"Jonny and I agreed it felt great," said Procter, the leader of a relatively untested offensive line. "When it's your last year, coming into that opener, there are always questions. Shoot, I know we're going to have a real good team, but in the back of your mind, you're always wondering.
"Well, now we can just get down to work."
Kickoff is 1:07 p.m. at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. KECI will televise the game.
Montana generated just three first-half points and 334 total yards against stubborn Maine, while the young Griz defense surrendered 359 yards. The Big Sky favorites survived the physical contest by committing only one turnover - albeit, a costly one - and getting help from a dozen Maine penalties.
"Our biggest emphasis is on playing better," said second-year Montana coach Bobby Hauck. "We're far from being a finished product in any area. The players, as individuals, have to take it upon themselves to carry out their responsibilities."
Hofstra, once a I-AA playoff regular, beat Montana 10-9 in the Grizzlies' home opener in 2000. But while Montana rebounded to reach the I-AA title game that season, win its second national championship the next, and extend a playoff streak that has reached a record 11 straight years, Hofstra regressed. The Pride went 6-6 and then 2-10 last season, the worst mark in Coach Joe Gardi's 15-year tenure.
Preseason polls picked Hofstra last in the Atlantic 10's North Division, where Maine is the favorite. Hauck might respectfully disagree.
"They look physical, and they look fast to me," Hauck said. "Maine was bigger in stature, but the Hofstra kids aren't small. They run better than Maine."
Saturday's game has shootout potential.
Senior quarterback Craig Ochs passed for 217 yards and three touchdowns without an interception against Maine, operating almost exclusively from the shotgun formation. He scrambled cooly and effectively, and his only glaring mistake was a botched handoff deep in UM territory that set up a Maine TD.
Montana's rushing, which netted 117 yards, figures to improve against a defense that ranked last in the Atlantic 10 against the run. Running backs Justin Green and JR Waller will be joined by speedy sophomore Lex Hilliard, who missed Maine because of disciplinary reasons.
"Montana is much bigger on the O (offensive) line, compared with our (defensive) front," Gardi said. "We gotta be good on first down. We can't allow them to gain six or seven yards a pop."
With the graduation of career rushing leader Trevor Dimmie, Hofstra's no-huddle, four-wideout offense will likely depend even more on the arm of Bobby Seck, who was limited to four games last season because of injuries - but sparked wins over a pair of nationally ranked foes, Villanova and Northeastern. Seck shredded Albany for 424 yards and four TDs.
"They're a much better team when he's in the game," Hauck said.
Isaac Irby, a 5-foot-9 senior, had eight catches for a career-high 168 yards last week, including TDs of 58 and 34 yards. The other starting receivers are 5-9 Brian Wolman, 5-11 Devale Ellis and 6-2 freshman Charles Sullivan.
"Their receivers may not be as tall as Maine's, but small, fast guys present their own set of problems," said Montana linebacker Adam Hoge. "We'll try to throw some wrinkles at them, keep them off balance."
Seck said Hofstra has sprint-out packages and an array of "hot" receiving routes, designed to counter expected blitzes from the Griz. He also knows UM may drop five or even six defensive backs into coverage.
"We're going to try and stretch their defense," Seck said. "If we could establish our running game, that wouldn't hurt either."
Montana made it through the Maine game basically injury free, and will continue to rotate young players throughout its defense. But the heart remains up front, where veteran tackles such as Varona and Blake Horgan, and end Lance Spencer will be counted on to crumple a line that surrendered 38 sacks last season.
"We know if the defensive front does a good job, it's only going to help the secondary," Hoge said. "Giving up 125 yards rushing (against Maine), that's the max we want to give up to anybody. We have some things to work on."
Hauck said the keys for the Griz will be a) controlling field position in the kicking game; b) not letting Seck get comfortable, and c) handling Hofstra's multiple defensive fronts. As for Hofstra, it has to handle a hostile environment with confidence - as it did four years ago.
Reporter Rial Cummings can be reached at 523-5255 or rcummings@missoulian.com.
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