FCS PLAYOFFS: UM youngsters play like veterans

[dbackjon]

Shawn Lebsock still leads the Montana Grizzlies in tackles, but he lost ground to a few guys that maybe aren’t household names yet in UM’s 51-0 Football Championship Subdivision win over Stephen F. Austin on Saturday.

Brock Coyle had eight tackles. Caleb McSurdy, seven. Jordan Tripp, six stops. Coyle and Tripp just got to campus this fall. McSurdy played as a true freshman in 2008.

Seeing that many tackles out of the second tier was as pleasant a surprise as the point spread. As unbeaten Montana powers up for a semifinal battle against No. 5 Appalachian State on Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, it’s good to know the youngsters can go.

“It was great to see those guys go in and not miss a beat,” said Lebsock, the 13-0 Grizzlies’ all-Big Sky middle linebacker, who has 87 tackles. “Our coaches grade every game, and we all get a percentage score. Those guys were rating just as well or higher than the starters.

“It was great to see that.”

http://www.missoulian.com/sports/colleg ... 002e0.html

[SeattleGriz]

A huge benefit of Bobby's philosophy of rotating players throughout the game.