Eagles gear up for savvy Grizzlies
The University of Montana doesn’t win every single one of the countless small battles that take place during the course of a college football game.
But the Grizzlies always seem to win those that matter most. That, in the opinion of Eastern Washington University head coach Beau Baldwin, is what sets them apart from the rest of the teams in the Big Sky Conference.
“They’re just incredibly disciplined and they play with a ton of effort,” said Baldwin, whose Eagles (4-2, 3-1 Big Sky) will test the conference-leading and unbeaten Grizzlies (5-0, 2-0) in a Saturday matchup of nationally ranked teams that kicks off at 12:05 p.m. in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
“You know they’re never going to stop,” Baldwin said. “And you know there won’t be one play during the entire game where they won’t be playing all out and physical, and trying to make something happen. It may be the 43rd play of the game, and it’s a punt return, or whatever, but their mentality and attitude is that this is going to be the play that’s going to make the difference in the ballgame.
“So, the key for us is to make sure that we’re thinking that same way – in terms of winning the battle on every play.”
Montana has won 14 straight conference games since losing to Eastern 34-20 in Washington-Grizzly Stadium in 2005. Its two conference wins this fall have come against Portland State (49-17) and Northern Arizona (42-34) in overtime, and once again, the Grizzlies do not have any individuals putting up jaw-dropping numbers.
But Baldwin warns against reading anything into that.
“They’re good at every position,” he said. “But because of their balance and their team mentality, I think some of their players do go a little bit unrecognized, because they certainly do have some great football players and great athletes, as well.”
EWU’s junior linebacker J.C. Sherritt, the Big Sky’s leading tackler, echoed Baldwin’s sentiments about the Grizzlies’ discipline.
“They’re not overly strong or athletic, but they do everything right,” he said. “I’ve been on special teams against them before, and their special teams are the best I’ve ever played against. So that’s something we’ll have to stay on top off this weekend.”
McBride turns 70
Weber State coach Ron McBride turned 70 on Wednesday, becoming only the eighth person to still be actively coaching football at an NCAA Division I school at that age.
The Wildcats coach has been receiving congratulatory calls from friends and colleagues all week long.
“I’ve never seen more people interested in my birthdays than this one,” he said. “Everybody reminded me all week that I’ve got a birthday coming up and I’m going to be 70. I tell them, ‘OK, OK, I get it.’
“You might want to forget about this one.”
Hot combo
There has been no Big Sky pass-catch duo more productive in recent weeks than Northern Arizona quarterback Michael Herrick and his favorite target, wide receiver Ed Berry.
In last Saturday’s 23-10 win over Montana State, Herrick completed 75 percent of his passes for 388 yards and a touchdown. Berry caught 12 of Herrick’s throws for 182 yards and the one score.
In the Lumberjacks’ last three games, Herrick has completed 71.9 percent of his passes for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns, while throwing only one interception. During that same span, Berry has caught 26 passes for 453 yards and two TDs.
Quick kicks
EWU senior wide receiver Aaron Boyce has 215 career receptions and needs just five more to move into sixth place on the conference’s career receiving list. … Four Big Sky players – EWU’s J.C. Sherritt, Northern Colorado’s Korey Askew and Sacramento State’s Durrell Oliver and Marquese Smith – intercepted passes and returned them for TDs last weekend. … Sacramento State completed only one pass during the second half of last Saturday’s win over Idaho State, but that lone completion resulted in a 54-yard TD. … Montana State has not allowed a rushing TD this season.