Some New Teams In Big Sky, But Same Old Favorite - Montana

Despite a major off-season overhaul that included the departures of Idaho and Boise State and the addition of three new schools, experts are predicting only minor changes in the way the Big Sky Conference football race will shake down this fall.

Naturally, Idaho and BSU will not figure in as the traditional contenders they have been in the past. And none of the three new schools - Cal State Sacramento, Cal State Northridge and Portland State, which is ineligible for the league title until 1997 - have been given much chance to finish .500.

But once again, defending Division I-AA national champion Montana is the team everyone expects to be chasing come late November.

And nearly every one of the other five holdovers are being given a chance to emerge as the Grizzlies’ closest pursuer.

Montana, coming off a 13-2 season that produced the school’s first national championship, lost head coach Don Read to retirement and quarterback Dave Dickenson, a three-year starter and last year’s Payton Award winner as the top Division I-AA player in the country, to graduation.

But new coach Mick Dennehy has a pair of talented quarterbacks, Brian Ah Yat and Josh Paffhausen, ready to step in and rev the engine of an offense that returns seven starters, including four offensive lineman.

In addition, the Grizzlies welcome back eight starters from a defense that allowed only 34 points in last year’s I-AA playoffs.

Idaho State is considered by Big Sky coaches and media members to be the top contender to unseat UM, with Weber State and Northern Arizona next in line.

Montana State and Eastern Washington seem to be a step below those four, but both schools hope to reap dividends from having redshirted several players who could have helped last fall.

Cal State Sacramento looks like the best of three newcomers, but has received little support as a first-division contender from anyone except EWU coach Mike Kramer.

“We played them in 1993 and killed them,” Kramer said of the Hornets. “And we played them last year and barely survived (21-18 at Woodward Field). They were a lot better.

“With their talent, there’s no way they’re not going to be at least .500 in the league.”

Kramer said he would not be surprised to see Idaho State knock off Montana - especially after hearing how Bengals coach Brian McNeely pooh-poohed the loss of last year’s quarterback Rob Wetta, who threw for 2,031 yards and 14 TDs.

“They must be great, considering they’re so confident in their new quarterback (Gary Anderson), whom I have not seen,” Kramer explained.

Following, in the order of predicted finish, is a look at the teams vying for the Big Sky Conference football title (Portland State is not eligible for the championship):

MONTANA

Last season: (13-2 overall, 6-1 in Big Sky, 1st)

Coach: Mick Dennehy

Record: First year

Record at Montana: First year

Players to watch: OG Mike Agee (6-4, 285, Sr.), LB Jason Crebo (6-4, 235, Jr.), FS Blaine McElmurry (6-1, 205, Sr.), WR Mike Erhardt (6-4, 205, Sr.). Key newcomers: OT Chase Raynock (6-6, 280, Fr.), WR Travis Walker (6-1, 195, Fr.), CB Billey Ivey (5-10, 180, Sr.).

Quick kicks: More than 3,000 fans and the Montana marching band made the 2,000-plus mile trip to Huntigton, W.V., for the Grizzlies’ 22-20 national championship win over Marshall last year.

Outlook: Despite the loss of All-American quarterback Dave Dickenson and coach Don Read’s decision to step down following his team’s march to the Division I-AA national championship, the Grizzlies remain the team to beat in the Big Sky. Dennehy returns 18 starters and a pair of quarterback candidates - Brian Ah Yat and Josh Paffhausen - who are projected winners.

IDAHO STATE

Last year: (6-5 and 3-4, 6th)

Coach: Brain McNeely

Record: 17-24, 4 years

Record at Idaho State: 17-24, 4 years

Players to watch: Alfredo Anderson (5-10, 175, Sr.), DE Josh Hayes (6-2, 235, Jr.), CB Marcus Jackson (6-1, 175, Sr.), QB Gary Anderson (6-1, 180, Jr.).

