Following are game notes provided by the University of Montana Sports Information Department for the Grizzlies football game at Eastern Washington Saturday in Cheney, Wash. Click below for a PDF of the UM-EWUmedia game notes.
THE GAME: The 21st-ranked (Sports Network) University of Montana Grizzlies (2-2/0-1 BSC) are on the road this Saturday, Sept. 29, playing the 7th-ranked (SN) Eastern Washington Eagles (2-1/1-0 BSC) in a Big Sky Conference game in EWU’s Roos Field (11,000). Kickoff is at 5:15 p.m. (Mountain Time).
GRIZ RADIO: Veteran Mick Holien calls the play-by-play for Griz football for the 20th season in a row. Former Griz (1991-94) wide receiver Scott Gurnsey and Greg Sundberg provide color commentary. UM’s flagship station is KGVO Radio, 1290 AM/KVWE 101.5 FM. (The 2012 Grizzly Football Radio Network is listed on add 6-6-6 of the weekly release).
TV: The Griz-Eagle game will be televised by ROOT SPORTS. For DIRECTV customers, this weekend’s games will be available on ROOT SPORTS Channel 687 in the Northwest region and Channel 683 in the Rocky Mountain Region. The game will be available in the outer market on Audience Network Channel 239-1. For Dish Network Customers, the game will air on Channel 426 in the Northwest Region and Channel 414 in the Rocky Mountain Region. ROOT SPORTS is widely available on cable throughout Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Washington Wyoming, and New Mexico, as well as parts of Nevada, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.
ROOT SPORTS ANNOUNCERS — UM @EWU: Rich Burk (play-by-play), Jason Stiles (analyst), and Jenny Cavnar (sideline reporter).
STREAMING: There’s NO video streaming of any of the Grizzlies’ games on ROOT SPORTS.
SERIES HISTORY: Montana leads the series 26-11-1, and the Grizzlies have won 11 of the past 14.(EWU quick facts and series game-by game scores on add 3-3-3).
GRIZ LAST WEEK: Northern Arizona 41, at Montana 31: The Lumberjacks snapped a 14-game winning skein by the Grizzlies and they also ended UM’s 19-game Homecoming winning streak. It was the first win ever for NAU mentor Jerome Souers over the Griz. Souers, a former (1986-97) assistant coach at Montana, is in his 14tth season as the head man in Flagstaff.
BAUMAN & 5 TOS TOO MUCH FOR GRIZ TO OVERCOME: NAU junior halfback Zach Bauman rushed for a career-high 253 yards along with 3 touchdowns to lead the Jacks, and the NAU defense forced five Grizzly turnovers.
TALE OF TWO HALVES: A look at the second-half stats, which NAU led in every category but one, explains a lot about the Jacks’ comeback. Those comparisons: first downs (12 to 5), rushing yards (186 to 29); total yards (234 to 112); and time of possession (21:35 to 9:25). The Griz did lead in second-half passing yards (83 to 42). (Game stats/story on add 15-15-15).
26 YEARS IN A ROW IN THE “W” COLUMN: Montana has had 26 winning seasons in a row, from 1986 through the 2011 season.
BIG SKY CHAMPS: Last year the Grizzlies won (or shared) their 16th Big Sky Conference championship in the past 19 years, and their 13th in the last 14 seasons.
PLAYOFF REGULARS: The 2011 season was the 18th time in the last 19 years that Montana has participated in the national playoffs. The Griz played in the playoff a record 17 straight seasons from 1993-2010. UM has now participated in the Division I-AA and FCS playoffs a record 21 times.
TRAVEL PLANS: The team will leave for Cheney at 12:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28 via Beach Bus with the walk-thru that day slated for 5:45 p.m. (Pacific) and it is CLOSED. Lodging is at the Northern Quest Resort, 100 North Hayford Road, Airway Heights, Wash. (888-603-7051). The team will return to Missoula on Saturday, Sept. 29, ASAP after the game via Beach Bus.
