Ewu Depth Thrills Kramer
Football coaches are a funny breed.
Take Eastern Washington’s Mike Kramer, for example, who looked over all of the impressive numbers his team piled up in Saturday’s 35-11 win over Weber State - 26 first downs, 534 total yards, 46.2 yards per punt, eight sacks - and came up with 12 as his favorite.
That was the number of offensive linemen the Eagles used in running their overall record to 4-0 and the league-leading Big Sky mark to 2-0.
“We don’t keep school records on things like that, I know,” Kramer admitted. “But I guarantee you there’s never been a game since I’ve been here where we’ve played 12 offensive linemen.
“We played every guy and we played them a considerable amount.”
Of special interest were the season debuts of juniors T.J. Ackerman and Justen Wochnick, a pair of projected starters who missed the first three games while recuperating from knee surgeries.
Ackerman, a 6-foot-6, 285-pounder, opened both the 1995 and ‘96 seasons as a starter at guard but suffered season-ending knee injuries both years. Wochnick, a 6-2, 280-pounder, started 10 games at the other guard spot last season before dislocating a kneecap.
“Both guys are rounding back into shape, but they’re both still a little way away,” Kramer said. “Plus, the guys who are playing ahead of them - not only the starters, but the second-unit guys, too - are playing very well.
“This is the first football team I’ve been around that has this much quality depth in the offensive line.”
Prescott returns
Senior running back Rex Prescott, who missed last Saturday’s game against Weber State with a deep bruise and mild separation of his right shoulder, has been cleared to play at Montana State this Saturday.
Prescott will start and junior Mike MacKenzie, who stepped in against Weber and ran for a career-high 172 yards and two touchdowns before suffering a mild concussion and eye injury late in the third quarter, will return to his backup role.
Ernst finally catches on
After spending his first four seasons being shuffled from position to position and wearing five different numbers, Idaho State’s Jaxon Ernst seems to have finally found his niche.
The fifth-year senior made the first start of his career at wide receiver last Saturday and caught six passes for 109 yards in a 14-13 loss to Montana State.
In his four previous seasons, the Ferndale, Wash., native has played quarterback, tight end, outside linebacker and defensive end. He has even punted.
Lovin’ those Griz
Unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Montana lists the capacity of Washington-Grizzly Stadium on its Missoula campus at 18,845, but a record crowd of 19,046 showed up for last Saturday’s 52-10 homecoming win over Cal State Sacramento.
The turnout bettered the previous record of 19,042 set last year against arch-rival Montana State and marked the fourth consecutive game over 18,000.
Quick kicks
Montana punter and tight end Dallas Neil will apply for a medical hardship and redshirt this fall because of a slow-healing ankle injury he suffered three weeks ago. … In just three games, Montana State defensive end Neal Smith has recorded seven sacks and 12 unassisted tackles, along with intercepting a pass, forcing one fumble and recovering another… . Weber State wide receiver Tyler Harlan is averaging 24.1 yards per reception and had touchdown catches of 68 and 76 yards… . Harlan’s teammate Scott Shields showed his versatility in last Saturday’s 35-11 loss to Eastern Washington by making 14 tackles, intercepting a pass, recovering a fumble, kicking a field goal and averaging 44.1 yards on seven punts.
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