Griz host Wildcats in pivotal league game
10/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 25, 2011
THE GAME: The 11th-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (6-2/5-1 Big Sky Conference) host the Weber State Wildcats (3-4/3-1) in a pivotal league contest on Saturday, Oct. 29. The game in UM's Washington-Grizzly Stadium (23,217) starts at 1:05 p.m. (Mtn.).
GRIZ RADIO: Veteran Mick Holien calls the play-by-play for his 19th season in a row in 2011. Former Griz receiver Scott Gurnsey provides in-booth color and Greg Sundberg does sideline color. Montana has a 15-station Grizzly Football Network (listed on add 10 of this release) in 2011, and can be heard locally on Missoula's KGVO-AM (1290).
Web/Radio & Video streaming: www.gogriz.com (For streaming go to"Gameday Central" link).
TV: The game will be on KPAX-TV and its MTN affiliates in Montana. Dennis Patchin calls the play-by-play, with Grady Bennett providing color commentary and Derek Buerkle on the sidelines.
TV Coordinates: AMC-16. Transponder 16. SLOT B18. Downlink: 12029.000 Horizontal. Symbol Rate: 13.00. Data Rate: 20.96. MBPS. FEC: 7/8.
ONE LEAGUE LOSS EACH: Both the Griz and Wildcats have just one loss in Big Sky play. WSU has home games against Montana State and Northern Arizona, followed by its regular-season finale at Portland State. The Griz final league contest and regular-season finale is at Montana State.
GRIZ LAST GAME: (Montana 28, at Northern Arizona 24): Senior defensive tackle Bryan Waldhauser sacked Northern Arizona quarterback Cary Grossart on fourth down with 1:02 left in the game to seal the come-from-behind victory for the Montana Grizzlies at the Walkup Skydome.
COMEBACK KIDS: It was the second late-game winning rally in a row for the Grizzlies, who had to overcome a 21-10 halftime deficit last Saturday in a 30-24 victory over Portland State.
26 WINNING SEASONS IN A ROW: The victory at NAU was Montana's sixth of the season -- which guarantees the Griz their 26th straight winning season, a streak which started in 1986.
GRIZ BEHIND EARLY AGAIN: NAU jumped to a 14-0 first-quarter lead, but the Griz bounced back, scoring twice in the second stanza-- first on a 20-yard reception by running back Peter Nguyen and then with just 37 seconds left in the first half on a 1-yard run by running back Jordan Canada, knotting the game up at 14-14. The teams then traded touchdowns, and then NAU took the lead back on its next possession when kicker Matt Myers made a 40-yard field goal which gave the Jacks a 24-21 advantage with 4:45 left. (Game stats and story on add 20).
OH CANADA: Nguyen returned the ensuing kickoff 49 yards to the NAU 46-yard line, and Canada scored the game winner on a 46-yard run on UM's first play from scrimmage after Nguyen's big return, giving the Griz a 28-24 lead with 4:26 to play.
SAMBRANO TIES RECORD: Senior wide receiver Jabin Sambrano gave the Griz their first lead at NAU on an 80-yard end-around play with 2:57 left in the third quarter. Sambrano's TD run tied the school record (with four other players) for the longest scoring run in school history.
WHERE'S "WALDO"?: Defensive tackle Bryan Waldhauser tied his career-high with a team-best 10 tackles, and also had two sacks and three stops for losses.
OTHER LEADERS VERSUS NAU: Sophomore quarterback Jordan Johnson was 15-of-25-0 for 216 yards and a touchdown. Junior wide receiver Sam Gratton has 3 catches for 93 yards.
"WALDO" NAMED BIG SKY POW: Waldhauser, a senior from Worden, was named the Big Sky's "Defensive Player of the Week" for the second time in his career. Canada was UM's nominee on offense, while senior kicker/punter Brody McKnight was the special teams nominee. McKnight averaged 47.5 yards on six punts and made four-of-four PATs.
WSU LAST WEEK (Southern Utah 35, Weber State 28): The Wildcats out-gained the Thunderbirds 429 to 348 in total yards, but came up short on the scoreboard. WSU junior quarterback Mike Hoke was 27-of-40-1 for 288 yards and one TD. Junior halfback Josh Booker and freshman HB Tanner Hinds combined for 122 yards rushing and a TD apiece, and Hoke also rushed for a score. Sophomore linebacker Anthony Morales has a team-high 11 tackles.
GRIZ-WILDCATS LAST MEETING (At WSU 30, Montana 21): Running back Vai Tafuna rushed for 124 yards and four TDs to lead the Wildcats. Montana senior quarterback Justin Roper threw for three first-half touchdowns, but he also threw three second-half interceptions. WSU out-rushed Montana 259-111 and the Wildcats had a massive 40:28-19:32 advantage in time-of-possession.
THE SERIES: Montana leads 37-13 and has won 21 of the last 24.
