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68 / 8/13/14 / BATTLE IN THE BIG SKY
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GENERATION GRIZ
A YEAR AFTER RETURNING TO THE FCS PLAYOFFS, MONTANA IS POISED TO MAKE A RUN AT THE CONFERENCE TITLE AND CHALLENGE THE REIGNING CHAMPS
W hen Shay Smithwick- Hann and Zack Wagen- mann were both grow- ing up in western Mon- tana in the 1990s and early 2000s, it was the height of the Griz dynasty. Washing- ton-Grizzly Stadium — the largest out- door arena in the state — was home to national champions and the giants of the Big Sky. Between 1993 and 2009, the Montana Grizzlies won or shared
the conference title 15 times.
But over the last four seasons, the
Griz fell from the top and came up empty handed.
Now a generation of players who grew up watching the great Griz teams of the past is trying to restore the tradi- tion of excellence.
“We saw the success they had and we want to continue it. For the last couple years we haven’t done what we’d hoped to do and we’ve had a few mis- steps. But we’re really proud of where we’re at now,” said Smithwick-Hann, Montana’s senior backup quarterback and a Kalispell native.
Even though his role has been more active from the side- lines than on the field, Smithwick-Hann has developed into a bona fide leader at UM and is helping guide the Griz into an- other fall campaign where high expectations await.
The season kicks off Aug. 30 when Montana plays at Wyo- ming. The game will be televised on ROOT Sports.
With a strong core of returning players, including Wa- genmann on defense and quarterback Jordan Johnson lead- ing the offense, Montana was picked to finish second in the conference, vying for the title with two-time reigning champ Eastern Washington. The Griz were ranked fifth in the na- tion in the first Football Championship Subdivision pre- season coaches’ poll. EWU was tabbed second and three- time defending national champion North Dakota State was named No. 1.
As the polls show, the Griz will have to take down two for- midable foes in order to retain their prominence.
Last season was a step in the right direction — Montana eliminated rival Montana State in the regular-season finale and qualified for the FCS playoffs with an at-large bid. Coast- al Carolina defeated Montana 42-35 in the second round in Missoula.
Last week the program welcomed back 14 starters for fall camp, as well as several up-and-coming prospects who could emerge as household names this fall.
Johnson is already known for being one of the best signal callers in the nation. The senior quarterback was named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, joining 19 other players who are deemed among the most outstanding in the FCS. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder will be starting for his third season and boasts a 20-6 overall record.
“It was definitely a good feeling (being nominated for the Payton award), but also, this offseason I feel like we have a ton of unfinished business, and we didn’t necessarily get as far as we would have liked last year,” said Johnson. “I think that’s been some added motivation to the guys coming back. We had a bad taste in our mouths for sure from last season.”
Johnson is one of the offensive co-captains this season along with senior running back Jordan Canada, one of the continued on page 67
PLAYERS TO WATCH
MONTANA
Senior quarterback
Jordan Johnson
TODD GOODRICH | COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
“I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A TON OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS, AND WE DIDN’T NECESSARILY GET AS FAR AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED LAST YEAR.”
JORDAN JOHNSON, MONTANA QUARTERBACK
ELLIS HENDERSON
#17, Junior, WR/Ret.,6-0, 185 lbs
Henderson returns as the Grizzlies’ top wide receiver and return specialist. Last season he had a team high 43 catches for 1,008 yards. His 14 receiving touchdowns tied him for third most in a single season in school history. He also ranked seventh in the nation in punt returns, averaging 12.2 yards per return. He received UM’s Terry Dillon Award, recognizing the team’s top back or receiver. This fall the junior from Portland, Oregon, has already landed on several preseason watch lists as one of the top offensive weapons in the FCS.
ZACK WAGENMANN
#37, Senior, DE, 6-3, 250 lbs
A product of Missoula, Wagenmann has developed into one of the best homegrown talents in recent years. Last season he was ranked among the best defensive linemen in the conference, recording 8.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. He earned a first team all-league honor for the second consecutive season, and looks to add a third this fall. The senior co-captain is the Grizzlies’ No. 2 returning tackler and is ranked eighth in career sacks at UM with 20. He’s also tied for ninth in career tackles for a loss with 29.5. He’s also been named to the 20-person watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the best defensive player in the FCS.
JORDAN JOHNSON
#10, Senior, QB, 6-1, 195 lbs
Montana’s athletic quarterback is back for one final season, and it’s poised to be a good one. Johnson has his two favorite wide receivers back — Henderson and Jamaal Jones — along with senior running back Jordan Canada. However, the Griz will need to quickly replace three all-league offensive linemen who graduated in order for Johnson to thrive. Last season the Eugene, Oregon native tossed for 3,387 yards and 32 touch- downs. He had only five interceptions and im- proved his all-time record as a starter to 20- 6, tying him for sixth most in school history with Craig Ochs (2003-04). Johnson, one of the team’s co-captains, was named to the Walter Payton Watch List, which highlights the 20 most outstanding players in the FCS. Johnson was one of nine QBs on the list.
MONTANA
GRIZZLIES
Opponent
AT WYOMING
CENTRAL WASHINGTON SOUTH DAKOTA
AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE NORTHERN COLORADO* AT NORTH DAKOTA
UC DAVIS
AT CAL POLY SACRAMENTO STATE
AT EASTERN WASHINGTON AT SOUTHERN UTAH MONTANA ST. (114TH MEETING)
2014 SEASON
Date
AUG. 30 SEPT. 6 SEPT. 13 SEPT. 20 SEPT. 27 OCT. 4 OCT. 18 OCT. 25 NOV. 1 NOV. 8 NOV. 15 NOV. 22
Time
2 P.M. 3:30 P.M. 7 P.M. 1:30 P.M. 1:30 P.M. 12:30 P.M. NOON
7 P.M. NOON
1 P.M.
1 P.M. TBA
*HOMECOMING