Matt says
Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 1:38 pm
Montana State (1-3) at No. 25 Northern Arizona (2-2), 6:05
It probably seems like years ago for Bobcat fans, but both of these teams were receiving attention and accolades for their performances against I-A teams in the first week of the season. Montana State of course garnered the most praise for beating Colorado, but Northern Arizona’s good performance at Arizona State on the opening Thursday night set a positive tone for I-AA teams in I-A matchups and gave an indication that the Lumberjacks and quarterback Jason Murrietta might be a contender again. Well, one out of two isn’t bad. The Bobcats have fallen flat since beating Colorado, with three ugly losses at home against Division II Chadron State, UC Davis (by a 45-0 score) and an 0-3 Eastern Washington team that was coming off a Division II loss. It’s hard to point to any one area for their struggles, but an injury-plagued offense has gone downhill and quarterback Cory Carpenter has not built on his performance at Colorado. The defense has endured its problems as well, and the Bobcats don’t appear ready to be an upset threat against a Northern Arizona team that might just be for real. The Lumberjacks followed their season opener with a loss at I-A Utah and win against Dixie State, but had a real coming out party with a tough 33-27 victory at Idaho State last week. Murrietta has thrown for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns, and should keep it up with Alex Watson (30 receptions, 468 yards, 5 TD) playing as well as any wide receiver in the country. The Lumberjack defense has poor rankings in statistical categories, but it did face two good I-A offenses and a potent Idaho State attack. The matchup with a struggling Montana State unit should help the numbers, and the Lumberjacks figure to get the win and be 2-0 in the league with a trip to Montana looming on October 14. Prediction: Northern Arizona 28, Montana State 13
GAMESOF THE WEEK
No. 4 Montana (2-1) at No. 14 Portland State (3-1), 9:05
I hate to call any September game a matchup for the conference crown, but the winner of this game between the Grizzlies and Vikings will take a big first step toward taking home the Big Sky title. Montana is always expected to be in its lofty position, but Portland State has emerged as one of the pleasant surprises in the country and a few of the trends favor the Vikings here. They have a nine-game home winning streak overall, and knocked off the Grizzlies, 35-32, back in 2004. Montana is always better at home than on the road, and the Grizzlies might face their toughest I-AA challenge of the year this week. The Vikings are dominating on defense and getting just enough offense at times. The defense has a lofty status in national rankings despite playing at I-A power California. The Vikings are allowing only 3.26 yards per carry and are tied for the national lead with nine interceptions, and gave up just 19 total points in their three victories. The offense did an effective job in wins against I-A New Mexico and Northern Colorado to start the season, but the unit wasn’t quite the same without starting quarterback Sawyer Smith last week. The Vikings amassed a measly 50 yards in passing offense in the 20-10 win against Weber State, and quarterback Rob Freeman did not make big plays in a 10-for-17 effort. The running game was also ineffective without an effective passing attack, and the Vikings only totaled 161 yards on offense. If they didn’t get four interceptions and a huge kickoff return to start the second half, the Vikings might have even lost the game. Smith was out with a hip injury, and his status, along with the status of running back Mu’Ammar Ali, is up in the air going into this game. The Vikings should be in decent shape at running back even without Ali, but will have a big question at quarterback if Smith can’t go. Former Colorado quarterback Brian White transferred in to Portland State this week and will be ready to play immediately, but it’s going to be hard for him to grasp the offense in one week. If Freeman plays, the Vikings will need a better effort on offense, because Montana is hitting its stride.
The Grizzlies trounced Sacramento State, 59-14, and have a pair of blowout victories after losing the season opener at Iowa. The defense has only surrendered 21 points in action against I-AA opponents. The Grizzly run defense is only giving up 3.96 yards per carry and 126.7 yards per game, but the numbers are even more impressive when you take out the 166 rushing yards given up against I-A top 25 Iowa. Montana’s pass defense has held opponents to less than a 50 percent completion ratio, and the Grizzlies aren’t likely to give up much to Portland State unless Smith is back and at full strength or Freeman and/or White can stretch the field. With both of those scenarios unlikely, the Vikings will have to win with their defense again. The problem is, Montana is not Weber State. The Grizzly running game is not quite the same without Lex Hilliard, but Reggie Bradshaw has put forth solid if not spectacular efforts over the last two weeks. Even if the Grizzlies don’t run for big numbers, the passing game should provide enough offense for a victory. Josh Swogger was 14- for-18 with 221 yards and three touchdowns in his return to the lineup against Sacramento State, and a receiving trio of Eric Allen, Craig Chambers and Ryan Bagley gives the Grizzlies plenty of places to go with the ball. A tough Viking front can probably get some pressure on Swogger, but Montana has a lot of playmakers to beat the Viking defense. Yardage through the passing game is the one thing Portland State’s defense has given up, and Montana’s offense has the ability to make plays and limit the mistakes that the Vikings can cause. This really has the feel of a game in October two years ago, where the Grizzlies notched a statement win at an upstart Eastern Washington team. Portland State will be in the race all year and has a chance at a playoff berth even if it finishes 7-4, but the Grizzlies have a more balanced team and will get enough offense for the win. Prediction: Montana 23, Portland State 13
