Sunday Notebook: Griz post big numbers in loss at NAU

Sunday Notebook: Griz post big numbers in loss at NAU

10/23/2016 5:49:00 PM | Football

By: Montana Sports Information

If you didn't know the final score of Saturday's Griz loss at Northern Arizona and only saw the stat sheet, you'd think Montana won the game.

The Grizzlies led Northern Arizona in nearly every major statistical category. UM had 24 first downs to NAU's 20, had a whopping 541 yards of total offense to NAU's 405, and led the Jacks in time of possession with 30:54.

But on the bottom line of the stats sheet is the final score, and that favored Northern Arizona 45-34 after an NAU vertical passing attack and a slew of penalties doomed the Griz on the road.

The Grizzlies gave up 259 yards in the air, the most passing yards of any Montana opponent this season. The Griz also racked up a season-high 12 penalties for 107 yards.

On the flip side, quarterback Brady Gustafson tied his season high with 59 passing attempts, completing 34 of those passes for 394 yards and four touchdowns. It's the fourth time this season the senior from Billings has passed for four TDs in a game.

NAU quarterback Blake Kemp also threw for four touchdowns, however. The last time an opponent threw for four TDs against the Griz was Eastern Washington's Vernon Adams in 2014.

Gustafson has now passed for 4,219 career yards and surpassed his position coach Andrew Selle at No. 11 on UM's all-time passing yards list.

In one of those, not likely to happen again anytime soon stats, John Nguyen also passed his position coach Justin Green on UM's all-time career rushing yards list at No. 10. Nguyen has rushed for 1,798 in his career.

The Griz received big performances from receivers Justin Calhoun and James Homan, who both caught 133 yards worth of passes and both scored a touchdown against the Jacks. Calhoun's 133 yards set a new career high, as did his long reception of 47 yards. Homan's 133 yards is also a career high, as was his 58-yard long completion.

James Banks had a career-high day at linebacker. He posted a team-high eight tackles, one tackle-for-loss and two QB hits - all personal bests.

JR Nelson started in his first game back for the Griz, making an immediate impact. Nelson held FCS Offensive Player of the Year watch list receiver Emmanuel Butler to just four catches and picked up a career-high three pass deflections.

STATISTICAL UPDATES:

Despite the loss, Montana still has the Big Sky's best total defense, the league's second-best scoring offense and second best scoring defense. The Griz also lead the Big Sky in pass defense efficiency, opponents first downs, and opponent third and fourth down conversions.

The Griz also continue to post the league's best red zone offense and defense. In fact, Montana's red zone offense is ranked No. 4 in all of FCS football, and the red zone defense is ranked No. 3.

UM ranks in the top-10 nationally in several other key categories. The Griz rank No. 3 in scoring offense, No. 4 in passing offense and No. 5 in total offense.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Grizzlies' third down conversion defense ranks No. 2 in the nation.

SATURDAY'S STARS:

Carrying the Montana state flag out of the tunnel in Flagstaff on Saturday were Devon Dietrich, Arizona native Joey Counts, and Missoula native Zach Peevey. Defensive end Ryan Johnson carried the American flag.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES:

Offense: James Homan posted a career-high 133 yards on nine receptions, with a long of 58 yards, a play that was just shy of being his second touchdown of the game. He also found the end zone on a two-point conversion after Montana's first touchdown of the game.

Defense: Caleb Kidder continued to be a defensive powerhouse in many facets of the game, blocking a pass, recovering a fumble, posting a tackle for loss and three total tackles, two of which were solo tackles.

Special Teams: Redshirt freshman kicker Tim Semenza has kept up the consistent form that has made him the Big Sky's leader in points scored. Semenza went 2-2 on field goals of 34 and 26 yards and 2-3 on PATs.

Fun fact: Semenza leads the Big Sky in scoring with 62 points. Jeremy Calhoun is second in the Big Sky in scoring with 60 points so far this season. Semenza is a redshirt freshman, and Calhoun is a sophomore. The future is bright.

NEXT UP:

The Grizzlies face a crucial game against the current No. 3 Eastern Washington Eagles (6-1, 4-0 BSC) in Cheney, Wash. on Saturday, Oct. 29. Kickoff from Cheney is set for 1:35 p.m. (MT).

The Griz/Eagles matchup will be televised around the nation on ROOT Sports and the Audience Network.