Game Day 11/07/15

Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015 — A1

NO. 22 MONTANA AT IDAHO STATE • KICKOFF: 2:35 P.M. • TV: COWLES MEDIA • SATURDAY, NOV. 7, 2015

Tyrone Holmes the latest great Grizzly pass rusher

The NEXT BIG THING KURT WILSON, Missoulian

Q&A: WR KEENAN CURRAN • PICKS: SPELTZ PICKS THE BIG SKY • THE EDGE: MAZZOLINI GIVES GRIZ THE NOD Get Your SNOW TIRES EARLY! Don’t Wait, Shop Now

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A2 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | TYRONE HOLMES

BEAST

of the Big Sky

Montana defensive end Tyrone Holmes reaches out to grab Cal Poly quarterback Chris Brown earlier this season.

Sack master Holmes has eye on the prize AJ MAZZOLINI ajmazzolini@missoulian.com‌

‌S

even months ago, Montana Grizzlies defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak invited this reporter into his office to discuss the Griz defense on the eve of the team’s first spring football practice.

The unit had just graduated Zack Wagenmann, the program’s all-time sack leader, and replacing his 17.5 sacks from the 2014 season was among the biggest unknowns for the team.

At least it was to everyone outside Gregorak’s office.

“I think Tyrone Holmes will be one of the premier defensive players in our league,” the coach stated that day in March.

The Grizzlies’ lively fourth-year coordinator is a lot of things, but oracle isn’t among them. He just knew how hard his rising senior had been working in the offseason and could see Holmes cashing in on years of banked potential.

Through nine weeks of the 2015 season, Holmes leads the nation in sacks and is a late addition to the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year watch list.

“He’s one of those guys that you pause the film and you tell your freshmen, ‘That’s how it’s supposed to be done,’” Gregorak said this week.

Before Holmes was the beast of the Big Sky, the Eagle Point High standout was tearing up Oregon’s Midwestern League.

Holmes was in the midst of a senior campaign that would end in a co-defensive MVP for the league in the small southern Oregon town near Medford. His performance on the field had long drawn interest from recruiters and he committed to Portland State in November of 2011.

The Grizzlies were a little late to the recruiting party, but went to work trying to sway the defensive end from their conference foe’s grasp. For his part, Holmes was ready to listen.

KURT WILSON, Missoulian‌

See HOLMES, Page A8

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A4 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | CONFERENCE CAPSULES

AROUND THE BIG SKY Montana at Idaho State‌

Saturday, 2:35 p.m.

Pocatello, Idaho Holt Arena (12,000 Helas Turf) Cowles Media WatchBigSky.com Series History: Montana leads the all-time series 42-13.

The Records: Montana is 4-4 overall, and is 3-2 in Big Sky play. Idaho State is 2-6 overall, and is 1-4 in Big Sky play.

Last Meeting: Shay Smithwick-Hann threw three touchdown passes in 2012 to lead Montana to a 70-24 win over Idaho State. SmithwickHann was 14 of 21 for 205 yards, with two interceptions. Joey Counts and Brett Kirschner each scored twice.

The Coaches: Montana coach Bob Stitt is 4-4 overall, and is 3-2 in Big Sky play. Idaho State coach Mike Kramer is 93-113 overall, and is 62-72 in Big Sky play.

Notes: Montana leads the conference with three sacks per game, and Griz defensive end Tyrone Holmes leads the nation in sacks with 11 on the season... Holmes is a candidate for the STATS Defensive Player of the Year award...

Idaho State is the least-penalized team in the Big Sky Conference, averaging 34.2 ypg... Idaho State is last in the league in turnover margin, at minus-17 ... Montana is 1-2 on the road this season... Montana’s 16 points in a loss to Portland State was a season-low.     

Portland State at Northern Colorado‌

Saturday, noon Greeley, Colorado Nottingham Field (8,500 Natural Grass) WatchBigSky.com Series History: Portland State leads the all-time series 7-3.

The Records: Portland State is 7-1, and 4-1 in Big Sky play. Northern Colorado is 4-4, and is 2-4 in Big Sky play.

Last Meeting: Dominic Gunn helped Northern Colorado rally from an 18-point third-quarter deficit with an 83-yard punt

return for a touchdown and a 29-yard pass reception in a 32-28 victory over Portland State in 2014.

The Coaches: Portland State coach Bruce Barnum is 7-1 overall, and is 4-1 in Big Sky play.

Northern Colorado coach Earnest Collins is 13-40 overall, and is 8-30 in Big Sky play.

Notes: Portland State’s Patrick Onwuasor is this week’s Defensive Player of the Week... After beating Montana, the Vikings are 3-0 against nationally-ranked teams this season... Portland State has two wins over FBS competition...

Northern Colorado leads the nation in both punt and kick returns... Vikings quarterback Alex Kuresa scored two touchdowns and threw for two touchdowns in the win over Montana...

PSU is 7-1 for the first time in school history...

Northern Colorado is last in opponents thirddown conversions, allowing 47.5 percent.     

UC Davis at Weber State‌

Saturday, 12:05 p.m.

Ogden, Utah Stewart Stadium (17,500 Synthetic Turf) KJZZ WatchBigSky.com Series History: UC Davis leads the all-time series 2-1.

The Records: UC Davis is 1-7 overall, and is 1-4 in Big Sky play. Weber State is 4-5 overall, and is 3-3 in Big Sky play.

Last Meeting: Dalton Turay’s three second-quarter touchdowns is all UC Davis needed to gain momentum in a 37-13 victory in 2012. It was the Aggies’ first Big Sky Conference home game in program history, and their first win within the new conference.

The Coaches: Weber State coach Jay Hill is 6-15 overall, and is 5-9 in Big Sky play. UC Davis coach Ron Gould is 8-23 overall, and is 7-14 in Big Sky play.

Notes: Weber State leads the Big Sky in kickoff coverage, at 43.8 ypk... UC Davis is 0-3 on the road this season... The Aggies continue to lead the Big Sky in red-zone conversion, converting 95.5 percent of opportunities (21of-22, 13 touchdowns)... Weber State has the second-best red-zone defense in the league, allowing opponents scores on just 76 percent of chances... UC Davis leads the league in time of possession (36:06 per game)... Jay Hill is 1-2 against California teams while coaching Weber State.

See CAPSULES, Page A13

TOM BAUER, Missoulian‌

Griz running back Brett Kirschner dives through a tackle from Idaho State defender Cameron Gupton (28) during the team’s 2012 game in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

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A6 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | Q&A

Fresh off 1st catch, WR Curran looks for more SOJIN JOSEPHSON for the Missoulian‌

‌For Keenan Curran, success is not uncommon.

During high school in Federal Way, Washington, he shined on the track and on the football field. Throughout his prep career, he was named most valuable track athlete, he won the state triple jump title, was a first-team all-league selection in football, first-team all-state defensive back, league defensive back of the year and football captain.

In Montana’s game against Portland State, the freshman wide receiver found success yet again. He caught his first pass as a Grizzly, a 30-yarder, just when the Grizzlies needed it.

The 20-year-old took some time before a rainy November practice to talk about his catch, what football means to him and even a little bit of Justin Bieber.

“When I leave Missoula, I want people to have good things to say about me, whether that’s on the field or in the community. It would be nice to break some records along the way.”

Q: What do you like to bake?

A: Cakes and cookies and lots of different stuff.

Q: What are your favorite kind of cookies to bake?

A: Snickerdoodle.

Q: What’s your favorite song or artist right now?

A: Oooohhh. Right now, I’m rockin’ with Bryson Tiller. He’s got me right now, but Justin Bieber is hot on his trail. Justin Bieber’s got some hot stuff out. He’s coming back hard right now.

Q: You attended a military prep school Q: What do you think of his after high school? new haircut?

A: Yes, I was in Colorado Springs.

A: I’m rockin’ with it. I mean, if he Q: Why did you choose to do that? wants to do it, I think it’s stylish. If I could A: Originally, I committed to the Air do it, I would, but my hair just doesn’t Force Academy. I had an amazing visit. I was committed to a different school before grow like that.

Q: So you’re digging the blonde?

I went there. I took my visit there and my A: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. grandma loved it. I think that was a large Q: What’s your biggest pet peeve? portion of why I went there. She liked it so A: Probably a lack of effort in anything much. I thought that’s what I wanted, to really. In class, just everything. Just when go through that lifestyle, but I found out people don’t work hard, because they can, pretty quickly it wasn’t for me. and there are people out there that don’t Q: What made you choose to come have the ability to do what we do. I feel like to Montana? you should put 100 percent into it.

A: I was originally recruited here out Q: If you could go any place in the world of high school. This is probably the only right now, where would it be?

FCS school I took a visit to. I got to watch A: I would probably go to Hawaii or the a homecoming game and for me it was just Caribbean. I’ve seen pictures, and man, it the crowd and the atmosphere that sold looks nice. It’s better than this rain. it. Then I came on another visit before I Q: You have a tattoo? actually committed again to come back. I A: I do. I have a half-sleeve. It’s all loved the vision that coach (Bob) Stitt had family stuff, so I have family on my arm. and I wanted to run with it.

My mom is full Irish, so that’s part of my Q: How is it going so far? heritage. I take that very seriously. I have A: It’s going well. I’m learning from some Gaelic on there, which is the native some great guys. I’ve met some cool people and Montana is treating me well. It language in Ireland. And then I have my family crest, which represents my last reminds me a lot of home and I get to see my mom about every weekend. She comes name and its history.

Q: Who is your favorite profesto all the games. sional athlete?

Q: What are your hobbies outside A: I’m going to get killed for this of football?

A: I like to sing. I like to listen to music. one, but I’m going to have to say Floyd Mayweather. A lot of people don’t like I like to bake.

—Griz freshman WR Keenan Curran him, but if you look at his track record and what he’s come from, it’s amazing. I mean, he’s from Detroit. That’s not an easy area. What he’s managed to accomplish is incredible. He’s very cocky, but that’s the one thing I would take away from that.

Don’t be cocky, but work your butt off like he does. Floyd Mayweather for sure.

Q: What is your major and why did you choose it?

