Grizzlies look to sting Hornets on road
10/5/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Beware Big Sky Conference, the favorites are on a roll.
The UM Grizzlies head into Sacramento, Calif., this weekend looking to extend their conference winning streak to 15 games.
With another win the Griz could push their season record to 4-1 and take another step toward their third-straight Big Sky Conference title.
After beating No. 1 contender Eastern Washington in overtime last week, the Grizzlies may have gotten over the toughest part of the Big Sky Conference season.
That win doesn't change the any-given-Saturday attitude Grizzly head coach Joe Glenn is professing to his team.
"Nobody in this conference is a doormat," Glenn said. "So nothing has changed for us."
Glenn said he talked sternly to his players about avoiding a possible emotional letdown this weekend after such a big game with Eastern Washington last week. The task of winning another championship remains atop the Grizzly to-do list.
Standing in the way of the Grizzlies this week is Sacramento State. Sac State is fresh off a 38-31 loss to Weber State last weekend in a battle of conference bottom dwellers.
The Sacramento State Hornets come into Saturday's date with the Grizzlies with a 1-1 mark in the Big Sky and a 2-2 overall record. Sac State opened the year with a 13-6 win over St. Mary's and a 55-21 loss to Cal Poly on Sept. 8.
With a conference win over Idaho State and a loss to Weber State last week, the Hornets are looking to sort out where their own conference championship hopes stand. Currently Sac State is in the middle of the Big Sky standings.
The Hornets suffered early in the year due to their lack of experience at skill positions. Freshman quarterback Ryan Leadingham struggled early in the season but showed major improvement in throwing for a personal best, 338 yards in their loss to Weber State last week.
"He is a young quarterback with a very live arm," Glenn said. "He seems to be gaining confidence with every game."
Weber State head coach Jerry Graybeal seems to agree with Glenn's thoughts regarding Sac State's freshman quarterback.
"That young kid is going to be very hard to contend with for the next three or four years," Graybeal said. "He's got a strong arm and he is very, very mobile."
He is improving too. Leadingham has increased his numbers in every game he has played this season. After starting the year with a 185-yard performance against St. Mary's, Leadingham threw for 245 yards against Cal Poly and now has raised himself to fifth in the Big Sky with 258.8 yards per game. A full 26 yards more per game than Montana signal-caller John Edwards.
Leadingham and the improving Hornet offense are a concern for the Grizzlies who should, based on similar opponents, come away with a win.
Glenn refuses to let his team look past any opponent, maintaining that the Hornets are a young, athletic team his team has had to carefully prepare for.
"What we are going to do Saturday will depend a lot on what they do," Glenn said. "They run zone blitzes, line stunt and do a lot of things to screw up pass protection."
Pass protection probably won't be the primary concern for the Grizzlies, as tailback UM Yohance Humphrey will be facing a defense that is fresh off allowing a 240-yard performance by Weber State's Johnnie Gray last weekend. A defense that also comes into this week further slowed by injuries.
Sacramento State comes into the game looking to beat Montana for the first time in school history and looking to raise their home record to 12-2 in their last 14 games.
The game Saturday will serve as homecoming for the Hornets and kicks off at 6:05 Pacific Standard Time. Local television coverage in Missoula begins at 7 p.m.
The Grizzlies return home next weekend to take on St. Mary's for Homecoming.
The UM Grizzlies head into Sacramento, Calif., this weekend looking to extend their conference winning streak to 15 games.
With another win the Griz could push their season record to 4-1 and take another step toward their third-straight Big Sky Conference title.
After beating No. 1 contender Eastern Washington in overtime last week, the Grizzlies may have gotten over the toughest part of the Big Sky Conference season.
That win doesn't change the any-given-Saturday attitude Grizzly head coach Joe Glenn is professing to his team.
"Nobody in this conference is a doormat," Glenn said. "So nothing has changed for us."
Glenn said he talked sternly to his players about avoiding a possible emotional letdown this weekend after such a big game with Eastern Washington last week. The task of winning another championship remains atop the Grizzly to-do list.
Standing in the way of the Grizzlies this week is Sacramento State. Sac State is fresh off a 38-31 loss to Weber State last weekend in a battle of conference bottom dwellers.
The Sacramento State Hornets come into Saturday's date with the Grizzlies with a 1-1 mark in the Big Sky and a 2-2 overall record. Sac State opened the year with a 13-6 win over St. Mary's and a 55-21 loss to Cal Poly on Sept. 8.
With a conference win over Idaho State and a loss to Weber State last week, the Hornets are looking to sort out where their own conference championship hopes stand. Currently Sac State is in the middle of the Big Sky standings.
The Hornets suffered early in the year due to their lack of experience at skill positions. Freshman quarterback Ryan Leadingham struggled early in the season but showed major improvement in throwing for a personal best, 338 yards in their loss to Weber State last week.
"He is a young quarterback with a very live arm," Glenn said. "He seems to be gaining confidence with every game."
Weber State head coach Jerry Graybeal seems to agree with Glenn's thoughts regarding Sac State's freshman quarterback.
"That young kid is going to be very hard to contend with for the next three or four years," Graybeal said. "He's got a strong arm and he is very, very mobile."
He is improving too. Leadingham has increased his numbers in every game he has played this season. After starting the year with a 185-yard performance against St. Mary's, Leadingham threw for 245 yards against Cal Poly and now has raised himself to fifth in the Big Sky with 258.8 yards per game. A full 26 yards more per game than Montana signal-caller John Edwards.
Leadingham and the improving Hornet offense are a concern for the Grizzlies who should, based on similar opponents, come away with a win.
Glenn refuses to let his team look past any opponent, maintaining that the Hornets are a young, athletic team his team has had to carefully prepare for.
"What we are going to do Saturday will depend a lot on what they do," Glenn said. "They run zone blitzes, line stunt and do a lot of things to screw up pass protection."
Pass protection probably won't be the primary concern for the Grizzlies, as tailback UM Yohance Humphrey will be facing a defense that is fresh off allowing a 240-yard performance by Weber State's Johnnie Gray last weekend. A defense that also comes into this week further slowed by injuries.
Sacramento State comes into the game looking to beat Montana for the first time in school history and looking to raise their home record to 12-2 in their last 14 games.
The game Saturday will serve as homecoming for the Hornets and kicks off at 6:05 Pacific Standard Time. Local television coverage in Missoula begins at 7 p.m.
The Grizzlies return home next weekend to take on St. Mary's for Homecoming.
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