After a fairly brutal stretch through the Big Sky Conference, the second-ranked Montana Grizzlies are certainly glad to be home.
#8220We were on the road three out of four weeks, Griz coach Bobby Hauck said Tuesday, three days after Montana defeated Weber State 33-30 in Ogden, Utah. #8220I think for the team to win all four of those games is a credit to the determination of our football team.
#8220We played a couple teams who had open dates prior to our games, and I thought our assistant coaches matched their planning in every facet. I thought our players, even without a week s rest, matched everyone s tempo and enthusiasm and energy. Consequently we re 5-0 in conference right now.
Quarterback Josh Swogger threw for 356 yards at Weber, a total that likely grabbed the attention of Idaho State, a team that ranks 121st out of 122 teams in I-AA in passing yards given up. The Bengals play UM Saturday, at 1:05 p.m.
Mountain at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Weber State was at the opposite end going into last week, giving up just 128 passing yards per game before the Grizzlies visited. Hauck and his coaches were looking for the UM receivers to win one-on-one battles on the outside, and it happened.
The Griz managed just 2.4 yards per rush attempt against Weber s 8-man front, but averaged 9.1 yards per pass attempt and 17 yards per completion.
#8220We d hoped we would throw the ball well against them, Hauck said after the game. #8220That was a major part of our game plan, to throw the ball on early downs.
#8220On paper they look like the best pass defense in the conference.
But schematically, that s not a great pass defense in the early downs.
On third down, Swogger was 3-for-9 passing for 67 yards against Weber. That means on first and second down the senior was 18-for-30 for 289 yards.
Montana now has two straight home games, with Cal Poly coming in next week. But this week s foe has played the Griz tough on its last two visits, dropping a 13-9 decision in 2002 and taking a 24-22 setback in 04.
Washington-Grizzly Stadium is a daunting place to play, unless you manage to be undaunted.
#8220Aw man, said ISU linebacker Pago Togafau. #8220It s probably the most exciting place to play, but you ve got to understand you can t let all that excitement get to you. You still know you have to keep your focus, and know that you re going to be in for a ballgame.
Before Montana beat ISU 32-10 in Pocatello a year ago, the last four UM-ISU games had been decided by a total of 13 points.
Idaho State can feel fortunate to have a receiver the caliber of Akilah Lacey.
According to Lacey, then-Bengals assistant Johnny Nansen was looking for a different school when he happened by Westminster (Calif.
) High.
#8220He thought my high school was a junior college and made the wrong turn, Lacey said of Nansen, now on Dennis Erickson s staff at Idaho.
Your typical #8220Well, as long as I m here, scenario followed.
Now a senior, Lacey, 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds, is averaging 23.4 yards on 28 catches. Only Jason Jones of Arkansas-Pine Bluff has a higher yards-per-catch average, at 27.
4.
Lacey is now ISU s deep threat.
#8220Last year I wasn t any kind of a threat, because I was hurt, he said.
#8220I d like to say (this season) I m all-around, but it so happens that Matt Gutierrez has given me the ball deep a few times.
Lacey managed 22 catches for 308 yards a year ago while fighting a leg injury. He had three catches for 53 yards against UM.
He had seven catches for 107 in ISU s 43-40 double overtime win over UM in 2003, and 10 receptions for 177 yards against the Griz in 2004.
He has yet to score a TD against Montana, but there s always Saturday. Lacey is looking forward to it.
#8220If that doesn t get you ready to play, I don t now what will, he said.
QUICK KICKS: The Griz fell to No. 3 in the Gridiron Power Index, found at the Web site I-AA.
org. Massachusetts is No. 1 this week, and defending national champion Appalachian State is No.
2.
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