PLAYOFF EDITION n No. 5 Appalachian State at No. 3 Montana n 2:06 p.m. MST n Live on ESPN n By the Numbers n Bill picks the playoffs n Q&A: Special teams standout Cole Lockwood MICHAEL GALLACHER/Missoulian T OUGH S ELLE T OUGH S ELLE Quarterback Andrew Selle keeps bouncing back for the unbeaten Griz – sometimes way back Quarterback Andrew Selle keeps bouncing back for the unbeaten Griz – sometimes way back
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PLAYOFF EDITION n No. 5 Appa lach ian S ta te a t No . 3 Montana n 2:06 p .m. MST n L ive on ESPN
n By the Numbers n Bi l l p icks the p layo f fs n Q&A: Spec ia l t eams s tandout Co le Lockwood
MICHAEL GALLACHER/Missoulian
Tough SelleTough SelleQuarterback Andrew Selle keeps bouncing back
for the unbeaten Griz – sometimes way backQuarterback Andrew Selle keeps bouncing back
for the unbeaten Griz – sometimes way back
By FRITZ NEIGHBORof the Missoulian
A s beginnings go, even by the 2009 Montana Grizzlies’ standards this was rough.
A third-down overthrow and a punt. An interception. A touchdown pass, but then another interception.
Then a fumble.Andrew Selle, junior quarterback
for the unbeaten Griz, had it all happen in Montana’s first-round playoff game against South Dakota State. The visiting Jackrabbits cashed in his fumble for a 34-14 lead.
It was still the first half, mind you.The gap would eventually grow to 41-
14 and 48-21 in the third quarter. But as usual, Montana came back, and Selle was right in the middle of it.
“It was a tough deal,” said the 6-foot-2, 219-pounder out of Billings West. “After the rough first half, I knew I had to bounce back. I was telling everybody to just keep doing their job: ‘The turnovers were my fault.’ It was my fault.
“I decided, ‘I’m going to improve, I’m going to play better, and I’m going to put my team in position to win.’ ”
He did just that: After halftime Selle was 21-for-28 passing, for 241 yards and two touchdowns. The second TD, a 4-yard dart to Marc Mariani, put the Griz in front of SDSU, 55-48. An interception return by Severin Campbell capped an improbable 61-48 comeback win.
It was the 10th time the Griz had trailed in a game in 2009. In half of those games Montana was behind in the fourth quarter. And in a couple, Selle had the critical plays: TDs covering 45 yards to Sam Gratton and 25 to Ty Palmer at Northern Arizona; a 39-yard strike to Mariani to help set up a game-winning field goal at Idaho State.
And then there was the SDSU game,
with the 40 straight Montana points.“When your offense is sputtering
and you’re making mistakes and turning the ball over, everybody gets a little frustrated,” said Mariani, who has caught 10 touchdown passes from Selle. “But you know, we have the mindset around here that we’re going to play our tails off every single play, whether we’re up 50 or down 50.
“And Selle – mentally, he is not weak. He’s very strong. You know he made a couple of mistakes, but that’s what’s special about him: He didn’t dwell on it. Every time he joined the huddle he was ready to make some plays.”
As Selle prepares for Saturday’s
Football Championship Subdivision semifinal against Appalachian State, there’s no guarantee from his head coach that he’ll start, like he has lately, or play three quarters, like he did in UM’s 51-0 quarterfinal win over Stephen F. Austin last week.
“We’ll see how it goes this week,” Griz coach Bobby Hauck said on Tuesday. “Same thing. But Andrew’s playing pretty well.”
Selle has been part of a pretty rare platoon at quarterback along with Oregon transfer Justin Roper.
Roper has been money at times – it was his 61-yard pass to Dan Beaudin that set up the go-ahead score at UC Davis, and he led the go-ahead drive against
Eastern Washington – but as the season has gone on the Montana native has taken most of the snaps.
It’s how Selle wants it – honestly, every quarterback and every player wants to start – and it seems to have paid off statistically. He has completed 63 percent of his passes and has 24 TDs.
He makes no bones about it: Not having to switch out every two or three series fosters a better rhythm.
“It hasn’t been too bad,” Selle said this week. “The main thing I’ve told myself is I just have to control what I can, and do what I can. Get our team in the right plays, make the reads, make the throws.
