With the dust of the non-conference season all but settled, just one team — the Montana Grizzlies — remain unscathed with Big Sky Conference play approaching quickly. On Saturday, 12 of the league’s 13 teams begin conference play while Northern Colorado has a bye before embarking on eight straight weeks of Big Sky action.
Each Tuesday for the rest of the season, Skyline Sports will break down the Big Sky Conference race with weekly power rankings. These rankings are based on strength of schedule, quality of wins and each team’s future in regards to momentum, health, and upcoming match-ups.
1. Eastern Washington (0-0 in Big Sky play, 2-1 overall) — The No. 4 Eagles may not have escaped the non-conference unblemished but EWU navigated arguably the toughest pre-league slate in the country admirably.
Antoine Custer returned a kick 93 yards for a touchdown to spark Eastern Washington’s comeback win/by EWU Athletics
The Eagles opened their season under first-year starting quarterback Gage Gubrud with a resounding 45-42 victory at Pac 12 Washington State in which Gubrud threw for 474 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 74 yards and the game-winning score. The sophomore’s 548 yards of total offense broke Vernon Adams’ school record while senior All-America wide receiver Cooper Kupp became the all-time leader in touchdown catches in the history of the FCS with his 58th, 59th and 60th career scoring catches against the Cougs.
The following week, EWU affirmed it is back to a national championship contending level by taking five-time defending FCS champions North Dakota State down to the wire. Gubrud again shined, throwing for 450 yards and five touchdowns, including two to Kupp before Kupp left the game at halftime with a shoulder injury. But the Bison proved to be invincible in Fargo once again as Lance Dunn ripped off a 25-yard touchdown in overtime on the heels of Gubrud’s third interception to lift NDSU to a 50-44 victory.
Last week with Kupp on the shelf, Gubrud stumbled through the first three quarters, throwing for just 114 yards and being intercepted twice before giving way to Riley Hennessey. The sophomore came off the bench to lead EWU out of a 24-7 hole by throwing for 226 yards and three touchdowns as Eastern rallied to beat No. 10 Northern Iowa in Cheney, 34-30.
The Eagles escaped their brutal non-conference slate with a winning record but the tests continue right away in the Big Sky Conference. Eastern plays at preseason league favorite Northern Arizona on Saturday.
2. Montana (0-0 in Big Sky play, 2-0 overall) — With a revamped defense that has been smothering thus far, Montana began the season with consecutive wins, including the Grizzlies’ first win over a Top 5 opponent on the road since 2011.
The Griz started slow in a 41-31 win over Saint Francis. With 2:28 in the first half, UM trailed the Northeast Conference school 10-3 and with 10 minutes left in the third, Montana trailed 17-13. But Brady Gustafson threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two more after halftime as UM scored 35 second-half points, including 21 in the fourth quarter to win going away.
UM safety Justin Strong (5) makes a tackle vs. Saint Francis/by Jason Bacaj for Skyline Sports
While the Montana offense looked inconsistent and the special teams let Red Flash star Lorenzo Jerome get loose, the defense played lights out. Aside from a 73-yard touchdown by Junior Ajayi that served as the final score of the evening, Montana’s defense surrendered just 180 yards and gave up just 3.1 yards per play.
The following week, the Griz defense swarmed No. 3 Northern Iowa from the opening kickoff to the final buzzer. UNI star running back Tyvis Smith managed 130 yards and a touchdown but the Griz stuffed Panther quarterback Aaron Bailey. The senior dual-threat quarterback managed just eight yards on 20 carries and completed just 16-of-37 passes for 194 yards . The UM defense piled up nine tackles for loss, including five sacks and the unit forced two fumbles, recovering both. Safety Justin Strong, an Oregon State transfer, continued his strong play with 10 tackles, including nine solos, and a fumble recovery as Montana posted a 20-14 win despite punting 10 times, managing just 12 first downs and accumulating just 206 yards of total offense.
