilliard joined coach Jeff Sherrill to tutor the Little Bills, comprised of 7-, 8- and 9-year-olds.
(Coincidentally, the "big" Bills in Buffalo are home to another ex-Flathead and former Griz Dylan McFarland.)
"Our guys spend a lot of time out in the community," Hauck said. "The most I've been around in any of the programs I've worked in, and they do a great job especially with young kids."
The community activism also helps lay the foundation for any potential future Griz.
"I know that there are a lot of young kids that want to grow up to be Montana Grizzlies, so it can't hurt," Hauck said.
***
UM Sports Information Department Press Release
http://web.montanagrizzlies.com/mtgriz/files/news_content/Foot ball_Men/2004/GrizNAUfb.pdf
Montana Hosts NAU In Key Big Sky Contest
THE GAME: The10th-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (6-2/3-1 Big Sky Conference) continue their 2004 conference season and try to get back on the winning track Saturday, November 6, playing the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (4-4/3-2 Big Sky) in UM's Washington-Grizzly Stadium/John Hoyt Field (23,333, SprinTurf).
KICKOFF: Kickoff is 12:05 p.m. (MTN.). Montana's final three home games begin at 12:05 (Mtn.). Griz press box Phone: 406-243-4167.
GRIZ LAST WEEK: at PORTLAND STATE 35, MONTANA 32: The fourth-ranked Griz had three turnovers and struggled in their kicking game, as the host Vikings snapped UM's four-game winning streak with a 35-32 victory.
OCHS SOLID: In the PSU loss, senior Griz quarterback Craig Ochs was 19-of-30-1 for 280 yards and two TDs, and rushed for his first touchdown of the season.
Receivers Jefferson Heidelberger (6 catches-96 yards-TD), Jon Talmage (5-99-1), and Tate Hancock (5-60-0) all played well.
Sophomore Lex Hilliard rushed 16 times for 72 yards and a TD, while senior Justin Green had 11 totes for 44 yards.
The defense was led by junior linebacker Shane MacIntyre and senior linebacker Adam Hoge, each with seven stops. MacIntyre had two tackles for losses, as did junior end Lance Spencer. (See Add 3-3-3 for Spencer's career totals).
19TH STRAIGHT WINNING SEASON: The Grizzlies' victory at Eastern Washington on October 16th gives them their 19th consecutive winning season. Montana's win skein started in the 1986 season.
SEGARS ADDS TO RECORD: Senior receiver/returner Levander Segars had three punt returns at PSU, adding to his I-AA record for number of returns with 127. The record for punt return yardage is 1,448 yards by James Madison's Delvin Joyce, set from 1997-2000. Segars has 1,329 punt return yards and needs 120 more to break that record.
Montana Now Ranked 10th in the Nation
The Griz fell from fourth to 10th in the nation in The Sports Network's I-AA weekly rankings.
Montana was ranked first in the nation six weeks ago, prior to its loss at Sam Houston State (Sept. 18). The last time UM had been ranked first in the nation was on Nov. 11, 2002. The Griz' top ranking and I-AA-record 24-game win streak ended Nov. 16, 2002 with a 30-21 loss to E. Washington in Spokane.
Montana has been ranked in TSN's top 25 for 165 of the past 169 weeks (dating back to the 1993 season).
The Griz have been in TSN's top 10 76 of the previous 80 weeks.
OCHS NINTH ON CAREER LIST: Ochs' 3,546 career passing yards keep him ninth on the career list. He has 16 career starts. He needs 110 yards to move up to eighth. Ochs' 1,934 passing yards this year rank him 17th on UM's single-season list.
OCHS RANKED NATIONALLY: Ochs is ranked fourth in the league and 21st in the nation in total offense, averaging 247.75 yards a game. He is second in the conference in passing efficiency (147.31) and is ninth in the I-AA ranks in that category.
GREEN 10TH IN CAREER RUSHING: Senior halfback Justin Green has 1,562 career rushing yards in 17 career starts and is now 10th on the career list. He needs just 31 more yards to move up to seventh.
Green's 108 career points keep him 22nd in scoring.
