Tech, Western gear up for big game

By Bill Foley of The Montana Standard - 09/23/2006

In a season full of really big games, Saturday’s battle stands out.

It’s Montana-Western against Montana Tech at Alumni Coliseum.

When the game kicks off at 1 p.m. the Bulldogs will be looking for their first win of the season. Montana Tech will be going for No. 3 in a row.

Coach Tommy Lee’s Bulldogs are trying to survive the growing pains of an extremely young team while trying to stay in the Frontier Conference race.

“They’re getting better every week,” Lee said of his team. “They never quit. They keep playing, and that’s all you can ask.” Western, the only Frontier team not to play a nonconference game, is 0-2. But both loses came to teams — MSU-Northern and Carroll College — that are currently 3-0. Thusly, No. 9 Montana Tech makes for the Bulldogs’ third straight nationally ranked opponent.

“We’re a young team kind of making a lot of mistakes right now,” Lee said. “We’ve got some talented kids; we’ve just got to take care of our own business.

“Hopefully one of these weeks they’ll put every thing together.” Against Carroll, the Bulldogs proved they could move the ball against a good defense. What they couldn’t do was overcome the mistakes that kept them out of the end zone.

“I was pleased how our offense moved the ball,” Lee said. “We actually had more first downs then Carroll had in the game. This is probably Carroll’s best defense since I have been here. And for us to move the ball on that defense gives us encouragement for the future.

“Defensively, I thought our defense played outstanding in the See TECH, Page B5 first half when we limited them to only 14 points. We gave them outstanding field position in the second half, and that is something you can’t do against a team the caliber of Carroll. Hopefully this week, we can get a win and give our young team some confidence.” Tech coach Bob Green, who has been leading the Orediggers against archrival Western for 20 years now, said he knows better than to believe the 0-2 Western mark.

“Western is going to be ready to play,” Green said. “The Western Bulldogs will be very well-prepared, very well-coached and extremely excited for the football game.” Green also knows that his young secondary will get a big test from senior quarterback Travis Blome and a very talented group of Western receivers.

The game matches the leagues best passing offense against the league’s worst pass defense. Western leads the Frontier in passing with 243 yards a game while the Orediggers are last in pass defense, giving up 281 yards a game. Blome leads the league in passing and individual total offense.

Offensively, the Bulldogs are third in the league with 238 yards a game while Tech is last with 214 per game. The Orediggers average 13.7 points per game while Western averages eight per game.

Western runs the wide-open offense Lee helped make famous when he was an assistant with the Montana Grizzlies.

“Obviously our secondary will be tested Saturday,” Green said. “That goes without saying.” Led by Butte safeties Cole Salo and Josh Kling, the Orediggers have seven interceptions in three games.

“They’ve been opportunistic,” Green said. “I’m really proud of how hard they’ve played.” Billings sophomore wideout Michael Guelff leads the league in receptions per game, while Butte senior Jake Larson is a deep threat that the Orediggers will be watching every play.

The Western running game has been nonexistent in two games. But that’s largely because Western has been playing from behind.

“They can run the football,” Green said. “They also have great skill guys.

“They make you defend the whole field.” Led by the front four of Shane Hensleigh, Britt Siddoway, Kyle Carter and J.J. Perino and inside linebackers Jared Koskela and Quincy Bourne, stopping the run has been an Oredigger strength.

Offensively, the Orediggers have been trying to re-establish themselves as the top rushing team in the Frontier.

Tech has improved its ground attack with each week, with junior Teague Egan running for 99 yards on 15 carries last week.

Sophomore quarterback Justin Kegel is still looking for his first touchdown pass of the season. His favorite target is Butte junior Casey Kelly.

The Orediggers’ first major injury of the season hit the receiving corps when senior Koa Bartlett went down with a broken arm.

Bartlett underwent surgery Friday and said he hopes to return later this season.

Helena sophomore Alex Grevas, a big-play threat at 6-foot-4, steps into the starting lineup in his stead.

Tech is 2-1 on the season and 2-0 in conference after winning tight battles over Rocky Mountain and Eastern Oregon.

