Big Sky: Griz try to break through at struggling EWU

You could definitely say that Eastern Washington’s football program had “it” going on this century, with a national title in 2010 and perennial playoff teams behind strong quarterback play.

The Eagles don’t seem to have it right now. 

Since a 57-41 road playoff loss to Montana in the 2021 FCS playoffs, in which Eagle QB Eric Barriere memorably threw 80 passes, Eastern is 8-18. The latest loss came 49-16 Saturday at FBS Nevada, not that it mattered much to Montana coach Bobby Hauck. 

“They’re got a good team over there again,” Hauck said Monday of the 1-3 Eagles. “I’ve been watching them the last day and a half, they play really hard, and I think they’re really good in the kicking game, in particular.” 

That might make the Eagles dangerous as they play host to the Montana Grizzlies Saturday, in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams. On the other hand, the No. 4 Grizzlies seem due to win for the first time on the red turf of Roos Field. They’re 0-7 on it to this point. 

Hauck noted that the Eagles play three quarterbacks these days; one of them, Michael Wortham, continues to be their main kickoff returner. Meanwhile Kekoa Visperas has completed 82 of 104 passes this season, with 811 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. He was 15 of 22 for 116 yards at Nevada (Jared Taylor is the third QB).  

Eastern is running the ball more with Malik Dotson and the excellently named Tuna Altihir, which is a little different. The main issue seems to be run defense, although at No. 84 in the country, the Eagles aren’t as bad as some (Western Carolina is 102, for example, and Utah Tech is 123rd out of 123 FCS teams).  

But Nevada, under former MSU coach Jeff Choate, ran for 320 yards on 45 carries Saturday. 

“Clearly, we’re playing down a level of competition and they’re playing up a level of competition, I get that,” Choate said. “But, by the same token, the same thing happened here last year and the result was a little bit different.” 

A year ago, under a different head coach, Nevada was beaten 33-6 at home by Idaho.  

All of which has Eastern, who advanced to the 2018 FCS title game in Aaron Best’s second season as coach, searching for answers. 

“Just got to tackle,” EWU linebacker Ahman Williams told the Spokesman-Review. “The plays are there to be made, and if you make them you win the game. If you don’t, you don’t.” 

“We just have to get closer to where we need to get in the next six days,” Best said Saturday. “The Big Sky is upon us.” 

Special Bobcats 

Only Alabama State, Bryant and The Citadel have more blocked kicks this season than Montana State, which for the second straight week blocked a punt at Bobcat Stadium. 

On Sept. 14 Taki Uluilakepa knocked down a punt by Maine that was recovered at the Black Bears’ 22; two plays later Tommy Mellott hit Ryan Lonbergan with a 4-yard touchdown pass for a 21-0 lead in what became a 41-24 win. 

This past Saturday against Mercyhurst, the Missoula Sentinel tandem of Rylan Ortt (block) and Zac Crews (scoop and score) teamed up for another big special teams play. 

“Those are obviously game-changing plays in these last two home wins,” MSU coach Brent Vigen said after his team’s 52-13 victory. “And hopefully we can continue to put pressure on punts as the season goes on.” 

Jungle-Bound 

The No. 3 Bobcats begin conference play at 2-2 Idaho State, which is coming off a 38-28 over Southern Utah. The Bengals ran 33 times for 262 yards in the win, led by Dason Brooks’ 136 yards on just eight carries. 

Montana State, meanwhile, had it all going against Mercyhurst, including Tommy Mellott’s second career game with three scoring passes. 

The most impressive was a 50-yard catch-and-run by Adam Jones that was an option off the main route. Mellott, who ran five times for 66 yards, was 12 of 15 passing. 

As dangerous as the Butte product is running the ball, it appears MSU aims to the senior’s exposure to injury. 

“Not that he won’t carry the ball, but that was intentional though the nonconference season,” Vigen said of Mellott, who has 23 carries (for 210 yards) in four games.  

At the same time, the Cats have thrown it well. 

“The passing game I think we feel like we’re all in a different place than maybe were this time last year,” Vigen said. 

He’s the (Gill)Man 

Eli Gillman’s 66-yard burst for Montana’s first touchdown Saturday against Western Carolina was a big momentum boost, since the Griz trailed 17-0 at the time, and was eye-popping. The jump-cuts and acceleration seem improved over 2023, when Gillman was the Jerry Rice Award winner for the top freshman in the FCS. 

“I think he’s maturing in the physical nature of the game, where he’s finishing runs,” Hauck said, a couple days after his team prevailed, 46-35. “He’s not only able to make people miss and run around people, but he’s running through contact and finishing runs with the ball moving forward.” 

“I just kept working on my craft, I guess,” Gillman said Monday at the UM’s weekly press conference. “Blocking is a little different and run scheme’s a little different. We’re just kind of working together and you can see the chemistry as the season goes on.” 

Montana hired Joe Pawlak away from North Dakota to replace Chad Germer as offensive line coach this season. The second half of the North Dakota game aside, it’s gone swimmingly: Gillman, the reigning Big Sky offensive player of the week, leads the FCS at 10.13 yards per carry. 

He has 456 yards on 45 attempts. 

Unplugged 

It was as if Abilene Christian, down 27-3 in the third quarter to Idaho and having thrown an interception, called its IT department and got the old standby: Have you tried switching the game on and off? 

The lights went out on the Vandals and Wildcats, briefly, right after that interception, and from there ACU found some momentum. As in three straight touchdown drives that cut the gap to 27-24. The Wildcats got the ball back and into Idaho territory late, but needing perhaps one more first down to try a game-tying field goal Idaho’s defensive line rose up. 

Specifically, Zach Krotzer got a sack, then forced a fumble on back-to-back plays in the closing seconds. 

The No. 4 Vandals have the marquee game this week, on the road at No. 11/14 UC Davis Saturday. 

QUICK KICKS: Sac State DB Elias Mullican (two interceptions, one pick-6 in the Hornets’ second straight shutout win) and Weber State DE Kemari Munier-Bailey (8 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks in aa 39-0 win over Northwestern State) shared the Big Sky’s weekly honor on defense. ... Idaho State P Ross Bolger averaged 51.8 yards a boot against S. Utah to win special teams honors. ... EWU receiver Efton Chism III is among 13 FCS players with at least four touchdown catches. ... Northwestern (La.) State managed just 65 yards of offense against Weber State, in what was the Demons’ 11th straight loss.