“If I do that, if I do everything I can to
G2 – Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009
GRIZZLY GAME DAY / Cover Story: Andrew Selle
The big finishSelle has been at
the center of UM’s postseason run
See Selle, Page G11
MICHAEL GALLACHER/Missoulian
Montana quarterback Andrew Selle ranks fourth in the Football Championship Subdivision in passing efficiency, with a rating of 159.1. He has completed 186 of 294 passes for 2,531 yards, and 24 touchdowns.
Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009 – G3
MONTANA (13-0) Griz Opp
Scoring average 37.8 18.8Rushing yards 163.9 87.3Avg./Rush 4.0 2.9Passing 264-430-9 316-528-24Passing yards 267.8 247.8Average per pass 8.1 6.1Total offense 431.8 335.2Average per play 5.8 4.73rd-down conversions 93-198 66-196Time of possession 30:13 29:47Fumbles-lost 18-9 20-11Kick returns 41-25.1 29-18.9Punt returns 38-16.2 13-6.0Punting 49-41.0 77-37.6Sacks by-yards 21-132 16-121
Pass breakupsCB Ed Gainey 14S Mark LeGree 13LB D.J. Smith 9CB Cortez Gilbert 6
Special teams leadersPATs/Field goals
Jason Vitaris 56-56/18-25, long 49, 0 blocked, 110 points
PuntingSam Martin 48-40.1, long 74, 18 inside 20, 0 blocked
Punt returnsTravaris Cadet 24-5.6, long 24, 0 TDsDeAndre Presley 3-5.3, long 7, 0 TDs
Kickoff returnsCoCo Hillary 21-24.9, long 47, 0 TDsB.J. Frazier 14-18.7, long 31, 0 TDs
G4 – Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009
GRIZZLY GAME DAY / Stat pack
BY ThE NUMBERSMOUNTAINEERS’ SChEDULESept. 5 .................................at East Carolina (L, 29-24)Sept. 12 ........................... MCNEESE STATE (L, 40-35)Sept. 19 .................................................................openSept. 26 ........................................SAMFORD (W, 20-7)Oct. 3 ............................... at The Citadel (W, 30-27 OT)Oct. 10 .........NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL (W, 55-21)Oct. 17 .........................................at Wofford (W, 44-34)Oct. 24 .................... GEORGIA SOUTHERN (W, 52-16)Oct. 31 ......................................... at Furman (W, 52-27)Nov. 7 ............................... CHATTANOOGA (W, 35-20)Nov. 14 ............................................. at Elon (W, 27-10)Nov. 21 .................... WESTERN CAROLINA (W, 19-14)Nov. 28 ..............SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (W, 20-13)Dec. 5 ......................................at Richmond (W, 35-31)
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Missoula product follows dream to playBy SCOTT JOHNSON
for the Missoulian
Cole Lockwood is living the dream.
A local product from Missoula Sentinel, Lockwood grew up with a goal of playing football for the University of Montana. His perseverance and hard work paid off this season as the sophomore walk-on has become a standout on the Grizzlies’ special teams.
Lockwood, who has 10 tackles for the season, was a redshirt in 2007. He worked with the scout team last season before moving from safety to linebacker for spring drills this year.
“I took advantage of any opportunity to make a play,” said Lockwood, who was rewarded by being named All-Big Sky Conference for his special teams play. “I was always trying my hardest. Sometimes I hit guys a little hard when I was on the scout team. Some guys didn’t like that, but in the long run I think it paid off.”
Q: About how many plays do you usually see a game?
A: Probably about 30 plays a game.
Q: Has your playing time been increasing as the season has gone on?
A: It has. The last six games I’ve been on all four special teams units.
Q: How much do you weigh now and how much did you weigh when your first went out for the Grizzlies as a walk-on?
A: I weigh about 215 pounds now and I weighed 200 then.
Q: Did you ever have any doubts that you would ever see the field?
A: You know, I never had doubts. I knew how hard I worked. I knew it would pay off. I was doing what I was supposed to do. I was doing the right things.
Q: What was the biggest key in gaining the coaches’ trust that you could contribute?
A: The most important thing was just knowing my responsibility on scout teams. Making sure I gave everybody a good look on scout teams. Also putting in time in the weight room. Just trying to work on increasing my lifts.
