Griz Game Day 11 28 15

Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015 — A1

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A2 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | Q&A

‘H’ AS IN HORNER

New starting H-back embracing role ANDREW HOUGHTON for the Missoulian‌

‌Josh Horner has been coming on strong in recent weeks for the Grizzlies.

After having just two catches in the first six games of the season, he’s racked up 12 in the last five, including a seasonhigh line of five grabs for 58 yards against Montana State.

Before a recent practice in the wind and snow at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, the Missoulian caught up with the sophomore wideout to talk about his Grizzly roots, switching positions, and his plans planning to see the new Star Wars film.

Q. You were carrying the offense early against MSU. How’s it been to start taking a bigger role in the offense?

A. It’s been good. I’ve just been fortunate enough to be in a good position with my team. I’m just doing whatever the coaches ask me to do to put us in better situations for winning.

Q. You’ve been playing the H-receiver position, which is basically like the slot right?

A. Yeah it’s a lot of short patterns, moving the chains, things like that. We do a little bit of run blocking as well.

Q. Had you played there before?

A. Yeah. I think I was pretty well prepared to play there because I was a tight end last year. It’s kind of similar to what I did last year. I played in close a lot last year so I’ve had some experience there and it was a pretty easy transition.

Q. What’s your favorite route to run out of the slot?

A. We run a cross route that’s right behind the linebackers, I like that. I like running corner routes too, getting upfield, going vertical. A little bit of everything.

Q. You played quarterback in high school. What position were you recruited at?

A. Yeah, they recruited me as a wide receiver, wide receiver or a tight end. The last coaching staff had me as a tight end and then this one, they moved me out to the slot. I also played a little bit of slot receiver in high school so it was a position

JOSH HORNER No. 80 Year: So. Position: WR Height: 6-5 Weight: 220 Hometown: Great Falls, Mont.

obviously played in weather like this.

How does it affect your game if it’s like this on Saturday?

A. You just try not to think about it.

Obviously it’s a little harder to handle the ball so you have to concentrate on really gripping the ball and focusing when it’s thrown to you and looking it all the way in. The faster you run and the harder you play, the warmer you stay.

Q. What’s the worst weather you’ve ever played in?

A. The state semifinal game my senior year in high school. It was actually snowing so bad that the game got canceled Friday night because the bus company wouldn’t take us to Butte, but we ended up playing Saturday morning. I think the kickoff temperature was 3-below. That was probably my best game in high school.

Q. How’d you do?

A. I threw for 250 and ran for 130, I think. But we lost in OT. Q. What was it like playing high school ball in Montana?

A. It was awesome. I liked it. We were Class AA and there were a lot of competitive schools my senior year. It was a lot of fun, we had a good time. I ended up playing a little bit of everything.

Q. You took a year off between high TOMMY MARTINO, Missoulian‌ school and college. Why was that?

Montana receiver Josh Horner has entered the starting lineup in recent weeks at A. I originally came here right after high H-back receiver to provide both a pass-catching threat and show his blocking abilities. school on a scholarship, but I had played that I was familiar with. It wasn’t too hard. whole life, my dad went to school here so my entire senior year on a broken foot and then I re-broke it in the (East-West) I love the Griz.

Q. What’s been your favorite memory Shrine Game, which was right before I Q. What do you do in your free time? over your Griz career so far? came here, so I wasn’t going to be able to A. Hang out with friends, play a lot A. Probably scoring my first touchdown play that year. So I talked to coach (Mick) of PlayStation. Watch movies and just that I scored against North Dakota this Delaney and I just wasn’t sure that I year. That was pretty cool. It was kind of a hang out. wanted to be playing college football that Q. What’s your go-to game on Playwheel route play. I faked a block down, like badly, so I left for a little bit and moved to a run block, and then I released out. It was Station?

Seattle and came back. The coaches heard A. I’ve been playing a lot of Battleprobably 15 yards and I ran up the sideline that I was back and asked me if I wanted front, the new Star Wars Battlefront and I was wide open in the end zone. game that just came out. It’s a lot of fun. to try playing again. They said they had a Q. When you came out of high school, position at tight end that I could help fill, Q. Are you excited for the new Star were you looking at places besides Monso I came back and it was a great decision. tana or did you always want to come here? Wars movie?

Q. How excited are you for the game A. Yeah I can’t wait. I just went to The A. I was getting recruited by some Martian last night and saw previews for the this Saturday?

NAIA schools. I was also getting A. Super excited. Now that we’re in the recruited by Washington State a little bit new Star Wars. It looked sick, so I think I’ll playoffs, it’s a new season ahead of us so and Montana State, but I really wanted to be seeing it the first day it comes out. we’re all ready to go.

Q. Being a Montana guy, you’ve come to Montana. I’ve been a Griz fan my

Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015 — A3

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A4 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | KENDRICK VAN ACKEREN

THE COMFORT ZONE Former safety, transfer now leading Montana in tackles AJ MAZZOLINI ajmazzolini@missoulian.com‌

‌A blue-chip prospect is a priceless commodity, and Big Sky Country is a long way from the high-rollers’ table.

So what do you do if you’re the Montana Grizzlies, a traditional monster of the FCS but an afterthought to college football fans watching the Rose Bowl on New Years Day? You get creative. You recruit a high school quarterback and safety, turn him into a linebacker and mold one of the fiercest tackling machines in the Big Sky Conference.

“If you’re (6-foot-2), 6-3 and can really run, you’re probably going to the Pac-12 or the Mountain West (conferences),” Montana defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak lamented.

Kendrick Van Ackeren is a generous 6 feet, 1 inch. He’s a hard 215 pounds, though, with instincts to match.

After transferring from FBS Hawaii following a two-year stay as a safety and linebacker, Van Ackeren honed his linebacking skills to lead the Grizzlies in tackles the past two seasons at the forefront of Montana’s spirited defense.

The Bellevue, Washington native ranks 17th in program history with 276 tackles, despite playing the equivalent of just two and a half seasons, and can add to that total this weekend when his Griz host South Dakota State in the first round of the playoffs.

As gusts of wind send swirling snow across the expanses of a vacant Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Kendrick Van Ackeren trots toward the players’ tunnel, the channel that connects the frigid field to warm awaiting locker rooms.

He’s in no particular hurry before this late November football practice. No. 35 cuts through the blizzard unwavered

TOMMY MARTINO, Missoulian‌

Montana’s Kendrck Van Ackren tackles Montana State’s Dakota Prukop in the first half of the 115th Brawl of the Wild at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman. while his teammates split into two distinct groups: those tossing snowballs and posing for photo in the season’s first snow dump, and those seeking shelter from the elements.

“No, I love the snow,” shrugs Van Ackeren, a fifth-year senior, “just not the wind.”

Folks label the winds of Honolulu with a gentler tag — a breeze perhaps — but yes, there was wind when KVA attended the University of Hawaii. Certainly no snow though.

The climate wasn’t the main draw for the Washingtonian, a young man used to rainy weather in suburban Seattle.

He joined the Rainbow Warriors to play football.

And at first it went well. Van Ackeren drew praise for his work as a redshirt freshman in 2011, not playing in any games by nature but being named See VAN ACKEREN, Page A6

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A6 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | CONTINUED FROM A4

Van Ackeren Continued

Hawaii’s scout team player of the year.

He started one game and made 25 tackles the next fall.

But the fit started to deteriorate and both sides could sense it. He talked to his coaches and they made some calls together. Montana had shown tepid interest in the athlete during his high school career and KVA was intrigued by what Griz D-line coach Legi Suiaunoa had to say.

There’s been a strong connection between Bellevue, one of the top high school football programs in Washington, and UM for years and Van Ackeren had plenty of friends in Missoula already.

Former teammates like John “JP” Kanongata’a, Peter Nguyen and Cam Warren gave him promising feedback.

“There’s always been a couple guys and I’ve known them since I was a little kid. I felt like it was the best place for me to continue my career,” he said.

Linebacker, where the Grizzlies saw KVA’s best fit, wasn’t totally alien to the transfer. He played there as a youngster before transitioning to defensive back around high school because of his athleticism.

“My senior year especially, we played a lot of cover-3 type things, a lot of safety blitzes, so I was down in the box a lot kinda like an outside linebacker,” he explained. “A lot of people see the difference mostly in size and speed. The way I look at the difference is their general feel for the game, their instincts.”

Van Ackeren fell in line with three other Montana classmates in 2013, two of which would start alongside him the following season in Jeremiah Kose and Herbert Gamboa. Along with Connor Lebsock, he and Gamboa were all making the same transition from safety to linebacker. “... Other than Jeremiah (Kose), they’re all former safeties. And I like that,” Gregorak said. “My stance on recruiting in terms of linebackers is big safeties, big running backs and turn ‘em into linebackers.”

