Griz Game Day 9.12.15

Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015 — A1

BYE WEEK • SATURDAY, SEPT. 12, 2015

SCHMAING’S How family turmoil left the Grizzlies without their starting tackle last season

STORY

KURT WILSON, Missoulian

Q&A: WR REESE CARLSON • PICKS: SPELTZ PICKS THE BIG SKY •NUMBERS: BIG SKY STATS

! z i r G Go

A2 — Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | Q & A

Freshman Carlson making splash with WRs anyone’s interest in me.

Q: What’s your major and why did you choose to study that? ‌To play a collegiate A: I’m majoring in socisport at a Division I level is a dream for many kids out ology, and I’m going for a minor in history. Sociology there. For Montana Grizzlies receiver and starting just kind of intrigued me based on the criminal H-back Reese Carlson, that dream has come true. justice focus. My dad is a cop back home and I’ve But what makes the done a couple ride-alongs dream that much sweeter was his thirst to play foot- with him. With my minor, I figured I have five years ball in Missoula. so why not go for it?

The Gig Harbor, Q: What’s your favorite Washington native said class been at UM so far? he wanted to play for A: I really like my AmerMontana coming out of ican history class that I high school, and even looks from the more-local had last spring semester.

Q: Do you have a favorEastern Washington ite show you like to watch?

Eagles couldn’t deter his A: I used to love the dream to wear the maroon and silver. After redshirt- Friday Night Lights televiing for the Griz, Carlson is sion series back when it on to the field this season, was on TV. Q: With you being a ready to take his dream to starting redshirt fresha higher level.

He wants to help propel man, the team obviously believes in you and has the Grizzlies back to a lot of stock invested the top of the Big Sky behind your play. What Conference as part of a kind of confidence has solid receiving corps that that given you? is fueled by the schemes A: It’s a really cool thing and tinkering of new head to see from my team, coach Bob Stitt.

The Missoulian chatted it has given me a lot of confidence in myself and with Carlson before a September practice on his my play. From redshirting status as a young up-and- last year to coming in this year and being able to play comer in the program, is an awesome feeling. The how he is adjusting to coaches instill confidence Stitt’s fast-paced offense in us, and having your and more. teammates behind you

helps as well. That being Q: You attended high school in Gig Harbor. How said, I can’t take a day off because I know what it would you describe that took to get here. experience and what was Q: You had a key 31-yard your prep career like? catch in the first week’s A: Gig Harbor is close North Dakota State game. to Tacoma, and I wasn’t What was that really recruited all that feeling like? much coming out of high A: I had a few catches school. I came to the camp here and the coaches liked earlier in the game, but to have that one at the end, me. Montana was where it was a surreal feeling.

I wanted to be at the end To help put the team in a of the day regardless of JOSH THOMAS for the Missoulian‌

REESE CARSLON

No. 85 Year: R-Fr. Positions: WR Height: 6-4 Weight: 205 Hometown: Gig Harbor, Wash. and what do they try to instill in the team?

A: Ellis and Jamaal are just first of all great people, just as good as they are players. Just watching them at practice, KURT WILSON, Missoulian‌ you see them making these Reese Carlson chases linebacker Alex Thomas after an interception during a big catches that they are preseason scrimmage. making on the field on game day on a regular basis. They are special been so far? situation to win the game, as him typically might A: It’s really cool to have dudes, their work ethic not have that intelligence that’s all you can ask for. a head coach that actually is something they take Q: (Quarterback Brady) about them. Last game, very seriously. works with the offense.

Gustafson had a solid out- the receivers struggled as Q: How is the team a whole and we all have to I’m not really used to ing against North Dakota moving on from Cal Poly having the head coach, do a better job to help the State, but struggled and focusing on Liberty? like, really get hands-on team out. throughout the Cal Poly A: We have no choice Q: What would you say with every aspect of the game last week. How game. He has even worked but to put the tough Cal went wrong in the Cal would you describe that Poly loss behind us. At with me individually. He receiver-quarterback con- Poly game?

A: Me personally, I don’t works with all the receiv- the same time we have to nection, and how do you learn from the mistakes think I played well enough. ers, running backs and think Brady is holding up we made. There’s so much quarterbacks. He’s really I made a lot of mistakes. as starter? talent on this team and we hands-on and it’s aweThe effort was there, but A: Brady is doing aweknow what we’re capable mentally I wasn’t on top of some to see. some I think. He can only of. We just have to come Q: Playing with guys my game. I have this week continue to get better. He together as a unit and and next week to get ready like Ellis Henderson and has tremendous compocollectively move on and Jamaal Jones who are and get better, so hopesure, something I noticed work towards being better. obviously experienced, fully we can improve. right away. His smarts on It’s not fair to dwell on dynamic players, what Q: How has the relathe football field are there one loss. have they passed down tionship with Coach Stitt and someone as young

Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015 — A3

Pattee Creek Market has USDA Choice Black Angus Beef so good that you’ll want to tailgate every meal.

Kick off the season with some local flavor.

7 D ay s a We e k • 7 0 4 S . W. H i g g i n s • 7 A M - 1 0 P M • 5 4 3 - 5 1 7 4

A4 — Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | CONFERENCE CAPSULES

AROUND THE BIG SKY Eastern Washington at Northern Iowa

Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (44) breaks through the Eastern Washington offensive line during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game last Saturday in Eugene, Ore.

Saturday, noon Cedar Falls, Iowa UNI-Dome (16,234 Mondoturf) ESPN 3/SWX Series History: Northern Iowa leads the all-time series 5-0.

Last Meeting: Northern Iowa beat Eastern Washington 41-38 in 2005.

The Coaches: Eastern Washington’s Beau Baldwin is 77-29.

He led the Eagles to the 2010 national title.

Northern Iowa’s Mark Farley is 120-57, in his 15th season. Farley led the Panthers to a national runner-up finish in 2005.

Notes: Baldwin has led the Eagles to three consecutive berths in the FCS playoffs, while Farley has led the Panthers to eight playoff berths in his tenure.... Northern Iowa fell 41-21 to Illinois State in the second round of the 2014 FCS playoffs. They beat Stephen F. Austin 44-10 in the first round...

Northern Iowa lost 31-7 at Iowa State last week... Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp set Autzen Stadium records in the season opener against Oregon, catching 15 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns... Kupp was named ROOT Sports Co-Offensive Player of the Week... EWU quarterback Jordan West threw five touchdown passes.

RYAN KANG, AP Photo

Sacramento State at Washington Saturday, noon Seattle, Washington Husky Stadium (70,083 FieldTurf) PAC-12 Networks Series History: First Meeting.

