#6 UM @ #18 EWU Game Thread

[Screamin_Eagle174]

#6 University of Montana Grizzlies 1-1 (0-0 BSC) at
#18 Eastern Washington Eagles 1-1 (0-0 BSC)

Saturday, September 18 • 4:05 p.m. Pacific
Roos Field (11,000/Sprinturf) • Cheney, Wash.

TV: SWX (Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima), KPAX (Montana)
Online Radio: http://www.espnnorthwest.com/patchin-wingmen/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Webcast: http://b2tv.com/upcoming_events.asp?q=v&value=bigsky" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Series Record: Montana leads 25-10-1
Last Meeting: 2009 in Missoula, Griz won 41-34

The game has been a donnybrook in recent years, and this will be the ninth time in the last 15 meetings both teams enter the game nationally ranked. Since 1990, Eastern has won four times on UM’s home field in Missoula, but Eastern has won just twice at home in that span.

The lone win since then at Woodward Field came in 1991, and Eastern is hoping the change of turf and change of name alters its success in Cheney where the Eagles have a six-game losing streak. The color of the surface may give Eastern a boost of adrenaline, but the Eagles know it doesn’t affect how the team plays -- and ultimately the outcome.

“You couldn’t write the script any better,” said Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin. “But the game will be less about the fact we are playing Montana on the red turf and more about how we can beat them. That’s a challenge for every team in this league because it doesn’t happen very often.”

The other home win for EWU against the Grizzlies came at Albi Stadium in Spokane in 2002. The Eagles stunned the unbeaten Grizzlies 30-21, ending Montana’s record-tying winning streak in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision at 24 games. It also snapped Montana’s record winning streaks of 25 Big Sky games in a row and 13 league road games in a row. Eastern has defeated the Grizzlies four times in Missoula in the last 20 years -- 1990, 1992, 1997 and 2005.

The Eagles shared the 2004 and 2005 Big Sky titles with Montana, but the Grizzlies have won or shared every league title since 1998. Eastern is the last Big Sky school other than Montana to win the outright title, with that coming in 1997 when the Eagles advanced to the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs.

The added advantage the turf gives Eastern isn’t lost on Baldwin. As far as he’s concerned, it’s incREDible.

“It fits some of our talent,” explained Baldwin, who is in his third year as Eastern’s head coach and seventh overall in Cheney. “Strategically we’ve prepared for turf games before over the years, but those were all on the road. More than anything it fits what we are all about and the strengths of some of our skill players. Hopefully it becomes a real home field advantage for us.”

The Grizzlies, who for a week were ranked No. 1 in The Sports Network/Fathead.com top 25 FCS poll, dropped to 1-1 for the season with a 35-33 loss at Cal Poly on Sept. 11. A week earlier, the Grizzlies opened the season with a 73-2 thrashing of NCAA Division II Western State College from Colorado.

Eastern also enters the game 1-1 after edging NCAA Division II Central Washington 35-32 on Sept. 11 in the second edition of the “Showdown on the Sound” at Qwest Field in Cheney, Wash. A week earlier, Eastern lost its opener at Nevada 49-24 on Sept. 2.

Both games were nail-biters in the fourth quarter. The Eagles had a chance to cut into an 11-point Wolf Pack lead in the fourth quarter, but an Eagle turnover led to two late Nevada scores. In the Central game, Eastern needed pass break-ups by seniors Dante Calcote and Tyler Jolley on Central’s final two offensive plays of the game to preserve EWU’s victory.

Eastern was out-gained in total offense by Nevada 553-432 and by Central Washington 352-311. Eastern junior running back Taiwan Jones leads FCS in all-purpose yards, with an average of 278.5 per game after two games. He has scored four touchdowns to rank fourth nationally in scoring and is 10th in rushing (117.0 per game).

[Silenoz]

Sitting in the middle of the EWU crowd this time. Can't wait for the traditional "F#ck the Grizzlies" chants...