TALMAGE/HANCOCK ON CAREER LIST: Junior wide receiver Jon Talmage has 1,715career receiving yards, moving up to 14th on the career list. Tate Hancock has 1,233 career receiving yards and is ranked 22nd, while fellow senior Jefferson Heidelberger is now 23rd with 1,201 yards.
HEIDELBERGER ON SINGLE-SEASON LIST: With his 708 receiving yards so far this season, Heidelberger is now 20th on Montana's single-season list.
SPENCER ON SACK LIST: Spencer remains sixth career-wise in sacks and is now 8th in tackles for loss.
SKY PICK LEADER: Junior cornerback Kevin Edwards' four interceptions this season ranks him second in the Big Sky and 22nd in the nation.
MONTANA'S BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES (10/31)
OFFENSE: Junior wide receiver Jon Talmage (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) had 5 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.
DEFENSE: Junior linebacker Shane MacIntyre (Helena) had a team-high (tie) 7 tackles and 2 tackles for loss (-6).
SPECIAL TEAMS: Montana had no nominees this week.
NAU HEAD COACH
Jerome Souers Oregon, 1983) was an assistant at Montana for 12 seasons is 40-38 in his seventh season at NAU. He is 0-6 vs. Montana.
GRIZ-JACKS SERIES (38th Meeting)
Montana leads the series 26-11. The Griz have won 15of the last 16. The last NAU win was 27-24 in Flagstaff in 1997.
QUOTING MONTANA HEAD COACH BOBBY HAUCK:
ON NAU: "They cannot be overlooked. I think that (MSU head coach) Mike Kramer said it best when he called (MSU's lopsided win over NAU) it an aberration. They have good players across the board on their team. Two weeks ago they beat a good Portland State team, and that Portland State team beat us a week ago, so we better be ready to go. (Halfback) Roger Robinson is the guy you need to start with when you go to stop NAU's offense. Field position will be a factor, and if we punt the ball like we did last week, then they're going to gain about 35 yards a punt. We need to get back to what we do well, which is punt cover, and we need to put some pressure on (punter Paul) Ernster."
ON THE GRIZ: "We are in the month of November now and we are in contention to win the Big Sky championship, and that's where we needed to be at this point. Obviously we aren't very pleased with dropping that game last weekend, but we need to go forward and make sure that Portland State is in our rear-view mirror so that loss does not effect us down the road.
"We just made too many mistakes against a good football team last weekend. In 20-plus games here we have not had that kind of performance in our kicking game, and I don't expect that to happen again. We just need to not make mistakes."
2004 OFFENSIVE DEPTH
WR-2-Jon Talmage, 6-4, 195, Jr., 2V
88-Brandon Dwyer, 5-10, 188, Fr., RS
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
LT--75-Cory Procter, 6-5, 295, Sr., 3V
71-Cody Balogh, 6-7, 290, Fr., HS
LG- 69-Chris Orwig, 6-5, 288, Jr., 2V OR 68-Jason Frink, 6-4, 280, Jr., 1V
OC-66-Jay Green, 6-3, 295, Sr.,1V
73-Jeff Marshall, 6-5, 275, So., SQ
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
71-Cody Balogh, 6-7, 290, Fr., HS
RT-76-Brad Rhoades, 6-5, 285, Jr. ,2V
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
53-Kroy Bierman, 6-3, 225, Fr., HS
DT- 55-Jonny Varona, 6-3, 280, Sr., 2V OR 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 OR
98-Kerry Mullan, 6-3, 290, So., 1V
DE -96-Lance Spencer, 6-2, 255, Jr., 2V 91-Mike Stadnyk, 6-4, 240, Fr., HS 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
93-Pete Sloan, 5-9, 175, So., 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-Palmer; 52-Vella; 75-Procter
NAU LUMBERJACK NOTES:
RESULTS (4-3/3-1) TO DATE: NAU is 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the Big Sky. The Jacks have wins over Weber State (55-27), Sacramento State (26-0), Western New Mexico (31-14), and Portland State (21-20).