The Coaches: Sacramento State coach Jody Sears is 8-5 in his second year with the Hornets. Washington coach Chris Petersen is 8-7, in his second season with the Huskies.

Notes: Petersen was the long-time head coach at Boise State, where he

led the Broncos to six ranked finishes...

Sears is a Washington native, and played at Washington State... Petersen played quarterback at UC Davis from 19851986...Washington lost 16-13 at Boise

State to open the season... Sacramento State beat NAIA Eastern Oregon 41-20 at home to open the season... Sacramento State had 499 yards of total offense...

Hornets quarterback Daniel Kniffin threw

for 282 yards and two touchdowns...

The Hornets converted 4-of-5 red zone opportunities.

See CAPSULES, Page A8

Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015 — A5

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A6 — Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | STAT PACK

BIG STATISTICS BIG SKY SKY CONFERENCE CONFERENCE STATISTICS Team comparisons for games through Sept. 5, 2015 SCORING

POINTS ALLOWED

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

7

17

9

20

24 24

34

42 42 41

45

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

216 111

332

244 230 203 276 153 163 258 330 56 89 238 233 61 58 120 52 111

438 303 293 296

378

57 55

787

Total 1,003 710 549 547 523 499 429 421 386 327 294 178 163

Idaho State 0 Southern Utah North Dakota Montana State Portland State Cal Poly Sacramento State Weber State Northern Arizona UC Davis Northern Colorado Montana* Eastern Washington

12 13 14

17 19 20

26 28

31 34

55

61

RUSHING/PASSING YARDS ALLOWED YARDS Rushing Passing *Through 2 games. Others have played one game.

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

73 81 41

82

163 140 110 174 103

289 281 110 232 163 104 307 155 297 106 353 285 485

302 559

246

254

Total 155 244 250 277 330 391 395 411 452 459 587 731 813

Missoulian staff S. Utah 1 140 110 68 250 3.7 0 250.0 MSU 1 174 103 62 277 4.5 2 277.0 UND 1 41 289 58 330 5.7 2 330.0 Through games 110 of Nov78 02,391 2013 5.0 2 391.0 WSU 1 281 Davis 1 232 163 62 395 6.4 4 395.0 UM 2 559 254 162 813 5.0 7 406.5 PSU 1 104 307 75 411 5.5 2 411.0 NAU 1 155 297 80 452 5.7 4 452.0 Poly 1 106 353 92 459 5.0 2 459.0 N. Colo 1 285 302 90 587 6.5 4 587.0 EWU 1 485 246 82 731 8.9 8 731.0

‌SCORING OFFENSE

G TD XP 2XP DXP FG Saf Pts Avg ISU 2013 1 7 Conference 0 0 0 Team 0 55 55.0 Big8 Sky Statistics MSU 1 6 6 0 0 1 0 45 45.0 EWU 1 6 6 0 0 0 0 42 42.0 N. Colo 1 6 6 0 0 0 0 42 42.0 Sac 1 5 5 0 0 2 0 41 41.0 NAU SCORING 1 4 OFFENSE 4 0 0 Pts 2 0 34 34.0 UM Eastern 2 6 5 1 0 354 4 1 57 28.5 Washington PSU 1 3 3 0 0 1 0 24 24.0 354 UND Montana 1 3 3 0 0 1 0 24 24.0 Poly Montana 1 2 2 0 0 2 0 20 20.0 State 338 RUSHING OFFENSE Davis 1 2 2 0 0 1 0 17 17.0

G Att Yds Avg TD Yds/G S. Utah Portland 1 1 State 0 0 0 298 1 0 9 9.0 ISU 1 50 332 6.6 1 332.0 WSU 1 1 1 0 0 0 7 7.0 Sacramento State 0 269 Poly 1 76 330 4.3 1 330.0 Cal Poly 236 UND 1 54 276 5.1 3 276.0 SCORING DEFENSE NAU 1 42 244 5.8 1 244.0

G TD Arizona XP 2XP DXP 227 FG Saf Pts Avg Northern PSU 1 48 233 4.9 3 233.0 ISU 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 N. Colo 1 42 230 5.5 4 230.0 S. Utah North 1 Dakota 1 1 0 1 220 1 0 12 12.0 Sac 1 38 203 5.3 2 203.0 UND Idaho 1 State 2 1 0 0 220 0 0 13 13.0 MSU 1 38 163 4.3 3 163.0 MSU 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 14 14.0 Colorado EWU 1 31 111 3.6 1 111.0 PSU Northern 1 2 2 0 0 195 1 0 17 17.0 UM 2 62 216 3.5 2 108.0 Poly Southern 1 2 2 0 0 181 1 1 19 19.0 Utah Davis 1 27 89 3.3 1 89.0 Sac 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 20 20.0 WSU 1 18 58 3.2 0 58.0 WSU UC Davis* 1 2 2 0 0 159 4 0 26 26.0 S. Utah 1 30 52 1.7 0 52.0 UM Weber 2 State 7 7 0 0 131 2 0 55 27.5 NAU 1 4 4 0 0 0 0 28 28.0 RUSHING DEFENSE Davis 1 4 4 0 0 1 0 31 31.0

G Rushes Yards Avg. TD Yds/G N. Colo 1 4 4 0 0 2 0 34 34.0 UND 1 19 41 2.2 0 41.0 EWU 1 8 7 0 0 2 0 61 61.0 ISU 1 31 73 2.4 0 73.0 SCORING DEFENSE Pts TOTAL OFFENSE Sac 1 22 81 3.7 1 81.0

G Rush Pass Avg/P TD Yds/G PSU 1 30 104 3.5 0 104.0 Southern Utah Plays Yards 182 ISU 1 332 378 84 710 8.5 7 710.0 Poly 1 27 106 3.9 1 106.0 195 6.4 6 549.0 S. Utah 1 EWU Montana 1 111 State 438 86 549 35 140 4.0 0 140.0 NAU Cal1 244 Poly 303 62 547 203 8.8 4 547.0 NAU 1 42 155 3.7 3 155.0 N. Colo 1 230 293 73 523 7.2 6 523.0 MSU 1 45 174 3.9 0 174.0 209 5.5 6 501.5 Davis 1 39 232 5.9 3 232.0 UM Montana 2 216 787 184 1003 Sac Portland 1 203 State 296 75 499 214 6.7 4 499.0 UM 2 121 559 4.6 4 279.5 UND 1 276 153 77 429 5.6 3 429.0 WSU 1 56 281 5.0 0 281.0 221 6.0 6 421.0 N. MSU Northern 1 163 Arizona 258 70 421 Colo 1 51 285 5.6 2 285.0 Poly UC1 330 Davis* 56 89 386 252 4.3 2 386.0 EWU 1 57 485 8.5 6 485.0 Davis 1 89 238 74 327 4.4 2 327.0 Eastern Washington 256 PASS OFFENSE PSU 1 233 61 60 294 4.9 3 294.0 G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds Avg TD Yds/G 270 3.3 0 178.0 WSU Idaho 1 State 58 120 54 178 EWU 1 55 37 2 67.3 438 8.0 5 438.0 S. Utah Sacramento 1 52 111 64 163 2.5 1 163.0 State 280 UM 2 122 70 4 57.4 787 6.5 4 393.5 Northern Colorado 285 TOTAL DEFENSE ISU 1 34 25 0 73.5 378 11.1 6 378.0