A: Originally, I went into business, because who doesn’t like money? But I quickly found out that it’s really boring, so I switched it to history and psychology. I want to be a counselor someday. I feel like I’m pretty good with advice. Being able to help someone in their life would bring me a lot of satisfaction, and being satisfied at my job would bring me fulfillment.

Q: When did you start playing football and why?

A: I started playing organized football when I was 7. That’s when we were allowed in Pop Warner football, but I was around it growing up. I have two older brothers.

They played as soon as they could, so I think I just followed them. That’s the reason I started playing. Actually going into high school, I thought I was going to be a basketball player. I fell in love with basketball. I had stopped playing football for basketball and track season and then I realized football was my favorite. Even though, in basketball girls can see your face so it’s easier for you to get girls. In football, they can’t see your face, man. We need some open face masks or something.

Q: You had a successful high school career both in track and football. What made you ultimately choose football over track?

A: The camaraderie of it. Track is awesome. There’s no feeling like winning an individual state title. No one can ever take that from you. You can always say, “I did this by myself. I put in the work to do it.” But football, when we win games

KEENAN CURRAN No. 82 Year: Fr. Positions: WR Height: 6-2 Weight: 200 Hometown: Federal Way, Wash. and we’re singing the “fight song” to the crowd, there’s nothing like that. The feeling you get is electrifying. It gives you chills. Getting to learn from the guys around me, I mean, Jamaal (Jones), a potential draft pick, I get to learn from him every day and that’s so much better than going out and working by myself.

Q: You had an awesome 30-yard catch on Saturday. What did that feel like and what went through your head?

A: Ya know, I would have liked it to be in better circumstances. We were behind and we were trying to come back, but it was awesome. I’m not going to take it for granted. I’ll probably never forget it. But at the same time, I had a drop earlier in the season and I’ll probably never forget that either. You win some, you lose some.

Q: What does being a Grizzly mean to you?

A: It means being hard working. I don’t like to admit to it, but I read some of the forums that fans have and we’re having a tough year and they try to attack us and say this isn’t the Griz of the old times, but I don’t agree with that. We have just as much passion as the other teams had. It’s just that we’re in a tough spot right now.

They just need to stay with us. Things are on the up right now and we’re going to get better. Being a Griz for me means being diligent and keeping at it and being hard working.

Q: What are your goals for the next four years?

A: To grow as a football player, as a person and as a student. With these four years, I want to become the best person I can be. On the field, off of the field, in the classroom, in the community. When I leave Missoula, I want people to have good things to say about me, whether that’s on the field or in the community.

It would be nice to break some records along the way.

Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015 — A7

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | STRENGTHS

THE EDGE ‌Missoulian reporter AJ Mazzolini assesses the strengths of both teams

QUARTERBACK: Grizzly Makena Simis, the likely starter, has been really, really good and really, really bad in his two starts.

Idaho State fill-in Tanner Gueller has been mostly just bad since relieving injured starter Michael Sanders.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Montana is expected to be without its most experienced lineman, left tackle John Schmaing, who was among three Griz arrested Halloween night for misdemeanor trespassing. On the other side, ISU has allowed only 10 sacks all year, third fewest in the Big Sky. RUNNING BACK: Xavier Finney isn’t having the kind of season he did last year when he set a school record with 1,495 yards rushing. That said, he’s still a more dangerous back than anything the Griz have shown this year, though Montana does have the slightest edge in total team rush yards per game 133 to 128.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TE: Go deep, young man! That’s the Grizzlies’ motto for scoring in the pass game the past few weeks and the Montana receivers have taken them there. Coach Bob Stitt just wants his QB to put it in an area where these guys have a chance to make a play and let the WRs do the rest.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Again at full strength, there might not be a better defensive front in the Big Sky. National sack leader Tyrone Holmes (11.0 sacks) was held without one for the first time in last week’s loss so here’s betting he’s ready to unload on an inexperienced ISU passer.

LINEBACKERS: The Griz are also likely without their leading tackler as Kendrick Van Ackeren was another among those in trouble with the law this week. Even without him, Montana will start three seniors with Connor Lebsock the expected fill-in alongside Herbert Gamboa and Jeremiah Kose.

CB/SAFETY: Almost a clean defensive sweep for the Griz, but ISU’s secondary is pretty decent. Only Southern Utah has allowed fewer passing touchdowns than ISU’s seven this year in the Big Sky. On the other side the Griz secondary got burned for five TDs last week of 35-yards or more.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Neither teams’ field-goal kicking game has been remarkable, but the tiebreaker comes on defending the special teams. Idaho State has allowed five blocked kicks — two field goals and three punts.

INTANGIBLES: The Grizzlies have owned Idaho State in the past 30 years, Montana holding a 27-2 lead in the series dating back to 1985 with ISU’s last win over UM coming in 2003. UM is also desperate for a victory and a cornered Grizzly can be a very scary thing.

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A8 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | TYRONE HOLMES

Holmes

Montana’s Tyrone Holmes, right, and Herbert Gamboa tackle Liberty running back Desmond Rice.

Continued from page A2

After talking with his future defensive line coach, Montana’s Legi Suiaunoa, in January, Holmes took an official recruiting visit to Missoula the weekend before national signing day.

And quickly shifted his commitment.

“It was just a lot better fit,” he explained. “I’m a small-town kid. I was kind of afraid of having that college experience in a big city (in Portland). I wanted a campus and the campus-type feel here.

“And playing in front of this fan base.

It seemed like football really mattered.

Portland State, yeah they were gonna win some games, but no one really cares.

I’m even from Oregon and no one really knows about Portland State football.”

Holmes, the oldest son of parents Angie and Tyrone Sr., found his spot immediately within a historically stout Grizzly defense. He played in every one of Montana’s 11 games as a true freshman in 2012, even starting one, but it was an outing in which he came off the bench that Montana fans may remember most.

Against Idaho State late in the season, what would become a 70-24 blowout for the home Griz, Montana sacked the Bengals’ quarterbacks six times. Four of them came from their talented freshman rusher.

“As a pass rusher you want to get into a rhythm, a groove in a game,” said Wagenmann, the former Griz now with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, who was a starter during that game. “Man, when he gets in a rhythm just stop throwing the ball, ‘cause he’s gonna get back there.”

Holmes had only one other sack that fall, but his undeveloped capacity as a game changer was beginning to show.

“He came in and he had a lot of those tools,” Wagenmann continued. “He was raw, but he had a lot of those tools. Big, strong kid who’s fast and he’s got to adjust to everything. But we could tell, this was gonna be a dude here for sure.”

By his senior year, Holmes has actually slimmed a bit from the highschool shape 18-year-old who trekked over the Cascade Mountains to Montana.

The 6-foot-4 Holmes has shed about 10 pounds overall, but has become a sculpted spectacle at 250 muscular pounds.

His senior season has been a world tour of terror for opposing quarterbacks with Holmes, 22, notching at least one

TOM BAUER, Missoulian‌

sack in every game save one. The Grizzly pass rusher has 11.0 on the year, two more than any other player in the FCS. He’s also up to 27.5 for his career, good for fifth in program history, having passed all-time Grizzly greats like Kroy Biermann and Mike Murphy this fall.

“Tyrone is never satisfied with what he has,” said fellow Griz DE Derek Crittenden, a Rhodes Scholar finalist who used the word “inspiration” to describe his teammate. “He’s humbled because he hasn’t done enough in his own perception of himself.

“I think that’s really powerful because that allows him to keep pushing and keep driving.”

The drive started in the offseason, the early morning weight training sessions, and has ended more often than not in the backfield.

Again this season Holmes posted a four-sack day, this time against Northern Arizona during homecoming on Sept. 26.

The performance earned him Big Sky and national FCS player of the week nods.

“It kind of takes a perfect storm; that game our DBs were covering well,” Holmes explained. “When we get them in situations where they have to pass, it’s obviously gonna be a better situation for me.”

Holmes can expect increased sack opportunities as Montana finishes its slate. The Grizzlies’ final three opponents all rank among the top five in the Big Sky in passing, the other two in that

quintet being UM and NAU. Even with games against pass-heavy Montana State, Eastern Washington and this week’s opponent Idaho State, catching Wagenmann’s all-time record will

require another three- or four-sack game or two.

Wagenmann finished his illustrious college career with 37.5.

“His numbers are a little far out there for me, but I’m definitely gonna try to finish whatever games I have to get as many as I can,” Holmes said.

So how many games exactly does Holmes have left?

The short answer is three, as in the end of the regular season. It could be more should the Grizzlies run the table and sneak into the FCS playoffs. Things may not stop there the way the Montana player has performed, Holmes’s name already being mentioned in NFL scouting circles.

“I think he’s got to finish the season strong like he will and hopefully that comes with the credit that he’s due,” said Wagenmann, one of seven former Grizzly defenders currently on NFL contracts. “A (conference) defensive MVP and it’ll be

Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015 — A9

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | TYRONE HOLMES

Holmes, left, and linebacker Jeremiah Kose leave the field after losing to Weber State this season. interesting to see what happens on the national scale, too. I think that that’s a person whose football career is going to continue for sure.”

Coach Gregorak said Holmes is one of the first names that comes up when pro scouts touch base with him, just as was the case a year ago with Wagenmann.

“You realize how lucky you are when you’ve got two and both edges are that dynamic,” Gregorak said of his defense with both men a year ago. “It’s really a compliment to Ty that you lose one of the school’s most prolific pass rushers and replace it with another one.”

Of his former defensive all-stars, Gregorak finds Holmes most comparable to Biermann. The Buck Buchanan Award winner in 2007 as FCS Defensive MVP was a fifth-round NFL Draft pick in 2008. He is now an eight-year veteran in the league.

Sure, it’s something Holmes has thought about, a football life beyond Washington-Grizzly Stadium. This March the defensive end will participate in Montana’s annual pro day drills for scouts and hopes a draft pick or at least a free agent contract follows soon after.

There’s still a lot to accomplish

between now and then, on the field and off. Holmes will complete a business marketing degree in the spring, just one class remaining for the 3.6GPA student.

There’s also Montana’s remaining schedule, a place where Holmes can further cement his Grizzly legacy.