The Jacks' losses were at Arizona (21-3), at 13th-ranked Stephen F. Austin (24-17 in overtime), at Eastern Washington (45-14), and vs. Montana State (60-14)
NAU LAST WEEK: The Jacks hosted Montana State and lost 60-14. MSU led 53-0 at halftime. NAU was out-gained 541 to 301 in total yards. Sophomore quarterback Jason Murrietta (6-1, 215) was 18-of-32-1 for 235 yards and sacked five times. Leading rusher Roger Robinson (5-10, 200, Sr.)had 12 carries for 35 yards.
NAU STAT LEADERS: This season Murrietta is 154-of-279-7 (55.2%) for 1,590 yards and 11 TDs. Robinson has rushed 140 times for 649 yards and 5 TDs, and his 81.1 yards a game rank him fourth in the Big Sky.
Leading receivers are senior wideout Raufeem Jackson (6-2, 200), Robinson, and hback Josh Hamlin (6-4, 250, Sr.), who have 32, 29, and 27 catches, respectively.
Leading tacklers are junior safety Jeremy Thornburg (6-0, 190) and Laurel native and senior linebacker Vince Henman (6-0, 230), who have 59 and 53 tackles, respectively. Henman has team-highs of 6 sacks and 10 tackles for losses.
NAU IN NATIONAL RANKINGS: The Jacks lead the nation in net punting (44.77 average), and senior punter Paul Ernster (6-0, 217) leads the country, averaging 48.42 yards a punt.
A LOOK BACK AT 2003
FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA - In what was hyped by many as the game of the year in the Big Sky, the Griz dominated from start to finish in handing Northern Arizona a 59-21 loss, NAU's worst defeat in the history of the Walkup Dome.
Junior returner Levander Segars returned NAU's first punt 60 yards for a touchdown, setting the tone. Segars returned another punt 54 yards for a TD, the first time he has returned two punts for TDs in a game.
Receiver Jefferson Heidelberger caught his first career touchdown pass, hauling in a 44-yard toss from Craig Ochs in the fourth quarter. Ochs completed 18 passes to eight different receivers for 234 yards and a touchdown, and scored on a 26-yard run to make the score 38-14. Montana forced a NAU fumble on the Lumberjacks next possession and then Tim Bush sacked NAU quarterback Jason Murrietta on third and fourth downs, forcing a turnover over.
Another NAU fumble and a Chris Polhemus interception, the first of his Grizzly career, sealed the deal for Montana.
Bush had a monster game, registering eight tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble. Three of Bush's tackles were for a loss, giving Bush 47 for his career and breaking the Grizzly career record of 44, which was held by Andy Petek.
Griz kicker Chris Snyder set the NCAA I-AA record for consecutive extra points made with his eight in the game, giving him 125 in a row. The old record was 121, set in 1991 by Brian Mitchell of Northern Iowa.
*** ***
Official Payton and Buchanan Lists Revised
By Matt Dougherty, The Sports Network
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page= cfoot2/news/AGN3581037.htm
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Sports Network) An updated list of 32 players has been established by The Sports Network, I-AA college football's most widely recognized information service, indicating the current and official "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" members. The "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" pages, which can be found at The Sports Network's Web site (www.sportsnetwork.com) keep track of the quest for the 18th Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the top player in I-AA football, and the 10th Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in I-AA. The honors will be presented at the 18th annual I-AA College Football Awards on Thursday, December 16th in Chattanooga, TN, on the eve of the 2004 I-AA National Championship. The Eddie Robinson Award, honoring I-AA's top coach, and the Sports Network Cup, bestowed upon the nation's best I-AA mid-major program, will also be presented on Dec. 16th.
Four new players grace the updated "Payton Watch" list, and three revisions have been made to the "Buchanan Battle" list. On the Payton Watch, quarterbacks Mark Borda (Lehigh), Lang Campbell (William & Mary), Chaz Williams (Georgia Southern) and Richie Williams (Appalachian State) have been selected as potential candidates. For the Buchanan, defensive end Chris Gocong (Cal Poly), linebackers Justin Durant (Hampton) and Gian Villante (Hofstra) and defensive back Shannon James (Massachusetts) have been added to the list.
