Former FHS star Hilliard, transfer QB Swogger lead UM

The University of Montana Grizzlies football team has a goal this season of reaching its 14th straight NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearance.

Thirteen is already a record.

The Griz are also vying for their ninth straight Big Sky Conference championship.

Indeed, there is a lot of optimism swirling around Missoula and western Montana because of the Grizzlies. And why not? For most of the past 14 seasons, the team's cow bell has been its defense. But now, it seems, the offense may be poised for some recognition.

Leading the way is a pride and joy of the Flathead Valley in senior running back Lex Hilliard. The 6-foot, 228-pound Flathead High School graduate was a Walter Payton Award finalist last season. He is a top candidate to win it this year. Not since quarterback Dave Dickenson, during the 1995 national championship campaign, has a Grizzly won the nation's top I-AA offensive player award.

That's not the only connection Hilliard has to the Grizzlies' two national championships.

Hilliard needs 1,182 rushing ing yards to surpass Yohance Humphery, who helped lead the Griz to the 2001 national championship, as UM's career rushing leader. Hilliard rushed for 1,322 yards as a junior and 972 yards as a sophomore. He also needs 15 touchdowns to break Humphery's UM career record of 48 touchdowns. Hilliard scored 17 touchdowns as a sophomore - which tied a UM single-season record - and 12 last year.

"Our hopes for him this year are to break out school career records for rushing yards and touchdowns, to be an All-American and win the Payton Award," said fourth-year UM coach Bobby Hauck. "If that were to happen, I would say that (Hilliard) would be considered the greatest back in school history. All of those things are out there for him this season, and it's my hope that he can attain those goals."

But the O doesn't stop with Hilliard.

Hilliard is one of six-plus starters, 19 lettermen and five all-league picks back on offense for the Griz who should mesh well with four quality I-A transfers.

Those I-A transfers are senior quarterback Josh Swogger from Washington State, junior running back Reggie Bradshaw from Louisville, junior running back Greg Coleman from Iowa State and junior wide receiver Craig Chambers from the University of Washington.

The 6-5, 237-pound Swogger had an outstanding spring and earned the starting job at QB over sophomore Cole Bergquist, who was 5-3 as a starter last year.

"(Swogger) is an experienced guy," Hauck said. "He's mature, and he's got a lot of leadership abilities to go along with a big arm and his understanding of the game. (Swogger) brings something to the table that some of the younger players can't, and we are hoping for him to take the reigns and lead our team."

Senior Jason Washington, who started four games last season, is recovering from an injured shoulder suffered during the Weber State game last year.

The wide receivers were young last year but could be a dynamic position for the Griz this year.

Ryan Bagley - a 6-4, 210-pound junior from Great Falls - had a team-high 50 catches for 499 yards and two touchdowns last season. Eric Allen - a 6-3, 208-pounder who transferred from Oklahoma State last season - had 14 catches for 106 yards. The 6-4, 200-pound Chambers was the UW Huskies' second-leading receiver the past two seasons. He had 31 catches for 573 yards and six TDs last year. He has yet to join the team at practice, though, because he has to finish up some things academically first, Hauck said.

Behind the top three WRs are three sophomores, with a couple from Montana, who already have experience.

Mike Ferriter (6-1, 201) from Helena was the team's third-leading receiver last season with 20 catches for 182 yards and a TD. Matt Troxel (5-9, 173) had 14 catches for 117 yards. Rob Schulte (5-8, 180) from Great Falls and redshirt freshmen Tyler Palmer (6-3, 199) from Missoula and Marc Mariani from Havre should see action this year.

"There's been incredible growth at the wide receiver position in attitude, maturity, strength and in their ability to make plays and understand the offense," Hauck said.

Bagley, Allen, Ferriter and Mariani took turns making tough catches in Wednesday's drills, the Missoulian reported.

The tight end position is dominated by youth with redshirt freshmen Dan Beaudin (6-5, 228) from Noxon, Kevin Klaboe (6-2, 218) from Billings. But western Montana high school fans are foaming at the mouth to see Frenchtown true freshman Stephen Pfahler (6-5, 215) in action. The Griz also designated one of their signing-day "athletes" to tight end in 6-6, 240-pound Robert Overton of California.

The offensive line is the biggest question mark on offense. The Griz suffered key injuries a year ago and then lost three starters to graduation.

However, junior Cody Balogh (6-7, 300) started all 12 games last year and is the incumbent at left tackle. Senior center Jeff Marshall (6-5, 285) had 11 starts last year but sat out spring drills with an injury. He has returned to fall practice but if he can't go senior center Ryan Wells (6-4, 280) from Hamilton will fill in.

The rest of the guys will determine how good the offense will be.

Sophomore Colin Dow (6-5, 315) from Billings earned the starting job at right guard and was tabbed by Hauck as an honors candidate. Sophomore Brent Russum (6-4, 290) also had an outstanding spring and earned the starting job at right tackle as well as honors candidate status. Junior Eric Michel (6-6, 281) will start at left guard.

"It's a young group. It's a good-sized group, which had a good spring and good off-season," Hauck said. "We have one senior slated to (maybe) start in Wells at center; other than that, we have two juniors in Balogh and Michel and then sophomores Russum and Dow. Guys like (Sidney's) Terran Hillesland (6-7, 313) and (Dillon's) Chris Dyk (6-8, 281), a couple of redshirt freshmen, will challenge to start as the season goes on."

Behind Hilliard at running back, the Griz have great depth. Senior Brady Green brings his toughness and quickness back and will be joined by the two I-A transfers in Bradshaw (6-0, 215) and Coleman (6-1, 235).

"Bradshaw provides us with a powerful, explosive backup and Green sees the field maybe as well as any of our running backs," Hauck said.

Coleman, who joined the Griz this summer, rushed for 419 yards last season - including 104 against Missouri. He had 10 carries for 28 yards for Iowa State against Iowa, which the Griz open against, in a 23-3 victory.

Behind the top four RBs are redshirt freshmen Brandon Utterback from Fort Benton and Thomas Brooks-Fletcher, sophomore Andrew Schmidt from Bozeman and true freshman Chase Reynolds from Drummond.

Kickoff for the Grizzlies season-opener against Iowa on Sept. 2 is 11 a.m. Central, 10:05 a.m. Mountain time.