G

R ush

Pass

Plys

Yards

Avg

TD

Yds/G NAU 1 20 14 0 70.0 303 15.1 3 303.0 North Dakota 316 ISU 1 73 82 63 155 2.5 0 155.0 Sac 1 37 23 0 62.2 296 8.0 2 296.0 State 421 4.4 2 244.0 N. Colo 1 31 20 0 64.5 293 9.5 2 293.0 Sac Weber 1 81 163 55 244

TOTAL OFFENSE

Rush

Pass

Yards

MSU Davis UND WSU S. Utah PSU Poly

1 32 20 1 47 32 1 23 13 1 36 19 1 34 17 1 12 7 1 13 4

0 62.5 258 8.1 0 68.1 238 5.1 0 56.5 153 6.7 1 52.8 120 3.3 0 50.0 111 3.3 0 58.3 61 5.1 0 30.8 56 4.3

3 258.0 1 238.0 0 153.0 0 120.0 1 111.0 0 61.0 1 56.0

ISU MSU WSU S. Utah UM Sac Davis EWU UND NAU N. Colo PSU Poly

G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds Avg TD Yds/G 1 32 13 1 40.6 82 2.6 0 82.0 1 17 10 1 58.8 103 6.1 2 103.0 1 22 12 1 54.5 110 5.0 2 110.0 1 33 16 1 48.5 110 3.3 0 110.0 2 41 20 0 48.8 254 6.2 3 127.0 1 33 21 0 63.6 163 4.9 1 163.0 1 23 13 0 56.5 163 7.1 1 163.0 1 25 19 0 76.0 246 9.8 2 246.0 1 39 20 0 51.3 289 7.4 2 289.0 1 38 28 1 73.7 297 7.8 1 297.0 1 39 28 0 71.8 302 7.7 2 302.0 1 45 28 1 62.2 307 6.8 2 307.0 1 65 40 3 61.5 353 5.4 1 353.0

PASS DEFENSE

TURNOVER MARGIN

G Fum Int Tot Fum Int Tot Mar Per/G Poly 1 1 3 4 1 0 1 +3 3.00 MSU 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 +2 2.00 PSU 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 +2 2.00 S. Utah 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 +1 1.00 Davis 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 0.00 UND 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 0.00 WSU 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 +0 0.00 N. Colo 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 0.00 ISU 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 +0 0.00 NAU 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 +0 0.00 EWU 1 1 0 1 0 2 2 -1 -1.00 UM 2 3 0 3 3 4 7 -4 -2.00 Sac 1 0 0 0 2 0 2 -2 -2.00

FIRST DOWNS

G Rush Pass Pen Total UM 2 13 30 7 50 ISU 1 14 18 2 34 EWU 1 9 19 3 31 Sac 1 11 15 1 27 N. Colo 1 11 14 1 26 MSU 1 8 12 3 23 UND 1 12 8 3 23 Davis 1 6 14 2 22 NAU 1 11 9 1 21 Poly 1 17 2 0 19 PSU 1 15 4 0 19

S. Utah 1 2 5 2 9 WSU 1 3 4 2 9

3RD-DN CONVERSIONS

N. Colo UND Sac MSU Davis PSU NAU EWU ISU Poly UM S. Utah WSU

G Conv Att Pct 1 9 13 69.2 1 9 17 52.9 1 6 12 50.0 1 8 16 50.0 1 9 18 50.0 1 6 12 50.0 1 5 11 45.5 1 6 14 42.9 1 4 10 40.0 1 8 23 34.8 2 13 38 34.2 1 1 18 5.6 1 0 13 0.0

OPPONENT 1ST DOWNS

ISU Sac UND S. Utah MSU PSU WSU Davis Poly NAU N. Colo EWU UM

G Rush Pass Pen Total 1 3 5 0 8 1 5 8 0 13 1 3 10 1 14 1 7 5 3 15 1 8 5 4 17 1 7 13 1 21 1 13 5 4 22 1 13 7 2 22 1 6 14 3 23 1 10 15 2 27 1 13 15 1 29 1 21 11 2 34 2 28 12 1 41

OPP 3RD-DN CONVERT

S. Utah ISU Sac UND PSU MSU Poly UM WSU NAU N. Colo EWU Davis

G Conv 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 3 1 4 1 4 1 7 2 13 1 6 1 7 1 9 1 5 1 6

Att Pct 15 6.7 17 11.8 13 23.1 13 23.1 16 25.0 13 30.8 20 35.0 37 35.1 17 35.3 16 43.8 19 47.4 10 50.0 10 60.0

4TH-DN CONVERSIONS

EWU PSU MSU Poly Davis Sac UM S. Utah ISU WSU UND NAU N. Colo

G Conv Att Pct 1 3 3 100.0 1 1 1 100.0 1 2 2 100.0 1 4 6 66.7 1 1 2 50.0 1 1 2 50.0 2 4 9 44.4 1 0 1 0.0 1 0 2 0.0 1 0 1 0.0 1 0 1 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 1 0 0 0.0

OPP 4TH-DN CONVERT

G Conv Att Pct S. Utah 1 0 0 0.0 Poly 1 0 3 0.0 Davis 1 0 1 0.0 ISU 1 0 0 0.0 WSU 1 0 1 0.0 UND 1 1 3 33.3 MSU 1 1 3 33.3 Sac 1 1 2 50.0 UM 2 6 10 60.0 N. Colo 1 2 3 66.7 EWU 1 3 4 75.0 NAU 1 3 4 75.0 PSU 1 7 8 87.5

TIME OF POSSESSION

G Total Time Avg/G UND 1 37:14 37:14 Poly 1 35:38 35:38 Davis 1 34:07 34:07 Sac 1 33:45 33:45 EWU 1 33:13 33:13 ISU 1 32:19 32:19 PSU 1 29:48 29:48 S. Utah 1 29:48 29:48 MSU 1 29:03 29:03 NAU 1 28:12 28:12 N. Colo 1 24:49 24:49 WSU 1 24:35 24:35 UM 2 49:06 24:33

Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015 — A7

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | STAT PACK

BY THE NUMBERS ‌MONTANA (1-1) STATISTICS

Griz Opp Scoring average 28.5 27.5 Rushing yards 216 559 Avg./Rush 3.5 4.6 Passing 70-122-4 20-41-0 Passing yards 787 254 Average per pass 6.5 6.2 Total offense 1003 813 Average per play 5.5 5.0 First downs 50 41 3rd-down conv.

