Grizzlies host Lumberjacks in annual Homecoming contest
10/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
GRIZZLIES vs. LUMBERJACKS: The third-ranked Montana Grizzlies (4-1 overall/3-0 Big Sky) return home for a Big Sky Conference contest on Saturday, October 14, hosting the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (2-3/1-1) in UM??s annual Homecoming Game.
UM-NAU DIGITAL SATELLITE COORDINATES: AMC-2/ K07 | SlotC-9Mhz | Freq 11844.500 | SR 6.148936 | FEC 3/4
GRIZ LAST GAME: Montana 33, at Eastern Washington 17: The defense had six takeaways including three interceptions by junior cornerback Jimmy Wilson, senior Tuff Harris had a school-record 94-yard punt return for a touchdown, and junior halfback Reggie Bradshaw rushed for 115 yards, as the Griz stayed unbeaten in conference play.
TUFF ENOUGH: Harris?? 94-yard punt return tied a Big Sky record, as Weber State??s Randle Anderson set the mark in 1971against North Texas State. Harris?? return is the longest in I-AA this year.
MONTANA ??D?? EXCELS: The Griz defense picked off five EWU passes and also recovered a fumble. Along with Wilson??s three picks, junior linebacker Loren Utterback and redshirt freshman safety Shann Schillinger each had their first career interceptions.
REGGIE HITS CENTURY MARK: For Bradshaw his 24 carries and 115 yards rushing at EWU were career highs. He??s scored one touchdown or more in four straight games.
CARPENTER ALMOST PERFECT: Junior kicker Dan Carpenter missed his first field goal of the season against the Eagles, a 37-yarder, but he connected on his next two attempts from 35 and 28 yards, and has made 9-of-10 so far this season.
SWOGGER GOES FOR 200+ AGAIN: Senior quarterback Josh Swogger passed for 259 yards and a touchdown at EWU, and has now passed for 200 yards or more in four games in a row. He completed 13-of-22 passes with two interceptions vs. the Eagles.
LAST YEAR Griz 23, Lumberjacks 0: The Griz scored on an interception and blocked field goal, and added three field goals to shut out NAU 23-0. Senior defensive tackle Alan Saenz blocked his third kick of the season and Wilson returned it 67 yards for a TD. A career-long 50-yard field goal by Carpenter gave UM a 10-0 halftime lead. Carpenter added two more field goals in the fourth quarter, and those, sandwiched with a 42-yard interception return for a TD by linebacker Alex Hawthorne accounted for the all of the scoring. Carpenter??s three field goals at NAU gave him 12 in a row, tying Kirk Duce for the school record for consecutive field goals.
WILSON, HARRIS NAMED BIG SKY PLAYERS OF WEEK: Wilson, from San Diego, Calif., was named the Big Sky??s Defensive Player of the Week on defense. It his first Player of the Week award. Harris, from Colstrip, Montana, is the Special Teams Player of the Week. This is Harris?? second Special Teams Player of the Week Award. UM??s nominee on offense was Bradshaw, a junior from Coqitlam, B.C.
2005: GRIZ LOSE IN 1ST ROUND/GO 8-4: Montana went 8-4 overall and 5-2 Big Sky (tie, first) in league a year ago, and ended its season with a 35-21 home loss to the 10th-ranked Cal Poly Mustangs in a first-round NCAA Division I-AA playoff game.
13TH NCAA PLAYOFF BERTH IN A ROW: Montana has now appeared in the Division I-AA playoffs a record 13 years in a row. The old record was 10 in a row, set by Eastern Kentucky from 1986-1995.
EIGHTH LEAGUE TITLE IN A ROW: Montana has won out-right (or shared) eight consecutive Big Sky Conference titles (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005). The Grizzlies have won or shared the league crown 11 of the past 13 seasons.
20TH STRAIGHT WINNING SEASON: Montana has 20 consecutive winning seasons, dating back to 1986.
GRIZ CAPTAINS: Season-long captains for 2006 (chosen by the team):
7-Josh Swogger, Senior , quarterback, Vienna, Ohio
38-Lex Hilliard, Senior, running back, Kalispell
41-Brady Green, Senior, running back/special teams, Brighton, Utah
90-Mike Murphy, Senior, defensive end, Great Falls
Additional Captains vs. NAU
(chosen by the coaches for their play vs. Eastern Washington):
13-Tuff Harris, Senior, CB/PR, Colstrip
18-Jimmy Wilson, Junior, CB, San Diego, Calif.
20-Reggie Bradshaw, Junior, RB, Coquitlim, B.C.
35-Tom Martin, Sophomore, LB, Columbus
CARPENTER STAYS SIXTH ON SCORING LIST: Carpenter had six points at PSU and stays sixth on UM??s scoring list with 235 career points.
