Next up for the unbeaten Griz is a 3-6 Idaho State team that with one recent exception has played UM tough. They'll kick off Saturday inside ISU's Holt Arena at 3:05 p.m. The Bengals have won only one of the last 10 meetings - 43-40 in double-overtime in 2003 - but had their chances in others.
Last season a defensive battle swung Montana's way when Torrey Thomas took an interception 14 yards for a touchdown with 33 seconds left. It sealed a 23-10 win.
Idaho State beat Portland State 38-20 to draw to 2-3 in Big Sky play under first-year coach John Zamberlin, though the Bengals have since lost at home to Cal Poly (48-28) and at Weber State (52-37).
Running back Josh Barnett, who like UM's Lex Hilliard is chasing his team's career rushing record, and receiver Eddie Thompson are two reasons ISU is dangerous. The Bengals also managed a 100-yard interception return (D.J. Clark) and a 95-yard kickoff return (J.D. Ponciano) against Weber State, making the second straight week they racked up two scoring plays of 70-plus yards.
“What catches your eye is how skilled they are,” said Hauck. “The two running backs (Barnett and Ken Cornist) seem like they've been there for 10 years. They just keep coming back and racking up yards.”
In 2005 Montana went to Pocatello with Cole Bergquist - pressed into duty as a redshirt freshman - at quarterback and prevailed 32-10. Other games have been nail-biters, including the 2003 loss, a 24-22 home win in 2004, a 13-9 home win in '02, and a 32-28 road win in 2001.
For 10 seasons Montana has won or shared the league football title. The streak is second at the Division I level only to the 14 Big 8 titles Oklahoma won from 1946-59.
That means the Griz own the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) record for consecutive league championships as well as playoff seasons.
The Grizzlies also edged back up to No. 3 in both the Sports Network and FCS coaches' polls this week, following Massachusetts' loss to a 2-7 Rhode Island team Saturday.
What that means for UM's home playoff slate won't be clear until Nov. 18, when the selection airs on ESPNU at 1:30 p.m. Mountain. Winning out would seem to guarantee the Griz a top seeding.
Possibly working against the Griz is a No. 14 rank among FCS teams in the Sagarin ratings, which is one of the numbers crunched into the Gridiron Power Index (GPI), where the Griz are No. 9.
“You start getting caught up in all that, you're going to get caught looking the wrong direction,” Hauck said. “In the playoffs, you get one game. And if you're lucky enough to win, you get another.
“I think with nine wins we're going to get a home playoff game. Beyond that is down the road. We're focused on playing Pocatello this weekend. If you keep winning, those things take care of themselves.”
Portland State came into last Saturday's 34-31 loss at Montana having blocked three kicks this season and the Vikings almost got another against the Griz.
After their own punter, Danny Urrego, pinned the Griz at their 2-yard line in the fourth, the Vikings forced a three-and-out. That left UM's Tyson Johnson to punt from the end zone and a Portland State defender shot in nearly untouched.
Johnson still wasn't sure Tuesday how he got the punt off; he said his first reaction was to look for the ball in the end zone.
“I'm not sure how (they) missed the ball,” said Hauck. “I know how he got there. We had a breakdown in protection, our first one of the year. That was a big punt. It was kind of a line-drive shot and credit to Brandon Dwyer and Van Cooper for covering so well. I think we netted about 45 yards on it.”
Johnson continues to lead the Big Sky in punting, averaging 43.9 yards. And he continues to kick well out of the end zone - he had a season-best 61-yarder against Northern Arizona the week before.
“He's hit the ball real well here the last month,” said Hauck. “And that was a big play. There's a chance that's going to be a safety or even a touchdown. Gosh, he's played well the last month.”
QUICK KICKS: Montana running back Lex Hilliard notched his 15th 100-yard game against Portland State, which ties him for ninth among active players in the FCS. Idaho State's Josh Barnett has 14, which ties him for 12th. Š Idaho State was picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky by both the media and league coaches. Š No. 20 Eastern Washington's game at NAU Saturday is significant to the Big Sky's playoff picture. An Eastern loss could mean the league will have just one playoff team for the first time since 1998.
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