Q: I know next season is a long time from now, but what is something you will work on to improve during the off season?
A: I’m going to really work on more work in the weight room and doing speed work. I’m going to spend more time with (linebackers) Coach Ty (Gregorak) and really be focusing on playing linebacker so I don’t make any mistakes for next season or spring ball.
Q: When was the moment
that you knew that you could contribute on a perennial national title contender like Montana?
A: I really thought I could do it during spring ball this year when they gave a me an opportunity to get some reps and make some plays. That’s when I really think I thought to myself, “I can step up and do something good for this team.”
Q: What do you remember about the Grizzlies’ national championship teams in 1995 and 2001?
A: I just remember watching those games on TV and going to a bunch of games when I was little. It was a big deal for Missoula. Everyone wanted to be involved with supporting the team. I remember how exciting it was for the city. I remember when they played Marshall and when they had lifted the trophy. That is really memorable.
Q: Did you consider going to an NAIA school or a place where you would have a better chance of significant playing time earlier?
A: I did, but that’s something I didn’t really want. I set my sights on the Griz. It was never really serious for me to think about playing somewhere else.
Q: What do players do on the sideline to stay warm?
A: Most guys just huddle
around the heaters. If they’re not doing that they’re just jumping around or doing footwork to get the blood moving.
Q: Are their any drawbacks to playing college football in your hometown?
A: There really isn’t any that I could think of. It’s probably the one that that I’ve wanted my whole life. Unless you count the people that didn’t think I could play at this level and shouldn’t be here. I don’t pay attention to them anyway. Everyone’s always so supportive and asks how I’m doing. It’s been great.
Q: What’s the best part of playing for the Grizzlies?
A: It’s being out there on Saturdays in front of 26,000 people and representing our school and Montana. To get to play the types of games we get to play in like this week. It really doesn’t get any better.
Q: Did you really not win a game in high school?
A: Yeah, that is true. Zero wins and about 48 losses. I’m just so glad Coach (Pete Joseph) has been able to get the program turned around. He’s a great guy and is doing good things which is awesome to see now.
Q: Were you personally dealing
See lOcKWOOd, Page G19
G6 – Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009
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Montana
App State
Montana
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Just thinking about the Grizzlies OT win over App State in 2000 gives me chills (and no, that’s not a lingering affect from getting pepper sprayed in the postgame “let’s tear down the uprights” melee). This game may be just as exciting. I hope university officials have thought about how to protect those poor goalposts.
Montana has the best return game in the nation and a top 10 punter in Sean Wren, but my pal Gay Warmoth says we need to mention the kickoff and punt coverage teams more. Well, they are pretty dang good, too. Kill squad! Ready!
Former App State great Corey Lynch was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals out of college. Former Griz great Colt Anderson signed with the Minnesota Vikings out of college. They’re two of the best safeties to ever come out of the FCS and their respective post-college teams go head-to-head on Sunday.
I’ve often given the edge to players with above average handles and ASU frosh linebacker Cougar Norris has one of the best names in the FCS. However, when I hear Cougar Norris it just makes me think of older, attractive women on the prowl ... and that’s not very football like.
What a day by UM’s D-line last Saturday: 3 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions. As a reward they get to chase Armanti Edwards all over the field this Saturday. Sigh.
NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, a.k.a. The Human Highlight Film, played high school ball about 6 hours from Boone, N.C. Future Griz Hall of Famer, a.k.a. The Havre Highlight Reel, Marc Mariani (he’s UM’s career record holder in receiving yards and TDs), played high school ball about 6 hours from Missoula.
Chase Reynolds is still the man, but he hasn’t been the man in the playoffs. So far that honor goes to the Griz defense despite 5 TDs by the Drummond star this postseason. Reynolds has rushed for 149 yards the last three weeks. App State’s Devon Moore had 179 yards and 2 TDs just last week.
This is not a knock on Montana’s Andrew Selle, but few quarterbacks command the attention that Appalachian State’s Armanti Edwards does. Not even a horrific lawn mowing accident could sideline the reigning Walter Payton Award winner for his senior season.
Who paved the way for three rushing touchdowns last week? The Grizzly O-line. Who shut out the nation’s No. 1 sackmaster last week? The Grizzly O-line. Who helped Montana stay on the field for 37 minutes last week? The Grizzly O-line. I think you get the picture.