“It’s definitely in the back of my mind, something I want to pursue when I’m done playing here in college,” Holmes said of the NFL dream.

“I don’t want to be done after this. I’ve got to focus on having the best senior season that I can and have a great end to this year first.”

TOMMY MARTINO, Missoulian‌

TYRONE HOLMES No. 91 Year: Sr. Position: Defensive End Height: 6-4 Weight: 250 Hometown: Eagle Point, Ore.

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No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Year Hometown 1 Treshawn Favors RB 5-9 190 R-So. Glendale, Ariz.

1 Markell Sanders CB 6-2 185 R-Fr. Renton, Wash.

2 Ryan McKinley CB 6-1 188 R-So. Anthem, Ariz.

3 Brady Gustafson QB 6-7 235 R-Jr. Billings, Mont.

3 Eric Johnson S 6-2 180 Sr. San Francisco, Calif.

4 Chris Parker CB 6-0 185 R-So. Sioux Falls, S.D. 4 Holden Ryan WR 6-3 225 Fr. Billings, Mont.

5 Chase Naccarato WR 5-7 166 R-Jr. Spokane, Wash.

5 Daniel Sullivan K 5-10 165 Sr. Mill Creek, Wash.

6 Jamaal Jones WR 6-1 191 R-Sr. Spanaway, Wash.

7 Ellis Henderson WR 6-0 195 R-Jr. Vancouver, Wash.

8 Jeremy Calhoun RB 6-0 190 Fr. Long Beach, Calif.

8 Manu Rasmussen S 6-0 180 R-Fr. Tigard, Ore. 9 Justin Calhoun WR 5-10 175 Fr. Long Beach, Calif.

9 Yamen Sanders S 6-4 210 R-Jr. Inglewood, Calif.

10 Eric Prater QB 6-2 205 R-Fr. Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

10 Connor Strahm LB 6-0 235 R-So. Eugene, Ore. 11 Chad Chalich QB 6-0 205 Jr. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 11 Nate Harris CB 5-10 180 R-Sr. Chino, Calif.

12 Danny Peoples K 6-0 185 Fr. Butte, Mont.

12 Willy Pflug QB 6-0 185 Fr. Portland, Ore. 13 Josh Janssen WR 6-0 195 R-So. Missoula, Mont.

13 Josh Sandry S 6-1 190 Fr. Bigfork, Mont.

14 Will Weyer QB 6-5 208 R-Fr. Bozeman, Mont.

15 RETIRED IN HONOR OF DAVE DICKENSON 16 Dalton Daum WR 6-2 180 Fr. Butte, Mont.

17 Makena Simis QB 6-2 205 R-So. Boise, Idaho 18 Tyler Lucas WR 6-4 220 R-Sr. Bellefonte, Pa. 18 JR Nelson CB 6-2, 177 R-Jr. Hacienda Heights, Calif.

19 Kobey Eaton WR 6-3 190 Fr. Hacienda Heights, Calif.

20 John Nguyen RB 5-7 180 Jr. Seattle, Wash.

21 Joey Counts RB 5-9 215 R-Jr. Mesa, Ariz.

22 RETIRED IN HONOR OF TERRY DILLON 23 Caleb Lyons WR 5-9 175 R-Fr. Lakewood, Wash.

24 Lorenzo Logwood RB 5-8 190 So. Oakland, Calif.

25 Shane Moody CB 5-8 160 R-So. Parker, Colo.

26 Carl Johnson RB 6-0 180 R-Fr. Hardin, Mont.

28 Jerrin Williams S 6-2 220 Fr. Vancouver, Wash.

29 Brody Martinez RB 5-10 196 Fr. Federal Way, Wash.

30 Evan Epperly S 5-10 180 R-Fr. Kalispell, Mont.

31 Justin Whitted S 6-1 195 R-Sr. Los Angeles, Calif.

33 Connor Lebsock LB 6-2 205 R-Sr. Billings, Mont.

34 Jamal Wilson DT 5-11 270 R-Sr. Fontana, Calif.

35 Kendrick Van Ackeren LB 6-1 220 Sr. Bellevue, Wash.

36 Herbert Gamboa LB 6-1 215 Sr. San Clemente, Calif.

37 Caleb Kidder DT 6-5 275 R-Jr. Helena, Mont.

38 Tyrel Garner CB 6-2 190 Jr. Henderson, Nev. 38 Jeffrey Salamon WR 5-11 180 Fr. Riverside, Calif.

39 Jake Dallaserra S 5-11 180 R-Sr. Butte, Mont.

40 David Fa’atuiese LB 6-3 240 Fr. Vista, Calif.

41 Mick Delaney S 6-0 193 R-So. Bozeman, Mont.

42 Josh Buss LB 6-2 203 R-Fr. Boise, Idaho 43 Nate Bradley DT 5-10 260 R-So. Billings, Mont.

44 Nolan Timmons S 6-1 250 Fr. Billings, Mont.

45 Jeremiah Kose MLB 6-2 230 Sr. Oceanside, Calif.

46 Austin Chadderdon DE 6-2 200 R-Fr. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 47 Derek Crittenden DE 6-3 240 R-Sr. Whitefish, Mont.

48 Donald Bedell DE 6-4 245 R-Sr. Fair Haven, N.J. 49 Jesse Sims DE 6-4 235 Fr. Stevensville, Mont.

50 Aaron Held Snaps 6-1 193 R-Jr. Sacramento, Calif.

51 Tucker Schye DE 6-4 225 R-So. Malta, Mont.

52 Nick Mertes DE 6-3 235 R-Fr. Edina, Minn.

53 Dante Olson LB 6-3 220 Fr. Medford, Ore. 54 Gage Smith LB 6-3 215 R-Fr. Whitefish, Mont.

55 Kyle Davis DT 6-1 245 R-Fr. San Diego, Calif.

56 Alex Thomas LB 6-0 215 R-Fr. Great Falls, Mont.

57 Shayne Cochran LB 6-1 210 R-Fr. Culbertson, Mont.

58 Tyler Richtmyer DE 6-2 215 R-Fr. Missoula, Mont.

59 Cy Sirmon LB 6-3 225 Fr. Wenatchee, Wash.

60 Jackson Thiebes OL 6-5 280 R-Jr. Kalispell, Mont.

64 Colin McGillivray OL 6-7 278 Fr. Portland, Ore. 65 Cody Meyer OL 6-3 270 Fr. San Marcos, Calif.

66 Dallas Hart OL 6-5 295 Fr. Cypress, Calif.

67 Joe Paolina OL 6-7 290 Fr. Poway, Calif.

68 McCauley Todd OL 6-7 295 R-Jr. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 69 Jared Clark OL 6-6 270 Jr. San Diego, Calif.

70 Ben Weyer OL 6-4 270 R-Jr. Bozeman, Mont.

71 Devon Dietrich OL 6-4 270 R-Jr. Woodinville, Wash.

72 Cooper Sprunk C 6-4 250 R-So. Tigard Ore. 73 Angel Villanueva OL 6-5 310 Fr. Duarte, Calif.

74 John Schmaing OL 6-7 290 R-Sr. Billings, Mont.

75 Robert Luke C 6-4 315 So. Tacoma, Wash.

76 David Reese OL 6-7 270 So. Happy Valley, Ore. 77 Cameron Rokich OL 6-5 245 R-So. West Jordan, Utah 78 Clint LaRowe OL 6-5 290 R-Jr. Miles City, Mont.

79 Max Kelly OL 6-7 290 R-Jr. Spokane, Wash.

80 Josh Horner WR 6-5 220 So. Great Falls, Mont.

81 Zach Hollenback WR 5-11 185 R-Fr. Missoula, Mont.

82 Keenan Curran WR 6-2 200 Fr. Federal Way, Wash.

82 Jerry Louie-McGee WR 5-9 170 Fr. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83 Ryan Burke WR 6-4 190 R-Jr. Billings, Mont.

84 Donovan Rooks WR 6-4 185 Fr. Yuma, Ariz.

85 Reese Carlson WR 6-4 215 R-Fr. Gig Harbor, Wash.

86 Ben Roberts WR 6-4 205 R-Sr. Missoula, Mont.

87 Chris Lider K/P 6-1 199 R-Sr. Bellevue, Wash.

88 Colin Bingham WR 6-3 220 Fr. Missoula, Mont.

89 Tim Semenza K 5-7 155 Fr. San Diego, Calif.

91 Tyrone Holmes DE 6-4 245 Sr. Eagle Point, Ore. 93 Zach Peevey DT 6-3 255 R-Jr. Missoula, Mont.

94 Harrison Greenberg K 5-8 170 R-Jr. Lake Oswego, Ore. 95 Andrew Harris DE 6-4 215 Fr. Kalispell, Mont.

96 Patrick LeCorre K 6-0 190 Fr. Edina, Minn.

97 Ryan Johnson DE 6-3 255 R-Jr. Vancouver, Wash.

98 Mike Ralston DE 6-5 245 R-So. Eugene, Ore. 99 Reggie Tilleman DE 6-4 195 R-Fr. Genesee, Idaho

MONTANA STARTING OFFENSE WR 6 Jamaal Jones R-Sr.

H-Back 86 Ben Roberts, R-Sr.

QB 17 Makena Simis, So.

LT 60 Jackson Thiebes, R-Jr.

RB 20 John Nguyen, Jr.

LG 68 McCauley Todd, R-Jr. C 75 Robert Luke, So.

RG 71 Devon Dietr R-Jr. RT 76 David Reese, So.

WR 7 Ellis Henderson, R-Jr.

Slot WR 13 Chase Naccarato, R-Jr.

K5 Daniel Sullivan, Sr.

MONTANA BACKUPS ON OFFENSE QB 3 Brady Gustafson, R-Jr. RB 1 Treshawn Favors, R-So. H-back 85 Reese Carlson, R-Fr. WR 18 Tyler Lucas, R-Sr. WR 82 Keenan Curran, Fr. Slot WR 23 Caleb Lyons, R-Fr.

LT 77 Cameron Rokich, R-So. LG 79 Max Kelly, R-Jr. C 72 Cooper Sprunk, R-So. RG 69 Jared Clark, Jr. RT 78 Clint LaRowe, R-Jr.

