Saturday, he found himself running routes late in Montana's 41-20 thumping of Northern Colorado at sunny Nottingham Field. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder hasn't been at receiver long.
“Three days,” he said, smiling. “It's been a short time, but it's been fun.”
Larson didn't catch a pass, but he nonetheless had an impact on the game, on the punt team.
He and Ryan Fetherston nearly added to UM's total of five punt blocks this season. Fetherston, a freshman out of Helena who also had a sack, flustered Cameron Kaman, who almost kicked the ball between the 9 and the 0 on Fetherston's jersey.
“That's what I thought,” said Larson. “I kind of got a little excited - I was waiting for him to block it so I could pick it up. But the punter pulled it down, and I just kind of tried to tackle him and knocked the ball out. Got lucky and got the ball.”
The ball went over to the Griz on downs. They took advantage with a 30-yard field goal from Brody McKnight for their final points with 13 seconds left in the third quarter.
Iron Mike
Mike Ferriter had his seventh touchdown catch of the year for the Grizzlies, a 75-yarder that matched the longest play this season, by Ty Palmer back in the loss to Weber State.
“Just a good play-action play,” said the senior out of Helena. “The line obviously blocked really well for it, and gave (QB Cole Bergquist) time to set up in the pocket and throw it. I just ran a 20-yard dig route across the middle, and Cole put it right on the money.“
Ferriter, though, was just as happy with his part in an earlier run play: Chase Reynolds' 43-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Ferriter's block made the final 10 yards possible.
“It was kind of funny actually,” he said. “I missed a cut on the guy I later blocked, and I saw Chase cutting back, and we almost made eye contact, I felt like, on the field. He was like, ‘Go! Go get him!' and I was like, ‘All right, I'll go get this guy as long as you put it in the zone.' It was kind of weird.”
Reynolds confirmed making eye contact with Ferriter.
“He knew exactly what I was doing,” said Reynolds, who later followed Kevin Klaboe's lead block on a 32-yard scamper on a zone running play. “He made the block to seal it.”
“Things like that don't really happen,” said Ferriter. “But we were kind of like on the exact same page.”
In the trenches
Ferriter and Reynolds were quick to credit Montana's massive offensive line, and the front drew praise from Northern Colorado as well.
“They're chock full of All-Americans,” said UNC linebacker Cristian Sarmento, who had 13 tackles. “That's definitely the strength of the team. That and Cole (Bergquist). He's a real good quarterback. But that's a Division I line in terms of size.”
Montana piled up 186 rushing yards Saturday, and completed a rare triad of 70-yard scoring plays this year. Ferriter's 75-yard reception was his second play over 70 yards this season; he had a 73-yarder against Sac State. Palmer's bomb makes three.
The last time the Griz had three such long-gainers was in 1993, thanks to Dave Dickenson and receivers Scott Gurnsey (70) and Matt Wells (74 and 87).
Such plays don't involve just a crisp route and accurate pass.
“Marc (Mariani) was running the post on the other side, and I'm pretty sure he had their corner pinned to the inside,” Ferriter said of his TD. “I'm sure there were 10 guys blocking - no, nine guys. Cole definitely wasn't blocking.”
QUICK KICKS: After a 27-16 win over UNC in 2004, Montana swamped the Bears 53-21 and 52-7 in 2006-07. Š Saturday marked the Grizzlies' eighth straight win over UNC. Š Bergquist moved past Martin Mornhinweg (6,083 from 1980-84) and into sixth for career passing yards at UM. He has 6,278, to go with 49 career touchdowns, still No. 4 in UM annals. Š Bergquist's passing ratings Saturday: 227.8 by NCAA measure, 155.8 by NFL. Š Depending on whatever tweaking UM can do, Mariani either has 869 receiving yards or 857 this season. A 12-yard gain off a lateral pass was credited as a rush at Nottingham. Š Mariani has 12 TDs. Š Saturday marked the first time in 2008 the Griz had more sacks (four) than their opponent (three). Š Tyler Pelluer, Austin Mullins and Fetherston had sacks, and Jace Palmer and Tyler Hobbs shared another. Š UNC gained 223 yards in the fourth quarter. Š UM's Rob Schulte had 135 all-purpose yards, including 96 on three kick returns.
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