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G8 – Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009
GRIZZLY GAME DAY / heisman Trophy
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The last time Ndamukong Suh hung out with Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, the Nebraska defensive tackle was tossing McCoy all over the field at Cowboys Stadium during the Big 12 title game.
While Tim Tebow cried in the final seconds of Florida’s loss in the SEC title game, Alabama running back Mark Ingram rubbed it in by doing a mock Gator Chomp.
When the Heisman Trophy finalists – who also include Stanford’s Toby Gerhart – meet again in New York for Saturday’s announcement, it should be a more friendly, formal affair. Even though Ingram’s and McCoy’s teams will clash for the BCS championship in about a month.
Even in this hot mess of a Heisman race.
Suspense should crackle as the cameras zoom in on the finalists in the final, quiet moments before the winner is named.
“There’s no slam dunk candidate,” said Chris Huston, the creator of www.HeismanPundit.com.
If there is a favorite, it could be Ingram. The final HeismanPundit poll placed the sophomore on top, as does the latest projection on www.stiffarmtrophy.com – though just barely.
Still, Ingram’s 1,542 rushing yards would be the fewest for a Heisman-winning running back since Archie Griffin won his second consecutive Heisman in 1975 with 1,450 yards, Huston said.
Gerhart, who leads the nation in touchdowns and is second in rushing average, ranked second in both projections. While he’s been most consistent, he plays for an 8-4 team that isn’t a traditional national power.
Huston hasn’t ruled out McCoy. Last year’s gracious runner-up, McCoy is a senior for the unbeaten Longhorns, even if he and Texas squeaked by Nebraska after a rough Saturday night in Arlington. He’s also the winningest quarterback in major college football. While many voters follow every twist and turn of the season, others look at the big picture, Huston said.
Suh made a surge with his dominating performance in the Big 12 title game.
Tebow, the 2007 winner who finished third last season even though he had the most first-place votes, is returning to New York a record third time. Huston, though, predicts there will never be another two-time winner.
TOBY GERhARTStanford, 6-1, 235, senior, RBThe campaign: Gerhart turned down
Stanford’s offer of a billboard, but did star in a humorous video that played on his role as a two-sport star. In the video, Gerhart, a baseball standout, “tried” field hockey, synchronized swimming and tennis.
Invite-worthy: Gerhart leads the nation with 26 touchdowns and ranks second in rushing average at 144.7 ypg (1,736 yards in 12 games). He had 10 games of 100-plus yards and averaged 200.3 yards against three ranked opponents. He averaged 185.5 ypg and scored 13 TDs in his last four – No. 7 Oregon, No. 11 USC, California and Notre Dame.
The down-low: Gerhart excels academically at a tough school. But it may hurt that he plays for
Stanford, which is 8-4 and didn’t play during last weekend’s league championship games.
Stanford’s Heisman tradition: Jim Plunkett (QB, 1970)
MARK INGRAMAlabama, 5-10, 212, sophomore, RBThe campaign: Ingram’s hometown of Flint,
Mich., held a Mark Ingram Day. The Web site www.endthestreak.com lobbied for Ingram – no Crimson Tide player has ever won or been runner-up for the Heisman.
Invite-worthy: Ingram ran for a school-record 1,542 yards in an unbeaten season. He had 113 yards and three TDs – an SEC title game record – against Florida, and added a 69-yard reception that set up a TD. Ingram finished with 15 TDs and rushed for 100-plus yards in eight of 13 games, including 246 against South Carolina.
The down-low: Ingram bounced back from a 30-yard game against Auburn with his big game against Florida. His father, Mark Ingram, played 10 NFL seasons and a won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants, but is in prison for money laundering and bank fraud.
McCoy be himself. The kid from Tuscola Jim Ned has grown up and led Texas to the BCS championship game after watching Vince Young do it when McCoy was a freshman.
Invite-worthy: McCoy finished second to Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford last season and is the only Texas player to attend the ceremony twice. He’s the winningest quarterback in major college football. He has passed for 3,512 yards and 27 TDs this season, while rushing for 348 yards. He passed for four TDs and ran for one against Texas A&M.
The down-low: It took McCoy awhile to get going. His three-interception, no-TD performance and near-disastrous clock management in the Big 12 title game hurt, even though UT won.
players around as if they weighed nothing and making voters take notice of a defensive lineman and his impact in every game he played.