MONTANA STARTING DEFENSE FS 31 Justin Whitted, R-Sr.

CB 11 Nate Harris, R-Sr.

OLB 33 Connor Lebsock, R-Sr.

DE 91 Tyrone Holmes, Sr.

MLB 45 Jeremiah Kose, R-Sr.

DT 34 Jamal Wilson, R-Sr.

SS 9 Yamen Sanders, R-Jr.

OLB 36 Herbert Gamboa, Sr.

DT 37 Caleb Kidder, R-Jr. DE 47 Derek Crittenden, Sr.

CB 18 JR Nelson, R-Jr.

P 87 Chris Lider, Sr.

MONTANA BACKUPS ON DEFENSE DE DT DT DE MLB

51 43 93 97 10

Tucker Schye, R-So. Nate Bradley, R-So. Zach Peevey, Jr. Ryan Johnson, R-Jr. Connor Strahm, R-So.

OLB CB FS SS CB

42 Josh Buss, R-Fr. 2 Ryan McKinley, R-So. 3 Eric Johnson, Sr. 8 Manu Rasmussen, R-Fr. 1 Markell Sanders, R-Fr.

W

Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015 — A11

DAY MATCHUPS IDAHO STATE STARTING DEFENSE CB 8 Erik Collins, Sr.

No. 1 1 OLB 40 SS 7 2 Will Pettit, Jr. Kamino 4 Ward, Jr. 4 5 6 DE 85 6 Rasheed 7 MLB 30 Williams, Fr. 7 Hayden 8 DT 92 Stout, R-Jr. 8 Chris FS 29 9 Edwards, R-Jr. Cody 10 Sorensen, 10 DE 95 R-Sr. 11 OLB 25 Tyler Kuder, 11 Joe R-Sr. 12 rich, Martin, 13 R-Fr. 14 15 16 Rush 48 17 Kurt Karstetter, 18 Sr. 20 21 22 23 24 25 P 36 CB 6 26 Zak Johnson, Khary Livingston27 R-So. Coleman, R-Sr. 28 29 30 IDAHO STATE BACKUPS ON DEFENSE 31 DE 90 Spencer Hoff, Jr. OLB 39 Jaxon Landon, Fr. 32 NT 94 JonRhyeem Peoples, R-So. CB 2 Cory Hollowell, R-Fr. 34 DE 98 Drew Sharkey, R-Jr. SS 7 Jeremy Bittle, R-Jr. 35 Rush 38 Kody Graves, Fr. FS 4 Jayson Miller, Fr. 36 OLB 25 Joe Martin, R-Fr. CB 1 Anthony Ricks, R-Fr. 37 38 MLB 52 Micah Breland, R-So. 39 40 43 44 45 46 WR 2 47 Slot WR 15 Broc 48 KW Williams, Malcom, R-Jr. 49 R-Jr. 50 51 52 53 54 RT 71 QB 4 55 Skyler Tanner RB 31 59 Phillips, So. Gueller, Xavier 60 RG 76 R-Fr. 63 Finney, Sr. Thomas 64 Vazorka, Jr. 65 C 75 66 Christian 68 Diehm, R-Sr. 69 70 LG 60 71 Wesley 72 Wingrove, Jr. 73 75 LT 54 76 Terrence 77 Carey, R-Sr. 79 80 WR 7 81 Madison 82 Mangum, Sr. 83 84 TE 11 85 Josh Cook, K 36 86 R-Jr. Zak Johnson, 87 88 R-So. 89 90 91 IDAHO STATE BACKUPS ON OFFENSE 93 QB 10 Michael Sanders, Jr. LT 66 Brian Fineanganofo, R-Fr. 94 RB 28 Jakori Ford, R-Jr. LG 69 Cody Abbott, R-Jr. 95 TE 81 Tyler Graves, R-Sr. C 63 Travis Namohala, Sr. 96 WR 6 Fondereux Wilson, So. RG 68 Chris Miedema, So. 97 WR 86 CJ Hatchett, R-Sr. RT 77 Chase Collins, R-So. 98 99 Slot WR 84 Hagen Graves, So.

IDAHO STATE STARTING OFFENSE

BIGGEST JACKPOT PAYOUT IN THE REGION

Announcing the

IDAHO STATE ROSTER Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Year Chris Reynolds Jr. WR 6-3 194 Fr. Anthony Ricks DB 5-8 164 R-Fr. Cory Hollowell DB 6-2 185 R-Fr. Tanner Gueller QB 6-2 235 R-Fr. Jayson Miller DB 6-1 177 Fr. Taj Jones DB 5-9 150 Fr. Khary Livingston-Coleman DB 5-9 175 R-Sr. Fondereau Wilson WR 5-9 170 So. Madison Mangum WR 6-2 212 R-Sr. Kamino Ward DB 5-10 201 Sr. Erik Collins DB 5-9 170 Sr. Tom Jewell WR 5-10 206 So. Zach Larsen QB 6-1 195 R-Fr. Michael Sanders QB 6-3 221 Jr. Taison Manu DB 5-10 201 Sr. Jeremy Bittle DB 6-1 191 R-Jr. Josh Cook TE 6-3 220 R-Jr. Trae Pilster WR 6-1 217 R-So. Khalil Bell DB 5-7 157 R-Jr. Tavonte Jackson DB 5-10 185 Sr. KW Williams WR 6-1 212 R-Jr. Robert Kvinsland QB 6-3 193 Fr. Tucker Louie-McGee WR 5-11 180 R-Fr. Sean Cheney P 6-2 210 R-Fr. Kyle LeBlanc DB 6-0 165 R-Fr. CJ Langlow LB 6-3 215 R-Sr. Nikko Haynes DB 5-11 197 R-So. James Madison DB 5-11 213 R-Fr. Nico Aguirre DB 5-10 174 Fr. Joe Martin LB 6-0 206 R-Fr. Kirk McKenzie DB 5-11 188 Fr. Andy Whittier DB 5-7 160 R-Fr. Jakori Ford RB 5-8 195 R-Jr. Cody Sorensen DB 6-0 197 R-Sr. Hayden Stout LB 6-2 230 R-Jr. Xavier Finney RB 5-11 199 Sr. Ty Flanagan RB 5-10 190 Fr. Lonell Woodhouse RB 5-11 220 R-Fr. Braeden Mitchell RB 5-11 223 R-Jr. Zak Johnson K 5-11 180 R-So. Tate Razor DL 6-4 227 R-Fr. Kody Graves LB 6-1 211 Fr. Jaxon Landon LB 5-11 224 Fr. Jake Pettit DL 6-3 232 Jr. Luke Holloway LB 6-3 204 Fr. Christian Holland LB 6-0 215 So. Jonathan Allen DL 6-2 222 Fr. Mason Jackson LB 6-1 215 Fr. Mario Jenkins LB 6-1 229 R-So. Kurt Karstetter LB 6-2 218 Sr. Ryan Shields LB 6-2 190 Fr. Andrew Burtenshaw LS 6-2 235 So. Braiden Beckman LB 6-1 221 Fr. Micah Breland LB 6-1 237 R-So. Austin Schroeder LB 5-10 227 R-So. Terrence Carey OL 6-1 300 R-Sr. Robert Schwenke DL 6-2 301 Fr. Tate Tavernier DL 6-1 235 Fr. Wesley Wingrove OL 6-4 327 Jr. Travis Namohala OL 6-1 281 Sr. Garrett Smith OL 6-7 318 Fr. Matt Lewis DL 6-5 363 R-Jr. Brian Fineanganofo OL 6-6 275 R-Fr. Chris Miedema OL 6-4 316 So. Cody Abbott OL 6-3 276 R-Jr. Kyle Jones DL 6-4 283 So. Skyler Phillips OL 6-2 322 Jr. Jake Hoggan OL 6-6 320 R-Fr. Colin Prestesater OL 6-6 311 R-Jr. Christian Diehm OL 6-5 279 R-Sr. Thomas Vazorka OL 6-4 318 Jr. Chase Collins OL 6-5 277 R-So. Dakota Wilson OL 6-6 288 Fr. Jordan White TE 6-3 221 R-Jr. Tyler Graves TE 6-5 245 R-Sr. Josh Rhinehart WR 6-2 205 R-Fr. Brendon Johnson K 5-4 165 Fr. Hagen Graves WR 6-0 179 So. Rasheed Wililams DL 6-1 261 Fr. CJ Hatchett WR 6-1 193 R-Sr. Tyler Wright TE 6-5 236 Sr. Chance Salutregui DL 6-5 227 Fr. Cole Robinson WR 6-4 205 R-So. Spencer Hoff DL 6-3 268 Jr. Tristan Cano DL 6-2 236 Fr. Daniel Heck DL 6-2 270 Fr. JonRhyeem Peoples DL 6-4 330 R-So. Tyler Kuder DL R-Sr. 6-3 311 Treven Aloi DL 6-1 323 Fr. Chris Edwards DL 6-0 279 R-Sr. Drew Sharkey DL 6-1 253 R-Jr. Nikko Taylor DL 6-1 295 R-Jr.

Hometown Lakewood, Wash.

San Marcos, Calif.

Corona, Calif.

Rochester, Wash.

San Dimas, Calif.

Corona, Calif.

Fresno, Calif.

Bakersfield, Calif.

Boise, Idaho San Bernardino, Calif.

Mount Holly, N.J. Pocatello, Idaho Phoenix, Ariz.

Pocatello, Idaho Antioch, Calif.

Santa Ana, Calif.

Blackfoot, Calif.

Marietta, Ga. Santa Barbara, Calif.

Des Moines, Wash.

Gig Harbor, Wash.

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho San Diego, Calif.

Tacoma, Wash.

Lompoc, Calif.

Banning, Calif.

Brawley, Calif.

Spanaway, Wash.

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Pocatello, Idaho Natomas, Calif.

Spokane, Wash.

Meridian, Idaho Oceanside, Calif.

Las Vegas, Nev. La Mirada, Cailf.

Idaho Falls, Idaho Meridian, Idaho Bellevue, Wash.

Nampa, Idaho Idaho Falls, Idaho Santa Barbara, Calif.

El Cajon, Calif.