The official "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" lists will undergo one additional revision prior to the distribution of ballots on November 22nd. The final changes will be made just prior to the distribution of ballots. The ballots will be mailed electronically to the media and I-AA sports information directors selected for the voting process on November 22nd, and will be due Wednesday, November 24th. The top three finalists (in terms of votes received) for the Walter Payton Award will be invited to attend the presentation in Chattanooga, TN, with the winner of that Award not announced until the event.
Following are the 32 current members of both the "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" lists, with additional information on each player, as well as history and facts about each of the I-AA awards, available at www.sportsnetwork.com.
"Payton Watch" Candidates (Nov. 3)
Charles Anthony, RB, Tennessee State
*Mark Borda, QB, Lehigh
Jamaal Branch, RB, Colgate
*Lang Campbell, QB, William & Mary
Clifton Dawson, RB, Harvard
Davon Fowlkes, WR, Appalachian State
Travis Glasford, RB, Western Illinois
Efrem Hill, WR, Samford
Vincent Jackson, WR, Northern Colorado
Dustin Long, QB, Sam Houston State
Erik Meyer, QB, Eastern Washington
Craig Ochs, QB, Montana
Ricky Santos, QB, New Hampshire
*Chaz Williams, QB, Georgia Southern
*Richie Williams, QB, Appalachian State
Marcus Williams, RB, Maine
"Buchanan Battle" Candidates (Nov. 3)
Tom Alfsen, DE, Lehigh
Lee Basinger, DL, Wofford
Jordan Beck, LB, Cal Poly
Antoine Bethea, DB, Howard
Roger Cooper, LB, Montana State
*Justin Durant, LB, Hampton
Liam Ezekiel, LB, Northeastern
Brady Fosmark, DL, Weber State
William Freeman, LB, Furman
*Chris Gocong, DE, Cal Poly
Boomer Grigsby, LB, Illinois State
*Shannon James, DB, Massachusetts
Tad Kornegay, DB, Fordham
Kevin Talley, LB, Norfolk State
Charles Thompson, LB, Western Kentucky
*Gian Villante, LB, Hofstra
*** ***
Not everything went right for MSU in win
By ANDREW HINKELMAN, The Daily Inter Lake
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2004/11/03/sports/sport s02.txt
As sure as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November is Election Day, you can always count on a football coach to find some things wrong in a 60-14 win.
"Oh, absolutely," Montana State coach Mike Kramer said Tuesday.
"The obvious negative is that our running game continues to lag a little bit. Travis (Lulay) spun some balls in there that got dropped -- those can be unforgiving and can bite you in a bigger ballgame. Our pass receiving has to be more astute.
"And we missed some defensive checks and they were able to get their tight ends open.
"We're a long ways from being the team that we can possibly be."
And remember, this is the winning coach, whose team had 541 yards total offense, whose defense forced four turnovers and whose team built a 53-0 lead -- at the half.
"We're a long ways from being satisfied or content," Kramer said. "We're not going to be able to avalanche another team unless we get the same type of breaks, and that just isn't going to happen. It's mathematically improbable. What happened was a statistical aberration."
While it's probably wise to avoid thinking you're kings of football after such an improbable game, there was plenty to be happy about.
"It looked like Travis picked up right where he left off," Kramer said of his quarterback, who threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns and earned Big Sky player of the week honors for the third consecutive week.
"The offense was able to turn great field position into points. A lot of the credit has to go to Travis. He played exemplary.
"But none of that happens unless our defense paves the way."
With Montana's loss to Portland State, the Bobcats are the lone unbeaten team in conference play. The last time MSU started the Big Sky season 4-0 was 1982 when it began 5-0. The Bobcats would lose their final two of the season.
"Our history as an undefeated team in the league is not great," Kramer said. "There are a lot of fans basking in the glow of 4-0, but wondering when the roof is going to cave in."
Regardless, the Bobcats control their own fate. They don't need any help from anybody else -- win out and win the Big Sky.
"It's just the next logical step," Kramer said. "From being the underdog to being the challenger to being the favorite."
* DOROSKI DOES IT: Kickoff specialist Travis Doroski had a busy day at Northern Arizona, kicking off eight times, four for touchbacks.
Doroski long ago broke the MSU season record for touchbacks, and Kramer said he has been a key part of the Bobcats' defensive success.
|
|
|
|