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Good for you.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Injury report on the EWU front:

Just two injuries came from the Central Washington game. Running back Taiwan Jones sat out the final 11:39 of the game after getting tackled during a 65-yard drive that ended when EWU came up empty on a fake field goal attempt. What was originally thought to be a minor concussion was actually dehydration from the game and being sick earlier in the day. The other injury was suffered by freshman defensive end Anthony Larry, who made his first career start against the Wildcats but suffered a slight knee injury early in the game. He is questionable for this week, and Jones is probable. “We wanted to be smart about it,” said Baldwin of the injury to Jones. “He wanted to come right back in but at the time we thought it might have been a slight concussion. You don’t mess with that, and we weren’t going to put him back in with that kind of injury.”

TJ will be ready to go.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Walter Payton Award Candidate Currently Leads FCS In All-Purpose Yards: With an average of 278.5 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, returns) per game, junior running back Taiwan Jones is the early leader in that category in NCAA Championship Subdivision statistics. He also ranks fourth in scoring (12.0 per game with four total touchdowns) and 10th in rushing (117.0 per game). After averaging 7.5 yards per carry as a sophomore, he is currently averaging 9.0 as a junior.

Jones, who averaged an impressive 7.5 yards per carry as a sophomore, was named to the initial 2010 Walter Payton Award Watch List this past summer by The Sports Network. And so far, he’s lived up to that billing.

En route to earning Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors, Jones had a career-high 322 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving and returns) in Eastern’s season-opening 49-24 loss at Nevada on Sept. 2. His performance included an 82-yard touchdown reception and a non-scoring 74-yard run. Jones rushed 12 times for 145 yards, had another 92 yards on two receptions and 85 yards on four kickoff returns. His previous career high was 279 yards against Sacramento State on Sept. 26, 2009.

He added 235 yards and three touchdowns against Central Washington on Sept. 11. He finished the game with 14 rushes for 89 yards and two touchdowns, caught four passes for 63 yards (including a 46-yard score) and had 83 yards in returns.

He now has seven plays in his career of 71 yards or more, 12 of at least 50 and 25 of at least 32 yards. Five have been for at least 80 yards, including a school-record 96-yard touchdown run versus Idaho State in 2009. Eight times in his career he has eclipsed the 200-yard mark in all-purpose yards and has seven rushing performances of at least 100 yards.

[catbob]

The bigger question is, which broadcast do I watch, the KPAX 1978 feed or the Big Suck TV feed? I can't decide which one is worse.

[cats2506]

The bigger question is, which broadcast do I watch, the KPAX 1978 feed or the Big Suck TV feed? I can't decide which one is worse.

Big suck TV will probably just feed a camcorder in EWU's press box and patch it in with their radio announcer so it will probably be quite a bit clearer and in focus that the KPAX broadcast.

Also on a side not EWU has a geat radio announcer, I enjoy listening to him "Giddy Up Horse"
The guy has to be an auctioneer

[Screamin_Eagle174]

The bigger question is, which broadcast do I watch, the KPAX 1978 feed or the Big Suck TV feed? I can't decide which one is worse.

Big suck TV will probably just feed a camcorder in EWU's press box and patch it in with their radio announcer so it will probably be quite a bit clearer and in focus that the KPAX broadcast.

Also on a side not EWU has a geat radio announcer, I enjoy listening to him "Giddy Up Horse"
The guy has to be an auctioneer

Larry Weir is one of the best!

[grizzaholic]

So if TJ ends up with an injury due to a "concussion" after this game what penalties will the NCAA pass down? Just asking?

[Screamin_Eagle174]

So if TJ ends up with an injury due to a "concussion" after this game what penalties will the NCAA pass down? Just asking?

WTF are you talking about? He was checked out, and it was concluded that he did not have a concussion, only dehydration. If he gets concussed in this game, there will be no penalties, only whatever requirements the NCAA already has in place for players that get concussed.

[Big McLargehuge]

Needless to say I'm looking forward to this one a lot.