Bellflower, Calif.

Gilbert, Ariz.

Pasco, Wash.

Nampa, Idaho Spokane, Wash.

San Diego, Calif.

Pocatello, Idaho Kent, Wash.

Tuwila, Wash.

Boise, Idaho Miami, Fla. Salt Lake City, Utah Idaho City, Idaho Hephzibah, Ga. Honolulu, Hawaii Shelley, Idaho Salt Lake City, Utah Los Angeles, Calif.

Everett, Wash.

Meridian, Idaho Caldwell, Idaho Eugene, Ore. Driggs, Idaho Encino, Calif.

Carson, Calif.

Bellingham, Wash.

Mead, Wash.

St. Anthony, Idaho Palm Springs, Calif.

Fruitland, Idaho Fruitland, Idaho Pocatello, Idaho Nampa, Idaho Buena Park, Calif.

Vancouver, Wash.

Mountain Home, Idaho Nampa, Idaho Mission Viejo, Calif.

La Verne, Calif.

Rigby, Idaho Emmett, Idaho Rigby, Idaho Payette, Idaho Murray, Utah Meridian, Idaho Spokane, Wash.

Fontana, Calif.

Giving Back at Griz Games Contest

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McQuiRk tEaM

Bill McQuirk

532-9234

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A12 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY / P ICKS

HOW WE SEE THE BIG SKY

AJ MAZZOLINI

BOB MESEROLL

42-21

41-22

BILL SPELTZ bill.speltz@missoulian.com‌

‌For all the hits the Montana football team has absorbed on and off the field lately, there’s still hope for the FCS playoffs.

It’s not going to be easy finishing out the regular season with wins against Idaho State, fourth-ranked Eastern Washington and Montana State. But it’s possible, especially if the Griz get Brady Gustafson back on the field at quarterback after his long absence with a broken fibula.

AJ Mazzolini, Griz beat writer for the Missoulian, tells me Gustafson has been practicing since last week. Montana coach Bob Stitt is not about to say whether the strong-armed junior will play Saturday at Idaho State, but let’s get real: The Griz are desperate and Gustafson

20. Bob: EWU 56, NAU 53. Kyle: EWU 35, NAU 31. Bill: Eastern 41, Jacks 21.

No. 10 Portland State at Northern Colorado: This could be a trap game for the Vikings after hard-fought wins over Montana State, Cal Poly and Montana.

It’s military appreciation day for the Bears, who scared the daylights out of Eastern Washington in Greeley two weeks ago, eventually losing, 43-41. The Vikings are worthy of respect but don’t expect a cakewalk this week. AJ: PSU KYLE BILL 56, NoCo 8. Bob: Portland State 44, No. They also played Sac State, the worst SAMPLE SPELTZ Colorado 20. Kyle: PSU 21, UNC 10. Bill: team offensively in the Big Sky, and Vikings 35, Bears 31. allowed 38 points in a loss two weeks UC Davis at Weber State: It’s still ago. This game is a good opportunity for Montana to get back on track. AJ: Mon- hard to fathom the Wildcats lost 14-13 tana 42, Idaho State 17. Bob: Montana 3, at Eastern Washington last week. 14-13?

Idaho State 2. Kyle: Montana 38, ISU 21. Isn’t that the score midway through has been practicing, so what would you the first quarter of most Eagles games? do? How much do you think Stitt wants a Bill: Montana 38, ISU 24.

No. 20 Southern Utah at Montana Weber State is a respectable team and my win right now?

State: This is a tricky one. Say what you hunch is the Wildcats are hungry to get The Bengals have been a disappointback to .500 with their 4-5 record. And will about Montana State’s surprising ment with their 2-6 record, but they are considering the Aggies are 0-4 on the not to be taken lightly. In their last home loss at North Dakota last week, the Cats road, this one is easy to pick. AJ: Weber still boast the most lethal offense in the game on Oct. 17, they pushed Eastern 28, UC Dave 10. Bob: Weber State 31, Big Sky. They’ll be up against the best Washington before fading in the second Davis 14. Kyle: Weber 35, UC Davis 17. defense in the league, which is coming half and losing, 45-28.

Bill: Wildcats 28, Aggies 14. off its worst performance in allowing 37 That was the last game that Michael Sacramento State at Cal Poly: It’s points to Cal Poly. Bob Meseroll likes the Sanders played at quarterback for Idaho hard to believe the Mustangs, who beat Cats this week and I’m right there with State. He sat with an injury two weeks him. AJ: SUU 35, Montana State 31. Bob: Montana in Missoula earlier this season, ago at Sac State and looks to be on the are 2-6. In their defense, they put up Montana State 49, SUU 48. Kyle: SUU sideline again this week. good fights in October against Eastern 42, MSU 38. Bill: MSU 31, SUU 27.

Without further ado, here’s how Northern Arizona at No. 4 Eastern Washington, Portland State and Souththe Missoulian sports pickers see this ern Utah. Cal Poly continues to lead the Washington: This would be a toss-up week’s action: FCS in rushing yards per game (406.2) if the game were played at 7,000 feet in

and it will get back on the winning track Flagstaff. But it’s homecoming for the No. 22 Montana at Idaho State: against the Hornets. AJ: Cal Poly 33, The Bengals have a wall of Jell-o defense Eagles and they haven’t forgotten last year’s disappointing 28-27 loss to North- Sac State 13. Bob: Cal Poly 42, Sac State that allows an average of 42.2 points 21. Kyle: Cal Poly 45, Sac State 7. Bill: ern Arizona. My hunch is that this one per game. OK, ok, so they did play two Mustangs 35, Hornets 20. big-time teams in Boise State and UNLV. won’t even be close. AJ: NAU 21, EWU

43-20

43-20

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Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015 — A13

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | CONFERENCE CAPSULES

AROUND THE BIG SKY Capsules Continued from A6

Southern Utah at Montana State‌

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Bozeman, Montana Bobcat Stadium (17,777 FieldTurf) ROOT SPORTS/DirecTV’s Audience Network Series History: Montana State leads the all-time series 2-1.

The Records: Southern Utah is 6-2 overall, and is 5-0 in Big Sky play. Montana State is 4-4 overall, and is 2-3 in Big Sky play.

Last Meeting: QB Aaron Cantu ran for two touchdowns in 2013 to give Southern Utah enough of a lead to hold off a late rally by Montana State and win 22-14.

The Coaches: Montana State coach Rob Ash is 69-36 overall, and is 48-21 in Big Sky play. Southern Utah coach Ed Lamb is 22-22 in SUU’s Big Sky tenure, and is 17-12 in Big Sky play.

Notes: Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser is now the FCS leader in tackles for loss, with 72.5... He trails only Idaho State’s Jared Allen for the conference record by a half TFL... Southern Utah forced six turnovers in a win over Cal Poly... The Thunderbirds lead the nation in turnover margin at plus-2.25...

Montana State leads the conference in total offense, and MSU quarterback Dakota Prukop leads the nation in total offense... Southern Utah leads the conference in total defense...

This is the first of a two-game road trip for the Thunderbirds.

Northern Arizona at Eastern Washington‌

Saturday, 4 p.m.

Cheney, Washington Roos Field (8,600 Red SprinTurf) SWX WatchBigSky.com Series History: Northern Arizona leads the all-time series 20-10.

The Records: Northern Arizona is 5-3 overall, and is 3-2 in Big Sky play. Eastern Washington is 6-2 overall, and is 5-0 in Big Sky play.

Last Meeting: Jordan Perry hit Dan Galindo with a 20-yard strike with 12 seconds left and Northern Arizona beat Eastern Washington 28-27 in 2014, ending the Eagles’ 14-game Big Sky Conference winning streak.

The Coaches: Eastern Washington coach

KURT WILSON, Missoulian‌

Montana defensive tackle Caleb Kidder tries to get a hold on Northern Arizona running back Casey Jahn in September.

Beau Baldwin is 83-30 overall, and is 50-11 in Big Sky play.

Northern Arizona coach Jerome Souers is 105-96 overall, and is 70-66 in Big Sky play.

Notes: Northern Arizona earned two Big Sky Football Players of the Week honors. Case Cookus threw seven touchdown passes to win the offensive award, and punter Ryan Hawkins won the special teams award...

Cookus’ seven TD passes tied a school record, and is the most in the Big Sky this season...

Eastern Washington is first in the league in passing offense, but is last in total defense...

EWU receiver Cooper Kupp caught two more touchdown passes to move to 54 career

receiving touchdowns.

Sacramento State at Cal Poly‌

Saturday, 7:05 p.m.

San Luis Obispo, California Alex G. Spanos Stadium (11,075 Natural Grass) WatchBigSky.com Series History: Cal Poly leads the all-time series 18-16.

The Records: Sacramento State is 2-6 overall, and is 1-4 in Big Sky play. Cal Poly is 2-6 overall, and is 1-4 in Big Sky play.

Last Meeting: Kori Garcia ran for 141 yards and a touchdown and Cal Poly scored 35-straight points in a 56-27 win over Sacramento State in 2014.

The Coaches: Cal Poly coach Tim Walsh is 89-77 overall, and is 60-52 in Big Sky play.

Sacramento State coach Jody Sears is 12-30 overall, and is 8-21 in Big Sky play.

Notes: Cal Poly continues to have the nation’s

top rushing offense, averaging 406.2 yards per game...

Sacramento State has the league’s second-best rushing defense, surrendering just 141.5 yards per game... Cal Poly has the league’s second-worst defense, surrendering 36.6 points a game...

The Mustangs surrendered five fumbles in a loss to Southern Utah.. Jody Sears is 0-1 at Spanos Stadium as a head coach, losing a 2013 game as Weber State’s head coach... Sears is 0-3 against the Mustangs as a head coach...Hornets linebacker Darnell Sankey leads the Big Sky in tackles per game at 14.