It works even better when you have a player of Van Ackeren’s caliber, whose football smarts rarely leave him out of position in pursuit of ball carriers.

“Kenny’s just so smart,” Gamboa said of his teammate, who’s no dunce in the classroom either, approaching the conclusion of dual degrees in finance and business management. “He’s always at

Montana’s Kendrick Van Ackeren celebrates with teammates after completing an interception in the first quarter against Montana State.

KENDRICK VAN ACKEREN No. 35 Year: R-Sr. Position: OLB Height: 6-1 Weight: 215 Hometown: Bellevue, Wash. the right place at the right time, that’s why he makes so many plays. He’s just a very instinctive football player.”

The 22-year old led the Grizzlies with 122 tackles last fall and racked up 125 in just 10 games during the regular season in 2015. That pace of 12.5 tackles per game ranked him fourth in the FCS. “That’s the way I try and foster it within the room; the defense is set up and it’s built for the linebackers to be productive,” said Gregorak, whose second-leading tackler is Kose at 95 stops. “Now it’s a race to see who can be the most productive.”

But there’s a reason Van Ackeren played in just 10 games while his team suited up on 11 Saturdays this fall.

Halloween night, after Montana had returned from a 35-16 beating at Portland State, Van Ackeren and two Griz teammates were arrested for entering a home on Missoula’s south side.

Initially booked under felony burglary charges, Van Ackeren, offensive lineman John Schmaing and running back Joey Counts — along with fellow UM students Courtney Reep and Maclain Tomlinson — eventually pleaded guilty instead to criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor.

The three players paid fines and received six-month suspended sentences. They were also suspended for one football game, Montana’s trip to Idaho State, for what they maintain was a misunderstanding as they entered the home that was under construction believing it was vacant.

“I accepted responsibility for what I did, but at the same time there’s a lot of things about it that people didn’t know,” Van Ackeren told the Missoulian this

week in his first public comments on the matter. “That’s the other thing, a lot of people just immediately jumped to conclusions and I hate that. There’s no reason to do that. You’ve got to understand that things happen and there’s certain details that not everybody knows and when people put things out there, just going off of things they were told that are not factual, they put it out there and make you out to be a bad person.”

He paused to collect his thoughts before continuing.

“I’m ecstatic to be out here. My main focus is making sure my team does what we can, that we get better,” he said, returning to football. “Whatever people say about me is fine. They can say whatever they want, but I am who I am. The people who know me know me. That’s all that matters to me, that the people that I encounter know how much I care about other people.”

With that KVA strapped on his helmet and headed back into the snow, repellent to the oppressing winds and driving storm surrounding him.

Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015 — A7

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | STRENGTHS

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

QUARTERBACK: The Brady Gustafson-led Griz have scored 111 points the past two weeks. Though that pace is unlikely to continue against an FCS top-10 defense, the UM passing situation is far more ideal than the Rabbits’, which features another team splitting the QB duties.

OFFENSIVE LINE: The Rabbits have three starters back plus three seniors who start on the O-line with those categories only overlapping on two big men. The Griz have played better on the line recently, but you’d never confuse it for one of the offense’s strengths.

RUNNING BACK: John Nguyen has rushed for 100 yards in back-to-back games, which is big news considering no Griz RB had reached that mark prior in 2015. The Jacks’ ground game is more well-rounded with Brady Mengarelli leading the way with 738 yards. Plus SDSU scores incredibly well via the run. No winners here.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TE: SDSU may have a better top threat in Jake Wieneke (1,400 yards, 11 TDs), but the Griz enjoy more depth. Jamaal Jones is over 1,000 yards too, and Ellis Henderson and Ben Roberts give the Jacks too many guys to cover on any given play.

DEFENSIVE LINE: The Griz have exactly twice the number of sacks as the Jacks (38-19) with Tyrone Holmes’s 14 the bulk of those. Expect another big day for the Montana front four vs. a team that ranks among the bottom 20 percent in the nation with 27 sacks allowed.

LINEBACKERS: For the first time all year, the Montana linebacking corps holds no distinct advantages. Both sides returned three starters from 2014, meaning this is as seasoned a meeting as you’ll find. UM’s Kendrick Van Ackeren has 125 tackles, most among the group, but this is still a push.

CB/SAFETY: The Rabbits allow less than 190 yards through the air per game, a number that is sure to go up the way the Griz like to throw the ball. SDSU’s back end is among its defensive strengths though, which should set up a great battle in coverage.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A shaky Montana unit is suddenly solid.

Kicker Daniel Sullivan led the Big Sky in field goals (19) and the Griz have covered the punt and kick return game very well in recent weeks. Now if they can just stop committing so many personal fouls on such plays...

INTANGIBLES: Saturday’s game is eerily reminiscent of 2009 when South Dakota State visited Missoula in the firstround of the FCS playoffs. Down 48-21 near the end of the third quarter, the Griz stormed back for the 61-48 win. The Griz also mounted a major comeback vs. SDSU in 1993 at Wa-Griz. If the Jackrabbits know what’s good for ‘em, they’ll try playing from behind this time.

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A8 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY / P ICKS

HOW WE SEE THE BIG SKY

AJ MAZZOLINI

BOB MESEROLL

KYLE SAMPLE

BILL SPELTZ

57-25

55-27

55-27

56-26

BILL SPELTZ bill.speltz@missoulian.com‌

‌ eware the beard.

B That info would have been handy a few months ago. It’s too late now because AJ Mazzolini has secured top honors in the Missoulian’s sportswriter football picks derby (we don’t have a postseason).

Speltz came in second, just one game

behind Mazzolini and one ahead of sports editor Bob Meseroll and newcomer Kyle Sample. Meseroll has informed Mazzolini and Speltz they’ll share the ice fishing beat this winter if he sees one smirk.

Speltz and Mazzolini are scrambling to kiss up to the boss. Speltz has come out of the blocks fast.

“Need any help shoveling that driveway, Bob? It’s on my way anyway. I always take

BILL SPELTZ bill.speltz@missoulian.com‌

the Evaro Hill route on my way home!”

Truth is, this fall has been brutal on all of the Missoulian’s pickers. Last year the sum total of incorrect picks was 78. This year it was 105.

Speaking of brutal, Montana’s home playoff game against 10th-ranked South Dakota State on Saturday is no easy pick.

The Jackrabbits won at Kansas on opening day in early September, then humiliated Big Sky Conference champion Southern Utah the following week, 55-10.

Mazzolini and Meseroll seem convinced Montana will prevail at home. Speltz and Sample are not so sure. The Jackrabbits (8-3) boast a better record than the Grizzlies (7-4) despite playing a tougher schedule.

Here’s a scary stat comparison if you’re a Griz fan: Montana has turned the ball over 22 times to South Dakota State’s 10. The Jackrabbits have fumbled the ball away just once all season.

On the other hand, stat sheets do not take into account the hot Griz play since the return of “golden goose” quarterback Brady Gustafson. Montana dismantled No. 23 Eastern Washington, then No. 10, two weeks ago and did the same to Montana State

No. 10 South Dakota State at No. 16 Montana: The Grizzlies may need a little help from the home crowd in this one. Statistically, the teams are very close.

Keep in mind, SDSU was ranked No. 5 in the country two weeks ago. In a close game, little things make all the difference.

Maybe, just maybe, Montana will have more in the tank late because the Jackrabbits are not used to playing at 3,200 feet and are coming off back-to-back road trips. AJ: Griz 61, Wabbits 48. Bob: Montana 35, SDSU 31. Kyle: UM 31, SDSU 30. Bill: Montana 31, Jackrabbits 30.

No. 17 Southern Utah at No. 6 Sam Houston State: Boy, if that’s not a punch in the face to the Big Sky — the league champs forced to play in the first round of the FCS playoffs on the road.

What’s next? Maybe require the Thunderbirds to wear penny loafers Saturday?

Force them to eat biscuits and gravy just before the game? Meseroll is a believer in SUU, but he’s the only one. AJ: SHSU 27, T-Birds 26. Bob: Southern Utah 28, Sam Houston State 17. Kyle: SHSU 27, SUU 20. Bill: Sam Houston State 24, Southern Utah 21.

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Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015 — A9

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | CONFERENCE CAPSULES

AROUND THE BIG SKY

KURT WILSON, Missoulian‌

South Dakota State’s Kyle Minett tries to stop Montana’s Shawn Lebsock by the facemask when the teams met in 2009.

South Dakota State (8-3) at Montana (7-4)‌

Saturday, 1:05 p.m.