Invite-worthy: Suh’s 12 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 4fi sacks in Nebraska’s nail-biting loss to Texas in the Big 12 championship highlighted a dominant senior season. He leads the Cornhuskers with 82 tackles, including 50 solo stops, and has 12 sacks.
The down-low: As impressive as Suh has been, his side of the ball is traditionally at a decided disadvantage. Michigan’s Charles Woodson, a cornerback, is the only defensive player to have won the Heisman Trophy (1997).
Nebraska’s Heisman tradition: Johnny Rodgers (RB, 1972), Mike Rozier (RB, 1983), Eric Crouch (QB, 2001)
TIM TEBOWFlorida, 6-3, 245, senior, QBThe campaign: No campaign needed for
college football’s biggest star. With two national championships entering the season and his famous speech from the 2008 season already engraved in Gainesville, Tebow’s legacy is secure.
Invite-worthy: Tebow passed for 2,413 yards and 18 TDs and rushed for 859 yards and 13 TDs. He led the Gators to a 12-0 regular season and the nation’s No. 1 ranking before they fell to Alabama in the SEC championship game.
The down-low: Tebow is the only player to earn three invitations to the Heisman ceremony, but he is a long shot to become a two-time winner. Ohio State’s Archie Griffin (1974-75) is the only one. The loss to Alabama probably prevented Tebow from making a late push.
Florida’s Heisman tradition: Steve Spurrier (QB, 1966), Danny Wuerffel (QB, 1996), Tebow (2007)
No clear favorite for Heisman
Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009 – G9
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control my own destiny, it’s hard for them to take me off the field.”
The platoon hasn’t really been an issue because Montana hasn’t lost. Each quarterback has his strengths, with Roper’s arm being stronger. But perhaps Selle’s gifts – an impressive intellect and knowledge of coordinator Rob Phenicie’s offense – have made the difference.
“There are smart guys who play the game who don’t take that kind of intellect to the field,” Hauck said. “He has the ability to do that. I think he’ll be a great coach because he has the ability.”
“We’ve been blessed at Billings
West with some great quarterbacks,” Golden Bears’ coach Paul Klaboe said. “John Edwards, Bo Bartik. (Andrew’s) older brother, Kendall. Noel Kulbeck.”
Andrew Selle has played football since he was 10, in Billings’ Little Guy program. For a lot of his career he was what they call an “orange dot:” If you’re too big to play a skill position, you get the dot on your helmet and a spot on the line.
“I played offensive line until eighth grade,” said Selle. “Then eighth grade I got to play a little tight end. I was always too big.
“It was one of those things where I grew up watching my brother play QB – and I kind of grew out of the roly-poly chubby days.”
All that time Klaboe and his quarterback coach, Steve Guelff, kept an eye on Selle.
“He was a pitcher in baseball and had a really good arm,” said Klaboe. “You just kind of had the feeling he was going to be a pretty good athlete by the time he was done.”
So soon enough Selle was calling signals for West’s sophomore team.
Talk about rough starts.“I think he’ll tell you this (he didn’t),
but he was a sophomore playing a JV game at Skyview,” said Klaboe. “And I think he threw six interceptions. We were, ‘Man. Not what we wanted him to have happen.’
“But then he came out as a junior and lost two games, and as a senior didn’t lose any. And the quarterback in our offense is the main guy. Probably 80 percent of the offense.”
“It was a good year, learning-wise,” Selle said of that sophomore season. “There was a lot to learn. Footwork and reading defenses, all of that. Coach Guelff
really brought me along.” Kendall Selle has a couple national
championship rings, but they’re not for playing quarterback and they didn’t come in a Griz uniform. Beset by injuries in Missoula he pulled up stakes and headed for Helena, where he played tight end for the Carroll College Saints in 2004-06.
Still, he had a profound effect on his little brother’s college goals.
“I wasn’t a huge fan of either the Bobcats or the Griz,” said Andrew. “But once my brother became a Griz it was an automatic switch.
“He just had some tough breaks injury-wise, that sort of thing. When I got the offer to come play here, it was a dream of mine to play where my brother did – though it obviously didn’t work out for him.”
Selle is a mathematics major who plans to coach and teach high school.