A14 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | MATCHUPS

BIG SKY SKY CONFERENCE CONFERENCE STATISTICS BIG STATISTICS Team comparisons for games through Oct. 31, 2015 SCORING

POINTS ALLOWED

Montana State Portland State Eastern Washington Northern Arizona Southern Utah Cal Poly Northern Colorado North Dakota* Montana Weber State* Idaho State UC Davis Sacramento State

146

219 207 189 181 169

260 241

304 304 290 280

RUSHING/PASSING YARDS Montana State Eastern Washington Cal Poly Northern Arizona Portland State Montana Idaho State Southern Utah North Dakota* Weber State* Northern Colorado UC Davis Sacramento State

1,035

1,762

1,302 1,066 1,028 1,327

906 951

1,374 1,235

2,495 2,985

2,148

1,998

3,250 514 2,351 1,316 2,320 2,232 1,914 1,145 1,759 1,716 1,837 1,784

359

Total 4,257 4,020 3,764 3,653 3,464 3,386 3,260 3,241 3,143 3,133 2,951 2,743 2,735

Southern Utah Portland State Montana North Dakota* Sacramento State Weber State* Northern Colorado Montana State Northern Arizona UC Davis Eastern Washington Cal Poly Idaho State

120

150

188

248 248 253 265 269 269 277 292 293

RUSHING/PASSING YARDS ALLOWED YARDS Rushing Passing *Through 9 games. Others have played 8 games.

Southern Utah Portland State Montana North Dakota* Weber State* UC Davis Sacramento State Idaho State Cal Poly Northern Arizona Northern Colorado Montana State Eastern Washington

1,408 1,337 1,680

1,285 1,404 1,293 851 2,477 1,492 1,840 1,739 1,682 1,132 2,336 2,169 1,419 1,424 2,235 1,599 2,102 1,632 2,198 2,252 1,595 2,235 1,760

338 Total 2,693 2,741 2,973 3,328 3,332 3,421 3,468 3,588 3,659 3,701 3,830 3,847 3,995

Missoulian staff

‌MONTANA (4-4) STATISTICS

Griz Opp Scoring average 25.9 23.5 First downs 172 145 Rushing yards 1066 1680 Avg./Rush 3.5 4.1 Passing 203-353-9 92-177-5 Passing yards 2320 1293 Average per pass 6.6 7.3 Total offense 3386 2973 Plays per game 82.6 73.3 Average per play 5.1 5.1 3rd-down conv.

47-142 46-133 4th-down conv.

15-31 10-20 Time of possession 25:52 34:08 Fumbles-lost 14-6 21-8 Kick returns 24-19.9 31-20.1 Punt returns 17-7.2 13-2.3 Punting 44-39.9 54-40.5 Sacks-yards 24-141 24-142 Penalties 39-288 54-458 Montana 55 67 35 50 0 – 207 Opponents 55 69 31 30 3 – 188

‌Offensive Leaders Rushing John Nguyen 95-431 (4.5 ypc), long 41, 2 TDs Makena Simis 40-117 (2.9), long 20, 1 TD Joey Counts 22-104 (4.7), long 45, 1 TD Passing Chad Chalich 86-141-2, 908 yards, long 70, 6 TDs Brady Gustafson 77-132-4, 841 yards, long 62, 4 TDs Makena Simis 39-75-3, 566 yards, long 74, 7 TD Receiving Jamaal Jones 44-748 (17.0), long 74, 5 TD Chase Naccarato 41-245 (6.0 ypc), long 25, 1 TDs Ben Roberts 35-360 (10.3), long 44, 5 TD Ellis Henderson 29-522 (18.0), long 63, 5 TD Nguyen 20-109 (5.4), long 19, 0 TDs

‌Defensive leaders

‌IDAHO STATE (2-6) STATISTICS

Tackles K. Van Ackeren 96, 43 solo Caleb Kidder 51, 13 solo Jeremiah Kose 71, 25 solo Herbert Gamboa 44, 15 solo Tyrone Holmes 64, 21 solo Yamen Sanders 42, 18 solo Tackles for loss Holmes 15.0-61 Tucker Schye 4.0-14 Gamboa 6.0-18 Kidder 3.0-24 Sacks Holmes 11.0-57 Ryan Johnson 2.0-13 Kidder 2.5-24 Schye 1.5-12 Interceptions Kose 1-0 R. Johnson 1-0 Y. Sanders 1-0 Eric Johnson 1-0 Kidder 1-0 Fumbles forced-recovered Holmes 2-0 Van Ackeren 0-2 Henderson 1-1 Markell Sanders 0-2 E. Johnson 1-0 Kidder 0-1 Jamal Wilson 1-0 R. Johnson 0-1 Nate Harris 1-0 Schye 0-1 Pass breakups Harris 7 Kidder 4 JR Nelson 4 Whitted 2 Blocked kicks Van Ackeren 1 Kidder Schye 1 Connor Strahm 1 Safeties Derek Crittenden 1 Team 1

‌Special teams leaders PATs/Field goals Daniel Sullivan 21-23/10-13, long 28, 0 blocked, 51 points Punting Chris Lider 44-39.9, long 60, 12 inside 20, 1 touchback, 0 blocked

Punt returns Nguyen 11-7.2, long 16, 0 TDs Kickoff returns Henderson 16-22.1, long 40, 0 TDs Jones 3-24.0, long 40, 0 TDs

ISU Opp Scoring average 22.6 42.2 First downs 181 182 Rushing yards 1028 2169 Avg./Rush 3.8 5.4 Passing 202-351-16 119-195-4 Passing yards 2232 1419 Average per pass 6.4 7.3 Total offense 3260 3588 Plays per game 77.8 75.0 Average per play 5.2 6.0 3rd-down conv.

42-126 52-120 4th-down conv.

11-23 8-17 Time of possession 27:04 32:56 Fumbles-lost 13-8 6-3 Kick returns 23-19.4 20-28.5 Punt returns 3-20.7 16-8.6 Punting 41-36.7 39-39.0 Sacks-yards 15-108 10-50 Penalties 36-34.2 50-49.5 Idaho State 55 75 22 29 – 181 Opponents 108 86 118 26 – 338

‌Offensive Leaders Rushing Xavier Finney 147-586 (4.0 ypc), long 17, 4 TDs Jakori Ford 67-344 (5.1), long 22, 1 TD Braeden Mitchell 16-71 (4.4), long 23, 0 TDs Passing Michael Sanders 139-239-10, 1681 yards, long 60, 17 TDs Tanner Gueller 60-105-5, 529 yards, long 30, 2 TDs Receiving Madison Mangum 54-717 (13.3 ypc), long 59, 8 TDs KW Williams 35-468 (13.4), long 60, 4 TDs Josh Cook 24-250 (10.4), long 48, 1 TD Hagen Graves 21-267 (12.7), long 42, 3 TDs Finney 21-127 (6.0), long 23, 0 TDs

‌Defensive leaders Tackles Hayden Stout 76, 38 solo Tyler Kuder 60, 34 solo Jake Pettit 73, 26 solo Kamino Ward 48, 20 solo Cody Sorensen 69, 37 solo Chris Edward 41, 12 solo Tackles for loss Kuder 9.0-35 Stout 6.5-20 Kurt Karstetter 7.0-44 Rasheed Williams 5.0-21 Sacks Kuder 3.5-20 Williams 2.5-15 Karstetter 3.0-15 Erik Collins 2.0-13 Interceptions Karstetter 1-20 Collins 1-0 CJ Langlow 1-16 Tate Razor 1-0 Fumbles forced-recovered Karstetter 1-1 Ward 0-1 Kuder 1-0 Nikko Hayes 0-1 Jayson Miller 1-0 Pass breakups Ward 3 Langlow 2 Collins 2 Tavonte Jackson 2 Blocked kicks Drew Sharkey Team 1

‌Special teams leaders PATs/Field goals Zak Johnson 18-20/3-6, long 28, 2 blocked, 27 points Punting Z. Johnson 21-40.4, long 63, 8 inside 20, 0 touchbacks, 2 blocked Sean Cheney 17-38.7, long 53, 1 inside 20, 2 touchbacks, 1 blocked Punt returns Graves 2-8.0, long 12, 0 TDs Sharkey 1-11.0, long 11, 0 TDs Kickoff returns Graves 11-18.6, long 31, 0 TDs Hayes 6-20.0, long 32, 0 TDs

Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015 — A15

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | STAT PACK

BY THE NUMBERS T‌ EAM LEADERS SCORING OFFENSE

G TD XP 2XP DXP FG Saf Pts Avg Montana St. 8 50 43 2 0 4 0 359 44.9 Portland St. 8 39 38 1 0 10 0 304 38.0 E. Washington 8 43 38 1 0 2 0 304 38.0 N. Arizona 8 38 38 0 0 8 0 290 36.2 S. Utah 8 36 31 0 0 11 0 280 35.0 Cal Poly 8 36 32 0 0 4 0 260 32.5 N. Colorado 8 33 31 0 0 4 0 241 30.1 Montana 8 25 21 1 0 10 2 207 25.9 N. Dakota 9 27 24 0 0 11 0 219 24.3 Idaho St. 8 25 18 2 0 3 0 181 22.6 UC Davis 8 19 19 0 0 12 0 169 21.1 Weber St. 9 23 18 0 0 11 0 189 21.0 Sac State 8 17 17 0 0 9 0 146 18.2

S. Utah Portland St. Montana N. Dakota Weber St. Sac State N. Colorado N. Arizona Montana St. UC Davis E. Washington Cal Poly Idaho St.

Cal Poly Portland St. N. Dakota Montana St. S. Utah N. Arizona N. Colorado Weber St. Montana E. Washington Idaho St. Sac State UC Davis

N. Dakota Sac State Weber St. Portland St. S. Utah Cal Poly N. Arizona N. Colorado Montana UC Davis Idaho St. E. Washington Montana St.

