Impressive offense meets strong defense in Griz vs. NAU

A week after the University of Montana football team’s own offense came alive, the Grizzlies’ defense will be charged with stopping the Big Sky Conference’s best offense.

The No. 3 Griz (7-0, 4-0 Big Sky) travel to Northern Arizona this weekend to face the high-powered Lumberjacks (5-3, 4-1 BSC) in the Walkup Skydome. Kickoff is slated for 4:05 p.m.

The Lumberjacks lead the Big Sky in total offense and rushing offense. Three players average more than 60 yards on the ground each game. Among them is quarterback Lance Kriesien, for whom the Lumberjacks run design-run plays, according to Montana head coach Bobby Hauck.

“He does make plays with his feet,” Hauck said. “It’s hard to stop, he’s awfully good. He’s shown himself to be a real playmaker.”

Senior defensive end Kroy Biermann, who had three sacks and a blocked field goal last week, joined his coach in testifying on Kriesien’s behalf.

“I have talked to a couple of guys who have already played against him this year and they said he’s fast and he can move well,” Biermann said.

And, Hauck said, it’s not just the running game that’s a concern.

“They have a lot of quarterback run game, and you need extra people in the mix to stop the quarterback,” he said. “And then they’ve got talented receivers. It’s pick your poison to a degree. You have to choose your times when you’re going to get into run defense and you’ve got to choose your times when you’re going to get into pass defense.”

However, Griz linebacker Kyle Ryan said stopping the run remains the key against NAU.

“We figure if we can stop the run we can fall back on the pass and we can play that,” Ryan said. “It’s been pounded into our heads that stopping the run’s the most important thing about our defense.”

The Lumberjacks’ biggest threat at receiver is likely Alex Watson, who has caught 39 passes for 407 yards this season. Hauck said Watson is possibly the best receiver the team has had to defend against this season.

“NAU presents a lot of challenges,” Hauck said. “They look so dang fast on tape it’s scary. They have tremendous team speed. They have a real advantage there and we’re going to have to figure out how we’re going to counter that.”

As concerned as Hauck is about NAU’s potent offense, Lumberjacks coach Jerome Souers sounded just as worried about the Grizzlies defense.

Last week, in the 52-7 win over Northern Colorado, the Griz allowed fewer than four yards per play and didn’t give up a score until the fourth quarter.

“I think they’ve honestly amped up their defensive performance,” Souers said. “Their defensive front is stout against the run. They’re the best front against the pass as well, they don’t give up one for the other.”

NAU topped Weber State last week 29-20 and Kriesien passed for 125 yards and rushed for 126.

The Lumberjacks’ 5-3 overall record may not impress, but two of their losses came against Arizona and Appalachian State. Arizona plays in the Pac-10 Conference, and Appalachian State was ranked No. 1 at the time, fresh off its historic upset of Michigan.

“Our guys have (had) some diverse competition and different styles of play and it (has) cost us a little bit in the win-loss column,” Souers said. “But on the other hand, we’re a little more battle-tested than we have been in years past.”

NAU’s Skydome is one of the few Big Sky venues that challenges Montana’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium in terms of noise. Hauck said the Griz would practice this week with simulated crowd noise to prepare for the indoor game.

Regardless, Souers is wary of the Grizzlies.

“I think Montana’s playing pretty well and deserving of the ranking,” he said. “Judging by some of the tape we have seen, they are by far the best opponent on our schedule.”