Washington-Grizzly Stadium (25,217 SprinTurf) Internet: ESPN3 The Records: South Dakota State is 8-3 overall, and finished at 5-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Montana is 7-4 overall, and finished 6-2 in the Big Sky Conference.

The Series: Montana leads the all-time series 7-0.

Last Meeting: The University of Montana pulled off an unbelievable come-from-behind victory in the first round of the 2009 playoffs, saving the Big Sky Conference from a winless first round. Top-seeded Montana scored 40 unanswered points in the final 20 minutes and 25 seconds to rally to a 61-48 victory over South Dakota State of the Missouri Valley. Montana

trailed 34-14 at halftime and 41-14 early in the third quarter. South Dakota State took another 27-point lead with 5:40 remaining in the third quarter. Marc Mariani started the comeback with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff.

Mariani hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Selle with 14:56 to play. Chase Reynolds scored back-to-back 1-yard touchdown runs, the second with 4:11 tied the game at 48-48. Mariani gave UM its

first lead of the game with 1:08 remaining on a 4-yard pass with 1:08 to play. Defensive end Severin Campbell capped the onslaught with a 32-yard interception return with 45 seconds to play.

Up Next: The winner of this matchup will advance to face third-seeded North Dakota State on Dec. 5, in a 1:30 p.m. MST kickoff on ESPN 3.

The Coaches: Montana coach Bob Stitt is 7-4 overall in his first season at Montana, and finished at 6-2 in the Big Sky. South Dakota State coach John Stiegelmeier is 128-89 in his 19th season with the Jackrabbits.

South Dakota State versus the Big Sky: South Dakota State is 2-2 against the Big Sky all-time in the playoffs. The Jackrabbits beat Northern Arizona and Montana State in the opening rounds in 2013 and 2014, both on the road at a Big Sky venue. The Jackrabbits are 0-1

against Montana in the playoffs.

Notes: Both Montana and South Dakota State played North Dakota State this season. Montana earned a home win, while South Dakota State fell to the Bison... Montana defensive end Tyrone Holmes leads the nation in sacks, and is a candidate for the STATS National Defensive Player of the Year award... Montana defensive tackle Derek Crittenden is a finalist for the prestigious Campbell Trophy, and was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship award. Crittenden missed the annual Brawl of the Wild to take part in interviews for the award... Stitt is the fourth Montana coach to lead the team to the postseason in his first season with the Grizzlies.

Mick Dennehy (1996), Joe Glenn (2000) and Bobby Hauck (2003) are the others.

See CAPSULES, Page A12

A10 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015

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‌MONTANA ROSTER No. 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 38 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 91 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Year Hometown Treshawn Favors RB 5-9 190 R-So. Glendale, Ariz.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GRIZZLY GAME D MONTANA STARTING OFFENSE WR 6 Jamaal Jones R-Sr.

H-Back 80 Josh Horner, So.

QB 3 Brady Gustafson, R-Jr.

LT 74 John Schmaing, Sr.

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 86 Ben Roberts, R-Sr.

K5 Daniel Sullivan, Sr.

MONTANA BACKUPS ON OFFENSE QB 17 Makena Simis, R-So. RB 8 Jeremy Calhoun, Fr. H-back 85 Reese Carlson, R-Fr. WR 18 Tyler Lucas, R-Sr. WR 82 Keenan Curran, Fr. Slot WR 5 Chase Naccarato, R-Jr.

LT 60 Jackson Thiebes, R-Jr. 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 35 Kendrick Van Ackeren, 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, R-Sr.

CB 18 JR Nelson, R-Jr.

P 87 Chris Lider, Sr.

MONTANA BACKUPS ON DEFENSE DE 51 DT 43 DT 93 DE 97 OLB 33 MLB 10

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

OLB 42 CB 2 FS 3 SS 8 CB 1

Josh Buss, R-Fr. Ryan McKinley, R-So. Eric Johnson, Sr. Manu Rasmussen, R-Fr. Markell Sanders, R-Fr.

S

Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015 — A11

DAY MATCHUPS SOUTH DAKOTA STATE STARTING DEFENSE CB 22 Je Ryan Butler, Sr. OLB 15 Dallas Brown, Jr. DE 43 Jared Blum, Jr.

MLB 33 T.J. Lally, Sr.

DT 54 Cole Langer, Jr. NG 94 Kellen Soulek, So.

rich,

FS 24 Nick Farina, So.

SS 42 Nick Mears, Jr.

OLB 7 Jesse Bobbit, Jr.

DE 91 J.R. Plote, Sr.

P 49 Brady Hale, Fr.

CB 25 Jimmie Forsythe, Sr.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE BACKUPS ON DEFENSE DE 93 Landon Schultz, Sr. DT 99 Blake Whitsell, Fr. NG 98 Shayne Gottlob, Jr. DE 58 Chase Kern, So. OLB 12 Cody Hazelett, Jr. MLB 17 Patrick Schuster, Sr.

OLB 26 Drew Kreutzfeldt, Sr. CB 9 Jordan Brown, R-Fr. SS 28 Chris Balster, So. FS 6 Makiah Slade, R-Fr. CB 14 Shakial Taylor, Fr.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE STARTING OFFENSE WR 81 Matt Raymond, Sr.

Slot WR 3 Brandon Andrews, Sr.

RT 60 Bryce Siverling, Sr. RG 72 Taylor Bloom, Sr. C 62 Jacob Ohnesorge, So.

QB 16 Zach Lujan, Jr.

RB 44 Brady Mengarelli, So.

LG 61 Dylan Seiter, Sr. LT 68 Charlie Harmon, So.

WR 19 Zach Wieneke, So.

TE 85 Cam Jones, Sr.

K 92 Jay Carlson, Sr.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE BACKUPS ON OFFENSE QB 1 Taryn Christion, Fr. RB 32 Kyle Paris, Jr. TE 86 Dallas Goedert, So. WR 80 Trevor Wesley, Sr. WR 5 Larves Jones, Sr. WR 18 Connor Landberg, Jr.

LT 76 Joe Carbis, R-Fr. LG 55 Travis Zimmerman, Sr. C 70 Tyler Weir, R-Fr. RG 73 Matt Clark, Fr. RT 75 Seth Lansman, Jr.

BIGGEST JACKPOT PAYOUT IN THE REGION

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE ROSTER No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Year Hometown 1 Taryn Christion QB 6-2 185 Fr. Sioux Falls, S.D. 2 Isaac Rodriguez RB 5-8 185 Jr. Orlando, Fla. 3 Brandon Andrews WR 6-0 190 Sr. El Centro, Calif.

4 Chase Vinatieri K 6-1 200 Fr. Sioux Falls, S.D. 5 Larves Jones WR 6-4 215 Sr. Omaha, Neb. 6 Makiah Slade LB 6-1 195 R-Fr. Lincoln, Neb. 7 Jesse Bobbit LB 6-2 210 Jr. Palatine, Ill. 8 Dalton Douglas QB 6-2 200 So. Redlands, Calif.

9 Jordan Brown DB 6-1 175 R-Fr. Scottsdale, Ariz.

10 Alex Wilde WR 6-3 200 Fr. Sioux Falls, S.D. 11 Tyler Finnes QB 6-4 200 Sr. Andover, Minn.

12 Cody Hazelett LB 6-2 210 Jr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

13 Mark Pickerel DB 6-0 200 Sr. Columbia, Mo. 14 Chris Little QB 6-2 195 R-Fr. Evanston, Ill. 14 Shakial Taylor CB 6-1 175 Fr. Scottsdale, Ariz.

15 Dallas Brown DB 5-11 195 Jr. Tucson, Ariz.

16 Zach Lujan QB 6-2 190 Jr. Anchorage, Alaska 17 Patrick Schuster LB 6-1 215 Sr. Watertown, S.D. 18 Connor Landberg WR 6-3 195 Jr. Laguna Hills, Calif.

19 Jake Wieneke WR 6-4 210 So. Maple Grove, Minn.

20 Sam Zenner RB 6-0 200 Fr. Eagan, Minn.

21 Mikey Daniel RB 6-2 215 Fr. Brookings, S.D. 21 Ezekiel Herndon DB 5-11 190 Jr. Fontana, Calif.

22 Je Ryan Butler DB 5-11 185 Sr. Tempe, Ariz.

24 Nick Farina DB 5-11 195 So. Phoenix, Ariz.

25 Jimmie Forsythe DB 5-10 190 Sr. Omaha, Neb. 25 Clark Wieneke RB 5-11 190 Fr. Maple Grove, Minn.

26 Drew Kreutzfeldt LB 5-11 200 Sr. Wentworth, S.D. 27 Tyler Lindsey CB 5-9 175 R-Fr. Owasso, Okla.

28 Chris Balster DB 5-10 185 So. Sheldon, Iowa 29 Jake Harms LB 6-3 205 Fr. Crete, Neb. 30 Reggie Gandy RB 5-9 195 Sr. Minneapolis, Minn.