“Tech’s a tough team,” Lee said. “They’re playing well and winning the close games.” — UM-Western information officer Wally Feldt contributed to this article.

Montana-Western Coach — Tommy Lee (sixth season) Offensive starters QB — Travis Blome, 5-11, 180, sr, Billings RB — Derric Pluff, 5-10, 185, so, Polson WR — Travis Hartman, 5-10, 170, so, Great Falls WR — Jake Larson, 6-1, 175, sr, Butte WR — Jeff Schultz, 6-1, 210, jr, Superior WR — Michael Guelff, 5-7, 150, so, Billings C — Kaleo Roback, 6-2, 310, fr, Ewa Beach, Hawaii G — Zack Parks, 6-2, 265, jr, Turlock, Calif.

G — Isiah Dela Pena, 6-1, 260, so, Waimea, Hawaii T — Andrew Rose, 6-4, 265, so, Billings T — Josh Vogl, 6-6, 310, so, Hauser, Idaho K —Brad Hollen, 6-2, 185, so, Chattaroy, Wash.

Defensive starters T — Chris Alexander, 5-9, 225, sr, Butte E — Kama McKeauge, 6-0, 260, sr, Honolulu, Hawaii E — Kyle Hardee, 6-3, 225, so, Frenchtown ILB — Albert Distajo, 5-9, 175, jur, Manakuli, Hawaii ILB — Amini Taufoou, 6-2, 195, fr, Puhi, Hawaii OLB — Andrew Ridgeway, 6-2, 208, fr, Standford OLB — J.A. Graves, 5-11, 195, fr, Chandler, Ariz.

CB — John Lee Fantroy, 6-1, 185, sr, Gresham, Ore.

CB — Dustan Johnson, 5-10, 160,l sr, Glenns Fery, Idaho SS — Adam Ridgeway, 5-9, 178, jr, Stanford FS — Aric Harris, 5-10, 170, sr, Whitefish P — Hollen MontanA Tech Coach — Bob Green (20th season) Offensive starters QB — Justin Kegel, 6-3, 215, so, Havre FB — Levi Briese, 5-9, 207, jr, Havre TB — Teague Egan, 5-11, 201, jr, Great Falls WR — Casey Kelly, 5-9, 172, jr, Butte WR — Alex Grevas, 6-4, 195-so, Helena TE — Kent Kansala, 6-3, 247, sr, Sheridan, Wyo.

C — Kyle Sullivan, 6-3, 295, so, Idaho Falls G — Chad Erwin, 6-2, 267, sr, Butte G — Dustin Langford, 6-2, 266, sr, Boulder T — Tom Probert, 6-5, 280, so, Colorado Springs T — Kory Dyk, 6-4, 275, jr, Dillon K — Dan Kleckner, 5-11, 195, sr, Mead, Wash.

Defensive starters T — Shane Hensleigh, 6-0, 300, sr, Colstrip E — Kyle Carter, 6-2, 263, jr, Shelby E — Britt Siddoway. 6-4, 283, so, Great Falls ILB — Jard Koskela, 6-1, 241, sr, Thompson Falls ILB — Quincy Bourne, 5-11, 221, fr, Helena OLB — J.J. Perino, 6-1, 221, jr, Helena OLB — Rory Clark, 5-11, 219, sr, Geraldine.

CB — Kyle McCall, 5-9, 183, jr, Troy, Idaho.

CB — Jason Watkins, 5-10, 170, so, Missoula SS — Josh Kling, 6-0, 191, jr, Butte FS — Cole Salo, 5-10, 181, so, Butte P — Kleckner The game matches the leagues best passing offense against the league’s worst pass defense. Montana Western leads the Frontier in passing with 243 yards a game while the Orediggers are last in pass defense giving up 281 yards a game. Bulldog senior quarterback Travis Blome leads the league in passing and individual total offense.

Offensively, the Bulldogs are third in the league with 238 yards a game while Tech is last with 214 per game. The Orediggers average 13.7 points per game while Western averages eight per game.