Ewu Could Detour Montana Eagles’ Victory Would Postpone Playoff-Clinching For Grizzlies

Montana can clinch the Big Sky Conference’s berth to the NCAA Division I-AA football playoffs with a victory over Eastern Washington today at Woodward Stadium.

Should the Grizzlies lose, they’ll need to end the regular season with a win at Montana State.

Either way, Montana is planning on playing in the postseason, preferably at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula. The university submitted bids on Friday to host games in all three playoff rounds, forking over $150,000 in refundable deposits.

A convincing win over EWU (3-6 overall, 1-5 Big Sky) could secure a first-round home game for the ninthranked Grizzlies (7-2,4-1), since some of the top teams will be notified on Monday if they are to host.

Playoff aspirations aside, Montana coach Don Read suggests his team cannot overlook EWU, even after the Eagles surrendered 664 yards in a 63-44 loss at Boise State last week.

“The thing I saw in the Boise game is that Eastern moved the ball at will,” Read said. “I was really impressed by that.

“It’s hard to get a read on Eastern, though. They started the year philosophically with the idea they were going to run the football. As they found this quarterback (Harry Leons), they’ve found they can throw equally well. … It’s changed how you prepare for them.”

Assessing the EWU defense was a little more difficult for Read, who chose his words with caution befitting a United Nations diplomat.

“First of all, when you play defense or offense, one thing complements the other,” Read said. “Like where you take over the ball. To me, a lot of factors blend into it. … I can’t honestly evaluate if their defense did this or that. Defensively, answers are tougher to find.”

Not for Eagles coach Mike Kramer, who was embarrassed by his team’s defensive collapse in the loss to Boise State.

“The down side of our defense is the fact that if you run right at us, you’re going to be able to knock us off the ball,” Kramer said. “Against Boise, our two defensive ends, Damion Caldwell and Steve Mattson, were smashed, shattered, pushed off the ball, intimidated and dominated. And it really exposed the fact that our linebackers are a little weak in terms of size.”

Still, Kramer foresees a different EWU defense on the field today.

“Our defense is really built for a wide-open passing team like we’re facing this weekend,” Kramer said.

That wide-open attack is directed by senior quarterback Dave Dickenson, who ranks ninth in NCAA history with 10,378 career passing yards. Dickenson also ranks fourth in touchdown passes, having thrown 89, including 31 this season.

As usual, the Grizzlies lead the conference in passing (416 yards per game) and rank last in rushing (94).

The EWU offense is more balanced, less spectacular.

In Boise, Leons threw three TD passes without an interception, while Joe Sewell ran for 133 yards.

“Joe Sewell had a ballgame that only a true warrior ever has,” Kramer said. “He had 133 net yards, but he had 83 yards after he was hit, which is pretty indicative of a great football player.”

Today’s game will be televised live on Prime Sports Northwest.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Eagles vs. Montana