31 Eric Kleinschmit LB 6-2 200 R-Fr. Perry, Iowa 32 Kyle Paris RB 6-1 200 Jr. Aliso Viejo, Calif.

33 Dayton Bird WR 5-7 165 Fr. Brookings, S.D. 33 T.J. Lally LB 6-0 225 Chicago, Ill. 35 Isaac Wallace RB 6-1 200 R-Fr. Omaha, Neb. 36 Luke Sellers FB 6-1 245 Fr. Papillion, Neb. 37 Lorenzo Williams S 6-1 180 Fr. Huron, S.D. 38 Brandon Thomas S 5-11 195 Fr. Elkhart, Ind. 39 Christan Rozeboom LB 6-2 205 Fr. Sioux Center, Iowa 40 Turner Blasius FB 6-1 200 Fr. Kimball, S.D. 41 Kane Louscher FB 6-2 250 So. Mason City, Iowa 42 Evan Greeneway TE 6-7 240 Fr. Yankton, S.D. 42 Nick Mears DB 5-11 195 Jr. Milbank, S.D. 43 Jared Blum DL 6-3 235 Jr. Gretna, Neb. 44 Brady Mengarelli RB 5-10 195 So. Prescott, Ariz.

45 Jessup Workman LB 6-1 200 Fr. Beatrice, Neb. 46 Nick Jensen FB 6-1 230 Fr. Sartell, Minn.

47 Kallan Hart TE 6-5 215 Fr. Lonsdale, Minn.

47 Alex Romenesko S 5-11 195 R-Fr. Pewaukee, Wis. 48 Andy Moritko DE 6-4 240 Jr. Shoreview, Minn.

49 Lane Eide DB 5-8 170 Fr. Clear Lake, S.D. 49 Brady Hale P 6-3 200 Fr. Yankton, S.D. 50 Gunnar Grimsrud LB 6-0 215 Fr. Rochester, Minn.

51 J.T. Hassell LB 5-11 205 So. Titusville, Fla. 52 Zach Robertson LB 6-1 190 Fr. Rochester, Minn.

53 Dalton Cox LB 6-1 200 R-Fr. Aberdeen, S.D. 54 Cole Langer DL 6-2 285 Jr. Dell Rapids, S.D. 55 Travis Zimmerman OL 6-4 285 Sr. Huxley, Iowa 56 Thayer Trenhaile LS 5-11 200 Jr. Volga, S.D. 57 Caleb Lang DL 6-3 275 So. Freeman, S.D. 58 Chase Kern DE 6-3 250 So. Sioux City, Iowa 59 Zach Dorgan DE 6-2 220 Fr. Ralston, Neb. 60 Bryce Siverling OL 6-3 290 Sr. Bloomer, Wis. 61 Dylan Seiter OL 6-3 290 Sr. Sun Prairie, Wis. 62 Jacob Ohnesorge OL 6-3 280 So. Waunakee, Wis. 63 Mike Shoff OL 6-6 335 Jr. Cambridge, Neb. 64 Jeremiah Szafranksi OL 6-5 290 Jr. Phoenix, Ariz.

65 Jacob VanderHeiden OL 6-4 290 R-Fr. Hutchinson, Minn.

66 Bo Patterson OL 6-3 270 Fr. Riverton, Wyo. 67 Anthony Thene OL 6-3 345 Fr. Sartell, Minn.

68 Charlie Harmon OL 6-6 285 So. O’Fallon, Ill. 70 Tyler Weir OL 6-4 295 R-Fr. Arvada, Colo.

71 Jared DeVoe OL 6-4 290 Fr. New Market, Iowa 72 Taylor Bloom OL 6-4 300 Sr. Madison, S.D. 73 Matt Clark OL 6-5 290 Fr. Syracuse, Neb. 74 Tywan Ramsey DL 6-4 295 R-Fr. Milwaukee, Wis. 75 Seth Lansman OL 6-7 285 Jr. Harlan, Iowa 76 Joe Carbis OL 6-6 285 R-Fr. Council Bluffs, Iowa 77 Jake Ford OL 6-5 280 Fr. Chicago, Ill. 78 Thor Riemer OL 6-5 285 R-Fr. Osceola, Wis. 79 Nick Carr OL 6-8 315 Jr. New Brighton, Minn.

80 Trevor Wesley WR 5-11 175 Sr. Oro Valley, Ariz.

81 Matt Raymond WR 5-9 185 Sr. Elkhorn, Neb. 82 Adam Anderson WR 6-1 175 Fr. Orlando, Fla. 83 Marquise Lewis WR 5-11 180 Fr. Omaha, Neb. 85 Cam Jones TE 6-5 250 Sr. Eagan, Minn.

86 Dallas Goedert TE 6-5 245 So. Britton, S.D. 87 Mitch Vejvoda TE 6-4 245 Jr. Homer Glen, Ill. 88 Sam Steckman TE 6-4 235 Fr. Andover, Minn.

89 Jacob Menage WR 6-0 180 So. Springfield, Minn.

90 Ryan Earith DL 6-4 260 Fr. Papillion, Neb. 90 Troy Hunhoff P 6-4 230 So. Yankton, S.D. 91 J.R. Plote DL 6-3 250 Sr. Phoenix, Ariz.

92 Jay Carlson K 6-1 215 Sr. Parkville, Mo. 92 Matt Fitzgerald DE 6-5 210 Fr. Yankton, S.D. 93 Landon Schultz DE 6-2 255 Sr. Mason City, Iowa 94 Kellen Soulek DL 6-5 300 So. Yankton, S.D. 95 Mason Leiseth DE 6-3 245 So. Hayti, S.D. 96 Spencer Hildahl DL 6-3 265 Fr. Montevideo, Minn.

96 Sam Koob K 5-9 200 So. Sioux Falls, S.D. 97 Sepesitiano Pupungatoa DL 6-5 275 So. River Falls, Wis. 98 Shayne Gottlob DL 6-4 255 Jr. Salem, S.D. 99 Blake Whitsell DL 6-2 280 Fr. Bloomfield, Colo.

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A12 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | CONTINUED FROM A9

AROUND THE BIG SKY 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship

First Round November 28

Second Round December 5

Quarterfinals December 11/12

Semifinals December 18/19

Final January 9

2 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

1 p.m. (ET) ESPN3 Fordham (9-2)

8 p.m./Noon/TBA #8 *Charleston So. (9-2)

*Coastal Caro. (9-2)

ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN3

1 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

Friday, December 18

2 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

8 p.m. (ET)

Citadel (8-3)

ESPN2 or

#5 *James Madison (9-2) *New Hampshire (7-4)

Saturday, December 19

1 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

3:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

4 p.m. (ET) 8 p.m./Noon/TBA

Colgate (7-4)

ESPNU

ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN3 #4 *McNeese St. (10-0)

*Sam Houston St. (8-3)

7 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

3 p.m. (ET) ESPN3 Southern Utah (8-3) Toyota Stadium #3 *North Dakota St. (9-2) *Montana (7-4)

Frisco, Texas

3:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

3 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

Noon (ET) ESPN2/WatchESPN

8 p.m./Noon/TBA

South Dakota St. (8-3)

ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN3 #6 *Portland St. (9-2)

*UNI (7-4)

10 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

8 p.m. (ET)

Eastern Ill. (7-4)

ESPN2 or

#7 *Richmond (8-3)

Saturday, December 19

1 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

3:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

4 p.m. (ET) 8 p.m./Noon/TBA

Duquesne (8-3)

ESPNU

ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN3 #2 *Illinois St. (9-2)

*Dayton (10-1)

NATIONAL CHAMPION

Saturday, 1:05 p.m.

Bowers Stadium (17,200, FieldTurf) Huntsville, Texas Internet: ESPN3 The Records: Southern Utah won the Big Sky Conference with an overall record of 8-3, and 7-1 in league play. Sam Houston State finished the season with a record of 8-3, and 7-2 in league play.

The Series: Sam Houston State leads the all-time series 1-0.

Last Meeting: Sam Houston State running back Tim Flanders rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bearkats to a win. Southern Utah jumped out to a 10-0 lead thanks to a 42-yard field goal by Colton Cook, and a 38-yard TD pass from Aaron Cantu to Antony Phillips.

Sam Houston responded with 30 consecutive points. Bearkat QB Brian Bell completed 15-of-21 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown, and also rushed for two scores. Southern Utah closed within 30-20 late in the third quarter when defensive end James Cowser sacked Bell, who fumbled. Robert Torgerson returned the fumble

39 yards for a touchdown. Cantu completed 28-of-43 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown.

