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Breaking news: Griz are back
MISSOULA — You got a sense of it during Montana's 45-10 domination of Weber State on Oct. 29.
At that point, if it was an idea for a news story, it would be just a hunch.
You could see it happening two weeks ago when Montana dismantled then-No. 1 Montana State in Bozeman.
You might think of that win as "an anonymous source close to the situation."
But if you had any doubt, Saturday was a virtual press release as the truth was confirmed and attributed: the No. 5 Montana Grizzlies are back.
In their triumphant return to the FCS playoffs after an uncharacteristic one-year hiatus, the Griz went back to the dominant ways that have made them a national power - with a stout, turnover-creating defense, an ever-emerging offense that continues to mature each week, and 22,000 fans that continue to pack Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
"It was great to play in the Mt. Rushmore of college venues in our country and I certainly want to congratulate them on the win," Bears coach Clint Conque said.
It all added up to a 41-14 win over visiting Central Arkansas in a game that was even less close than the lopsided score would indicate.
Admittedly, the Griz are still a long way from their ultimate goal of a national championship. But if the last month-plus is any indication, Montana seems to have the tools to make it back to the title game.
"It's a beautiful thing to be hitting on all cylinders right now as you go into the playoffs," senior wide receiver Jabin Sambrano said. "It just seems that our team is getting better and better each week. That's just going down to preparation, not ever taking a day off and being hungry every single day, regardless if it's a Monday and we're just doing striders. We've that mindset that we're going to be somewhere when it comes to January (6)."
FCS newbie Central Arkansas wasn't beaten before it stepped on the field Saturday. That's why every game begins scoreless. But the conditions were ripe for a Montana victory and the playoff-tested Grizzlies attacked with the ferocity of their namesake mascot.
Playing in front of a hostile crowd in the bitter cold, the pass-first Bears of the Southland Conference struggled to move the ball on the ground, a necessity when playing this late in the season. When they did run the ball, they fumbled it five times, losing three, and failing to give themselves a chance.
It added up to 17 first-quarter points for the Griz and the Bears faced a 38-0 deficit before they registered on the scoreboard.
"I certainly don't think the moment was too big for these young men," Conque said. "I think we were just so amped up, our ball security (suffered) and we made a couple of mistakes in the first half against a really good Montana team."
One player who certainly wasn't phased was Bears senior quarterback Nathan Dick, who began his collegiate career and started several games at Arkansas of the SEC. Dick threw for 265 yards, but had a costly interception at the UM 9-yard line that saw a potential 10-7 deficit morph into a 17-0 Griz lead.
Afterward, Dick raved about the opportunity to play at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
"I think this environment was an awesome place to play and I was really excited before I came here," Dick said. "It was a great experience. I loved playing here, I just wish we could have valued the football a little bit better."
And that is a testament to the mystique and the tradition that the Montana football program has built. Washington-Grizzly Stadium has become a destination to be reached and its home team a host worthy of respect.
Though the team loses Dick next season, the Bears return six starters on offense and eight starters on defense. They are poised to be a contender for years to come, a point noted by Conque afterward.
But Saturday belonged to Montana and it appears order was restored to Griz nation as Montana is on its way to the FCS quarterfinals.
Jesse Geleynse is a Tribune Sports Writer and covers FCS football. He can be reached at 406-791-1470
MISSOULA — You got a sense of it during Montana's 45-10 domination of Weber State on Oct. 29.
At that point, if it was an idea for a news story, it would be just a hunch.
You could see it happening two weeks ago when Montana dismantled then-No. 1 Montana State in Bozeman.
You might think of that win as "an anonymous source close to the situation."
But if you had any doubt, Saturday was a virtual press release as the truth was confirmed and attributed: the No. 5 Montana Grizzlies are back.
In their triumphant return to the FCS playoffs after an uncharacteristic one-year hiatus, the Griz went back to the dominant ways that have made them a national power - with a stout, turnover-creating defense, an ever-emerging offense that continues to mature each week, and 22,000 fans that continue to pack Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
"It was great to play in the Mt. Rushmore of college venues in our country and I certainly want to congratulate them on the win," Bears coach Clint Conque said.
It all added up to a 41-14 win over visiting Central Arkansas in a game that was even less close than the lopsided score would indicate.
Admittedly, the Griz are still a long way from their ultimate goal of a national championship. But if the last month-plus is any indication, Montana seems to have the tools to make it back to the title game.
"It's a beautiful thing to be hitting on all cylinders right now as you go into the playoffs," senior wide receiver Jabin Sambrano said. "It just seems that our team is getting better and better each week. That's just going down to preparation, not ever taking a day off and being hungry every single day, regardless if it's a Monday and we're just doing striders. We've that mindset that we're going to be somewhere when it comes to January (6)."
FCS newbie Central Arkansas wasn't beaten before it stepped on the field Saturday. That's why every game begins scoreless. But the conditions were ripe for a Montana victory and the playoff-tested Grizzlies attacked with the ferocity of their namesake mascot.
Playing in front of a hostile crowd in the bitter cold, the pass-first Bears of the Southland Conference struggled to move the ball on the ground, a necessity when playing this late in the season. When they did run the ball, they fumbled it five times, losing three, and failing to give themselves a chance.
It added up to 17 first-quarter points for the Griz and the Bears faced a 38-0 deficit before they registered on the scoreboard.
"I certainly don't think the moment was too big for these young men," Conque said. "I think we were just so amped up, our ball security (suffered) and we made a couple of mistakes in the first half against a really good Montana team."
One player who certainly wasn't phased was Bears senior quarterback Nathan Dick, who began his collegiate career and started several games at Arkansas of the SEC. Dick threw for 265 yards, but had a costly interception at the UM 9-yard line that saw a potential 10-7 deficit morph into a 17-0 Griz lead.
Afterward, Dick raved about the opportunity to play at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
"I think this environment was an awesome place to play and I was really excited before I came here," Dick said. "It was a great experience. I loved playing here, I just wish we could have valued the football a little bit better."
And that is a testament to the mystique and the tradition that the Montana football program has built. Washington-Grizzly Stadium has become a destination to be reached and its home team a host worthy of respect.
Though the team loses Dick next season, the Bears return six starters on offense and eight starters on defense. They are poised to be a contender for years to come, a point noted by Conque afterward.
But Saturday belonged to Montana and it appears order was restored to Griz nation as Montana is on its way to the FCS quarterfinals.
Jesse Geleynse is a Tribune Sports Writer and covers FCS football. He can be reached at 406-791-1470
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