Here's to a close fought, great game.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Needless to say I'm looking forward to this one a lot.


Here's to a close fought, great game with no injuries.

FIFY, but Ditto!

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

It will be fun playing this game on our home field and shutting the mouths of a few of the EWU guys that REALLY like to run their pieholes.

Hey EWU............

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

It will be fun playing this game on our home field and shutting the mouths of a few of the EWU guys that REALLY like to run their pieholes.

Hey EWU............

Rarely have I been as inspired as I was by Kenny Powers when he pulled off this unbelievable feat. The man is a fucking GOD so thanks for bringing him to the thread Alpha as this should give the Griz all we need.

[youtube][/youtube]

[Screamin_Eagle174]

It will be fun playing this game on our home field and shutting the mouths of a few of the EWU guys that REALLY like to run their pieholes.

Hey EWU............

Great comparison between Kenny Powers and yourself, AG. You're both fat, stupid and obnoxious, except Kenny is actually funny, and knows how to use proper grammar and punctuation.

Should be a great game nonetheless. Can't wait to watch little Jimmy hopelessly diving at Taiwan's vapor trails.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Rarely have I been as inspired as I was by Kenny Powers when he pulled off this unbelievable feat. The man is a fucking GOD so thanks for bringing him to the thread Alpha as this should give the Griz all we need.

[youtube][/youtube]

Week and a half, can't wait for season 2!

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

It will be fun playing this game on our home field and shutting the mouths of a few of the EWU guys that REALLY like to run their pieholes.

Hey EWU............

Great comparison between Kenny Powers and yourself, AG. You're both fat, stupid and obnoxious, except Kenny is actually funny, and knows how to use proper grammar and punctuation.

Should be a great game nonetheless. Can't wait to watch little Jimmy hopelessly diving at Taiwan's vapor trails.

Excellent points made there...what the fuck was your name again?




It's me...Screamie...SCREAMIE JANOWSKI!!

[bpcats]

Fun matchup to watch this weekend.

Griz - Loaded with talent on the defense and their UW transfer DT Tyrone Duncan has had the impact that all Griz fans have been waiting for. The Griz also probably have the fastest set of linebackers in the conference, and the most experience returning at the cornerback position with Trumaine Johnson and Wilson. You can't argue with their results so far being 1st against the pass, 1st in total defense , #1 in interceptions etc.. etc. Tag that with top scoring offense, top passing offense, most dangerous set of receivers with Sambrano, Gratton and Moutron, and KR/PR weapon in Ngyuen and the Griz are just as dangerous as ever.

However there are some chinks in the armor of the Griz and they can be taken advantage of in the Big Sky as Cal Poly did who I thought played a solid game but didn't think they were much better than some of the teams in the Big Sky. The Griz are dead last in the conference in running ball averaging 76 yards per game. 8th in the Conference in punting at 26yds, average 8.5 penalties a game and are dead last in time of possession. So they are a quick strike team with a great defense who have also will probably be switching quarterbacks (Payton award candidate Selle), and have taken the ball out of their other Payton award candidate Reynolds. Glanville wish he had this team the last few years..

Eagles - As much hype as their new field has garnered (and I'm glad its gathered support of EWU football program that at one time was talked about as being in danger of being shut down) it cannot play the game for the Eagles and Central Washington almost made it their new home field. The Eagles do have Taiwon Jones who is an offense all unto himself averaging 278 yards a game. The problems with the Eagles team this year so far is that Meyers or Nichols aren't playing qb and Mitchell has not been able to fully click with his receivers, yet. The Eagles are also dead last in passing defense, 8th in rush defense (won't matter against the Griz), defense is allowing 40 points a game, dead last in total defense. The only thing they have done really well is kept penalties down.

Do the Eagles have the talent to beat the Griz..yep. But so far they have not shown it in their play, and if they don't put it together this week the score could get ugly. As far as timing goes, the Eagle have the best shot at beating the Griz before the team from Missoula gets it all figured out going into the playoffs.