13-38 13-37 4th-down conv.

4-9 6-10 Time of possession 24:33 35:27 Fumbles-lost 5-3 5-3 Kick returns 7-18.6 9-22.4 Punt returns 0-0.0 2-0.5 Punting 8-38.8 12-40.1 Sacks by-yards 4-23 3-19 Montana 17 18 7 15 – 57 Opponents 14 28 3 10 – 55

Offensive leaders

Rushing John Nguyen 33-156 (4.7 ypc), long 41, 0 TDs Brady Gustafson 14-33 (2.4), long 6, 1 TD Joey Counts 12-23 (1.9), long 6, 1 TD Chase Naccarato 1-6 (6.0), long 6, 0 TD Herbert Gamboa 1-0 (0.0), long 0, 0 TD Jamal Jones 1-(-2), long (-2), 0 TD Passing Brady Gustafson 70-119-4, 787 yards, long 62, 4 TDs Receiving Jones 17-205 (12.1 ypc), long 28, 1 TD Ellis Henderson 12-180 (15.0), long 62, 2 TD Nguyen 12-70 (5.8), long 19, 0 TDs Naccarato 10-81 (8.1), long 25, 0 TDs Reese Carlson 7-80 (11.4), long 31, 0 TDs Ryan Burke 4-34 (8.5), long 10, 0 TDs Josh Horner 2-75 (37.5), long 44, 0 TDs Ben Roberts 2-47 (23.5), long 38, 1 TD Counts 2-11 (5.5), long 7, 0 TDs Caleb Lyons 1-6 (6.0), long 6, 0 TDs Gustafson 1-(-2), long (-2), 0 TDs

Special teams leaders

PATs/Field goals Daniel Sullivan 5-5/4-5, long 28, 0 blocked 17 points Punting Chris Lider 8-38.8, long 57, 3 inside 20, 0 blocked Punt returns none Kickoff returns WR Henderson 4-21.2, long 40, 0 TDs WR Jones 2-16.0, long 17, 0 TDs RB Counts 1-13.0, long 13, 0 TDs

Defensive leaders

Tackles LB K. Van Ackeren 30, 9 solo LB Jeremiah Kose 23, 2 solo DE Tyrone Holmes 18, 3 solo DT Jamal Wilson 17, 1 solo DE Derek Crittenden 16, 1 solo S Yamen Sanders 16, 5 solo DT Nate Bradley 15, 2 solo S Justin Whitted 11, 1 solo LB Connor Lebsock 8, 2 solo CB JR Nelson 8, 6 solo DT Caleb Kidder 7, 0 solo LB Herbert Gamboa 7, 0 solo S Manu Rasmussen 7, 2 solo S Eric Johnson 5, 2 solo CB Nate Harris 4, 2 solo DE Ryan Johnson 4, 1 solo DT Kyle Davis 4, 0 solo LB Connor Strahm 3, 1 solo CB Ryan McKinley 3, 1 solo DT Zach Peevey 2, 1 solo DE Mike Ralston 2, 0 solo OL Max Kelly 1, 1 solo CB Markell Sanders 1, 1 solo DE Tucker Schye 1, 0 solo WR Justin Calhoun 1, 0 solo WR Jeffrey Salamon 1, 0 solo WR Ben Roberts 1, 1 solo P Chris Lider 1, 1 solo WR Henderson 1, 1 solo Tackles for loss DE Holmes 2.0-12 DE Crittenden 1.0-5 DT Wilson 1.0-2 DE Schye 0.5-5 LB Van Ackeren 0.5-2 S Y. Sanders 0.5-2 LB Gamboa 0.5-0 Sacks DE Holmes 2.0-12 DT Wilson 1.0-2 DE Schye 0.5-5 DE Crittenden 0.5-4 Interceptions none Fumbles forced-recovered DE Tyrone Holmes 1-0 WR Henderson 1-1 LB Van Ackeren 0-2 Pass breakups CB Harris 2 CB Nelson 1 S Whitted 1 S Johnson 1

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A8 — Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | CONFERENCE CAPSULES

AROUND THE BIG SKY Weber State at North Dakota State‌ Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Fargo, North Dakota Fargodome (19,000 Multi-surface) WatchESPN/ESPN 3 Series History: NDSU leads the series 5-0.

Last Meeting: North Dakota State beat the Wildcats 24-7 in Ogden to open the 2014 season.

The Coaches: Weber State’s Jay Hill is 2-11 in his second season as head coach of the Wildcats. North Dakota State coach Chris Klieman is 15-2 in his second season.

Notes: This game is the second game of the season for both teams... The Bison opened the season as the top-ranked team in both the STATS FCS Top-25 and Coaches’ Polls... This is the second Big Sky opponent NDSU will face this season. The Bison lost to the Montana Grizzlies, 38-35, in the FCS Kickoff on August 29. North Dakota State will also face rival North Dakota next week... Bison starter Carson Wentz threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns against the Grizzlies... Weber State lost 26-7 at Oregon State to open the season... The Wildcats’ Josh Burton had a pick-six interception that got Weber within a score, 13-7, entering the fourth quarter...

Weber State’s offense registered just 178 yards.

KURT WILSON, Missoulian‌

Montana strong safety Justin Whitted breaks up a pass to Nnamdi Agude, while linebacker Jeremiah Kose also closes in on the play during last season’s game against Sacramento State.

while North Dakota beat the Mountain West’s Wyoming Cowboys 24-13... UND running Drake back John Santiago ran for 148 yards and two at North Dakota‌ touchdowns in the win...

Saturday, 4 p.m.

North Dakota rushed for Grand Forks, North Dakota 276 yards in the game...

Alerus Center The UND defense limited (12,283 Multi-surface) Midco/Fox College Sports Wyoming to 3-of-13 third-down converSeries History: North Dakota leads the sions... North Dakota will face in-state series 1-0. rival North Dakota State next week for the Last Meeting: North Dakota won the first time since 2003... Drake quarterback game 16-0 back in 2011.

