OFFENSE
QB
Fort Lewis
The Griz found reps for three different QBs last week against Southern Utah. Starter Cole Bergquist went 15-of-22 for 150 yards while back-ups Jeff Larson and Andrew Selle saw second half action. Fort Lewis is trying to replace graduated senior Matt Gutierrez.
OL
Montana
Fort Lewis
Returning starters Aaron Cooper (290 pounds) and Adrian Ybarra (272) anchor the Skyhawks’ line, but Montana has a small army of very large men to control the trenches. Center Colin Dow is still on the mend from an offseason injury, but he got some playing time last week nonetheless.
RB
Montana
Fort Lewis
Are we really having this conversation? Fort Lewis has a nice back in senior Dion Myers. The Griz have Lex Hilliard, Reggie Bradshaw, Thomas Brooks-Fletcher, Greg Coleman and Andrew Schmidt. Nuff said.
WR/TE
Montana
Fort Lewis
We really wanted to give this one to the Skyhawks, since senior WR Brandon Cummings is probably their best player. But Montana had nine different players catch balls last week and Eric Allen, Ryan Bagley and Mike Ferriter spearhead a receiving corps that is perhaps the most talented ever at UM.
DEFENSE
DL
Montana
Fort Lewis
Kroy Biermann had a team-best six tackles in the season opener against the T-birds, sharing a sack with fellow DE Mike Stadnyk. Stadnyk is back this season after missing 2006 due to shoulder surgery. The Griz expect big things from the 6-foot-3, 260-pound junior out of Regina, Saskatchewan.
LB
Montana
Fort Lewis
Fort Lewis’ Nick Becker was the team’s third leading tackler last year. Montana’s Tyler Joyce, Kyle Ryan and Loren Utterback are all honors candidates. Senior Alex Hawthorne forced a fourth-quarter fumble against Southern Utah that earned him hit of the week honors. Advantage: Griz.
CB/SAFETY
Montana
Fort Lewis
UM started true freshman Jamaine Olson and senior Chris Clark at cornerback last week, but a host of Grizzlies saw action in the secondary. Junior Colt Anderson and freshman Shan Shillinger both had interceptions. Sam Powell and James Davis are the only returning letter winners at DB for Fort Lewis.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K/P/Returns
Montana
Fort Lewis
They were truly special for UM last week, with Marc Mariani returning the opening kickoff 53 yards and Dan Carpenter going 3-for-3 on field goals. Carpenter also forced the T-birds into four touchbacks, despite recent NCAA rules changes that pushed kickoffs back to the 30-yard line.
Intangibles
Montana
Fort Lewis
Division II Fort Lewis is picked to finish third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference this year. The Griz are, well, the Griz. It’s hard not to concede that Montana has the advantage at nearly every position on the field. Oh wait, we just did that. Get there early, kids, this one might be in the books by halftime.
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