November 15, 2006 in Sports

Murrietta stands out among QBs

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Much of the preseason attention in the Big Sky Conference focused on senior quarterbacks Josh Swogger and Matt Gutierrez, both of whom were leaving I-A programs and considered Eastern Washington before going elsewhere.

Gutierrez, who left Michigan for Idaho State, was picked as the preseason all-conference quarterback. Swogger, who chose Montana, was under the microscope because he was leaving Washington State, where he started as a sophomore.

As it turns out, the best quarterback was in the Big Sky all along – Northern Arizona’s Jason Murrietta.

All three, who played the Eagles at Woodward Field, have one game left but Murrietta should be the all-conference pick, hands down.

Murrietta has completed 185 of 288 passes (64.2 percent) for 2,446 yards (244.6 per game), with 29 touchdowns and four interceptions. He should only pad those numbers and his 166 passing efficiency rating at Northern Colorado this weekend.

Swogger, who missed one game, has been solid, if not brilliant. He has completed 128 of 236 passes (54.2 percent) for 1,798 yards (199.8 per), with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Most important, he has come through when the Grizzlies needed him the most.

Gutierrez put up great numbers early, but his season has spiraled down as losses and injuries mounted. He’s at 158 of 296 (53.4 percent) for 1,966 yards (196.6), with 14 TDs and 14 interceptions.

If there is a debate over the top QB, it comes down to Swogger having the Grizzlies ranked second in the country against Murrietta’s numbers.

In the head-to-head meetings among the three, Swogger won both but wasn’t dominant. The Grizzlies defense was.

Gutierrez was 9 of 25 for 46 yards with one interception and four sacks in a 23-10 loss to Montana. Murrietta was 16 of 32 for 93 yards, one TD and three sacks in a 24-21 loss.

Eastern quarterbacks Matt Nichols and Chris Peerboom threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns against the Grizzlies, although they combined for five interceptions in the 33-17 loss. Against NAU and Idaho State, the Eagles had better numbers than Swogger.

Brawling for playoff

In September it didn’t seem possible that the 106th Montana State-Montana game – The Brawl of the Wild, kickoff 11:37 a.m. PST – would have a national effect.

But after losing three straight at home, the last to EWU, MSU’s Bobcats have won six straight. Montana has won nine straight after an opening loss at Iowa. Now the teams are playing for an automatic berth in the I-AA playoffs.

There is a belief that the Bobcats (7-3) have to win to make the playoffs, so a lot of teams across the country will be watching. That’s true within the conference because Portland State is finished with a 7-4 record. Although the Vikings lost 14-0 at MSU, they can point to the fact that they were at less than 100 percent healthy for the game. PSU’s other losses were to Top 25 teams, I-A California and Oregon, plus Montana.

Meanwhile, MSU lost to D-II Chadron State, EWU (3-8) and highly regarded UC Davis.

For MSU coach Mike Kramer’s take on ending the season with a rivalry and a game of this magnitude, see the EWU blog.

UM has won or shared nine consecutive conference titles and is 5-0 at home this season, MSU has shared a piece in three of the past four years and is 4-0 on the road so far.

The I-AA playoff pairings will be announced at 10 a.m. Sunday on ESPNews.

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