The Coaches: UND coach Bubba Andy Rice threw for 286 yards and two Schweigert is 6-7 in his second season touchdowns in the season opener... North with the team. Drake coach Rick Fox is Dakota is unofficially ranked 29th in the 8-5, in his second season. country, after receiving 186 points in the Notes: Drake opened the season with a 44-30 over Division-II William Jewell, latest STATS FCS Top-25 poll.

Portland State at Idaho State‌ Saturday, 4:05 p.m.

Pocatello, Idaho Holt Arena (12,000 Helas Turf) Watch Big Sky Series History: ISU leads the series 24-15-1.

Last Meeting: Idaho State won a 31-13 game in 2014. Idaho State forced six turnovers, and Bengals running back Xavier Finney rushed for two touchdowns.

The Coaches: Idaho State coach Mike Kramer is 15-32 in his fifth season with the Bengals.

Portland State coach

Bruce Barnum is 1-0 in his first season with the Vikings.

Notes: Barnum served as the offensive coordinator at Idaho State from 2001-2006.

He coached at the school from 19982006... Both Barnum and Kramer have ties to Eastern Washington:- Barnum graduated from there in 1987; Kramer coached there from 1994 through 1999... Portland State upset the Pac-12’s Washington State 24-17... Vikings cornerback Aaron Sibley was named the ROOT Sports Defensive Player of the Week... Sibley blocked a field goal, and also had a clinching interception in the fourth quarter... Idaho State quarterback Michael Sanders threw five touchdown passes in a 55-0 win over Black Hills State... It was ISU’s first shutout in a decade... Bengals receiver Madison Mangum caught three touchdowns, one of which made “SportsCenter’s Top Ten” list.

See CAPSULES, Page A9

Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015 — A9

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | CONFERENCE CAPSULES

AROUND THE BIG SKY Southern Utah at South Dakota State‌ Saturday, 5 p.m.

Brookings, South Dakota Coughlin-Alumni Stadium (15,000 Grass) WatchESPN/ESPN 3 Series History: SDSU leads the series 4-1.

Last Meeting: South Dakota State beat Southern Utah 26-6 in Cedar City in 2014.

James Cowser had 12 tackles in the game.

The Coaches: Southern Utah coach Ed Lamb is in his eighth season with the Thunderbirds, and is 37-44. South Dakota State coach John Steigelmeier is 121-86 in his 19th season with the Jackrabbits.

Notes: Both Southern Utah and South Dakota State played FBS opponents in the first week of the season. Southern Utah lost 12-9 at Utah State (Mountain West), while SDSU won 41-38 at Kansas (Big 12)... Southern Utah’s James Cowser is the Big Sky Preseason Defensive Player of the Year... Southern Utah’s defense limited Utah State to 1-of-15 converted third downs... Cowser and Miles Killebrew combined for 13 tackles... South Dakota State has advanced to the second round of the FCS Playoffs the last three seasons... The Jackrabbits opened up a 31-14 halftime lead over Kansas... SDSU quarterback Zach Lujan threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

New Mexico Highlands vs. Northern Arizona‌ Saturday, 5 p.m.

Flagstaff, Ariz.

Walkup Skydome (10,000 Real Grass Fieldturf) NAU-TV Fox Sports Arizona Watch Big Sky Series History: NAU leads the series 16-5-2.

Last Meeting: Northern Arizona beat New Mexico Highlands 62-23 in 2014.

The Coaches: Northern Arizona coach Jerome Souers is 101-93 in his 18th season as head coach of the Lumberjacks.

New Mexico Highlands coach John Mills

Montana’s Kendrick Van Ackeren and Joshua Dennard, right, tackle Southern Utah’s Easton Pedersen last season. is in his first season with the Cowboys.

Notes: Northern Arizona beat then-24th ranked Stephen F. Austin 34-28... NAU wide receiver Emmanuel Butler caught seven passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns... Butler was the ROOT Sports Co-Offensive Player of the Week... NAU quarterback Case Cookus threw for 267 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman. He was named the STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week for his efforts...

New Mexico Highlands is a Division-II school in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference...Mills formerly served as an assistant coach at Indiana State. His resume includes a graduate assistantship during Washington’s 1991 national championship. He also worked at Montana State from 1992-1995.

See CAPSULES, Page A13

TOM BAUER, Missoulian‌

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‌ hn Schmaing was never one o to struggle with schoolwork. A three-year starter for the Billings Senior High football team, he was all-state on the field and academic all-state in the classroom.

Most people don’t know that about Montana’s senior offensive tackle. Instead of his successes — starting as a sophomore for instance — they remember first his failures.

Like not starting as a junior.

What led to John’s academic ineligibility for the 2014 season is precisely the reason folks don’t truly know what caused his issue. He kept it to himself.

The residual stress of two parents hospitalized with life-threatening ailments in quick succession, and perhaps a football player’s bull-headed approach to dealing with that anxiety, showed up in John’s grades in the 2013-14 school year.

And football, his one relief from the fear at home, was the unexpected casualty.

See Schmaing, Page A12

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Montana offensive tackle John Schmaing slows Cal Poly defensive end Kelly Shepard during a play Saturday night.

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A12 — Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | JOHN SCHMAING

MICHAEL GALLACHER, Missoulian‌

Lineman John Schmaing, left, celebrates with receiver Ellis Henderson and running back Jordan Canada in 2013, Schmaing’s last season on the field before this fall.

Schmaing

“The main thing that happened for me, I guess I felt like I had to keep stuff to myself. I didn’t want to add any more stress to my family’s life.”

her family, a blood clot grew and lodged in her lung — a pulmonary embolism — and cut off blood flow to her heart. She was Continued from page A10 rushed into emergency surgery.

“The doctors told us and John that The Schmaings sent young John off it’ll be a miracle if she survives this,” Bob to Missoula in the fall of 2011 with high John Schmaing explained. “We were told three times in hopes for their son. He was bright and the course of two weeks that she likely cheery, though the Grizzlies valued him won’t make it through the night.”

Now imagine a party responsible for He even earned All-Big Sky Conference even more for the package in which his She did. Again and again, over the fathering a 6-foot-6, 255-pound high brain came. He stands 6 feet 7 inches and honorable mention attention. course of 45 days of hospitalization. school senior: That’s a pretty big fist.

But the waters were murky at home.

280 pounds now.

By that time John was gearing up to In May of 2012, during finals week at His mother, Linda, was diagnosed with a After redshirting his first season, return to Missoula for fall football camp. the university to be exact, Linda underbrain tumor. The mass proved benign — injuries welcomed John to the starting went brain surgery to remove most of the He was hurting, too, but the 19-year-old non-cancerous — John’s father Bob said, lineup in the last two games of the 2012 tumor. She spent nearly three weeks in the didn’t want to worry his parents with any season. By the end of the next year he’d be but its expanse would make you catch intensive care unit of a hospital in Billings. of that. your breath. starting his 15th consecutive game at left But something was wrong.