Until then, he figures he’ll continue making the right reads, calling the right play and finding the open man.
“Rob Phenicie is a great coach – he’s done a lot to bring Andrew along,” noted Klaboe. “That’s a great offense.”
Selle is inclined to agree, which is why he figured no mountain was too high against SDSU.
“I’m not sure exactly what changed,” he said. “I just kind of settled down a little bit, maybe. I sat in the pocket a little longer and thought to myself, ‘Just get the ball in the hands of my playmakers.’ ”
Fast-forward a week, to the rout of Stephen F. Austin. Selle has had his first two passes dropped, the next one float and get knocked away, and the next two batted down at the line of scrimmage.
Then, after SFA muffed a punt, Selle tried a read-zone play and lost his helmet after a 7-yard gain.
His stats after that: 19-for-25, 281 yards, three touchdowns.
The nicest pass was a bullet to the back of the end zone for Mariani, in tight coverage, to put the Griz up 24-0 in the second quarter. The 14-yard throw was better than the catch, and the catch was an acrobatic dive.
Selle was putting together another big finish.
“There was more than just that touchdown throw,” Mariani said. “As a receiver you don’t see what’s going on back there, you don’t understand it while the game’s being played. But when you get to watch film, Selle made some incredible throws last week.
“Frankly, he’s been doing that all year. At this point, it’s no surprise.”
Stadium (25,203), MissoulaForecast: Cloudy with 40
percent chance of snow and a high of 31.
The matchup: Of the four teams remaining in the FCS bracket, Montana is the only undefeated team ... Appalachian State has won 11 straight games after dropping its first two games to East Carolina and McNeese State ... Opponents have outscored Montana, 64-49, in the first quarter this season, while the Griz have outscored opponents 443-181 over the final three quarters … The teams have combined for seven national title appearances since 2000 ... App State senior quarterback Armanti Edwards, the 2008 Walter Payton Award winner, ranks fourth in the nation in total offense at 323.91 yards per game. He has 2,938 through the air with 12 touchdown passes, including 625 yards rushing with 16 touchdowns … After Montana forced 10 turnovers last week, the Grizzlies own a +17 turnover margin … Montana quarterback Andrew Selle ranks fourth in the nation in passing efficiency. On the season he has 24 passing
G14 – Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009
GRIZZLY GAME DAY / FCS playoff capsule
Playoff pictureCompiled by BILL SPELTZ/Missoulian
MICHAEL GALLACHER/Missoulian
Bobby Alt sacks SFA’s back-up quarterback Dalton Williams last week late in Montana’s 51-0 victory.
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Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009 – G15
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G16 – Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009
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Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009 – G17
GRIZZLY GAME DAY / FCS playoff capsule
touchdowns to five interceptions for 2,531 yards … Appalachian State owns a balanced attack with an offense ranking 10th in rushing and 16th in passing ... Montana is ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring (37.85 ppg) ... The Griz are also ranked No. 1 in attendance (24,443). Appalachian State is second (24,004) ... In eight of 13 games this season the Griz have held their opponent under 100 yards rushing. Montana is eighth in the FCS in rush defense (87.31 ypg) ... Montana won the only previous meeting of the teams, 19-16, in a 2000 semifinal game. Grizzly quarterback Drew Miller hit Jimmy Farris for a 15-yard touchdown in overtime for the victory. App State posted 10 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime and hit a 36-yard field goal in the extra period ... Montana coach Bobby Hauck is 79-16 in his seventh season. He is 10-6 in the playoffs with championship appearances in 2004 and 2008, along with a semifinal appearance in 2006 ... App State coach Jerry Moore has posted a 189-75 record in 21 seasons. He has collected eight Southern Conference titles and three National Championships. His
national titles came in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He is the only coach in FCS history to win three consecutive national
titles ... Moore went 11-11 in two seasons at North Texas (1979-80) and was 16-37-2 in five seasons at Texas Tech
(1981-85) ... Both coaches are finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, given annually to the top coach in the FCS ... The Big
Sky Conference is 9-10 against Southern Conference opponents in the playoffs, including a 4-5 record this decade ... Montana is 3-1 in home playoff games against Southern Conference foes, along with an overall record of 5-3. The Grizzlies lost to Wofford 23-22 in the first round of the 2007 postseason ... Appalachian State is 2-2 against Big Sky teams in the playoffs. The Mountaineers beat Montana State in the 2006 quarterfinals and Eastern Washington in the 2007 quarterfinals at home. App State lost to Boise State in a 1994 quarterfinal ... Montana is 6-3 in semifinal playoff games, and 5-1 at home. Montana fell at home to UMass in 2006, 19-17 ... Montana has won home semifinal games in 1995 (Stephen F. Austin), 1996 (Troy), 2000 (App State), 2001 (Northern Iowa) and 2004 (Sam Houston State) ... Montana beat No. 1 seed James Madison on the road in a 2008 semifinal ... In six home semifinal games, Montana has averaged 41.3 points and allowed an average of 11.5 points per game ... The winner of the Montana-Appalachian State game plays the winner of the William & Mary at Villanova semifinal game Friday in the FCS national championship game at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Playoffscontinued from Page G14
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MARK GORMuS/Associated press
Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards (14) eludes Richmond’s Jordan Shoop (15) in the fourth quarter during their Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinal game in Richmond, Va., on Saturday. Appalachian State pulled out the win in the last minute, 35-31.