Key newcomers: OL Mike Love (6-6, 285, Fr.), DE Tom Stone (6-3, 240, Sr.), FS Miregi Huma (6-0, 210, Sr.), DE Mike Fullwood (6- 2, 240, Sr.), ILB Jason Smith (6-1, 225, Sr.).

Quick kicks: Last year’s 6-5 finish gave Bengals their first back-to-back winning seasons since 1980.

Outlook: As usual, the Bengals have as much talent as anyone in the league. Now McNeely must prove that five years is enough time to learn how to make the most of that talent. Alfredo Anderson is flat-out the best player in the league and Gary Anderson seems ready to emerge as the kind of QB that can demand some defensive attention from opponents.

WEBER STATE

Last season: (6-5 and 4-3, tie for 2nd)

Coach: Dave Arslanian

Record: 40-38, 7 years

Record at WSU: 40-38, 7 years

Players to watch: Clemente Sainten (5-10, 195, Sr.), QB Roger Cook (6-5, 215, Sr.), PK Scott Shields (6-4, 210, So.), OT Kyle Stephens (6-7, 295, Sr.).

Key newcomers: WR Ty Harlan (6-0, 180, Jr.), CB Jamie Webb (5-10, 175, Sr.), FS Phil Hazel (6-2, 200, Fr.).

Quick kicks: Cook, a transfer from Dixie (Utah) College, was 3-1 as a starter in Weber’s final four games of 1995.

Outlook: Cook looks like the real deal under center and the Wildcats should once again rank among the most prolific offensive teams in the league. Defense continues to be a concern, however, although Arslanian returns five starters and several returning redshirts to a defense that allowed an average of only 18.7 points in the last four games of 1995.

NORTHERN ARIZONA

Last season: (7-4 and 4-3, tie for 2nd)

Coach: Steve Axman

Record: 33-33, 6 years

Record at NAU: 33-33, 6 years

Players to watch: DT Ben Petrucci (6-2, 275), OT Dan Finn (6-4, 305, Jr.), HB Archie Amerson (5-9, 175, Sr.).

Key newcomers: QB Travis Brown (6-4, 210, Fr.), TE Rian Weske (6-5, 240, Fr.), OT Mike Freitas (6-4, 275, Jr.), FS Afa Faraimo (5-10, 175,Fr.).

Quick kicks: Eric Price, the oldest son of Washington State head coach Mike Price, is in his first season as NAU’s wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.

Outlook: The Lumberjacks lost some big-name players from last year, but they return tailback Archie Amerson (1,149 yards and 12 TDs), along with a young cast of potential stars - including redshirt freshman quarterback Travis Brown.

CAL STATE SACRAMENTO

Last season: (4-6-1 and 3-0 in American West)

Coach: John Volek

Record: 4-6-1, 1st year

Record at Cal State Sacramento: 4-6-1, 1st year

Players to watch: QB Tony Corbin (6-4, 215, Sr.), OT Dave DeMink (6-4, 280, Sr.), SS Chad Johnson (6-2, 195, Sr.), LB Victor Lopez (6-0, 220, Sr.).

Key newcomers: RB Garth Smith (5-9, 175, Sr.), RB Daimon Shelton (6-1, 240, Sr.), WR Sheridan Mitchell (5-9, 170, Jr.), DL Steve Wright (6-6, 275, Sr.).

Quick kicks: In games against Big Sky teams - NAU, EWU, Portland State and Cal State Northridge - last fall, the Hornets were outscored 153-61.

Outlook: Corbin is a proven winner and Volek seems to have surrounded his rangy quarterback with a decent supporting cast, comprised mainly of transfers. There is plenty of athleticism, but chemistry could be a problem.

EASTERN WASHINGTON

Last season: (3-8 and 1-6, 8th)

Coach: Mike Kramer

Record: 7-15, 2 years

Record at EWU: 7-15, 2 years

Players to watch: RB Joe Sewell (5-9, 195, Sr.), OT Jim Buzzard (6-3, 273, Jr.), OG T.J. Ackerman (6-6, 285, So.), OT Aaron Barfield (6-6, 290), LB Derek Strey (6-3, 230, Jr.).