It probably seems like years ago for Bobcat fans, but both of these teams were receiving attention and accolades for their performances against I-A teams in the first week of the season. Montana State of course garnered the most praise for beating Colorado, but Northern Arizona’s good performance at Arizona State on the opening Thursday night set a positive tone for I-AA teams in I-A matchups and gave an indication that the Lumberjacks and quarterback Jason Murrietta might be a contender again. Well, one out of two isn’t bad. The Bobcats have fallen flat since beating Colorado, with three ugly losses at home against Division II Chadron State, UC Davis (by a 45-0 score) and an 0-3 Eastern Washington team that was coming off a Division II loss. It’s hard to point to any one area for their struggles, but an injury-plagued offense has gone downhill and quarterback Cory Carpenter has not built on his performance at Colorado. The defense has endured its problems as well, and the Bobcats don’t appear ready to be an upset threat against a Northern Arizona team that might just be for real. The Lumberjacks followed their season opener with a loss at I-A Utah and win against Dixie State, but had a real coming out party with a tough 33-27 victory at Idaho State last week. Murrietta has thrown for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns, and should keep it up with Alex Watson (30 receptions, 468 yards, 5 TD) playing as well as any wide receiver in the country. The Lumberjack defense has poor rankings in statistical categories, but it did face two good I-A offenses and a potent Idaho State attack. The matchup with a struggling Montana State unit should help the numbers, and the Lumberjacks figure to get the win and be 2-0 in the league with a trip to Montana looming on October 14. Prediction: Northern Arizona 28, Montana State 13
GAMESOF THE WEEK
No. 4 Montana (2-1) at No. 14 Portland State (3-1), 9:05
I hate to call any September game a matchup for the conference crown, but the winner of this game between the Grizzlies and Vikings will take a big first step toward taking home the Big Sky title. Montana is always expected to be in its lofty position, but Portland State has emerged as one of the pleasant surprises in the country and a few of the trends favor the Vikings here. They have a nine-game home winning streak overall, and knocked off the Grizzlies, 35-32, back in 2004. Montana is always better at home than on the road, and the Grizzlies might face their toughest I-AA challenge of the year this week. The Vikings are dominating on defense and getting just enough offense at times. The defense has a lofty status in national rankings despite playing at I-A power California. The Vikings are allowing only 3.26 yards per carry and are tied for the national lead with nine interceptions, and gave up just 19 total points in their three victories. The offense did an effective job in wins against I-A New Mexico and Northern Colorado to start the season, but the unit wasn’t quite the same without starting quarterback Sawyer Smith last week. The Vikings amassed a measly 50 yards in passing offense in the 20-10 win against Weber State, and quarterback Rob Freeman did not make big plays in a 10-for-17 effort. The running game was also ineffective without an effective passing attack, and the Vikings only totaled 161 yards on offense. If they didn’t get four interceptions and a huge kickoff return to start the second half, the Vikings might have even lost the game. Smith was out with a hip injury, and his status, along with the status of running back Mu’Ammar Ali, is up in the air going into this game. The Vikings should be in decent shape at running back even without Ali, but will have a big question at quarterback if Smith can’t go. Former Colorado quarterback Brian White transferred in to Portland State this week and will be ready to play immediately, but it’s going to be hard for him to grasp the offense in one week. If Freeman plays, the Vikings will need a better effort on offense, because Montana is hitting its stride.
The Grizzlies trounced Sacramento State, 59-14, and have a pair of blowout victories after losing the season opener at Iowa. The defense has only surrendered 21 points in action against I-AA opponents. The Grizzly run defense is only giving up 3.96 yards per carry and 126.7 yards per game, but the numbers are even more impressive when you take out the 166 rushing yards given up against I-A top 25 Iowa. Montana’s pass defense has held opponents to less than a 50 percent completion ratio, and the Grizzlies aren’t likely to give up much to Portland State unless Smith is back and at full strength or Freeman and/or White can stretch the field. With both of those scenarios unlikely, the Vikings will have to win with their defense again. The problem is, Montana is not Weber State. The Grizzly running game is not quite the same without Lex Hilliard, but Reggie Bradshaw has put forth solid if not spectacular efforts over the last two weeks. Even if the Grizzlies don’t run for big numbers, the passing game should provide enough offense for a victory. Josh Swogger was 14- for-18 with 221 yards and three touchdowns in his return to the lineup against Sacramento State, and a receiving trio of Eric Allen, Craig Chambers and Ryan Bagley gives the Grizzlies plenty of places to go with the ball. A tough Viking front can probably get some pressure on Swogger, but Montana has a lot of playmakers to beat the Viking defense. Yardage through the passing game is the one thing Portland State’s defense has given up, and Montana’s offense has the ability to make plays and limit the mistakes that the Vikings can cause. This really has the feel of a game in October two years ago, where the Grizzlies notched a statement win at an upstart Eastern Washington team. Portland State will be in the race all year and has a chance at a playoff berth even if it finishes 7-4, but the Grizzlies have a more balanced team and will get enough offense for the win. Prediction: Montana 23, Portland State 13
Go beat the piss out of NAU. 
