Griz boast a win over Idaho State

There were trials and tribulations Saturday for Montana’s secondary, who literally limped through the 29-10 win over Idaho State. On an afternoon when junior Shann Schillinger contributed two interceptions (his third pick was called back on a late-hit penalty) and the backline stifled the nation’s 10th-ranked passing game, the Griz lost three starters for prolonged periods of time – including corners Trumaine Johnson and Andrew Swink, and field general Colt Anderson. 

Johnson, the true freshman starter, was lost for the game with an apparent ankle injury. Swink re-entered the contest after missing the majority of the second quarter, and Anderson heard cheers upon his re-entry into the safety slot late in the third quarter, dawning a heavily taped left ankle after missing a series. Head coach Bobby Hauck wouldn’t comment on Johnson’s status for this Saturday’s game against Montana State.

The revelation Saturday was the reserve play of Keith Thompson and freshman Mike McCord on the corners, manning the islands for much of the second quarter with Johnson and Swink out. After Idaho State struck with a 43-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, Kyle Blum and company were shut out on the three subsequent possessions, all of which segued into Griz touchdowns. The unit had five breakups, including two by Swink.

“Good teams find a way to win,” said Hauck after the game. “So we’re a good team, I guess.”

And a durable one, too.

“It’s what you’re expected to do. Football is a rough game,” added Hauck. “Our expectation is for our backups to come in and play at a championship level. We’ll evaluate it, and I think we’ll see some good and bad, but I think those kids were ready to go. I’m proud of them.”

“I thought everyone in there did their job,” said Schillinger, who led the squad with nine tackles. “But those are the things that we practice. If you’re one, two or three, you gotta be ready to go.

“You never know when things are going to happen. Good job by those younger guys coming in and doing their job and holding their own in there.”

The unit had to also shake off some early game rust, where they allowed Blum to complete several crucial throws in the first half. The notable toss came on a third and 15 at the end of the first quarter, where Blum’s pass slipped out of his hand and traveled 25 feet into the air. With the Griz secondary backs to the ball, Bengal receiver JD Ponciano scooped the ball out of the sky and gained 20 yards. Several minutes later, Blum found Eddie Thompson for a 43-yard score, making it 7-2.

“That touchdown they got, that was on me,” said Schillinger. The junior from Baker more than made up for it. His interception in the end zone during the third quarter was called back after a late hit on Blum - it would have negated Idaho State’s field goal. He continued his acrobatics in the red zone on the final two threatening Bengal possessions, intercepting both passes around the end zone.

Schillinger said both picks were byproducts of the constant pressure all day on Blum.

“It’s not just me. It’s the whole defense,” he said. “Craig, the whole D-Line. Getting their hands up. Those are the little things people don’t see, you know the throwing lanes.”

Mettler was a star in his own right Saturday, and with the usual suspects like Cole Bergquist struggling with a 10-of-21 passing day, and half back Chase Reynolds sitting out most of the second quarter after a fumble, Mettler anchored the most consistent unit of the game. His final line was four tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery and two breakups. It was just his third full game back after being hampered with a leg injury during the mid-season – so he understands the demons the secondary battled on Saturday.

“Being out those three, four weeks that I was out, it was tough,” he said. “But it’s part of the game. It happens.”

roman.stubbs@umontana.edu