“The size of my fist, if you can believe tackle, the ultimate guard of the quarterThe night after she returned home with it,” Bob said. back’s blind side.

See SCHMAING, Page A15

Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015 — A13

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | CONFERENCE CAPSULES

AROUND THE BIG SKY Northern Colorado at Houston Baptist‌

Dakota coach Joe Glenn is 7-28 in his fourth season with the Coyotes.

Notes: Glenn notably won national championships at two schools in the Big Sky. He led Northern Colorado to two Division-II national titles in 1996 and 1997, and led Montana to the FCS national title in 2001. The Grizzlies lost in the 2000 championship game under Glenn’s direction... UC Davis had 238 passing yards in a 31-17 loss at FBS Nevada (Mountain West)... UC Davis had 14 passing first downs... This is the Aggies’ home opener...

South Dakota opened the season with a 34-0 loss at Kansas State... Coyotes quarterback Ryan Seager completed 18-of-30 passes for 205 yards in the game.

Saturday, 6 p.m. (MT) Houston, Texas Husky Stadium (5,000 Desso iDNA) Series History: UNC leads 1-0.

Last Meeting: Northern Colorado beat Houston Baptist 28-20 in 2014. Northern Colorado forced four interceptions in the game.

The Coaches: Northern Colorado coach Earnest Collins, Jr., is 10-36 in his fifth season coaching his alma mater.

Houston Baptist coach Vic Shealy is 5-13 in his third season with the team.

Notes: Northern Colorado earned a 42-34 win over Division-II Western State to open the season... Northern Colorado running back Trae Riek rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Riek also had a receiving touchdown in the game...

Bears quarterback Jonathan Newsom threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns in the game... Shealy served as the defensive coordinator at UNLV from 2005-2008.

He also led then-NAIA Azusa Pacific (CA) to the 1998 national title... Houston Baptist opened the season with a 51-7 win over Bethany College.

Cal Poly at Arizona State‌

South Dakota at UC Davis‌ Saturday, 7 p.m.

Davis, California Aggie Stadium (10, 743 Sportexe Synthetic Turf) Watch Big Sky Series History: USD leads the series 3-2.

Last Meeting: South Dakota won 10-7 in 2013.

The game was Aggies coach Ron Gould’s first at UC Davis.

The Coaches: UC Davis coach Ron Gould is 7-17 in his third season with the Aggies. South

GEORGE BRIDGES/AP Photo‌

Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici, left, is shown during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in Houston.

Saturday, 9 p.m.

Tempe, Arizona Sun Devil Stadium (65,870 Bermuda Grass) PAC-12 Networks Series History: ASU leads the series 3-0.

Last Meeting: Arizona State won the last game between the two schools, 33-6.

The game was played in 1947.

The Coaches: Cal Poly coach Tim Walsh is 105-87 in his seventh season with the team. Arizona State coach Todd Graham is 29-12 in his fourth season with the Sun Devils.

Notes: This is Graham’s fourth FBS head coaching job. He previously coached at Rice, Tulsa and Pittsburgh... Arizona State fell 38-17 to Texas A&M in the season opener in Houston on Saturday... Sun Devils quarterback Mike Bercovici completed 25-of-41 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown in the win...

Cal Poly earned a 20-19 win at Montana in a non-conference game Saturday...

Mustangs kicker Alex Vega, who kicked a game-winning 49-yard field goal, was recognized as the ROOT Sports Special Teams Player of the Week... Cal Poly’s B.J. Nard had three interceptions in the game... Also, Cal Poly’s Tu’uta Inoke had 16 tackles in the game.

A14 — Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY / P ICKS

HOW WE SEE THE BIG SKY

AJ MAZZOLINI

BOB MESEROLL

KYLE SAMPLE

BILL SPELTZ

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will be at a premium in the second half.

I’m picking the upset here, and not just because my little brother graduated from ‌This is getting downright embarrassing. UNI. AJ: EWU 50, UNI 35. Bob: EWU 35, UNI 33. Kyle: UNI 31, EWU 28. Bill: UNI The Missoulian’s so-called sports experts have gone 0 for 8 in their efforts to 35, EWU 31.

Sacramento State at Washington: forecast games involving the Grizzles. All While it’s true that Big Sky members four huckleberries picked North Dakota State to beat Montana and all four pegged North Dakota and Portland State knocked off FBS teams last week, I don’t expect the Griz to beat Cal Poly. the Hornets to win in Seattle. The game At least our guest prognosticator, marks Washington first-year coach Chris publisher Mark Heintzelman, predicted Petersen’s home debut. AJ: Huskies 41, the Griz would beat the Bison two weeks ago. He’s such a nice guy that he insists on Hornets 10. Bob: Washington 39, Sac having crow catered to the sports depart- State 24. Kyle: Huskies 37, Hornets 7. Bill: Huskies 45, Hornets 24. ment each night for dinner.

Weber State at No. 2 North Dakota Here’s my lead-pipe lock for this week: None of the Missoulian sportswriters will State: This is the first home game for the Bison, who have won 23 in a row in Fargo. get the Griz game wrong. Mainly because You know they’ll be breathing fire after they’re not playing. a frustrating loss in smoky Missoula two It’s nice to have extra time to mull things over because next Saturday’s Griz game isn’t weeks ago. AJ: North Dakota State 23, Weber State 7. Bob: NDSU 49, Weber 10. going to be any easier to pick than the last Kyle: NDSU 38, Weber 13 Bill: Bison 49, two. None of us Missoulian staffers knows Mildcats 23. anything about Liberty, unless you count New Mexico Highlands at Northern my experience watching Wilford Brimley Arizona: I’m a little surprised the Jacks pitch Liberty Medical supplies on TV. didn’t get any love from the pollsters after Does persistent prognosticating pain winning at then-24th-ranked Stephen lead to diabetes? Do you suppose Brimley F. Austin last week. Perhaps NAU can really eats Quaker Oats? crack the Top 25 after a blowout win over Hey, that reminds me: Did you hear the Division II Cowboys. AJ: Northern about the Griz fan who purchased a slice of pizza at last Saturday’s game? Actually I Arizona 45, NM Highlands 12. Bob: NAU 55, Highlands 3. Kyle: Jacks 58, Cowboys 7 better not finish. It’s too cheesy.

Bill: Jacks 48, Cowboys 14.