Prediction - Griz 38 - Taiwon Jones 17...(TJ hold the ball for the kicker)

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Great comparison between Kenny Powers and yourself, AG. You're both fat, stupid and obnoxious, except Kenny is actually funny, and knows how to use proper grammar and punctuation.

Should be a great game nonetheless. Can't wait to watch little Jimmy hopelessly diving at Taiwan's vapor trails.

Excellent points made there...what the fuck was your name again?




It's me...Screamie...SCREAMIE JANOWSKI!!

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Fun matchup to watch this weekend.

Griz - Loaded with talent on the defense and their UW transfer DT Tyrone Duncan has had the impact that all Griz fans have been waiting for. The Griz also probably have the fastest set of linebackers in the conference, and the most experience returning at the cornerback position with Trumaine Johnson and Wilson. You can't argue with their results so far being 1st against the pass, 1st in total defense , #1 in interceptions etc.. etc. Tag that with top scoring offense, top passing offense, most dangerous set of receivers with Sambrano, Gratton and Moutron, and KR/PR weapon in Ngyuen and the Griz are just as dangerous as ever.

However there are some chinks in the armor of the Griz and they can be taken advantage of in the Big Sky as Cal Poly did who I thought played a solid game but didn't think they were much better than some of the teams in the Big Sky. The Griz are dead last in the conference in running ball averaging 76 yards per game. 8th in the Conference in punting at 26yds, average 8.5 penalties a game and are dead last in time of possession. So they are a quick strike team with a great defense who have also will probably be switching quarterbacks (Payton award candidate Selle), and have taken the ball out of their other Payton award candidate Reynolds. Glanville wish he had this team the last few years..

Eagles - As much hype as their new field has garnered (and I'm glad its gathered support of EWU football program that at one time was talked about as being in danger of being shut down) it cannot play the game for the Eagles and Central Washington almost made it their new home field. The Eagles do have Taiwon Jones who is an offense all unto himself averaging 278 yards a game. The problems with the Eagles team this year so far is that Meyers or Nichols aren't playing qb and Mitchell has not been able to fully click with his receivers, yet. The Eagles are also dead last in passing defense, 8th in rush defense (won't matter against the Griz), defense is allowing 40 points a game, dead last in total defense. The only thing they have done really well is kept penalties down.

Do the Eagles have the talent to beat the Griz..yep. But so far they have not shown it in their play, and if they don't put it together this week the score could get ugly. As far as timing goes, the Eagle have the best shot at beating the Griz before the team from Missoula gets it all figured out going into the playoffs.

Prediction - Griz 38 - Taiwon Jones 17...(TJ hold the ball for the kicker)

bpcats - a few things:

The CWU game was at Qwest Field in Seattle, not in Cheney. His name is Taiwan, not Taiwon. Yes, through two games we've given up 81 points, but then again Nevada had the #1 or #2 scoring offense in all of college football last year, and likely will again this year as they didn't lose much on O. Also CWU has shown they can put points up with the best of them in the BSC. Lastly, we haven't delved much into the playbook those first two games. We usually keep it fairly vanilla until conference play hits, as I'm sure the Griz do as well. BLM definitely needs to take a step up in this game if we're going to win though. Whoever wins, I think it'll be another close, hard-fought game like they have been lately.

[Wedgebuster]

Ok, if i'm a EW fan, its....



If I'm a UM fan, its....

[Screamin_Eagle174]

[Screamin_Eagle174]

If I'm a UNC fan it's

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Ursus you grandstanding SOB!!!!

You totally stole my thunder as I was setting that douchenozzle up for that exact slam!!!!!!!!

Stevie is EXACTLY who I think SE1.74 would be in real life just not quite as cool and manly.

Great job you bastard!!!!!!!!

[bpcats]

If I had to boil it down..I think that Mitchell has to step up his game, and the Eagles pass defense better be ready to roll and look for Reynolds on a lot of swing passes since they forgot how to hand off to their rb.