The Thunderbirds were held to 47 rushing yards Up Next: The winner of this game will advance to play against fourth-seeded McNeese State in the second round of the playoffs. McNeese State received a bye in the opening round.

The Coaches: Southern Utah coach Ed Lamb is 24-23 during SUU’s tenure in the Big Sky Conference, and is 19-13 in league play. Sam Houston State coach K.C. Keeler is 19-8 in his second season with the Bearkats, and is 14-3 in league play. Keeler was formerly the head coach at Delaware, where he led the Blue Hens to two national runner-up finishes.

Notes: Southern Utah coach Ed Lamb is a candidate for the STATS National Coach of the Year award... Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser is a candidate for the STATS National Defensive Player of the Year award...

Southern Utah continues to lead the nation in turnover margin, as the Thunderbirds are plus-1.91 per game... Southern Utah earned its first-ever outright Big Sky football title with its 49-41 win over Northern Arizona on Saturday.

This is the first time Southern Utah’s football program has won an outright league title since the program became Division I in 1993...

Southern Utah is 3-3 on the road this season, with narrow losses at FBS Utah State, and ranked FCS opponents in South Dakota State and Portland State.

Sam Houston State against the Big Sky Conference: Sam Houston State has played at least one Big Sky opponent in five of its eight playoff appearances. The Bearkats are 8-2 against Big Sky opponents, with their only losses coming to Montana in 2001 and 2002.

In the 2012 postseason, Sam Houston State dispatched Cal Poly, Montana State and Eastern Washington, before falling to North Dakota State in the national title game.

Friday, December 18

5 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

*William & Mary (8-3)

Continued from page A9

Southern Utah (8-3) at Sam Houston State (8-3)

#1 *Jacksonville St. (10-1) *Chattanooga (8-3)

Capsules

2 p.m. (ET) ESPN3

Noon (ET) ESPN3 Western Ill. (6-5) * Host Institution All times are Eastern time. Information subject to change. © 2015 National Collegiate Athletic Association. No commercial use without the NCAA's written permission.

The NCAA opposes all forms of sports wagering.

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Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015 — A13

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | LAST WEEK

AROUND THE BIG SKY ‌Montana wins “Brawl of the Wild�

No one has been able to accurately peg the Montana Grizzlies all season.Their identity, their abilities and their trajectory was largely in question for much of the year, until the final three weeks of the regular season. With their backs against the wall, the Griz closed the regular season on a three-game winning streak, beating rival Montana State 54-35 in the annual “Brawl of the Wild� game in Bozeman.

Montana quarterback Brady Gustafson threw for 353 yards and four touchdown passes, as the Grizzlies overcame an early deficit to lead 34-17 at halftime. From there, Montana would score 31 unanswered points to lead 31-7 with 7:36 left in the half, after a Gustafson-to-Ellis Henderson touchdown connection.

and conference honors.

FINAL BIG SKY STANDINGS

league overall S. Utah 7-1 8-3 Portland St. 6-2 9-2 Montana 6-2 7-4 N. Arizona 5-3 7-4 N. Dakota 5-3 7-4 E. Washington 5-3 6-5 Weber St. 5-3 6-5 N. Colorado 3-5 6-5 Montana St. 3-5 5-6 Cal Poly 3-5 4-7 UC Davis 2-6 2-9 Idaho St. 1-7 2-9 Sac State 1-7 2-9

Southern Utah clinches first title Southern Utah is known for many wonderful attributes. Red rocks, scenic vistas and unspoiled wilderness are all part of the region’s character. However, after this weekend, Southern Utah University’s football program will forever be known as the 2015 Big Sky champions, after SUU defeated Northern Arizona 49-41, winning the “Grand Canyon Trophy� and the conference’s bid to the postseason. T-birds’ QB Ammon Olsen threw five touchdown passes, including three in the second half, as Southern Utah overcame a 24-14 halftime deficit to win the Big Sky title.

Washington. Portland State running back David Jones ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns, as the Vikings overcame a 17-13 halftime deficit to win.

Portland goes 5-0 vs ranked teams Entering the final game of the regular UND finishes with win over Cal Poly season, the Portland State Vikings had already defeated four ranked teams and two The North Dakota Fighting Hawks FBS opponents, including a ranked one. jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead, on The Vikings were not to be denied in their the way to a 45-21 road win over Cal Poly. quest for a fifth win over a ranked squad, North Dakota running back John Santiago rushed for 117 yards and three touchdowns, as they came from behind to defeat No. adding to his candidacy for several national 18 Eastern Washington, 34-31, at Eastern

Weber State downs Idaho State Weber State used a strong rushing attack, as the Wildcats earned a victory over rival Idaho State, 35-14, at home to close out the season. The Wildcats led wire-to-wire in the victory, rushing for 306 yards to control the clock and the tempo of the game. Weber State running back Eric Wilkes rushed for 112 yards and

two touchdowns, and Emmanuel Pooler also added 130 rushing yards.

UC Davis prevails in “Causeway Classic�

When it comes to rivalry games, records and postseason opportunities are never the story; they’re just part of it. Instead, rivalry games are about using the passion and belief in one side or the other, driving players to earn victories that sometimes mean more than the accumulation of an entire season. UC Davis proved this adage true, as the Aggies capped off their season with a 35-21 victory over rival Sacramento State in the “Causeway Classic.�

NoCo nabs 1st D-I winning record Playing a non-conference game to finish off the season, Northern Colorado earned a come-from-behind 40-36 win over the Southland Conference’s Abilene Christian at Nottingham Field. Northern Colorado quarterback Jacob Knipp threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 58 yards and a touchdown.

NoCo (6-5) finished with its first winning record since joining Division I.

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A14 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | STAT PACK

BIG STATISTICS BIG SKY SKY CONFERENCE CONFERENCE STATISTICS Team comparisons for games through Nov. 21, 2015 SCORING

POINTS ALLOWED

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

216

247 245 242

394 386 381 372 351 330 309

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

2,376 1,377 1,850 1,708 1,834 1,367 1,781 1,183 1,340

2,001

M ‌ ONTANA (7-4)

Griz Opp Scoring average 31.9 24.2 First downs 246 215 Rushing yards 1708 2099 Avg./Rush 3.7 4.0 Passing 270-466-11 159-311-12 Passing yards 3113 2178 Average per pass 6.7 7.0 Total offense 4821 4277 Plays per game 84.6 76.5 Average per play 5.2 5.1 3rd-down conv.

77-205 61-183 4th-down conv.

18-36 14-34 Time of possession 26:47 33:14 Fumbles-lost 20-11 29-13 Kick returns 33-19.9 48-20.1 Punt returns 22-6.9 18-3.4 Punting 57-40.0 69-40.9 Sacks-yards 38-217 27-167 Penalties 56-44.5 83-62.5 Montana 100 110 65 70 6 – 351 Opponents 72 88 46 57 3 – 266

O ‌ ffensive Leaders Rushing John Nguyen 154-729 (4.7 ypc), long 48, 3 TDs Jeremy Calhoun 86-258 (3.0), long 27, 8 TDs Makena Simis 65-226 (3.5), long 31, 1 TD Passing Brady Gustafson 120-205-5, 1460 yards, long 62, 9 TDs Chad Chalich 86-141-2, 908 yards, long 70, 6 TDs Makena Simis 63-115-4, 740 yards, long 74, 7 TDs Receiving Jamaal Jones 64-1092 (17.1 ypc), long 74, 9 TD Ben Roberts 51-473 (9.3), long 44, 5 TD Chase Naccarato 41-245 (6.0), long 25, 1 TDs Ellis Henderson 40-684 (17.1), long 63, 6 TD Nguyen 26-152 (5.8), long 19, 0 TDs

‌Defensive leaders Tackles K. Van Ackeren 125, 60 solo Jeremiah Kose 95, 31 solo

2,827 2,625

3,342 4,260 1,003 3,886 3,329 3,113 2,971 1,916 3,008 2,449 1,550 2,065 2,779 2,606

432

461

Total 5,718 5,263 5,263 5,179 4,821 4,805 4,743 4,375 4,230 4,175 4,066 3,962 3,946

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

208

239

266 270 283

RUSHING/PASSING YARDS ALLOWED

Through 11 games.