Key newcomers: QB Griffin Garske (6-4, 220, Fr.), WR Steve Correa (5-10, 175, Jr.), PK Josh Atwood (6-2, 200, So.), TE Scott Johnson (6-6, 265, Fr.).

Quick kicks: Since 1990, EWU has had 13 interior linemen (including tight ends) selected to the All-Big Sky Conference first team - nearly twice as many as any other team in the league.

Outlook: The return of Sewell and a veteran line will keep EWU’s offense among the league’s best, but the defense - which has talent but little depth - hasn’t proven that it can stop Big Sky opponents.

MONTANA STATE

Last season: (5-6 and 2-5, 7th)

Coach: Cliff Hysell

Record: 19-25, 4 years

Record at MSU: 19-25, 4 years

Players to watch: TB Mark Engelking (5-10, 185, Sr.), DE Devlan Geddes (6-3, 236, Sr.), CB Omar Turner (5-9, 184, Sr.).

Key newcomers: CB Josh Perkins (5-8, 183, Fr.), DT Alex Silicz (6-2, 243, Fr.), SE Oscar Caballero (6-0, 167, Jr.).

Quick kicks: The projected starters in MSU’s offensive line have made only 19 starts - and right guard Monty Wilson has made 17 of those.

Outlook: Hysell faces a major rebuilding task on each side of the football. The Bobcats are raw in the offensive line and at linebacker, but there might be enough veteran talent at the skill positions and on the defensive front to minimize the growing pains.

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE

Last season: (2-8 and 1-2, 3rd in AWC)

Coach: Dave Baldwin Record: 2-8, 1 year

Record at Cal State Northridge: 2-8, 1 year

Players to watch: WR Tim Hilton (5-10, 180, Sr.), RB Chad Marsalek (6-0, 211, Sr.), SS Teddy Mack (5-10, 200, Sr.), FS Doug Varner (5-10, 165, Sr.), LB David Mori (6-3, 240, Sr.).

Key newcomers: QB Aaron Flowers (6-0, 185, Jr.), WR Cameron Perry (5-9, 165, Jr.), DL Ronald Aumua (6-2, 295, Jr.)

Quick kicks: Because of the late hiring of Baldwin in 1995, the Matadors were unable to hold spring drills that year.

Outlook: The rebuilding job Baldwin faces is immense, but the recruitment of 20 junior-college transfers should provide a few temporary band-aids. Hilton is an outstanding receiver, but buying the time to get him the football could present problems.

PORTLAND STATE

Coach: Tim Walsh

Record: 52-25, 7 years

Record at PSU: 25-11, 3 years

Players to watch: C Alano Ciliberto (6-3, 285, Sr.), WR Kyle Holley (6-2, 190, Sr.), NT Samuela Aumuvae (6-2, 260, Jr.), FS Neil Fendall (6-1, 195, Sr.).

Key newcomers: LB Tim Matijacic (6-2, 225, So.), CB Woody Green (5-11, 185, Jr.), LB Renaldo Spalding (6-3, 245, Sr.), OG Scott Casebeer, 6-2, 285, Fr.).

Quick kicks: Walsh, who was 27-14 in four seasons at Sonoma State, is the only Big Sky coach to have been a head coach at more than one school.

Outlook: The Vikings, after stepping up from Division II, won’t be eligible for the Big Sky title until 1998, so motivation could be a problem. Walsh is trying to get it done with transfers - 41 in all - and has lured players away from some decent D-I schools like Washington (Matijacic), Iowa (Spalding) and Fresno State (Green), but building cohesiveness won’t be easy.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PREDICTED FINISH 1. Montana 2. Idaho State 3. Weber State 4. Northern Arizona 5. Cal State Sacramento 6. Eastern Washington 7. Montana State 8. Cal State Northridge 9. Portland State