Montana had a bye last week, a welcome off week simply to have extra time to prepare for Cal Poly’s vaunted triple option attack. UM plays in San Luis Obispo at noon PST on Saturday.
3. Cal Poly (0-0 in Big Sky play, 2-1 overall) — The Mustangs have been the surprise of the league, externally at least, so far this season. But after a 2015 season filled with near misses and a roster that returned 18 starters from last year’s 4-7 finishers, Cal Poly believes it has the talent to make a run at the playoffs.
Chris Brown, arguably the greatest rushing quarterback in Big Sky history, is gone after two-plus years at the helm for the Mustangs’ triple option offense. But Dano Graves, the 2011 MaxPreps National Player of the Year, redshirted last season in preparation for this fall, the year he finally gets his chance at the helm. With fullback Joe Protheroe blowing up the middle of opposing defenses, Graves working as the trigger man in the option offense and running backs Kori Garcia and Kyle Lewis providing big-play ability, Cal Poly is off to as good a start as any team in the league.
Cal Poly offensive front in 2015/by Brooks Nuanez
Graves rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns and Protheroe added 119 and a touchdown as Cal Poly nearly knocked off FBS Nevada in Reno. Graves scored with 1:20 left in regulation and the Mustangs elected to go for two. But a false start penalty meant they had to reset and Cal Poly instead settled for the game-timing PAT. IN overtime, James Butler’s five-yard touchdown lifted the Wolfpack to a 30-27 win.
The following week, Cal Poly rushed for 354 yards and averaged almost six yards per carry in a 38-16 win over rival San Diego. Protheroe rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns while Graves rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown and threw for 130 yards and two touchdowns, including a 57-yard score to Lewis and a 27-yard strike to Garcia.
Last week, Cal Poly notched one of the Big Sky’s best non-conference wins by knocking off No. 9 South Dakota State in Brookings. Protheroe scored a 76-yard touchdown to break a 24-24 tie, then scored a 13-yard touchdown to lift the Mustangs to a 38-31 win. Protheroe earned Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honors by finishing with 217 yards on a career-high 31 carries. The Mustangs totaled 440 rushing yards and Graves threw for 161 yards and a touchdown to push CP over 600 yards of total offense.
The tests continue for Cal Poly with Montana and the Grizzlies’ swarming defense coming to SLO.
4. Southern Utah (0-0 in Big Sky play, 1-1 overall) — The reigning Big Sky champions received almost no respect in the off-season. SUU was voted to finish seventh in the league by the media and the league’s coaches. Much of the underrated nature of the Thunderbirds stems from the team losing Miles Killebrew, LeShaun Sims and Big Sky Defensive MVP James Cowser to the NFL.
SUU running back Malik Brown (4) in 2015/by Brooks Nuanez
But Southern Utah returns 16 starters, including first-team All-Big Sky outside linebacker Mike Needham and preseason All-Big Sky defensive lineman Chance Bearnson. Senior Malik Brown returns for his third year as SUU’s starting tailback and the Thunderbirds landed BYU transfer quarterback McCoy Hill to replace Ammon Olsen.
Hill suffered a shoulder injury in the first half of SUU’s 24-0 loss to Pac 12 Utah. The defense held tough though, allowing just one second-half touchdown as Needham piled up 11 tackles and two tackles for loss.
SUU bounced back for one of the better non-conference wins by a Big Sky team by defeating Southeastern Louisiana 28-23 behind 146 rushing yards from Brown. Junior college transfer Patrick Tyler came off the bench to throw for 188 yards and three touchdowns, including two after halftime to lift SUU to its first win.
The T-Birds’ first Big Sky title defense begins in Cedar City. Portland State, the only team to beat Southern Utah last season during league play, comes to down for an early-season showdown.
5. North Dakota (0-0 in Big Sky play, 1-2 overall) — UND has give up 84 points and scored 82 thus far. The Fighting Hawks are a flip of a coin away from being undefeated and holding the top spot in these rankings.