YARDS Rushing Passing

Tyrone Holmes 77, 28 solo Herbert Gamboa 60, 23 solo Caleb Kidder 71, 19 solo Yamen Sanders 57, 26 solo Tackles for loss Holmes 20-74 Gamboa 6-18 Ryan Johnson 7-25 Van Ackeren 6-16 Kidder 6-35 Derek Crittenden 6-16 Sacks Holmes 14.0-67 Kidder 3.5-33 R. Johnson 5.0-24 Kose 3.0-16 Interceptions JR Nelson 2-56 Y. Sanders 1-0 Van Ackeren 2-37 Kidder 1-0 Eric Johnson 2-0 R. Johnson 1-0 Markell Sanders 1-4 Nate Harris 1-0 Kose 1-0 Fumbles forced-recovered Holmes 2-0 Joey Counts 1-0 Harris 2-0 Van Ackeren 0-2 R. Johnson 1-2 M. Sanders 0-2 Henderson 1-1 Kidder 0-1 E. Johnson 1-1 Gamboa 0-1 Y. Sanders 1-0 Crittenden 0-1 JR Nelson 1-0 Tucker Schye 0-1 Jamal Wilson 1-0 Tyrel Garner 0-1 Pass breakups Harris 9 Nelson 7 Blocked kicks Van Ackeren 1 Kidder Schye 1 Connor Strahm 1 Safeties Derek Crittenden 1 Team 1 Defensive touchdowns Nelson 2 INT E. Johnson 1 fum Gamboa 1 fum

‌Special teams leaders PATs/Field goals Daniel Sullivan 36-39/19-24, long 44, 1 blocked, 93 points Punting Chris Lider 57-40.0, long 61, 17 inside 20, 1 touchback, 0 blocked Punt returns Nguyen 14-7.0, long 16, 0 TDs Kickoff returns Henderson 21-22.6, long 42, 0 TDs

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

1,101

1,592 2,065 1,903 2,099 2,615 1,841 2,957 1,873 2,722 1,980 2,838 2,501

‌SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (8-3)

Rabbits Opp Scoring average 29.5 16.7 First downs 236 205 Rushing yards 1571 1943 Avg./Rush 3.8 4.5 Passing 202-345-9 182-357-10 Passing yards 3020 2078 Average per pass 8.8 5.8 Total offense 4591 4021 Plays per game 69.0 71.5 Average per play 6.0 5.1 3rd-down conv.

60-155 69-180 4th-down conv.

5-12 10-24 Time of possession 31:32 28:28 Fumbles-lost 14-1 12-6 Kick returns 25-23.6 45-16.4 Punt returns 28-3.9 15-7.7 Punting 56-37.2 66-38.9 Sacks-yards 19-132 27-145 Penalties 63-49.2 62-58.7 SDSU 47 117 54 99 7 – 324 Opponents 40 37 65 29 13 – 184

O ‌ ffensive Leaders Rushing Brady Mengarelli 125-738 (5.9 ypc), long 57, 6 TDs Kyle Paris 114-379 (3.3), long 20, 6 TDs Taryn Christion 70-293 (4.2), long 70, 4 TDs Isaac Wallace 58-188 (3.2), long 16, 3 TDs Passing Zach Lujan 125-215-6, 1861 yards, long 66, 14 TDs Christion 71-118-3, 1056 yards, long 74, 6 TDs Receiving Jake Wieneke 66-1344 (20.4 ypc), long 74, 11 TDs Dallas Goedert 24-441 (18.4), long 77, 2 TDs Cam Jones 21-277 (13.2), long 46, 0 TDs Mengarelli 21-219 (10.4), long 36, 2 TDs Connor Landberg 16-170 (10.6), long 21, 2 TDs

D ‌ efensive leaders Jesse Bobbit 94, 35 solo

Tackles T.J. Lally 88, 35 solo

2,224 2,858 2,043 2,273 2,178

368 376 377 378 383 390

435 450

Total 3,816 3,959 4,108 4,176 4,277 2,319 4,934 3,147 4,988 2,065 5,022 3,161 5,034 2,476 5,198 3,238 5,218 2,402 5,240 2,928 5,429 Missoulian staff

Nick Farina 52, 29 solo Nick Mears 48, 23 solo Chris Balster 51, 41 solo Dallas Brown 44, 24 solo Tackles for loss Cole Langer 9.5-50 Lally 4.0-6 Bobbit 6.5-19 Brown 3.5-16 Jared Blum 4.0-31 Landon Schultz 3.5-14 J.R. Plote 4.0-16 Kellen Soulek 3.0-9 Sacks Langer 4.0-40 Plote 3.0-15 Blum 4.0-31 Schultz 2.5-12 Interceptions Farina 2-58 Bobbit 1-23 Jimmie Forsythe 2-0 Cody Hazelett 1-16 Je Ryan Butler 2-(-3) Soulek 1-3 Brown 1-53 Fumbles forced-recovered Butler 2-1 Langer 1-0 Mears 2-0 Lally 0-1 Bobbit 1-1 Drew Kreutzfeldt 0-1 Brown 1-1 Hazelett 0-1 Pass breakups Forsythe 6 Lally 4 Butler 5 Bobbit 3 Blocked kicks Forsythe 1 Soulek 1 Safeties none Defensive touchdowns Farina 1 INT

‌Special teams leaders PATs/Field goals Jay Carlson 36-38/14-21, long 47, 0 blocked, 78 points Punting Brady Hale 56-37.2, long 56, 19 inside 20, 2 touchback, 0 blocked Punt returns Butler 27-3.5, long 26, 0 TDs Kickoff returns Trevor Wesley 13-22.8, long 81, 0 TDs Butler 9-28.1, long 45, 0 TDs

Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015 — A15

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | STAT PACK

BY THE NUMBERS T‌ EAM STATISTICS SCORING OFFENSE

G TD XP 2XP DXP FG Saf Pts Avg Montana St. 11 63 53 3 0 8 0 461 41.9 N. Arizona 11 57 57 0 0 11 0 432 39.3 Portland St. 11 51 48 2 0 12 0 394 35.8 S. Utah 11 51 42 1 0 12 0 386 35.1 E. Washington 11 53 45 3 0 4 0 381 34.6 Cal Poly 11 52 45 0 0 5 0 372 33.8 Montana 11 42 36 1 0 19 2 351 31.9 N.Colorado 11 45 42 0 0 6 0 330 30.0 N. Dakota 11 39 36 0 0 13 0 309 28.1 Weber St. 11 30 25 0 0 14 0 247 22.5 UC Davis 11 29 29 0 0 14 0 245 22.3 Idaho St. 11 34 23 3 0 3 0 242 22.0 Sac State 11 27 27 0 0 9 0 216 19.6

SCORING DEFENSE

G TD XP 2XP DXP FG Saf Pts Avg S. Utah 11 25 23 0 1 11 0 208 18.9 Portland St. 11 31 29 0 0 8 0 239 21.7 Montana 11 35 28 2 0 8 0 266 24.2 Weber St. 11 33 33 0 0 13 0 270 24.5 N. Dakota 11 37 30 1 0 9 1 283 25.7 Sac State 11 49 44 0 0 10 0 368 33.5 UC Davis 11 50 46 0 0 10 0 376 34.2 Montana St. 11 51 45 1 0 8 0 377 34.3 N.Colorado 11 48 44 2 0 14 0 378 34.4 N. Arizona 11 52 45 3 0 6 1 383 34.8 Cal Poly 11 52 45 2 0 9 1 390 35.5 E. Washington 11 58 51 0 0 12 0 435 39.5 Idaho St. 11 59 57 0 0 13 0 450 40.9

RUSHING OFFENSE

G Att Yds Avg TD Yds/G Cal Poly 11 779 4260 5.5 38 387.3 Portland St. 11 550 2827 5.1 32 257.0 N. Dakota 11 510 2625 5.1 23 238.6 Montana St. 11 458 2376 5.2 31 216.0 Weber St. 11 465 2001 4.3 15 181.9 N. Arizona 11 465 1850 4.0 16 168.2 S. Utah 11 389 1834 4.7 22 166.7 N.Colorado 11 375 1781 4.7 23 161.9 Montana 11 465 1708 3.7 16 155.3 E. Washington 11 358 1377 3.8 14 125.2 Idaho St. 11 363 1367 3.8 7 124.3 UC Davis 11 387 1340 3.5 11 121.8 Sac State 11 359 1183 3.3 6 107.5

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

RUSHING DEFENSE

G Rushes Yards Avg. TD Yds/G 11 369 1101 3.0 9 100.1 11 410 1592 3.9 9 144.7 11 415 1841 4.4 20 167.4 11 404 1873 4.6 25 170.3 11 431 1903 4.4 17 173.0 11 421 1980 4.7 26 180.0 11 505 2065 4.1 13 187.7 11 530 2099 4.0 14 190.8 11 502 2501 5.0 21 227.4 11 444 2615 5.9 27 237.7 11 490 2722 5.6 25 247.5 11 562 2838 5.0 30 258.0 11 559 2957 5.3 28 268.8