MONTANA CAREER SCORING LEADERS:
1. Chris Snyder, K...394...2000-03
5. Kris Heppner, K...241...1997-99
6. Dan Carpenter, K...245...2004-current
7. Lex Hilliard, RB...216...2003-current
MURPHY ON BUCHANAN LIST: Senior DE Mike Murphy is one of 15 candidates on The Sports Network??s Buck Buchanan Award list, given anually to Division I-AA??s ??Defensive Player of the Year. ?? He is sixth on UM??s career sacks and tackles for loss lists. Murphy missed last week??s game due to injury. Season-long Mike Murphy/Buck Buchanan Award campaign coverage can be found at .
MONTANA CAREER SACKS LEADERS:
1. Tim Bush, DE...34.5...2000-03
4. Lance Spencer, DE...23...2002-05
5. Trey Young, SS...22...1999-02
6. Mike Murphy, DE...20.5...2003-present
MONTANA CAREER TACKLES FOR LOSS LEADERS
1. Tim Bush, DE...50...2000-03
5. Adam Boomer, LB...32...1997-2000
6. Mike Murphy, DE...31...2003-present
19. Kroy Biermann, DE...17...204-present
NORTHERN ARIZONA LUMBERJACKS:
NAU IN THE POLLS: The Jacks were picked seventh in both the coaches and the media in the Big Sky??s preseason polls.
RETURNEES: NAU returns 17 starters (7 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialists) and 41 lettermen from a 3-8 team that was 1-6 in the Big Sky last season.
LAST GAME: Montana State 39, at NAU 32: In NAU??s loss to MSU two weeks ago, senior quarterback Jason Murrietta 6-1, 215) was 23-of-39-0 for 286 yards and two touchdowns, with both of his scoring passes going to sophomore Skyler Moore (6-3, 210). Running backs Josh Sayles (5-8, 189, Jr.) and Alex Henderson (5-10, 195, RS. Fr.) gained 58 and 44 yards, respectively.
KEY JACKS: This year Murrietta, a four-year starter, is 87-of-133-2 (65.4%) for 1,158 yards and 12 TDs. Top receivers are junior Alex Watson (5-10, 180) with 33 catches for five scores, Moore (19-316-4), and junior wide receiver Kenny Mahone (18-171-3). NAU??s leading rusher is Henderson with 296 yards and a TD, while Sayles has gained 145 yards and scored once.
On defense, senior safety Jeff Wheeler (6-0, 190) has team-bests of 31 tackles and three interceptions to lead the Jacks. Senior linebacker Chris Hunsaker (6-0, 245) was an all-league honorable mention pick last season and has a team-leading five stops for losses and three sacks.
OF NOTE: Lumberjack head coach Jerome Souers who is now in his ninth season at NAU was an assistant coach for the Griz for 12 seasons (1986-1997), and served as Montana??s defensive coordinator for nine seasons.
UM-NAU DIGITAL SATELLITE COORDINATES: AMC-2/ K07 | SlotC-9Mhz | Freq 11844.500 | SR 6.148936 | FEC 3/4
GRIZ LAST GAME: Montana 33, at Eastern Washington 17: The defense had six takeaways including three interceptions by junior cornerback Jimmy Wilson, senior Tuff Harris had a school-record 94-yard punt return for a touchdown, and junior halfback Reggie Bradshaw rushed for 115 yards, as the Griz stayed unbeaten in conference play.
TUFF ENOUGH: Harris?? 94-yard punt return tied a Big Sky record, as Weber State??s Randle Anderson set the mark in 1971against North Texas State. Harris?? return is the longest in I-AA this year.
MONTANA ??D?? EXCELS: The Griz defense picked off five EWU passes and also recovered a fumble. Along with Wilson??s three picks, junior linebacker Loren Utterback and redshirt freshman safety Shann Schillinger each had their first career interceptions.
REGGIE HITS CENTURY MARK: For Bradshaw his 24 carries and 115 yards rushing at EWU were career highs. He??s scored one touchdown or more in four straight games.
CARPENTER ALMOST PERFECT: Junior kicker Dan Carpenter missed his first field goal of the season against the Eagles, a 37-yarder, but he connected on his next two attempts from 35 and 28 yards, and has made 9-of-10 so far this season.
SWOGGER GOES FOR 200+ AGAIN: Senior quarterback Josh Swogger passed for 259 yards and a touchdown at EWU, and has now passed for 200 yards or more in four games in a row. He completed 13-of-22 passes with two interceptions vs. the Eagles.
LAST YEAR Griz 23, Lumberjacks 0: The Griz scored on an interception and blocked field goal, and added three field goals to shut out NAU 23-0. Senior defensive tackle Alan Saenz blocked his third kick of the season and Wilson returned it 67 yards for a TD. A career-long 50-yard field goal by Carpenter gave UM a 10-0 halftime lead. Carpenter added two more field goals in the fourth quarter, and those, sandwiched with a 42-yard interception return for a TD by linebacker Alex Hawthorne accounted for the all of the scoring. Carpenter??s three field goals at NAU gave him 12 in a row, tying Kirk Duce for the school record for consecutive field goals.
WILSON, HARRIS NAMED BIG SKY PLAYERS OF WEEK: Wilson, from San Diego, Calif., was named the Big Sky??s Defensive Player of the Week on defense. It his first Player of the Week award. Harris, from Colstrip, Montana, is the Special Teams Player of the Week. This is Harris?? second Special Teams Player of the Week Award. UM??s nominee on offense was Bradshaw, a junior from Coqitlam, B.C.
