Ready for primetime player

MISSOULA - Bobby Hauck is not a man given to speaking in hyperbole.

This much I have learned in my short time covering Montana football.

So when the second-year Griz coach evaluated Craig Ochs, his starting quarterback, after Saturday's decisive 47-17 win over New Hampshire in the quarterfinals, it made you take notice.

"I've said it before, he's the best quarterback I've ever been around," Hauck said. "He's a great football player and we're lucky to have him on our team."

That's high praise, considering Hauck's coaching resume includes stints at UCLA, Colorado and Washington, the last of which had Marques Tuiasosopo and Cody Pickett under center.

And to be sure, it's difficult to compare Division I-A and I-AA quarterbacks. Still, Hauck's words ring true.

It's difficult to imagine how a quarterback could be more in control of an offense, more aware of the situation, more capable of executing a game plan.

And Hauck isn't the only one heaping praise on the senior transfer from Colorado. Opposing coaches have marched through the Adams Center press conferences over the last five weeks and expressed similar viewpoints.

Sacramento State's Steve Mooshagian said he was convinced Ochs can play and play well at the next level. Montana State's Mike Kramer lauded his talent and his personality. And Steve McDonnell of New Hampshire marveled at the receivers he has and the way he uses them.

Wildcats defensive end George Peterson was most impressed with Ochs' composure in the face of pressure.

"He's got a lot of fight in him," Peterson said. "I really respect that."

On Saturday, Ochs started slow, throwing a rare interception on the opening drive, his seventh on the season.

"I got lazy with my read," he said. "I was so mad. (But) as a quarterback you learn to have a short memory. I just have to forget it and go.

"The first quarter I was pressing a little bit, so for me to find my rhythm we went to some short stuff. We knew it was going to come."

And come it did. Ochs completed 16 straight passes at one point and finished the game 24-of-31 for 257 yards and three touchdowns. He completed passes to eight different receivers, keeping New Hampshire off balance in the defensive secondary.

"He wasn't as good as he's been recently," Hauck said of the first quarter numbers for Ochs. "He wasn't feeling good at the end of this week. I don't know if that had anything to do with it."

As impressive as Ochs' arm was, it was his legs that provided his most memorable highlight and showcased the heart that endears him to fans and teammates alike.

Late in the third quarter, on third-and-2 from the New Hampshire 39, Ochs was flushed out of the pocket. He scrambled around, got the first down, stayed on his feet, broke tackles, took defenders on headfirst and 13 yards later he was finally brought down.

When the mountain of men on top of Ochs unpiled and the Montana quarterback hopped up apparently no worse for wear, the Washington Grizzly Stadium crowd let slip one of its loudest roars of the day.

Then he followed it up with a 12-yard scramble on the next play. Three plays after that the Griz had their last touchdown of the game and a semifinal spot secured.

With two more performances like Saturday's, Ochs can take his place alongside John Edwards and Dave Dickenson as championship quarterbacks at Montana. Ochs showed he can step into the national spotlight of ESPN2 and perform at the highest level, and you can be sure several pro scouts sat up and took notice.

(As an aside, I can't for the life of me figure out all the ecstatic fawning over the temporary lights that were used Saturday for the late kickoff. The way some were treating it, you'd think that Missoula finally discovered electricity. It's just lights, people. They bring these things into stadiums with PERMANENT lights for ABC broadcasts. I really don't see what the big deal is.)

Before there is any championship talk, though, is that pesky semifinal against Sam Houston State. Ochs was neutral as to who he wanted to see next week - the opponent was still unknown during interviews - but the other players at the postgame press conference _ Levander Segars, Lex Hilliard, Dustin Dlouhy and Cory Procter - said without hesitation Sam Houston State.

"From their heat to our cold," is how Segars described it.

Hauck, too, was noncommittal, saying: "For our league, I'd like to see Eastern. From a competition standpoint I'd like to see Sam Houston."

Either team would make a worthy foe, and at the risk of sounding like a shill for the university, it would be nice to see a packed house next week. The crowd of 20,919 set a school playoff record, but it's still more than 2,000 short of the listed capacity.

So next week, try not to enjoy too much eggnog at your Friday night Christmas parties (Inter Lake employees, I'm looking in your direction) and make plans to be here Saturday and experience in person the wonder of college football playoffs.

Andrew Hinkelman is a sportswriter for The Daily Inter Lake. He can be reached at hink@dailyinterlake.com