PASSING OFFENSE

G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds Avg TD Yds/G E. Washington 11 462 298 12 64.5 3886 8.4 36 353.3 Montana St. 11 380 238 11 62.6 3342 8.8 30 303.8 N. Arizona 11 353 242 7 68.6 3329 9.4 39 302.6 Montana 11 466 270 11 57.9 3113 6.7 22 283.0 Idaho St. 11 498 270 19 54.2 3008 6.0 26 273.5 S. Utah 11 437 259 6 59.3 2971 6.8 22 270.1 Sac State 11 428 249 8 58.2 2779 6.5 18 252.6 UC Davis 11 380 246 8 64.7 2606 6.9 17 236.9 N.Colorado 11 326 192 12 58.9 2449 7.5 15 222.6 Weber St. 11 337 172 14 51.0 2065 6.1 12 187.7 Portland St. 11 216 120 5 55.6 1916 8.9 18 174.2 N. Dakota 11 217 123 5 56.7 1550 7.1 15 140.9 Cal Poly 11 134 68 3 50.7 1003 7.5 14 91.2

S. Utah Idaho St. Montana Weber St.

PASSING DEFENSE

G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds Avg TD Yds/G 11 335 184 19 54.9 2043 6.1 11 185.7 11 300 181 8 60.3 2065 6.9 24 187.7 11 311 159 12 51.1 2178 7.0 20 198.0 11 346 194 8 56.1 2224 6.4 20 202.2

Portland St. 11 368 UC Davis 11 320 E. Washington 11 338 Montana St. 11 308 N. Dakota 11 349 N.Colorado 11 406 Sac State 11 358 Cal Poly 11 382 N. Arizona 11 458

193 18 52.4 2273 183 3 57.2 2319 209 7 61.8 2402 174 3 56.5 2476 218 6 62.5 2858 269 7 66.3 2928 220 8 61.5 3147 258 7 67.5 3161 267 10 58.3 3238

6.2 11 7.2 21 7.1 22 8.0 26 8.2 28 7.2 24 8.8 25 8.3 24 7.1 26

206.6 210.8 218.4 225.1 259.8 266.2 286.1 287.4 294.4

TOTAL OFFENSE

G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Yds/G Montana St. 11 2376 3342 838 5718 6.8 61 519.8 Cal Poly 11 4260 1003 913 5263 5.8 52 478.5 E. Washington 11 1377 3886 820 5263 6.4 50 478.5 N. Arizona 11 1850 3329 818 5179 6.3 55 470.8 Montana 11 1708 3113 931 4821 5.2 38 438.3 S. Utah 11 1834 2971 826 4805 5.8 44 436.8 Portland St. 11 2827 1916 766 4743 6.2 50 431.2 Idaho St. 11 1367 3008 861 4375 5.1 33 397.7 N.Colorado 11 1781 2449 701 4230 6.0 38 384.5 N. Dakota 11 2625 1550 727 4175 5.7 38 379.5 Weber St. 11 2001 2065 802 4066 5.1 27 369.6 Sac State 11 1183 2779 787 3962 5.0 24 360.2 UC Davis 11 1340 2606 767 3946 5.1 28 358.7

TOTAL DEFENSE

G Rush Pass Plys Yards Avg TD Yds/G Weber St. 11 1592 2224 756 3816 5.0 29 346.9 N. Dakota 11 1101 2858 718 3959 5.5 37 359.9 S. Utah 11 2065 2043 840 4108 4.9 24 373.5 Portland St. 11 1903 2273 799 4176 5.2 28 379.6 Montana 11 2099 2178 841 4277 5.1 34 388.8 UC Davis 11 2615 2319 764 4934 6.5 48 448.5 Sac State 11 1841 3147 773 4988 6.5 45 453.5 Idaho St. 11 2957 2065 859 5022 5.8 52 456.5 Cal Poly 11 1873 3161 786 5034 6.4 49 457.6 Montana St. 11 2722 2476 798 5198 6.5 51 472.5 N. Arizona 11 1980 3238 879 5218 5.9 52 474.4 E. Washington 11 2838 2402 900 5240 5.8 52 476.4 N.Colorado 11 2501 2928 908 5429 6.0 45 493.5

TURNOVER MARGIN

Gained Lost

G Fum Int Tot Fum Int Tot Mar Per/G S. Utah 11 10 19 29 2 6 8 +21 1.91 Portland St. 11 10 18 28 7 5 12 +16 1.45 Montana 11 13 12 25 11 11 22 +3 0.27 Sac State 11 5 8 13 5 8 13 +0 0.00 N.Colorado 11 9 7 16 5 12 17 -1 -0.09 N. Arizona 11 4 10 14 8 7 15 -1 -0.09 N. Dakota 11 10 6 16 12 5 17 -1 -0.09 Montana St. 11 10 3 13 4 11 15 -2 -0.18 Weber St. 11 6 8 14 5 14 19 -5 -0.45 UC Davis 11 8 3 11 8 8 16 -5 -0.45 Cal Poly 11 5 7 12 15 3 18 -6 -0.55 E. Washington 11 10 7 17 12 12 24 -7 -0.64 Idaho St. 11 7 8 15 11 19 30 -15 -1.36

FIRST DOWNS

G Rush Pass Pen Total Cal Poly 11 237 40 7 284 Montana St. 11 131 125 21 277 E. Washington 11 75 168 18 261 N. Arizona 11 102 135 18 255 S. Utah 11 91 135 24 250 Montana 11 99 126 21 246 Idaho St. 11 82 142 20 244 Sac State 11 67 144 21 232 Portland St. 11 133 81 15 229 UC Davis 11 75 129 17 221 Weber St. 11 120 84 16 220 N.Colorado 11 99 101 17 217 N. Dakota 11 116 72 11 199

OPPONENT 1ST DOWNS

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

G Rush Pass Pen Total 11 71 116 13 200 11 91 98 19 208 11 104 89 21 214 11 116 92 7 215 11 113 85 22 220 11 120 107 19 246 11 129 101 16 246 11 102 131 17 250 11 144 102 11 257 11 92 149 22 263 11 104 152 24 280

N.Colorado 11 127 143 15 285 E. Washington 11 164 113 20 297

3RD-DN CONVERSIONS

G Conv Att Pct Portland St. 11 73 160 45.6 Cal Poly 11 83 183 45.4 Montana St. 11 73 163 44.8 E. Washington 11 69 155 44.5 N. Arizona 11 66 160 41.2 N. Dakota 11 61 154 39.6 N.Colorado 11 57 144 39.6 UC Davis 11 63 165 38.2 Montana 11 77 205 37.6 Sac State 11 57 163 35.0 Weber St. 11 58 168 34.5 S. Utah 11 57 170 33.5 Idaho St. 11 56 175 32.0

OPP 3RD-DN CONVERT

G Conv Att Pct Portland St. 11 53 170 31.2 S. Utah 11 64 195 32.8 Montana 11 61 183 33.3 N. Dakota 11 57 157 36.3 Weber St. 11 63 168 37.5 Sac State 11 58 152 38.2 UC Davis 11 53 134 39.6 N. Arizona 11 73 178 41.0 Montana St. 11 68 163 41.7 Idaho St. 11 74 176 42.0 Cal Poly 11 67 147 45.6 N.Colorado 11 85 183 46.4 E. Washington 11 84 169 49.7

SACKS BY

G Sacks Yards Montana 11 38 217 N. Dakota 11 29 195 N. Arizona 11 27 178 Portland St. 11 26 124 Weber St. 11 24 156 E. Washington 11 24 148 S. Utah 11 23 130 Montana St. 11 22 149 Sac State 11 21 121 N.Colorado 11 20 120 Idaho St. 11 18 123 Cal Poly 11 16 111 UC Davis 11 14 84

SACKS AGAINST

G Sacks Yards Cal Poly 11 11 48 Montana St. 11 12 77 Weber St. 11 17 88 Portland St. 11 18 114 Idaho St. 11 20 116 N. Dakota 11 21 141 UC Davis 11 22 162 N.Colorado 11 23 153 E. Washington 11 23 111 Sac State 11 26 190 S. Utah 11 26 166 Montana 11 27 167 N. Arizona 11 30 162

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

Cal Poly Montana St. N. Arizona

PENALTIES

G No Yds Avg/G 11 45 382 34.7 11 54 439 39.9 11 56 489 44.5 11 58 518 47.1 11 57 523 47.5 11 63 550 50.0 11 58 553 50.3 11 68 575 52.3 11 81 692 62.9 11 74 696 63.3 11 68 702 63.8 11 69 709 64.5 11 82 722 65.6

