Montana Will Face Its Opposite Today

Montana’s NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinal football game against Georgia Southern today will be a showcase of two radically different football philosophies.

Montana (10-2) has an explosive passing offense, averaging 519 total yards and 43 points per game. The Grizzlies can score quickly on long passes from Dave Dickenson to any of a number of receivers.

Georgia Southern (9-3) runs an option attack, averaging 337 yards and 24 points per game. Quarterback Charles Bostick passes for an average of 36 yards runs for another 52 per game. Fullback Chad Holmes rushes for 61 yards per game.

“We played them in 1989 and hey’re doing a lot of the same things,” Montana coach Don Read said of Georgia Southern.

The Grizzlies could not stop the Eagles’ running attack and Montana fell 45-15 in a semifinal game in Statesboro, Ga. Georgia Southern coach Tim Stowers was an assistant, so Read said he doesn’t expect many philosophical changes.

“We’ve got to stop an option attack - a very, very potent option attack,” Read said.

Stowers points to his defensive secondary as a weapon against Dickenson - who passes for 384 yards per game - and his receiving corps.

Brancis Williams led the Southern Conference with six interceptions and returned one 46 yards for a touchdown against Troy State last weekend.