UND running back John Santiago (22) in 2015/by Evan Frost for Skyline Sports
UND’s season began with the defense stuffing Stony Brook. North Dakota allowed just 221 yards of total offense, 13 first downs and 62 rushing yards on 34 carries (1.8 yards per carry). Cal Daniels’ fumble recovery for a touchdown tied the game 7-7. Cole Reyes notched a safety for a 9-7 lead that UND held on to until midway through the fourth quarter. Gavin Heslop blocked a punt and Kyle Morgan returned it seven yards for a touchdown to lift Stony Brook to a 13-9 win.
The following week, North Dakota went down to the wire with FBS Bowling Green. Deion Harris snared an interception he returned 61 yards for a touchdown to keep UND in it early then junior quarterback Keaton Studsrud executed a two-minute drill to push the contest to the bring late. Studsrud found Stetson Carr for a three-yard touchdown with 13 seconds left. UND went for two, Studsrud fired to Carr again and the game-winning try fell to the turf incomplete. Bowling Green won, 27-26.
Facing a must-win situation to avoid an 0-3 start and trailing 34-14 with two minutes left in the third quarter, UND mounted a rally. Reid Taubenheim hit two field goals, John Santiago caught a touchdown pass and Harris returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown to send the game into overtime. In OT, Santiago ripped off a go-ahead 25-yard touchdown run, then had another run down to the one-yard line to set up a Studsrud dive to lift UND to a 47-44 double-overtime victory.
Santiago remains one of the elite players in the Big Sky. The true sophomore has gone over 100 yards rushing 11 times in 14 career starts. He is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and 103.3 yards per game as UND plays at Montana State to open Big Sky Conference play on Saturday.
6. Northern Arizona (0-0 in Big Sky play, 1-2 overall) — The preseason Big Sky favorite started its season on the road against two formidable opponents and started with two consecutive losses.
NAU quarterback Case Cookus in 2015/by Brooks Nuanez
Against Arizona State, NAU rolled up 425 yards of total offense as Case Cookus threw for 369 yards and a touchdown to Elijah Marks. Emmanuel Butler finished with seven catches for 118 yards and Marks had eight catches for 174 yards but the NAU attack stalled out in the red-zone in a 44-13 loss to the Pac 12 Sun Devils.
Week 2 brought a matchup against No. 17 Western Illinois, a playoff team in 2015. Marks continued his strong start with a 42-yard touchdown reception on NAU’s first possession but Steve McShane, Lance Lenoir and the Leathernecks proved to be too much for NAU to handle. McShane rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns, Lenoir caught 11 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown and Sean McGuire finished with 336 yards passing as WIU posted a 34-20 win
Back at home for the first time last week, NAU poured it on Division II New Mexico Highlands. Cookus threw touchdown passes on NAU’s first seven possessions, including finding Butler five times as NAU built a 49-3 halftime lead and won going away, 73-3. Cookus finished 14-of-25 for 296 yards and seven touchdowns. Butler caught six passes for 99 yards and tied a school record with five touchdowns. Marks finished with five catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns. NAU also rushed for 390 yards, finishing with 686 yards of total offense.
7. Montana State (0-0 in Big Sky play, 2-1 overall) — The Bobcats have showed a renewed energy and ability to make plays defensively but MSU’s revamped unit will receive its first real test against UND on Saturday.
The Bobcats kicked off the Jeff Choate era by hanging tough with FBS Idaho. MSU scored on the opening drives of the first and third quarters and shut out Idaho after the first quarter. Montana State held Idaho to just 128 yards passing and Tre’Von Strong’s interception in the end-zone gave MSU a chance late before the Bobcats fell, 20-17.
MSU wide reveiver Mitch Herbert in 2016/by Brooks Nuanez
MSU enters conference play with two straight victories over lesser opponents. Montana State forced five turnovers and held off a late charge from Bryant for Choate’s first win, a 27-24 victory despite mustering just 265 yards of total offense and 14 first downs. Bryant is a team from the Northeast Conference with 30 scholarships.
