No. 4 Griz at top-seed James Madison Friday
12/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
THE GAME: The fifth-ranked The University of Montana Grizzlies (13-1) play
the top-ranked and No. 1 seed James Madison University Dukes (12-1) in a 2008
Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) semifinal playoff game, Friday,
December 12, with kickoff at 6:00 p.m. (Mountain) in JMU???s Bridgeforth Stadium/
Zane Showker Field (15,500/FieldTurf).
PLAYOFF VETERANS: Montana will be playing in its 42nd playoff game. This
is the 16th year in a row for the Grizzlies in the playoffs, a record, and their 19th
overall (which ties Eastern Kentucky for most playoff apperances).
at MONTANA 24, WEBER STATE 13: Sophomore halfback Chase Reynolds
rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Griz. Senior quarterback
Cole Bergquist rushed 10 times for 68 yards and was 8-of-19-0 for 113 yards
passing. Senior strong safety Colt Anderson and junior linebacker Shawn
Lebsock each had a team-leading nine tackles. The 13 points was 10th-ranked
WSU???s lowest point total of the season.
CENTURY CLUBBER: Reynolds has gained 100+ yards in the Grizzlies??? last
seven games, and rushed for 1,140 yards and 15 TDs in those games.
FIFTH TIME WITH 13 OR MORE WINS: This is only the fifth time in school
history a team has won 13 games or more: 13-2 in 1995/national champion; 14-1
in 1996/runner-up; 13-2 in 2000/runnerup; 15-1 in 2001/national champion; and
13-1/TBD this season.
COACH HAUCK HAS 12 WINS IN A SEASON FOR THIRD TIME: This is the
third time that one of Griz head coach Bobby Hauck???s Montana teams has won
12 or more games in a season: 2004 (12-3), 2006 (12-2), and this year (13-1).
LAST WEEK: JMU 31, VILLANOVA 27: Senior quarterback Rodney Landers
rushed 26 times for 143 yards and scored the game-winner on a one-yard run
with 1:38 left.
THE SERIES: The teams have met once, the Dukes beating the Grizzlies 31-21
in the 2004 FCS championship game in Chattanooga.
RADIO: The game will be aired on the Grizzlies two flagship stations, KXGZ-FM
(101.5) and KGVO-AM (1290) of Missoula, with veteran Mick Holien calling
the play-by-play for his 16th season in a row, and former (1991-94) Griz wide
receiver Scott Gurnsey providing color commentary for his 11th year.
TV: The game will be shown on ESPN2, with Bob Wischusen calling the playby-
play and Brock Huard providing color commentary.
GRIZ TRAVEL PLANS: The team will depart Missoula via charter aircraft at
8:00 a.m. (Mtn.) on Thursday, Dec. 11th. Practice is tentatively slated for 5:00-
7:00 p.m. (local time) on Thursday at JMU. Practices are closed. The team will
leave for home ASAP after the game on Friday, Dec. 12 with ETA around 3:30
a.m. (Mtn.). Lodging: Holiday Inn (540-433-2521).
Thursday, June 11
Thursday, June 04
Friday, May 01
Monday, March 30