OK, OK, enough with the stalling. It’s No. 24 Portland State at No. 23 time for the Missoulian sports department’s Griz-free predictions for this week: Idaho State: This game marks the start of the conference season. The fact both No. 7 Eastern Washington at teams are ranked is scary for the Griz, who No. 14 Northern Iowa: Last year the have to play them on the road on back-toPanthers handed North Dakota State its back weeks. I’m going with the Bengals on only loss, 23-3, at the UNI-Dome. It gets Saturday because they likely expended less mighty hot in there and conditioning BILL SPELTZ bill.speltz@missoulian.com‌

BILL SPELTZ bill.speltz@missoulian.com‌

energy last week beating Black Hills State than the Vikings did winning at Washington State. AJ: Idaho State 28, Portland State 27. Bob: Idaho State 56, Portland State 31. Kyle: Bengals 42, Vikings 28.

Bill: ISU 42, PSU 35.

Southern Utah at No. 9 South Dakota State: The Thunderbirds nearly pulled the upset at FBS Utah State last week, dropping a 12-9 decision. My guess is SUU too expended a lot of energy trying to beat its in-state opponent and the Jackrabbits, who won at Kansas last week, are going to get the best of the T-birds.

AJ: Rabbits 27, Birds 17. Bob: S. Dakota State 24, S. Utah 21. Kyle: Southern Utah 21, SDSU 17 Bill: Rabbits 27, T-birds 17.

Drake at North Dakota: No way the UND no-nicknamers are losing to a non-scholarship FCS program a week after beating FBS Wyoming. North Dakota has it rolling and that means potential trouble for the Grizzlies when they host the Green and White on Oct. 24. AJ: UND 21, Drake 3. Bob: North Dakota 24, Drake 17. Kyle: UND 27, Drake 7. Bill: UND 35, Drake 14.

South Dakota at UC Davis: How

long can ex-Griz coach Joe Glenn possibly last at South Dakota with a record of 7-28?

At some point you have to wonder. If Glenn plans to stay beyond 2015, he better not lose to the Aggies. AJ: South Dakota 22, UC Dave 9. Bob: S. Dakota 31, UC Davis 14. Kyle: UC Davis 12, Glenners 10 Bill: Davis 24, South Dakota 21.

Northern Colorado at Houston Baptist: The Bears beat the Huskies in a 28-20 thriller last year in Greeley. This time I’m picking Houston Baptist in a close one because it’s going to be close to 90 degrees and muggy at game time. The Southland Conference Huskies are better acclimated to those conditions. AJ: Houston Baptist 2, UNC 0. Bob: N. Colorado 2, Houston Baptist 0. Kyle: Baptist 13, UNC 3. Bill: Baptist 28, Bears 24.

No. 18 Cal Poly at Arizona State: The FBS Sun Devils were ranked 15th nationally until losing at Texas A&M last week. I look for ASU to bounce back with a win over the Mustangs. AJ: Arizona State 38, Cal Poly 17. Bob: Arizona State 39, Cal Poly 24. Kyle: Sun Devils 44, Poly 17. Bill: Devils 41, Mustangs 21.

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Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015 — A15

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | JOHN SCHMAING

Schmaing Continued from page A12

No. 74 Year: R-Sr. Position: Left tackle Height: 6-7 Weight: 280 Hometown: Billings, Mont. was wrong. His star tackle was ineligible for his junior season, and worse, on his way to flunking out of college.

“Telling my parents, that was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” John said.

“I hadn’t wanted to trouble him with anything else,” Bob said of trying to avoid serious discussions with his son.

“It did just the opposite of what, as a father, I would have liked him to do.”

John added summer classes in hopes of boosting his GPA and returning to the graduation track, but the NCAA denied an academic hardship waiver just weeks before the 2014 season.

All the while John took a public opinion beating. They called him a dumb jock, stupid and far, far worse.

“John stuck it out, took the criticisms and the negative comments and he’ll be a better man for it,” his father said. “...

He took a lot of grief. There was a lot of negative and people didn’t know.”

The Grizzly was determined to change his legacy with only one season remaining in maroon and silver. He practiced every day with the Montana scout team, helping prepare the defense for that week’s big game in which he wouldn’t see a snap.

“I really had to kind of coach myself last year and had to try to keep my focus,” he said. “I was able to make myself better. It ended up being nice having to go against (All-Big Sky ends) Tyrone Holmes and Zack Wagenmann every day.”

And he learned to ask for help. He needed something to put his faith in and found the support of many inside the athletic department, from former head coach Mick Delaney to former Griz linemen like Colin Dow, a fellow Senior grad, and Mike McGowan.

With stability returned on the home

“John stuck it out, took the criticisms and the negative comments and he’ll be a better man for it...

He took a lot of grief. There was a lot of negative and people didn’t know.”

Bob Schmaing front, by the end of the spring 2015 semester John once again had the grades to play and to gain traction toward a degree in sociology.

John’s first game in close to two calendar years was one for the ages.

The Grizzlies marched down the field to upset four-time defending national champion North Dakota State in an instant classic, 38-35, on Aug. 29.

John provided one of the crucial blocks on Joey Counts’s winning 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal, an isolation burst to his left side.

“It was almost a little weird,” John said of coming out to the capacity crowd two weeks ago. “It had been so long. That very first game was unreal.”

The big guy has been an incalculable asset for the Grizzlies, first-year head coach Bob Stitt said. The new staff hadn’t been sure what to make of the former starter in spring when a hip injury left him watching most practices

without pads.

Come fall though, John proved his mettle.

“When he got back healthy right before the season started, it changed everything,” Stitt said. “We’ve thrown the ball over 100 times and we’ve got three sacks. (QB) Brady (Gustafson) is a big part of that, but the O-line is a big part, too.”

In the stands that first day were Linda and Bob Schmaing. Nearly a bill of clean health — Linda still walks with a limp due to a remaining sliver of tumor, so precariously placed that it couldn’t be removed — that Saturday was a day for celebrating.

Every time the pair comes to Missoula for football games — and as many other times as they can, Bob said — the family hikes the M trail above campus.

The very first climb came this summer, Father’s Day. With John and Bob there holding Linda’s hands as a family.

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“The main thing that happened for me, I guess, I felt like I had to keep stuff to myself,” John remembered. “I didn’t want to add any more stress to my family’s life.”

So he closed his mouth and put on his helmet, adding needed depth to the Grizzlies O-line that fall.

As Linda grew stronger, she convinced Bob the couple needed to attend one of their son’s games. On Oct. 13, his wife needing major assistance to even navigate the stairs at WashingtonGrizzly Stadium, the Schmaings settled in to watch the Montana Grizzlies take on Southern Utah.

But something was wrong.

At halftime, Bob felt pressure in his chest. Is this what a heart attack feels like, he wondered in a panic.

