Beneath the lights, still a game to be played
Underneath all the hype and hoopla over temporary lighting being installed at Washington Grizzly Stadium for today's Division I-AA quarterfinal playoff contest between the New Hampshire Wildcats and the University of Montana Grizzlies is an actual game to be played.
The Wildcats come in a perfect 8-0 on the road and the Griz are a spotless 8-0 at home. Something has to give.
"I've never seen a team be 8-0 on the road," UM coach Bobby Hauck said from his Missoula office Tuesday. "I don't know anybody that's been on the road that much in one season."
The home-field advantage that has been so much a part of the Grizzly mystique over the last decade could be rendered moot by a New Hampshire team led by a redshirt freshman quarterback who doesn't seem to know you aren't supposed to win on the road in the playoffs.
The Wildcats traveled to Statesboro, Ga., last week and defeated Georgia Southern 27-23. The Eagles had won 14 consecutive home games in the first round of the playoffs and were 29-2 in all home playoff games.
It was New Hampshire's first ever playoff win, and the Wildcats defense held the top-ranked offense in the country to just four first downs in the second half.
"They are probably the best team we've played to date," Hauck said. "They're a very good football team, very good on the road. You need to have a healthy dose of respect for anyone that can go down to Georgia Southern and win."
Offensively, New Hampshire looks a lot like the Griz. Statistically, the two teams are within 11 yards of each other in rushing offense, 3 yards in passing yards per game and less than a yard apart in total offense.
"They're a lot like looking at ourselves in the mirror," Hauck said. "Their personality is a lot like ours, too."
The similarities aren't quite as striking on defense - UNH defends the pass better than Montana while the Griz are better at stuffing the run - but the two teams are close in total yardage allowed.
One area of difference is experience. Montana regularly plays 14 freshmen or sophomores on defense. The Wildcats start eight juniors or seniors on offense.
"They're very veteran football team," Hauck said. "They have a corner, Cory Graham, who's a good player. George Peterson is really good. There's a reason why they're 10-2."
Graham is second on the Wildcats with 103 tackles and leads the team with 17 pass breakups and four interceptions. Peterson, a defensive end, has 20 tackles for loss, including 5 1/2 sacks.
Even though UNH has eight upper classmen starting on offense, it's redshirt freshman Ricky Santos who calls the shots at quarterback in this no-huddle offense. Santos was pressed into service in the season opener at defending champion Delaware - a 24-21 win - and has held onto the job since.
"You go with what you got," Hauck said. "He's having a good year."
Santos' primary target, David Ball, is listed as doubtful for today's game with a sprained ankle suffered in the first half of last week's win over Georgia Southern. If he can't go, the Wildcats will lose more than 1,500 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
But for all of the things UNH has going for it, the Griz can put up their own set of accomplishments. Montana has played its best football of the year since losing at Portland State on Oct. 30, with each week better than the last, culminating in a 56-7 devastation of Northwestern State last week.
The Demons came into that game with top-ranked defense in I-AA, and Montana proceeded to shred it for 543 yards, 268 of them on the ground.
The Griz offense has been virtually unstoppable and the young defense has rounded into a fine unit capable of holding its own.
One last barometer to analyze is common opponents. The Griz and UNH both played Maine and Hofstra this season, and both teams swept.
"Comparative scores are always hard to tell," Hauck said. "At least we have a gauge. We played Maine the first game of the year, they had them last."
Kickoff from Washington Grizzly Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2 with Pam Ward handling play-by-play and Mike Tomczak providing color.
"I think it will be a heck of a football game," Hauck said. "It will be fun to watch. Both teams will be at a fevered pitch. They're really a fine football team."
The winner of today's game advances to the semifinals versus the winner of tonight's Sam Houston State at Eastern Washington contest.