Griz headed to high-flying EWU

Montana head coach Bob Stitt said he could see that his team was in trouble the minute it stepped foot onto the field at Northern Arizona’s Walkup Skydome last Saturday. He said his team wasn’t ready to play, and he certainly wasn’t wrong as the Grizzlies got shellacked by the Lumberjacks.

Fast forward just one week, and the No. 16 Griz (2-2, 5-2) have no choice but to be ready because they have an even bigger road test than that of last week’s trip to NAU. And if the Griz aren’t ready to play this Saturday, the No. 3 Eastern Washington Eagles (4-0, 6-1) will make them pay for it in ways even NAU wasn’t capable of doing.

The Griz and Eagles will do battle Saturday in Cheney, Washington, a place Montana hasn’t won since the “inferno” field was installed back in 2010.

"We just didn't come out with any type of fire and that's been a problem for a while," Stitt said of Saturday's 45-34 loss, "And it's going to be a problem until we find a way to get excited about playing football rather than just playing in front of a big (home) crowd.”

The Grizzlies will be playing in front of a big crowd this Saturday, and while many will be Montana fans, the crowd will have little be aring on the outcome. That’s because Eastern Washington is on fire, as hot as the field the Eagles play on, and, they also have been brazen in mentioning that this game was certainly a target game after the Griz blasted the Eagles last season in Missoula.

And red-hot may not even describe how good EWU is on offense right now. Sophomore quarterback Gage Grubrud just set the school record for passing yards in a game against Montana State last Saturday, and, oh yeah, he has the FCS’ greatest receiver ever in Cooper Kupp to throw to. In fact, while Grubrud averages 412 passing yards per game, his top three targets are also the top three pass catchers in the Big Sky Conference in Kupp, Kendrick Bourne and Shaq Hill. As a team, EWU puts up 48 points and 511 yards of offense per game, and even the likes of Pac 12 stalwart Washington State hasn’t been able to slow the Eagles down.

So, it’s a lot to ask of a reeling Montana defense to do it Saturday. But, the Griz have shown signs that they have the players to be up to the task. Before Saturday’s debacle at NAU, Montana had the top-scoring defense in the Big Sky. The Griz, led by senior star Caleb Kidder and budding superstar linebacker Josh Buss, still are No. 2 in scoring defense and first against the run. But Saturday’s challenge will fall squarely on the shoulders of a Montana secondary that includes safety standout Justin Strong and the resurgence of star corner J.R. Nelson. If the Griz can find a way to even limit Kupp and the Eagles’ passing attack, and, Montana’s offense, led by senior QB Brady Gustafson, who has thrown for 22 touchdowns and just five interceptions, can take advantage of a light EWU defense, than the Griz will have the fighting chance they’re looking for in Cheney.

However, Montana must do something else, according to Stitt. Not only must the Griz play well on offense and defense, and not only must they be better prepared from the opening kickoff, but, they also must be mentally strong in the face of the adversity that will certainly come this Saturday. They must stand up to the challenges ahead of them, mainly EWU, and the fact that, from here on out, the Griz are fighting for their playoff lives.

"We weren't very mentally strong and it showed in the way we played, but also how we reacted to the adversity," Stitt said of last week’s game. "It was continual. That's mental weakness and that was the entire football game. It's a team issue.

"I'm excited about playing again, to get back on the football field because it's so hard after a disappointing performance," Stitt continued. "You've got to wait a whole week to be able to get back out there"

Saturday’s Big Sky clash between Montana and Eastern Washington will kick off at 1:30 p.m. M.D.T. The game will be televised across the country on Root Sports NW. Montana State has a bye this week.