“I told my wife, ‘I’ve got to go,’” Bob said. “‘I’ve just got to go.’”

At the emergency room doctors performed an angioplasty, surgically unblocking one of Bob’s coronary arteries. Days later in Billings, he needed three more done.

John didn’t even find out until after the game.

That may have been the worst year of John’s life. John’s only living grandmother passed that winter as well.

“And we lost the family dog shortly after that,” he said, trying to inject a little humor into a terrible stretch of time.

His grades started to slip, falling closer and closer to the 2.0 GPA line required by the NCAA for all student athletes. Though he was excelling on the field by the 2013 season, the issues at home further manifested in his schoolwork and on his psyche.

By spring of 2014, Schmaing was hardly attending classes, locked away in his own darkness.

“It weighed on me a lot; a lot of stress worrying about her and my dad and it piled on,” he said. “I didn’t handle it as well as I should have.

“But I was thinking, there’s no way it could happen to me, there’s no way I’m going to end up ineligible. I’ll figure out a way to get it done. I got it in my mind, convinced myself that it wasn’t gonna happen.”

That spring former offensive line coach Scott Gragg called. Something

JOHN SCHMAING

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A16 — Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY

NO SAFETY FROM A GRIZZLY

KURT WILSON, Missoulian‌

Montana defensive end Derek Crittenden chases Cal Poly quarterback Chris Brown before sacking him for a safety late in the game Saturday night.

Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015 — A17

GRIZZLY GAME DAY

NGUYEN-ING

Montana running back John Nguyen eludes a tackle by Cal Poly defensive back B.J. Nard.

KURT WILSON, Missoulian‌

A18 — Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015

GRIZZLY GAME DAY | UP NEXT

Former WVU and Liberty TE Johnson returns to Morgantown DAMIEN SORDELETTE Lynchburg News and Advance‌

‌Will Johnson had several Football Bowl Subdivision coaches making visits to Osseo High School in Minnesota to see him play. He had all the tools they coveted as a tight end — a 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame with solid hands and good routerunning abilities.

A pair of those coaches was Turner Gill and Aaron Stamn when the duo was at Kansas. The Jayhawks weren’t the only Big 12 Conference team looking at Johnson. Dana Holgorsen and the West Virginia staff recruited him and eventually landed Johnson’s commitment.

After redshirting for one season at WVU, Johnson felt he needed to go a different route.

While several FBS schools were interested, he contacted only one Football Championship Subdivision school — Liberty.

With Gill and Stahm in Lynchburg, Johnson felt that was the right choice.

“I just felt that it was probably where I would be able to fit in and play in an offense that I felt like I could be a part of,” Johnson said, “and just what was going to be best for me, personally, was an offense like this and a program like this. It worked out real well.”

Johnson caught his first pass with LU in the season-opening victory over Delaware State and is listed as No. 2 on the depth chart heading into Saturday’s contest at West Virginia. He played on special teams last season while dealing with what Gill called “health concerns.”

“He contacted us and obviously we were ecstatic that he

wanted to contact and possibly be a part of Liberty,” Gill said.

Johnson’s addition helps the Flames (1-0) not only in having a tall, physical tight end, but adding a player who has experience at the FBS level.

“Being in the Big 12 Conference and playing Big 12 football, it was a blessing for me,” Johnson said. “It’s something you dream of doing as a kid, playing Division I college football, and that’s a place where you are expected, as you are everywhere, to perform day in and day out.

I’d say it was a really good experience. I learned a lot. It was definitely a learning experience.”

Offensive line finds its footing Sophomores Lucas Holder and Michael Henderman both got their first career starts last week against Delaware State, and there were a few rough patches early in the contest.

And that was to be expected with two young players stepping into roles that were once occupied by seasoned veterans.

But the line, which features two seniors and a sophomore who started 12 games last season (Tanner Hartman), started playing better as the game progressed.

“It was good to finally get them in some game experience to where they could get some game reps and not just practice reps against the defense,” LU senior quarterback Josh Woodrum said.

The only sack the LU offensive line allowed was in the fourth quarter, and the eight runs that resulted in losses were racked up early in the contest when

quarter against Delaware State, and Gill said that the staff will have a better understanding of the injury once the MRI comes back at the end of the week.

Canon Smith moved to the top of the depth chart, with Johnson and sophomore Tyler Meeks as the No. 2 tight ends.

“The next guy’s got to step up and be ready to play,” Johnson said. “I do know that our coaches want us to step up and play ball the way we play and can do.”

Senior defensive tackle Nolan Spicer, who was a late scratch against DSU, is likely out for the WVU contest according to Gill.

Gill said Spicer’s injury is day to day and they are trying to determine the extent of the injury.

“It’s just kind of a day to day, week to week to see if he’ll be able to come back and play,” Gill said.

Darrin Peterson is listed at the top of the depth chart at the X receiver position after leaving the DSU game early.

Uzowihe honored by Photo by David Duncan Photography‌ the conference West Virginia transfer and Liberty tight end Will Johnson, pictured LU senior defensive end here in a game last season, will face his old teammates when the Chima Uzowihe was named the Flames visit WVU this week ahead of their game with the Montana Big South defensive player of Grizzlies on Sept. 19. the week after recording four tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and a forced Gill said. “[West Virginia’s] the Hornets were still hangfumble against Delaware State. defensive scheme is something ing around. that causes confusion. We’re just His 19 1/2 career sacks are one The seasoning should help hoping we can limit that confu- shy of tying former Gardneras the Flames prepare for West Webb star Brian Johnson for Virginia’s 3-3-stack defense that sion for our O-line.” most in Big South history.

includes an odd front and differ“It’s always in the back of Couamin and Spicer out ent schemes. your head because you want “We didn’t have a whole lot of against WVU to accomplish those goals,” Gill said Tuesday that junior missed assignments. There were Uzowihe said. “I think it’s mostly quite a few technique things that tight end Kendall Couamin is less about what I’m doing and out for the West Virginia game. we’ve still got to work on as far more about what I can help my as our blocking and stopping the Couamin suffered a left knee team do.” injury at the end of the first penetration as far as that goes,”

Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015 — A19

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c) Matt Wells d) Jimmy Farris 2. Montana quarterback Brady Gustafson had how many career pass attempts before being named starting quarterback this fall? a)100 b) 55 c) 6 d) 0 3. The Griz face Liberty on the road for just the second ever meeting between the schools next week (the Griz won 34-14 in Missoula in 2012). Where is Liberty University located? a) Lynchburg, Virginia b) Liberty, New York c) Bethlehem, Pennsylvania d) Richmond, Virginia Answers: 1. b; 2. c; 3. a.

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A20 — Missoulian, Saturday, September 12, 2015

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