The 4th-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (1-1) play their second home game in a row, Saturday, Sept. 13 hosting the University of South Dakota Coyotes (1-1) in Washington-Grizzly Stadium (25,217). Kickoff is at 7:07 p.m.
SERIES/LAST MEETING: The Griz lead 11-6, and have the last four in a row. Last season Ellis Henderson scored on a 98-yard kickoff return with 1:36 remaining in the game to give the 10th-ranked Grizzlies a hard-fought 31-27 non-league road victory over the Coyotes.
LAST WEEK: (at Montana 48, C. Washington 14): Senior running back Travon Van scored four touchdowns on just six touches to lead the Grizzlies in a non-league contest in UM’s 2014 home opener. Van scored on touchdown runs of 31, 9, and 43, and also scored on a 85-yard pass reception. (Game stats and recap on add 16).
Join Griz Nation on Sept. 13, for Montana vs South Dakota – 7:07PM kickoff. Photo by ©Mark Mesenko for Make it Missoula.
POW NOMINEES vs. CWU: Van was the nominee on offense; defensive end Zack Wagenmann was the defensive pick; and junior punter Stephen Shaw was the special teams nominee. Shaw averaged 44.8 yards a punt and had three inside the 20-yard line.
CANADA UPDATE: Canada’s 2,238 career rushing yards keeps him up to fourth on the career list. He is also ranked fourth with 29 career scoring runs.
JOHNSON UPDATE: Johnson in now eighth in career passing yards with 6,016. He remains fifth in career touchdown throws with 54.
HENDERSON UPDATE: Henderson is 27th in career receiving yards with 1,420, and he’s ranked 10th in career receiving TDs with 16.
WAGENMANN UPDATE: Wagenmann has moved up to seventh in career sacks with 23, and is also seventh in career tackles for loss with 33.
JJ PAYTON WATCH LIST UPDATE: Johnson, a 6-1, 195-pound senior from Eugene, Ore., was 24-of-45-0 for 185 yards and a TD, and rushed four times for 13 yards in UM’s opener at Wyoming. He did not play last Saturday against CWU due to an injury.
WAGS BUCHANAN WATCH LIST UPDATE: Wagenmann, a 6-3 1/2, 255-pound senior defensive end from Missoula, had 9 tackles, a sack, and 1.5 TFLs in the win over CWU.
KIDDER OUT FOR THE SEASON: Defensive tackle Caleb Kidder, a 6-5, 275-pound junior from Helena, will miss the 2014 season due to an injury. Kidder, a UM honors candidate this season, was the Grizzlies fourth leading returning tackler with 40 stops a year ago.
GAME SPONSOR: The Griz-USD game is sponsored by Northwestern Energy.
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MEDIA COVERAGE:
GRIZ RADIO: Mick Holien is in his 22nd season as the voice of Griz football and his 30th year overall. Scott Gurnsey is in his 17th year serving as the in-booth analyst, while Greg Sundberg is the sideline reporter for his fourth season. (FB Radio Network is on add 6).
TELEVISION: The Grizzly-Coyote game will be televised by Cowles Montana Media stations. Ron Davis calls the play-by-play, Grady Bennett serves as the analyst, and Shaun Rainey is the sideline reporter. It is available on Charter channels 10/510; DirecTV channel 24, and Dish Network channel 17.