Last week, Montana State again forced five turnovers, moving to the FCS lead with a turnover margin of +11 thanks to 12 takeaways and just one turnover through three games. The Bobcats held Division II Western Oregon to eight first downs and just 180 yards of total offense as the Wolves did not even reach the red-zone one time in MSU’s 55-0 win.
Montana State has shown vast improvement defensively but the offense has looked inconsistent at best. MSU’s new offensive line — the Bobcats have four new starters up front — and quarterback Tyler Bruggman will receive its stiffest test with UND’s blitzing, multiple-front defense. The Bobcat defense will also receive its greatest challenge with Santiago and North Dakota’s power run game.
8. Northern Colorado (0-0 in Big Sky play, 2-1 overall) — The Bears and the Griz were the only two Big Sky teams to earn wins in their first two outings among the Big Sky’s 13 teams. UNC’s good start is hard to gage given its strength of schedule.
Northern Colorado began its season by scoring 42 unanswered points in the first half of a 56-27 win over NAIA Rocky Mountain College of the Frontier Conference. The Bears rushed for 273 yards and seven different players scored offensive touchdowns.
UNC quarterback Kyle Sloter/by of UNC athletics
The following week, starting quarterback Jacob Knipp suffered a shoulder injury on the third play of the game against Abilene Christian, giving way to senior Kyle Sloter. The former Southern Miss transfer came off the bench and threw for 408 yards and six touchdowns and ran in a 22-yard touchdown to lead UNC to a 55-52 victory. Against ABU, Trae Riek rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown and also caught six passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Last week, Northern Colorado found itself on the other side of the spectrum at Colorado State. The Rams built a 38-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 47-21 victory in Fort Collins. CSU quarterback Collin Hill threw for 315 yards and four touchdowns and ran in a 51-yard touchdown. Sloter threw for 318 yards and two scores for UNC.
This week, the Bears are off. UNC hosts NAU on October 1.
9. Weber State (0-0 in Big Sky play, 1-2 overall) — Without the presence of All-Big Sky middle linebacker Emmett Tela, Weber’s defense has struggled, particularly against the run.
WSU quarterback Jadrian Clark/by WSU Athletics
Utah State rushed for 444 yards and averaged nearly 10 yards per carry in a 45-6 win in Logan to begin Weber State’s season off on a losing note. Weber gave up 310 yards rushing and 491 yards of total offense as South Dakota stormed back from a three-score deficit for a 52-49 win to drop Weber to 0-2.
Against South Dakota, Landon Stice and Cardon Malan scored defensive touchdowns as Weber jumped out to a 21-0 lead halfway through the first quarter. The lead swelled to 42-21 with 4:43 left in the third quarter on Cory Thomson’s one-yard touchdown run. USD scored 21 unanswered points to push the game into overtime tied at 42.
In the first overtime, the two teams traded touchdowns. In the second OT, Taylor Hintze missed a 36-yard field goal for the Wildcats and Miles Bergner kicked the game-winner.
Despite piling up 520 yards of total offense, including 451 total yards and a career-high 380 passing yards for senior quarterback Jadrian Clark, Weber still needed a late touchdown run by Clark with 1:42 left to pull out a 14-7 win over Sacramento State.
Weber State play at UC Davis on Saturday.
10. Portland State (0-0 in Big Sky play, 1-2 overall) — The Vikings have perhaps the hardest resume in the Big Sky to judge.
PSU quarterback Alex Kuresa in 2016/by Larry C. Lawson
Portland State had to score 22 straight points in the fourth quarter to rally for a 43-26 win over Division II power Central Washington in Portland. Then the Vikings hit the road, taking a bus to San Jose State where they suffered a 66-35 loss and then traveled up I-5 for a beat down at the hands of FBS No. 7 Washington, 41-3.