G18 – Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009
By BILL SpELTZof the Missoulian
It seems only fitting the decade’s winningest FCS programs meet on a big playoff stage before we usher in 2010.
The only thing more appropriate would be a Montana/Appalachian State final next week in Chattanooga. But from a Grizzly fan’s perspective, having a shot at the Mountaineers in Missoula on Saturday afternoon is a slice of heaven.
App State quarterback Armanti Edwards is so popular he has a weekly media teleconference. Missoulian sports writer Fritz Neighbor had to wake up at 7:30 on Wednesday morning to talk to him, which wouldn’t be a big deal except for the fact most sportswriters work until
midnight.Edwards merits special attention.
When folks around the country think of the Mountaineers, they think of one man: Edwards. More specifically, they think of Armanti running wild in front of 110,000 fans in a shocking 2007 win at Michigan, 34-32.
But don’t be fooled. The Mountaineers and their senior quarterback are human. Two weeks ago, Edwards threw three interceptions and his team needed a fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to hold off South Carolina State, 20-13, in a playoff opener at App State.
Of course, Montana looked human too with a 41-14 deficit in the third quarter of its playoff opener against South Dakota
State. We all remember how that one turned out. We may never forget.
So what’s going to happen Saturday? Here’s what I think:
Montana’s defense has enough quickness and muscle up front to frustrate App State. The Griz showed their exceptional athleticism last week in shutting down the most productive offense in the country from Stephen F. Austin.
But even with a nagging knee injury, Edwards is a slippery one. The Griz will need a big game from defensive ends Jace Palmer and Severin Campbell and a big play or two from Trumaine Johnson, the best cornerback I’ve seen in a Griz uniform (bearing in mind I’ve only been here three years).
On offense, quarterback Andrew Selle
has been money for Montana in pressure situations. And don’t kid yourself, there’s pressure on Montana all season to win every game.
Selle’s favorite receiver, Marc Mariani, has pro potential. He’ll need to be at his best in his final game inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium. And running back Chase Reynolds, who has been dinged up, needs to recapture the magic of last year’s playoff run.
If you’re a true Griz fan, you should be hoping for temperatures to stay in the low 20s today even if it means numb toes at the game. Montana’s players are more acclimated to cold weather.
The average high in Missoula in December is 31.2. The average high in Boone, N.C., – home of App State – is 42.
Stuff like that makes a difference. So does travelling across two time zones and altitude. Unfortunately for Montana, the Mountaineers play their home games at roughly the same elevation.
In the end, Saturday’s game will likely come down to turnovers. Just ask Stephen F. Austin how important those are after turning the ball over 10 times last week in a 51-0 loss to Montana.
Here’s what the Missoulian pollsters expect today: Fritz: Griz 42, App State 28. Bill: Griz 31, App State 27. Nick: Griz 42, App State 34. Michael: Griz 27,
BILL SPELTZ
FRITZ NEIGhBOR
NICK LOCKRIDGE
hOW WE SEE ThE PLAYOFFSPostseason record: Fritz 8-4, Bill 7-5, Nick 10-2, Michael 10-2
GRIZZLY GAME DAY / FCS playoff picks
Friday &Saturday
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with injuries during your senior season?A: I got hurt in the second game of the
year on the first play. I tore two ligaments in my ankle and destroyed any recruiting opportunities with bigger schools like Montana. I was able to play a little bit, but looking back now I should’ve had surgery on my ankle. Instead I missed about five or six games and played with something that was almost like a cast on my ankle. I played through pain the whole time. The only reason I did that is that I wanted to be out there so bad.