2005: GRIZ LOSE IN 1ST ROUND/GO 8-4: Montana went 8-4 overall and 5-2 Big Sky (tie, first) in league a year ago, and ended its season with a 35-21 home loss to the 10th-ranked Cal Poly Mustangs in a first-round NCAA Division I-AA playoff game.
13TH NCAA PLAYOFF BERTH IN A ROW: Montana has now appeared in the Division I-AA playoffs a record 13 years in a row. The old record was 10 in a row, set by Eastern Kentucky from 1986-1995.
EIGHTH LEAGUE TITLE IN A ROW: Montana has won out-right (or shared) eight consecutive Big Sky Conference titles (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005). The Grizzlies have won or shared the league crown 11 of the past 13 seasons.
20TH STRAIGHT WINNING SEASON: Montana has 20 consecutive winning seasons, dating back to 1986.
GRIZ CAPTAINS: Season-long captains for 2006 (chosen by the team):
7-Josh Swogger, Senior , quarterback, Vienna, Ohio
38-Lex Hilliard, Senior, running back, Kalispell
41-Brady Green, Senior, running back/special teams, Brighton, Utah
90-Mike Murphy, Senior, defensive end, Great Falls
Additional Captains vs. NAU
(chosen by the coaches for their play vs. Eastern Washington):
13-Tuff Harris, Senior, CB/PR, Colstrip
18-Jimmy Wilson, Junior, CB, San Diego, Calif.
20-Reggie Bradshaw, Junior, RB, Coquitlim, B.C.
35-Tom Martin, Sophomore, LB, Columbus
CARPENTER STAYS SIXTH ON SCORING LIST: Carpenter had six points at PSU and stays sixth on UM??s scoring list with 235 career points.
MONTANA CAREER SCORING LEADERS:
1. Chris Snyder, K...394...2000-03
5. Kris Heppner, K...241...1997-99
6. Dan Carpenter, K...245...2004-current
7. Lex Hilliard, RB...216...2003-current
MURPHY ON BUCHANAN LIST: Senior DE Mike Murphy is one of 15 candidates on The Sports Network??s Buck Buchanan Award list, given anually to Division I-AA??s ??Defensive Player of the Year. ?? He is sixth on UM??s career sacks and tackles for loss lists. Murphy missed last week??s game due to injury. Season-long Mike Murphy/Buck Buchanan Award campaign coverage can be found at .
MONTANA CAREER SACKS LEADERS:
1. Tim Bush, DE...34.5...2000-03
4. Lance Spencer, DE...23...2002-05
5. Trey Young, SS...22...1999-02
6. Mike Murphy, DE...20.5...2003-present
MONTANA CAREER TACKLES FOR LOSS LEADERS
1. Tim Bush, DE...50...2000-03
5. Adam Boomer, LB...32...1997-2000
6. Mike Murphy, DE...31...2003-present
19. Kroy Biermann, DE...17...204-present
NORTHERN ARIZONA LUMBERJACKS:
NAU IN THE POLLS: The Jacks were picked seventh in both the coaches and the media in the Big Sky??s preseason polls.
RETURNEES: NAU returns 17 starters (7 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialists) and 41 lettermen from a 3-8 team that was 1-6 in the Big Sky last season.
LAST GAME: Montana State 39, at NAU 32: In NAU??s loss to MSU two weeks ago, senior quarterback Jason Murrietta 6-1, 215) was 23-of-39-0 for 286 yards and two touchdowns, with both of his scoring passes going to sophomore Skyler Moore (6-3, 210). Running backs Josh Sayles (5-8, 189, Jr.) and Alex Henderson (5-10, 195, RS. Fr.) gained 58 and 44 yards, respectively.
KEY JACKS: This year Murrietta, a four-year starter, is 87-of-133-2 (65.4%) for 1,158 yards and 12 TDs. Top receivers are junior Alex Watson (5-10, 180) with 33 catches for five scores, Moore (19-316-4), and junior wide receiver Kenny Mahone (18-171-3). NAU??s leading rusher is Henderson with 296 yards and a TD, while Sayles has gained 145 yards and scored once.
On defense, senior safety Jeff Wheeler (6-0, 190) has team-bests of 31 tackles and three interceptions to lead the Jacks. Senior linebacker Chris Hunsaker (6-0, 245) was an all-league honorable mention pick last season and has a team-leading five stops for losses and three sacks.
OF NOTE: Lumberjack head coach Jerome Souers who is now in his ninth season at NAU was an assistant coach for the Griz for 12 seasons (1986-1997), and served as Montana??s defensive coordinator for nine seasons.
Griz Football Spring Game Highlights - 4/10/26
Friday, May 01
Griz Football Spring Practice - 3/2/26
Monday, March 30
Griz Football Spring Preview Press Conference
Monday, March 30
Griz Football Winter Condo - 2/20/26
Monday, March 30
