Griz defense tackles Lumberjacks with help of home fans

Homecoming is a day for Griz fans to have fun and get a little crazy, but that doesn’t mean they don’t still have work to do.

On Saturday, with a little more than a minute remaining and the University of Montana football team up by only three points, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks had to get the ball within field goal range from their own 11-yard line. That’s when the Griz faithful cleared their throats and showed the Lumberjacks how tough it can be to play in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

After a penalty that put the Lumberjacks at their own 20-yard line, NAU ran four plays that netted only six yards and Montana won the game 24-21.

The 23,626 fans in attendance was the sixth-largest crowd in Washington-Grizzly Stadium’s history. NAU senior quarterback Jason Murrietta said playing in Missoula is never easy and it was particularly hard on that last drive.

“I think it was really difficult especially in that drive to get things going at a faster pace,” Murrietta said. “The crowd is a huge factor.”

The crowd was a factor on the last drive, but prior to that it was defense and special teams that led the Griz to their fifth consecutive victory.

“To come away with the win, it’s a credit to the special teams and defense again today,” said senior quarterback Josh Swogger, who threw for only 138 yards – his lowest yardage total in conference play.

In the opening quarter, UM senior cornerback and punt returner Tuff Harris ran a punt back 24 yards to the Lumberjacks’ 46-yard line to set up an eventual 25-yard touchdown pass from Swogger to junior wide receiver Eric Allen to put the Griz up 7-0.

In the third quarter, with the Lumberjacks pinned deep in their own territory, UM sophomore cornerback Tim Parks blocked a punt to give the Griz the ball on NAU’s seven-yard line.

“It was a great play by him,” said UM head coach Bobby Hauck. “I’m excited for him because he’s worked awfully hard and for him to make a critical play in the game, maybe the crucial play, is exciting.”

Two plays later, junior running back Reggie Bradshaw scored on a four-yard touchdown run that made it 24-10 in favor of the Griz.

The Griz defense came up big against the second highest scoring offense in the Big Sky Conference next to Montana. Murrietta, the conference’s second leading passer was held to a season-low 93 yards passing.

“That was a hell of a day by our kids,” Hauck said. “I’m really proud of our secondary. That’s a good receiving corps that NAU has. We manned them a whole bunch today.”

The Lumberjacks’ offense wasn’t the only one struggling Saturday. The Griz had their fewest yards on offense, 245 total yards, since their opening game loss to the University of Iowa Hawkeyes on Sept. 2.

“That defense plays hard,” said senior running back Brady Green. “Those guys were flat out going and going and going. They withstood every punch we had. We gave it everything we had and they fought back.

Green, who ran for 73 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, was one of the few offensive bright spots for Montana

The Griz (5-1; 4-0 Big Sky Conference) played anything but perfect, but they won to stay atop the conference in their quest for yet another Big Sky title and leads rival Montana State in the standings by one game.

“I’m just happy to get out of there with a win,” said senior defensive end Dustin Dlouhy. “At this point in the season it’s not always going to be a 20-point plus victory every week. This late everyone’s a great win. That’s all we’re trying to do. It doesn’t say on our goal sheet ‘Beat teams by 30 points every week,’ it says ‘Win.’”