SCORING DEFENSE

G TD XP 2XP DXP FG Saf Pts Avg 8 14 13 0 1 7 0 120 15.0 8 19 18 0 0 6 0 150 18.8 8 24 23 0 0 7 0 188 23.5 9 32 25 1 0 9 1 248 27.6 9 31 31 0 0 12 0 253 28.1 8 32 29 0 0 9 0 248 31.0 8 33 31 0 0 12 0 265 33.1 8 36 31 1 0 6 1 269 33.6 8 37 35 0 0 4 0 269 33.6 8 37 34 0 0 7 0 277 34.6 8 39 34 0 0 8 0 292 36.5 8 39 32 2 0 7 1 293 36.6 8 45 44 0 0 8 0 338 42.2

RUSHING OFFENSE

G Att Yds Avg TD Yds/G 8 605 3250 5.4 29 406.2 8 395 2148 5.4 28 268.5 9 408 1998 4.9 15 222.0 8 329 1754 5.3 26 219.2 8 293 1327 4.5 15 165.9 8 330 1302 3.9 9 162.8 8 275 1235 4.5 16 154.4 9 360 1374 3.8 10 152.7 8 308 1066 3.5 8 133.2 8 262 1035 4.0 9 129.4 8 271 1028 3.8 5 128.5 8 270 951 3.5 4 118.9 8 295 906 3.1 6 113.2

RUSHING DEFENSE

G Rushes Yards Avg. TD Yds/G 9 289 843 2.9 5 93.7 8 284 1132 4.0 14 141.5 9 362 1492 4.1 9 165.8 8 322 1337 4.2 11 167.1 8 362 1408 3.9 10 176.0 8 302 1424 4.7 17 178.0 8 325 1599 4.9 21 199.9 8 350 1632 4.7 12 204.0 8 409 1680 4.1 10 210.0 8 299 1739 5.8 21 217.4 8 405 2169 5.4 22 271.1 8 403 2235 5.5 19 279.4 8 391 2252 5.8 18 281.5

PASS OFFENSE

G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds Avg TD Yds/G E. Washington 8 339 231 6 68.1 2985 8.8 32 373.1 Montana St. 8 262 168 6 64.1 2495 9.5 22 311.9 N. Arizona 8 233 161 5 69.1 2351 10.1 28 293.9 Montana 8 353 203 9 57.5 2320 6.6 17 290.0 Idaho St. 8 351 202 16 57.5 2232 6.4 19 279.0 S. Utah 8 291 178 3 61.2 1914 6.6 14 239.2 UC Davis 8 281 183 7 65.1 1837 6.5 12 229.6 Sac State 8 287 159 6 55.4 1784 6.2 11 223.0 N. Colorado 8 242 140 8 57.9 1716 7.1 11 214.5 Weber St. 9 281 146 12 52.0 1759 6.3 10 195.4 Portland St. 8 138 75 3 54.3 1316 9.5 10 164.5 N. Dakota 9 180 92 5 51.1 1145 6.4 12 127.2 Cal Poly 8 96 44 3 45.8 514 5.4 7 64.2

PASS DEFENSE

G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds Avg TD Yds/G S. Utah 8 221 116 14 52.5 1285 5.8 3 160.6 Montana 8 178 92 5 51.7 1293 7.3 13 161.6 Portland St. 8 264 130 12 49.2 1404 5.3 7 175.5 Idaho St. 8 195 119 4 61.0 1419 7.3 18 177.4 Montana St. 8 175 107 2 61.1 1595 9.1 19 199.4

Weber St. 9 274 UC Davis 8 232 E. Washington 8 248 N. Arizona 8 296 N. Colorado 8 318 N. Dakota 9 300 Cal Poly 8 282 Sac State 8 280

158 135 154 178 207 188 182 165

7 57.7 1840 3 58.2 1682 6 62.1 1760 7 60.1 2102 5 65.1 2198 3 62.7 2477 7 64.5 2235 8 58.9 2336

6.7 7.2 7.1 7.1 6.9 8.3 7.9 8.3

18 15 17 15 19 27 19 14

204.4 210.2 220.0 262.8 274.8 275.2 279.4 292.0

TOTAL OFFENSE

G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Yds/G Montana St. 8 1754 2495 591 4249 7.2 48 531.1 E. Washington 8 1035 2985 601 4020 6.7 41 502.5 Cal Poly 8 3250 514 701 3764 5.4 36 470.5 N. Arizona 8 1302 2351 563 3653 6.5 37 456.6 Portland St. 8 2148 1316 533 3464 6.5 38 433.0 Montana 8 1066 2320 661 3386 5.1 25 423.2 Idaho St. 8 1028 2232 622 3260 5.2 24 407.5 S. Utah 8 1327 1914 584 3241 5.5 29 405.1 N. Colorado 8 1235 1716 517 2951 5.7 27 368.9 N. Dakota 9 1998 1145 588 3143 5.3 27 349.2 Weber St. 9 1374 1759 641 3133 4.9 20 348.1 UC Davis 8 906 1837 576 2743 4.8 18 342.9 Sac State 8 951 1784 557 2735 4.9 15 341.9

TOTAL DEFENSE

G Rush Pass Plys Yards Avg TD Yds/G S. Utah 8 1408 1285 583 2693 4.6 13 336.6 Portland St. 8 1337 1404 586 2741 4.7 18 342.6 N. Dakota 9 843 2477 589 3320 5.6 32 368.9 Weber St. 9 1492 1840 636 3332 5.2 27 370.2 Montana 8 1680 1293 587 2973 5.1 23 371.6 UC Davis 8 1739 1682 531 3421 6.4 36 427.6 Sac State 8 1132 2336 564 3468 6.1 28 433.5 Idaho St. 8 2169 1419 600 3588 6.0 40 448.5 Cal Poly 8 1424 2235 584 3659 6.3 36 457.4 N. Arizona 8 1599 2102 621 3701 6.0 36 462.6 N. Colorado 8 1632 2198 668 3830 5.7 31 478.8 Montana St. 8 2252 1595 566 3847 6.8 37 480.9 E. Washington 8 2235 1760 651 3995 6.1 36 499.4

TURNOVER MARGIN

S. Utah Portland St. Montana St. Sac State N. Colorado E. Washington Montana Weber St. N. Arizona Cal Poly UC Davis N. Dakota Idaho St.

Cal Poly Montana St. E. Washington Idaho St. Montana Weber St. N. Arizona S. Utah Portland St. N. Colorado UC Davis Sac State N. Dakota

Gained Lost G Fum Int Tot Fum Int Tot Mar Per/G 8 8 14 22 1 3 4 +18 2.25 8 8 12 20 4 3 7 +13 1.62 8 9 2 11 2 6 8 +3 0.38 8 4 8 12 5 6 11 +1 0.12 8 7 5 12 3 8 11 +1 0.12 8 4 6 10 4 6 10 +0 0.00 8 8 5 13 6 9 15 -2 -0.25 9 4 7 11 2 12 14 -3 -0.33 8 0 7 7 5 5 10 -3 -0.38 8 4 7 11 11 3 14 -3 -0.38 8 4 3 7 6 7 13 -6 -0.75 9 6 3 9 11 5 16 -7 -0.78 8 3 4 7 8 16 24 -17 -2.12

FIRST DOWNS

G Rush Pass Pen Total 8 183 25 5 213 8 98 93 13 204 8 53 128 14 195 8 61 104 16 181 8 68 88 16 172 9 87 73 12 172 8 71 86 10 167 8 67 90 10 167 8 101 52 9 162 8 73 73 12 158 8 56 90 11 157 8 51 88 14 153 9 91 51 9 151

OPPONENT 1ST DOWNS

Montana Portland St. S. Utah N. Dakota UC Davis Sac State Montana St. Idaho St. Weber St. Cal Poly N. Arizona N. Colorado E. Washington

G Rush Pass Pen Total 8 92 50 3 145 8 77 56 13 146 8 77 54 15 146 9 52 101 9 162 8 78 75 14 167 8 67 90 14 171 8 96 66 15 177 8 106 73 3 182 9 87 83 13 183 8 73 101 16 190 8 85 94 13 192 8 88 105 11 204 8 130 81 11 222

3RD-DN CONVERSIONS

Montana St. E. Washington Cal Poly Portland St. N. Colorado UC Davis N. Dakota Weber St. N. Arizona Idaho St. Montana S. Utah Sac State

G Conv Att Pct 8 53 110 48.2 8 55 116 47.4 8 65 146 44.5 8 45 108 41.7 8 45 110 40.9 8 51 130 39.2 9 50 133 37.6 9 47 136 34.6 8 36 106 34.0 8 42 126 33.3 8 47 142 33.1 8 40 123 32.5 8 37 116 31.9

OPP 3RD-DN CONVERT

S. Utah Portland St. Sac State Montana UC Davis N. Dakota N. Arizona Weber St. E. Washington Idaho St. Montana St. Cal Poly N. Colorado

G Conv Att Pct 8 38 134 28.4 8 38 131 29.0 8 39 116 33.6 8 46 134 34.3 8 33 91 36.3 9 48 130 36.9 8 51 129 39.5 9 58 139 41.7 8 49 115 42.6 8 52 120 43.3 8 50 113 44.2 8 53 114 46.5 8 67 141 47.5

Montana N. Dakota Weber St. N. Arizona S. Utah E. Washington Portland St. Sac State Montana St. Idaho St. N. Colorado Cal Poly UC Davis

SACKS BY

G Sacks Yards 8 24 141 9 21 146 9 21 144 8 20 126 8 20 120 8 17 89 8 17 86 8 16 97 8 16 96 8 15 108 8 13 80 8 11 58 8 10 60

SACKS AGAINST

Montana St. Cal Poly Idaho St. E. Washington Weber St. Portland St. Sac State N. Colorado S. Utah UC Davis N. Dakota N. Arizona Montana

Idaho St. UC Davis Montana Montana St. Portland St. Cal Poly N. Colorado N. Dakota Sac State N. Arizona E. Washington Weber St. S. Utah

G Sacks Yards 8 8 62 8 8 25 8 10 50 8 11 49 9 15 74 8 15 95 8 15 99 8 16 118 8 18 111 8 19 148 9 20 132 8 22 113 8 24 142

PENALTIES

G No Yds Avg/G 8 36 274 34.2 8 33 281 35.1 8 39 288 36.0 8 45 356 44.5 8 39 363 45.4 8 41 363 45.4 8 44 366 45.8 9 52 422 46.9 8 47 427 53.4 8 47 479 59.9 8 57 493 61.6 9 57 569 63.2 8 58 541 67.6

