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Local college capsules
September 9, 2006
South Dakota State (0-1)
WHEN/WHERE: 2:05 p.m., Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Mont.
RADIO/TV: WNAX 570-AM, Yankton; UTV (cable TV channel 10 in Sioux Falls), bigskytv.com.
COACHES: SDSU: John Stiegelmeier (10th year, 54-44); Montana: Bobby Hauck (4th year, 29-12)
LAST WEEK: SDSU lost 17-3 at home to Wisconsin-LaCrosse; Montana lost 41-7 at Iowa.
LAST TIME: Montana won 7-0 in Missoula.
LAST YEAR: SDSU (6-5, 3-2 in Great West); Montana (8-4, 5-2 in Big Sky)
RANKINGS: Montana is ranked No. 6.
SERIES: Montana leads 5-0.
ABOUT SDSU: The Jackrabbits are coming off one of the most discouraging losses in recent school history. A sloppy field led to sloppy play against NCAA Division III Wisconsin-LaCrosse last Saturday in Brookings and the Jacks never really got things going. Sharper play will be needed at the quarterback spot, where Andy Kardoes and Ryan Berry conspired to throw four interceptions, including three in the second half. There were other problems of course. SDSU had 11 penalties for 98 yards compared to two for 17 yards for the Eagles.
"Our offense and defense needs to improve in every phase," Stiegelmeier said. "I thought our special teams played pretty well. Our offense has to sustain drives, I don't care if there's mud, rain or snow, we need to sustain drives. Defensively, we have to start making plays."
The Jacks were without starting running back Anthony Watson, who had to take the night off for disciplinary reasons regarding academics. In Watson's absence, Cory Koenig had a good night, rushing 29 times for 156 yards, but it was not enough to get SDSU into the end zone.
A year ago, the Jacks gave the Grizzlies all they wanted in Missoula, but had a really difficult time moving the ball. The Grizzlies held SDSU to 108 total yards. The Jacks, on the other hand, gave up a 6-yard touchdown to Lex Hilliard in the first quarter, and that was it. SDSU was on the Montana 5 late in the game, but a botched snap set them back to the 16. Kardoes followed with a touchdown pass that was called back because he was over the line of scrimmage.
You have to figure the Jacks would be about two-touchdown underdogs against the Grizzlies if Vegas was sizing this one up. Working in the Jacks' favor would be their severe humbling at home last week - you'd have to think they'll be a feisty bunch after the loss to La Crosse - plus, they handled the Missoula experience pretty well last year.
ABOUT Montana: The Grizzlies trailed the Hawkeyes 17-7 with 6:44 left in the third quarter last week at Kinnick Stadium, then as is so often the case when a school is facing a team from a higher level, the Hawkeyes' physical advantages became more apparent. Iowa scored the last 24 points to change what had been kind of a contentious game into something resembling a rout. The Grizzlies never got it going on the ground at any time, however. They rushed for 10 yards against the Hawkeyes.
Quarterback Josh Swogger, a transfer from Washington State, went 16-of-28 for 122 yards for Montana.
"They have a really good quarterback," Stiegelmeier said. "All their skill people are Division I guys, so their offense is definitely a concern. Defensively, they have good team speed. Iowa didn't run away from them."
Montana is 16-4 in home openers at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
- Mick Garry
More on USD, USF and Auggie games today....
Local college capsules
September 9, 2006
South Dakota State (0-1)
WHEN/WHERE: 2:05 p.m., Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Mont.
RADIO/TV: WNAX 570-AM, Yankton; UTV (cable TV channel 10 in Sioux Falls), bigskytv.com.
COACHES: SDSU: John Stiegelmeier (10th year, 54-44); Montana: Bobby Hauck (4th year, 29-12)
LAST WEEK: SDSU lost 17-3 at home to Wisconsin-LaCrosse; Montana lost 41-7 at Iowa.
LAST TIME: Montana won 7-0 in Missoula.
LAST YEAR: SDSU (6-5, 3-2 in Great West); Montana (8-4, 5-2 in Big Sky)
RANKINGS: Montana is ranked No. 6.
SERIES: Montana leads 5-0.
ABOUT SDSU: The Jackrabbits are coming off one of the most discouraging losses in recent school history. A sloppy field led to sloppy play against NCAA Division III Wisconsin-LaCrosse last Saturday in Brookings and the Jacks never really got things going. Sharper play will be needed at the quarterback spot, where Andy Kardoes and Ryan Berry conspired to throw four interceptions, including three in the second half. There were other problems of course. SDSU had 11 penalties for 98 yards compared to two for 17 yards for the Eagles.
"Our offense and defense needs to improve in every phase," Stiegelmeier said. "I thought our special teams played pretty well. Our offense has to sustain drives, I don't care if there's mud, rain or snow, we need to sustain drives. Defensively, we have to start making plays."
The Jacks were without starting running back Anthony Watson, who had to take the night off for disciplinary reasons regarding academics. In Watson's absence, Cory Koenig had a good night, rushing 29 times for 156 yards, but it was not enough to get SDSU into the end zone.
A year ago, the Jacks gave the Grizzlies all they wanted in Missoula, but had a really difficult time moving the ball. The Grizzlies held SDSU to 108 total yards. The Jacks, on the other hand, gave up a 6-yard touchdown to Lex Hilliard in the first quarter, and that was it. SDSU was on the Montana 5 late in the game, but a botched snap set them back to the 16. Kardoes followed with a touchdown pass that was called back because he was over the line of scrimmage.
You have to figure the Jacks would be about two-touchdown underdogs against the Grizzlies if Vegas was sizing this one up. Working in the Jacks' favor would be their severe humbling at home last week - you'd have to think they'll be a feisty bunch after the loss to La Crosse - plus, they handled the Missoula experience pretty well last year.
ABOUT Montana: The Grizzlies trailed the Hawkeyes 17-7 with 6:44 left in the third quarter last week at Kinnick Stadium, then as is so often the case when a school is facing a team from a higher level, the Hawkeyes' physical advantages became more apparent. Iowa scored the last 24 points to change what had been kind of a contentious game into something resembling a rout. The Grizzlies never got it going on the ground at any time, however. They rushed for 10 yards against the Hawkeyes.
Quarterback Josh Swogger, a transfer from Washington State, went 16-of-28 for 122 yards for Montana.
"They have a really good quarterback," Stiegelmeier said. "All their skill people are Division I guys, so their offense is definitely a concern. Defensively, they have good team speed. Iowa didn't run away from them."
Montana is 16-4 in home openers at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
- Mick Garry
More on USD, USF and Auggie games today....