4TH-DN CONVERSIONS

G Conv Att Pct 11 37 51 72.5 11 24 38 63.2 11 10 17 58.8

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

11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

7 12 58.3 16 28 57.1 11 20 55.0 18 36 50.0 8 16 50.0 8 17 47.1 10 23 43.5 10 23 43.5 15 36 41.7 4 11 36.4

TIME OF POSSESSION

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

G Total Time Avg/G 11 380:49 34:37 11 358:46 32:36 11 351:52 31:59 11 350:55 31:54 11 350:13 31:50 11 343:28 31:13 11 343:24 31:13 11 323:11 29:22 11 308:19 28:01 11 297:02 27:00 11 294:37 26:47 11 288:06 26:11 11 271:16 24:39

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING

Team Cl G Att Yds Avg TD Long Yds/G John Santiago UND FR 11 223 1459 6.5 16 81 132.6 Chris Brown CP SR 10 203 1084 5.3 13 60 108.4 Casey Jahn NAU SR 10 187 1035 5.5 7 56 103.5 David Jones PSU SR 11 169 1080 6.4 8 79 98.2 Trae Riek UNCO 9 137 796 5.8 7 64 88.4

PASSING AVG/GAME

Team Cl G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds TD Avg/G Jordan West EWU JR 10 356 230 8 64.6 3002 30 300.2 Case Cookus NAU FR 11 322 222 5 68.9 3111 37 282.8 Dakota Prukop MSU JR 11 344 216 10 62.8 3025 28 275.0 Ammon Olsen SUU SR 11 431 258 6 59.9 2965 22 269.5 Michael Sanders ISU JR 9 319 175 10 54.9 2131 21 236.8

RECEIVE YDS/GAME

Team Cl G Rec Yds TD Long Avg/C Yds/G Cooper Kupp EWU JR 11 114 1642 19 78 14.4 149.3 Emmanuel Butler NAU SO 11 64 1208 15 62 18.9 109.8 Jamaal Jones UM SR 11 64 1092 9 74 17.1 99.3 Kendrick Bourne EWU JR 11 73 998 8 98 13.7 90.7 Shane Harrison SAC SR 11 71 903 8 61 12.7 82.1

TOTAL OFFENSE

Team Cl G Rush Pass Plays Total Yds/G Dakota Prukop MSU JR 11 797 3025 502 3822 347.5 Jordan West EWU JR 10 25 3002 394 3027 302.7 Case Cookus NAU FR 11 209 3111 412 3320 301.8 Ammon Olsen SUU SR 11 -63 2965 486 2902 263.8 Alex Kuresa PSU JR 11 707 1863 348 2570 233.6

INTERCEPTIONS

Team Cl G Int Yds TD Long Int/G P. Onwuasor PSU SR 11 9 157 0 61 0.82 Xavier Coleman PSU JR 11 5 33 0 33 0.45 Kyle Hannemann SUU SO 10 4 68 0 52 0.40 Eddie Horn NAU SR 11 4 76 1 32 0.36 Marcus Alford NAU SR 11 3 80 1 70 0.27

TACKLES (ALL POSITIONS)

Player Team Cl G Pos Solo Ast Total Avg/G Sack Darnell Sankey SAC SR 11 LB 57 96 153 13.9 3.5 K. Van Ackeren UM SR 10 LB 60 65 125 12.5 1.5 Miles Killebrew SUU SR 11 DB 66 57 123 11.2 0.0 Hayden Stout ISU JR 11 LB 52 61 113 10.3 2.0 Will Ratelle UND JR 11 LB 63 47 110 10.0 4.0 Taylor Risner UNCO 11 SS 38 71 109 9.9 0.0 Tu’uta Inoke CP SR 10 LB 54 43 97 9.7 1.0 Mac Bignell MSU SO 11 LB 70 31 101 9.2 2.0 Miquiyah Zamora EWU JR 11 LB 43 58 101 9.2 2.5 Matt Holley SUU SR 11 LB 48 52 100 9.1 0.0

SACKS

Team Cl G Pos Solo Ast Yds Total Avg/G Tyrone Holmes UM SR 11 DE 12 4 67 14.0; 1.27 James Cowser SUU JR 11 DE 11 0 45 11.0; 1.00 Davond Dade PSU SO 11 6 0 30 6.0; 0.55 Jessie Clark MSU JR 11 DL 5 1 48 5.5; 0.50 George Obinna SAC FR 11 DL 5 1 36 5.5; 0.50

A16 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY

Montana players tackle Montana State tight end Ty Robbie in the second half of last Saturday’s Brawl of the Wild.

TOMMY MARTINO, Missoulian‌

Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015 — A17

GRIZZLY GAME DAY

TOMMY MARTINO, Missoulian

Montana’s Jamal Jones attempts to dodge a tackle from Montana State’s Mac Bignell. Montana defeated Montana State 54-35 in the 115th Brawl of the Wild at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman.

A18 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | FCS PLAYOFFS

Jacksonville State chasing FCS title as top seed JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer‌

‌MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Jacksonville State Gamecocks had Auburn on the ropes.

Taking a big-budget Southeastern Conference team into overtime, even in defeat, was a splashy first step in a season the Gamecocks hope ends with a national title. Two years removed from their second coaching change in as many years, Jacksonville State hasn’t lost since that game with then-No. 6 Auburn and is the No. 1 seed entering the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Quarterback Eli Jenkins can’t help but think they let one slip away even with all the pats on the back from becoming the first FCS team to take a ranked FBS team into overtime.

“We fought to the end of the game,” said Jenkins, who is 26-0 as a starter against non-FBS teams. “We came up short but we showed the world that they play ball in Jacksonville. That’s basically what we wanted to do and I think we accomplished that.”

two quick coaching changes, hiring a pair of first-time college head men. Longtime high school coach and former South Alabama defensive coordinator Bill Clark led Jacksonville State to their first two FCS playoff victories in his lone season before heading to UAB. Longtime high school coach John Grass, Clark’s offensive coordinator, took over. His no-huddle, spread offense has set total yardage records for the Gamecocks three years running — twice topping 6,000 yards for a program that had never reached 5,000 — while winning back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference titles.

“We didn’t miss a beat and went The Associated Press‌ Jacksonville State quarterback Eli Jenkins right ahead,” said Grass, who notes that (7) scrambles for a first down during the transition is ancient history for this team. second half against Auburn, in Auburn, “Those first two years kind of laid the Alabama in September. foundation for where we are now, and we’re excited about that.”

Jenkins is the OVC offensive player of They definitely play ball in Jacksonville, the year, while Grass (rhymes with boss) a town of about 12,500 tucked away in northeast Alabama. The Gamecocks (10- received top coaching honors. The Game1) have a bye this weekend before hosting cocks, who had four of the five first-team all-conference offensive linemen, have the Chattanooga-Fordham winner. had 18 and 17 players receive All-OVC They haven’t missed a beat even with

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honors the past two seasons.

The 2014 defensive player of the year, lineman Devaunte Sigler — an Auburn transfer — has missed much of the season with ankle and knee injuries. Grass says he’s healthy now.

Jenkins said the Gamecocks felt they had something special brewing even before the season.

“From Day 1, we knew that we had the potential to be a national champion one day, and we worked hard to get to this point,” he said. “We don’t expect anything less than a national championship.”

Jacksonville State’s transformation really started off the field. JSU Stadium underwent a $47 million expansion completed before the 2010 season. The school fired coach Jack Crowe, formerly head man at Arkansas, despite three playoff trips and three OVC titles in 13 seasons.

The program’s fortunes have improved under each of his successors.

The 27-20 loss to Auburn is just one of the indicators of that. Jacksonville State’s athletic department budget is some $12.9 million, about $1 million less than the Tigers spent on their new scoreboard.

Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015 — A19

130 North higgiNs Ave | opeN DAily 10:30Am-3Am fresh thinking healthy eating

open late night

GRIZ TRIVIA ‌1. Which all-pro NFL kicker was part of the South Dakota State team during Montana’s fourth-quarter comeback victory over the Jackrabbits in 1993? a) Sebastian Janikowski b) Adam Vinatieri c) Ryan Longwell d) Jay Carlson

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a) 0 b) 1 c) 10 d) 15 3. Who sparked Montana’s FCS playoff comeback over those same Jackrabbits in 2009 with a 98-yard kickoff return in the third quarter? a) Peter Nguyen b) Chase Reynolds c) Tuff Harris d) Marc Mariani Answers: 1. b; 2. a; 3. d.

Good Luck Griz!

2. How many career starts had Griz quarterback Dave Dickenson made before that heralded comeback performance in ‘93?

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A20 — Missoulian, Saturday, November 28, 2015

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