4TH-DN CONVERSIONS

E. Washington Cal Poly Montana St. Portland St. N. Arizona UC Davis Montana Idaho St.

G Conv Att Pct 8 13 17 76.5 8 29 41 70.7 8 17 26 65.4 8 5 8 62.5 8 6 10 60.0 8 10 17 58.8 8 15 31 48.4 8 11 23 47.8

N. Colorado Weber St. S. Utah Sac State N. Dakota

8 9 8 8 9

5 5 4 2 2

11 15 13 7 9

45.5 33.3 30.8 28.6 22.2

TIME OF POSSESSION

UC Davis Cal Poly Portland St. Sac State Weber St. N. Dakota Montana St. N. Arizona E. Washington Idaho St. S. Utah Montana N. Colorado

G Total Time Avg/G 8 288:51 36:06 8 276:11 34:31 8 253:06 31:38 8 252:09 31:31 9 280:18 31:08 9 279:57 31:06 8 239:22 29:55 8 228:19 28:32 8 228:00 28:30 8 216:33 27:04 8 213:19 26:39 8 206:53 25:51 8 198:21 24:47

I‌ NDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING

Team Cl G Att Yds Avg TD Long Yds/G J Santiago UND FR 9 184 1162 6.3 11 80 129.1 C Jahn NAU SR 7 153 875 5.7 5 56 125.0 C Brown CP SR 7 151 812 5.4 10 60 116.0 J Protheroe CP SO 6 139 629 4.5 5 36 104.8 D Jones PSU SR 8 107 803 7.5 6 79 100.4

PASSING

Team Cl G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds TD Avg/G J West EWU JR 8 299 203 5 67.9 2639 28 329.9 D Prukop MSU JR 8 239 154 6 64.4 2286 20 285.8 C Cookus NAU FR 8 203 142 3 70.0 2130 26 266.2 M Sanders ISU JR 7 239 139 10 58.2 1681 17 240.1 A Olsen SUU SR 8 285 177 3 62.1 1908 14 238.5

RECEIVE

Team Cl G Rec Yds TD Long Avg/C Yds/G C Kupp EWU JR 8 91 1290 17 73 14.2 161.2 E Butler NAU SO 8 43 896 13 62 20.8 112.0 J Jones UM SR 8 44 748 5 74 17.0 93.5 K Bourne EWU JR 8 54 718 7 98 13.3 89.8 M Mangum ISU SR 8 54 717 8 59 13.3 89.6

TOTAL OFFENSE

Team Cl G Rush Pass Plays Total Yds/G D Prukop MSU JR 8 614 2286 358 2900 362.5 J West EWU JR 8 39 2639 333 2678 334.8 C Cookus NAU FR 8 162 2130 270 2292 286.5 A Olsen SUU SR 8 -12 1908 331 1896 237.0 M Sanders ISU JR 7 -41 1681 246 1640 234.3

SCORING

Team Cl G TD XPT FG 2XP Pts Pts/G C Kupp EWU JR 8 18 0 0 0 108 13.5 E Butler NAU SO 8 13 0 0 0 78 9.8 C Brown CP SR 7 10 0 0 0 60 8.6 J Gonzales PSU JR 8 0 38 10 0 68 8.5 R Hawkins NAU SR 8 0 38 8 0 62 7.8

TACKLES

Team Cl G Pos Solo Ast Total Avg/G Sack D Sankey SAC SR 8 LB 39 73 112 14.0 2.5 K Van Ackeren UM SR 8 LB 43 53 96 12.0 0.0 M Killebrew SUU SR 8 DB 42 42 84 10.5 0.0 W Ratelle UND JR 9 LB 51 42 93 10.3 3.0 T Risner UNC 8 SS 24 54 78 9.8 0.0 M Bignell MSU SO 8 LB 51 26 77 9.6 0.0 H Stout ISU JR 8 LB 38 38 76 9.5 2.0 T Inoke CP SR 7 LB 34 32 66 9.4 1.0 M Zamora EWU JR 8 LB 33 42 75 9.4 1.5 J Pettit ISU JR 8 LB 26 47 73 9.1 0.0

SACKS

Team Cl G Pos Solo Ast Yds Total Avg/G T Holmes UM SR 8 DE 10 2 55 11.0 1.38 J Cowser SUU JR 8 DE 7 0 35 7.0 0.88 M Dubose UNC 7 DE 4 0 19 4.0 0.57 D Dade PSU SO 8 4 0 26 4.0 0.50 K DeVaughn UCD SR 8 DL 4 0 25 4.0 0.50

INTERCEPTIONS

Team Cl G Int Yds TD Long Int/G P Onwuasor PSU SR 8 7 128 0 61 0.88 K Hannemann SUU SO 7 3 46 0 52 0.43 E Horn NAU SR 8 3 61 1 32 0.38 B Nard CP JR 8 3 40 0 40 0.38

A16 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY

Montana’s Keenan Curran tackles Portland State’s Kahlil Dawson during Montana’s 35-16 loss to Portland State.

TOMMY MARTINO, Missoulian‌

Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015 — A17

GRIZZLY GAME DAY

TOMMY MARTINO, Missoulian‌

Montana quarterback Makena Simis gets tackled by Portland State defenders Patrick Onwuasor (8) and Beau Duronslet during Montana’s 35-16 loss to Portland State.

A18 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | LAST WEEK’S GAMES

AROUND THE BIG SKY ‌Portland State beats Griz at home, strengthens record #BarnyBall continued its winning ways, as Portland State forced three Montana turnovers in a home win.

Vikings quarterback Alex Kuresa threw two touchdowns, and also rushed for two touchdowns in the win. Kuresa threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Carter III to give Portland State a 7-0 lead with 9:47 to go in the first quarter, as the Vikings led wire-to-wire.

A 49-yard run by Kuresa in the third quarter gave Portland State a 28-10 victory. The Vikings’ defense held Montana to 294 yards, while Portland State finished with 460.

SUU beats Cal Poly, Cowser sets FCS tackles-for-loss record The football equivalent of Halloween is facing a triple-option team in conference play. Unfortunately for Southern Utah, the Thunderbirds had to face that task on Halloween as they welcomed the Cal Poly Mustangs to Eccles Coliseum. Fortunately for SUU, the Thunderbird defense was the scariest element on the field, scoring three defensive touchdowns to earn a 54-37 win over the Mustangs. Cal Poly scored an opening field goal, after which Southern Utah responded with a 20-0 run. Southern Utah built up a 33-17 lead with 53 seconds left in the first half, before the Mustangs responded with a 14-0 run of their own in the third quarter. However, with Cal Poly driving, trailing 33-31, Southern Utah’s Mike Needham returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown. Then, Big Sky Preseason Defensive Player of the Year James Cowser returned a fumble 55 yards to boost Southern Utah’s lead to 47-31 with 14:51 left in the fourth quarter. Cal Poly finished with 582 yards, but Southern Utah forced six turnovers (five fumbles and an interception). In the fourth quarter, on a sack-fumble, Cowser moved to 72.5 tackles-for-loss in his career, just a half-tackle behind Idaho State’s Jared Allen for the all-time Big Sky lead.

EWU outlasts WSU behind Kupp, West A 10-0 Weber State first quarter lead didn’t hold up for the Wildcats, as Eastern Washington used two Cooper Kupp

North Dakota athletics‌

North Dakota wide receiver Clive Georges splits Montana State’s defense for a 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter of a 44-38 victory last Saturday at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. touchdowns to propel to a narrow win BIG SKY STANDINGS at home. Kupp inched closer to catching

league overall the FCS receiving touchdown record set E. Washington 5-0 6-2 S. Utah 5-0 6-2

by New Hampshire’s David Ball, as he Portland St. 4-1 7-1 caught touchdowns of 40 and 4 yards N. Arizona 3-2 5-3 Montana 3-2 4-4 from Jordan West. The first, a 40-yard Weber St. 3-3 4-5 score, gave Eastern Washington its first N. Dakota 3-3 5-4 Montana St. 2-3 4-4 points, as the Eagles trailed Weber State N. Colorado 2-4 4-4 10-7. The Wildcats opened up a 10-0 Cal Poly 1-4 2-6 Idaho St. 1-4 2-6 lead in the first quarter, as a six-yard Sac State 1-4 2-6 run by Chad Leckington and a field goal UC Davis 1-4 1-7

by Josh Kealamakia gave Weber a twoLast Saturday’s scores North Dakota 44, Montana State 38 score lead. Weber State held a 13-7 halfPortland State 35, Montana 16 time lead, but Kupp scored his second Eastern Washington 14, Weber State 13 S. Utah 54, Cal Poly 37 touchdown with 8:53 to go in the third N. Arizona 63, N. Colorado 21 quarter. The touchdown would be the Saturday, Nov. 7 Montana at Idaho State, 2:35 p.m. only score of the second half. Eastern UC Davis at Weber State, 12:05 p.m.

Washington had a season-low 189 yards.

Portland State at N. Colorado, 12:05 p.m.

S. Utah at Montana State, 1:35 p.m.

Weber State finished with 412 yards.

N. Arizona at E. Washington, 4:05 p.m.

Sac State at Cal Poly, 7:05 p.m.

NAU crushes UNC behind Cookus’ seven touchdown passes in a win. The Lumberjacks held a 42-7 Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus threw seven touchdown passes, halftime lead, as Cookus threw four touchdown passes in the first half. NAU as the Lumberjacks earned 668 yards

led 63-7 at the end of the third quarter, after Cookus was pulled in favor of backup Jordan Perry. Northern Arizona receiver Emmanuel Butler finished with four touchdown catches.

UND downs MSU as Santiago has banner day for UND North Dakota running back John Santiago rushed for 230 yards and three touchdowns, as UND picked up a home win over the Bobcats. North Dakota held a 21-7 first quarter lead, until Montana State tied the game at 21-21 after a 39-yard run by Jayshaun Gates. A Santiago run before halftime gave UND a 31-24 halftime lead. Montana State quarterback Dakota Prukop briefly tied the game at 31-31, after a three-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter.However, North Dakota would never trail again. The two teams combined for 1,027 yards, with North Dakota finishing with 548 yards. The win breaks a threegame losing streak for North Dakota.

Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015 — A19

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Good Luck Griz!

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A20 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 7, 2015

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