Q: What did you do to get a chance to make the Griz after an injury-plagued senior season on a winless high school team?
A: I went in and talked to the coaches and they had seen some of my games from my junior season and my first game as a senior. They liked what they saw and said I could walk on.
Q: Did you travel with the team last year?
A: I did for the James Madison game.
That was awesome. I didn’t suit up though. I suited up for home games.
Q: What about the national championship game?
A: Most of the people that got to suit up for home games got to suit up for the Richmond game as well.
Q: What was the most memorable game you saw in person, growing up?
A: In 1995, when they played Stephen F. Austin in the playoffs. The snow was blowing and it was freezing outside. I went with my dad and a cousin. I remember it was like 70-14. That one really stands out in my mind.
Q: How old were you?A: I was about 7 years old.
Q: This week’s game is going to be televised by ESPN. Who is your favorite and least favorite ESPN personalities?
A: Skip Bayless is probably my least favorite. He’s just so negative all of the time. I like everyone else.
Q: What’s your favorite movie that was released in the theaters before you
lockwoodcontinued from Page G5
Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009 – G19
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GRIZZLY GAME DAY / Grizzly Q&A
G20 – Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009
GRIZZLY GAME DAY / Grizzlies cut down Lumberjacks, 51-0
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Marc Mariani has been the go-to guy all season for Montana. He is brought down after a huge gain last week by Josh Aubrey of Stephen F. Austin.
Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009 – G21
GRIZZLY GAME DAY / Grizzlies cut down Lumberjacks, 51-0
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were born?A: I’m going to have to go with the
“Wizard of Oz.”
Q: A few weeks ago I told fellow Griz linebacker Brock Coyle that his name sounded like someone who plays linebacker. I say the name Cole Lockwood and I’m thinking stock car driver. Any thoughts?
A: I think that’s awesome. That works for me. I would love to do that. I love motorcycles, snowmobiles … anything that has an engine I’m drawn to.
Q: You’re a business major. What was the last assignment or test that you got an ‘A’ on?
A: Some accounting that was due last week.
Q: What’s your favorite place to eat breakfast in Missoula?
A: Paul’s Pancake Parlor for sure. I used to go there every Sunday, but hunting season cut into that.
Q: What’s your favorite cartoon?
A: I really don’t watch cartoons. I would say the (Wile E.) Coyote and Road Runner. I really don’t like “South Park” and “Family Guy.”
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: In my free time I love to hunt, fish, ride my dirt bike, spend time at my family’s cabin on Flathead Lake in the summer, ski, ice-fish, snowmobile. Anything outdoors is what I like to do.
Q: Do you find anything odd that a team from North Carolina is called Mountaineers?
A: Most people wouldn’t think of North Carolina as mountainous, but coaches told us that they probably won’t be affected by the altitude. I didn’t even think their elevation was close to ours, but apparently it is.
Q: What can you tell me about Appalachian State’s special teams units?
A: It’s going to be the best we’ve faced all year. All their guys are big and fast. They’re fundamentally sound in everything they do. That’s the reason they’ve been so good year after year.
G22 – Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009
GRIZZLY GAME DAY / Grizzly Q&A
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lockwoodcontinued from Page G19
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Missoulian, Saturday, December 12, 2009 – G23
Griz TriviaWho threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Jimmy Farris in Montana’s 19-16 overtime win over Appalachian State in the 2000 FcS semifinals?
a) John Edwardsb) Kendall Sellec) Drew Millerd) Chris Polhemus
Who scored Montana’s only other touchdown that day?
a) Ben Drinkwalterb) Yohance Humpheryc) Branden Malcolmd) Justin Brannon
What Griz became the first to break the 1,000-yard rushing barrier in 14 seasons in UM’s 70-7 semifinal win over Troy in 1996?
a) Josh Branenb) Nate Sandersc) Brian Galesd) Tony Boddie