Against CWU, senior quarterback Alex Kuresa threw for 222 yards and rushed for 123 yards, totaling three touchdowns. Against San Jose State, utility quarterback/running back Paris Penn rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass but PSU turned the ball over six times in its first loss to an FBS team under second-year head coach Bruce Barnum. Against Washington, the Vikings managed just 13 first downs and 182 yards of total offense. PSU also turned the ball over four times in the lopsided loss.
Last season, PSU stopped a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter to emerge with a 24-23 win over Southern Utah, the only Big Sky loss suffered by the Thunderbirds in 2015. The season begins with a rematch of the Big Sky’s two top teams in Cedar City, Utah on Saturday.
11. Idaho State (0-0 in Big Sky play, 1-2 overall) — Like Portland State, Idaho State has a resume filled with a Division II and two FBS games.
Against Division II Simon Fraser, The Bengals build a 33-0 lead by the first possession of the third quarter while forcing the team from Burnaby, British Columbia into -22 yards rushing. Tanner Gueller threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns as the Bengals piled up 543 yards of total offense against the overmatched opponents.
The last two weeks, ISU has been the severe underdog against two straight Pac 12 opponents. Against Colorado, the Buffs build a 49-0 halftime lead and a 56-0 third quarter lead in a 56-7 win. CU piled up 597 yards of total offense and held Idaho State to 96 total yards. The following week, Idaho State was more competitive at Oregon State. Jakori Ford’s 75-yard touchdown run cut the OSU lead to 23-7 at the beginning of the fourth quarter before eventually falling 33-7. The Bengals managed 363 total yards to OSU’s 418 yards.
The Bengals host Sacramento State on Saturday.
12. UC Davis (0-0 in Big Sky play, 1-2 overall) — Davis has played a Pac 12 opponent and a Mountain West opponent with an NAIA powerhouse sandwiched in the middle.
Davis built a 7-0 lead at Autzen Stadium at Oregon and trailed 39-21 entering the fourth quarter in a 53-28 loss. Davis quarterback Ben Scott threw for 303 yards while Manu Luua rushed for 96 yards and three touchdowns.
The following week, 2014 NAIA national champion Southern Oregon, the NAIA national runner-up last season, gave UCD all the Aggies could handle. Davis took a 21-21 tie and extended the lead to 35-21 before halftime and 42-21 in the third quarter in its 52-35 win. Southern Oregon totaled 653 total yards to UCD’s 617 yards and SOU piled up 31 first downs. Tanner Trosin threw for 428 yards and three touchdowns but Scott countered with 381 yards and four touchdowns. Luuga rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns as Davis avoided the upset.
Wyoming rushed for 274 yards and piled up 472 yards of total offense in a 45-22 win over the Aggies. The Cowboys build a 35-9 lead at halftime before cruising the final two quarters. Scott suffered a leg injury against Wyoming and his status for Davis’ game against Weber State is unknown.
13. Sacramento State (0-0 in Big Sky play, 0-3 overall) — Despite opening the season with a Division II opponent and playing Weber State in a non-conference game, the Hornets are the only team in the Big Sky without a victory.
Sac State committed nine penalties, turned the ball over three times and gave up a special teams touchdown in a 38-30 loss to Western Oregon to open the season. IN that game, the Hornets averaged just 2.6 yards per carry and rushed for just 95 yards against their Division II foes.
Sac followed by mustering just 185 yards and 3.2 yards per play, managing just seven first downs in a 31-3 loss to Fresno State. Last week, Sac gave up 520 yards of total offense, including 451 to Weber State quarterback Jadrian Clark but was able to hang until late in the fourth quarter of a 14-7 loss. Demetrius Warren rushed for 81 yards and Sac’s only touchdown in the loss to WSU.
Sac State plays at Idaho State on Saturday.
Photo attribution noted. All Rights Reserved.
