By DAVE GUFFEY
The #4/#5-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (0-1) play their 2014 home opener, Saturday, Sept. 6, hosting the Central Washington University Wildcats (0-0) in CWU’s first game of the year in Washington-Grizzly Stadium (25,217). Kickoff is at 3:37 p.m.
HALL OF FAME GAME: Prior to Saturday’s contest UM’s two new inductees into the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame, former running backs Yohance Humphery (1998-2001) and Dick Imer (1953-54), will be introduced at mid-field. The pair will be inducted at a banquet Friday, Sept. 5.
SERIES/LAST MEETING: Montana leads the series 1-0. The first and only meeting was Sept. 27, 2008, as the Grizzlies nipped the Wildcats 38-35, as Brody McKnight kicked a 42-yard field goal with one second left to play. (See add 15 of this release).
LAST WEEK: At Wyoming 17, Montana 12: Montana gave Wyoming everything it wanted in the teams’ 2014 opener in its loss to the FBS Cowboys.
POW NOMINEES vs. WYOMING: The offensive pick was quarterback Jordan Johnson, who was 24-of-45-0 for 185 yards and a TD. The defensive nominee was junior linebacker Kendrick Van Ackeren, from Bellevue, Wash., who had a game and career-high 14 tackles.
CANADA UPDATE: Canada’s 2,238 career rushing yards moves him up to fourth on the career list. He is also ranked fourth with 29 career scoring runs.
JOHNSON UPDATE: Johnson has moved up to eighth in career passing yards with 6,016. He remains fifth in career touchdown throws with 54.
HENDERSON UPDATE: Henderson is now 27th in career receiving yards with 1,416, and stayed 10th in career receiving TDs with 16.
WAGENMANN UPDATE: Wagenmann moved up to a tie for seventh with safety Trey Youngin career sacks with 22, and is now eighth in tackles for loss (31.5).
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 at Wyoming. His 45 attempts last week were a career-high.
WAGS BUCHANAN WATCH LIST UPDATE: Wagenmann, a 6-3 ½, 255-pound senior defensive end from Missoula, had 2 sacks, a PD, and 7 tackles against the Cowboys last week.
WINNING WAYS: Montana has had 27 winning seasons in the past 28 years (since 1986). The Griz were 10-3 overall last season and finished 6-2 (third) in the Big Sky Conference. UM was ranked eighth in the nation in the Sports Network and FCS Coaches final polls of the season.
EIGHT MAKE NFL ROSTERS: The Griz had eight players make 2014 NFL rosters. including two rookies : Brock Coyle (linebacker, Seahawks) and Jordan Tripp (linebacker, Dolphins) (the complete list is on add 12). Offensive linemen Danny Kistler Jr. (Raiders) and William Poehls (Titans), also both rookies, were let go on the final day of cuts.
GAME SPONSOR: The Griz-CWU game is sponsored by Dream Sleep.
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. (The FB Network is on add 6).
COWLES MONTANA MEDIA: The Grizzly-Wildcat game will be televised by Cowles Montana Media. 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.
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