GRIZ vs. APP STATE: Both coaches like this game

By FRITZ NEIGHBOR of the Missoulian

The Montana Grizzlies’ football game at Appalachian State on Saturday (4:30 p.m. MDT) is going to garner a lot of attention among Football Championship Subdivision fans and trigger a second straight week of mutual admiration.
But while Montana’s Mick Delaney and App State’s Jerry Moore have nothing but praise for each other’s program, what they really like are the schedules.
“I’ve always said I’m a freak,” Moore, a 73-year-old who is 207-84 in 23-plus seasons in Boone, N.C., said during a Tuesday teleconference. “But I wouldn’t want to play four or five overmatched teams.
“I like competitive football games. It’s just my nature.”
Saturday’s game should be competitive, between teams ranked eighth and ninth in the FCS coaches’ poll and 11th-12th in the Sports Network/Fathead.com poll (App State is ahead in both).
It features retooled lines on both sides of the ball, some experienced running backs and excellent linebackers. Appalachian State has the more experienced quarterback: Jamal Jackson, a junior, became a starter midway through last season and threw for over 2,000 yards.
Jackson and the rest of the Mountaineers outgained Bowl Subdivision opponent East Carolina Saturday in a 35-13 loss that was closer than the score indicated. Delaney noticed.
“They’re one of the elite teams in FCS football, obviously,” said the 69-year-old coach of the Griz. “There are a handful of teams, 10 or 12 of them that are right there at the top of the pile … but Appalachian State has always been right there.
“And they play a tremendous schedule year in and year out. They’ll play anybody, anywhere. They play a lot of (BCS) schools and hold up very, very well against them and in fact beat some.”
It’s been five seasons since the Mountaineers went to Ann Arbor, Mich., and stunned the Michigan Wolverines 34-32. Now we’re on the verge of this game – one that Delaney is very much in favor of.
“This is going to be a great atmosphere and it’s going to be a real challenge for the coaches and our players to go to Boone, N.C., and see where we’re at,” he said. “We’re always up to the challenge, and this is as big a challenge as you can have without going to a Tennessee or a Michigan State or an Arizona. It’s fun. This is why you come to Montana, to play games like this.”

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The Mountaineers didn’t come out of East Carolina completely healthy: Starting running back Rod Chisholm suffered a hand injury and is out 4-6 weeks. He gained 37 yards on nine carries against the Pirates.
Starting cornerback Doug Middleton suffered an ankle injury that will shelve him for the season, the Mountaineers announced Tuesday.
App State suspended starting receiver Sean Price, a 6-foot-5 freshman, and starting junior safety Jamill Lott for the opener for violation of team rules. Neither is on the depth chart this week but Moore said Tuesday that Lott may play.
Montana came through its 35-24 win over South Dakota relatively healthy. After the game Delaney noted junior receiver Cam Warren, who caught his first collegiate TD pass Saturday, was banged up; Warren wasn’t in pads Tuesday.
Junior backer Jordan Tripp and quarterback Trent McKinney were both shaken up against the Coyotes, but returned after a few plays.

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Moore noted that his offensive line coach – Dwayne Ledford – played professional football for the Sam Francisco 49ers alongside his counterpart with the Griz: Scott Gragg.
It was in 2003-04, near the end of Gragg’s career.
“Dwayne’s a great guy,” Gragg said after practice Tuesday. “I befriended him on Facebook two weeks ago and haven’t really bantered back and forth – yet. He was a guard for us.”
Gragg was a tackle, and a few years senior of Ledford, who played his college ball at East Carolina from 1995-98.
“By the time I got to the Niners everybody was calling me ‘Dad,’ ” said Gragg, a 1995 UM graduate. “It was a bit awkward. But he’s a great guy – those are good memories.”

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Moore said he expected the weather would be great for the Griz in Boone but Tuesday it was raining with 100 percent humidity.
“It ought to be really nice,” said Moore, whose club noticeably suffered from cramps in the East Carolina game, played under a 100-degree heat index. “Our early-season here is probably about like yours there. There isn’t not much difference, really. You get in late November and December, you might get a little snow and it gets a little colder. But we’re both used to that.
“The heat didn’t bother us all that much at East Carolina, to tell you the truth. I thought we held up pretty well.”
Saturday’s Boone forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms and a high of 72.
QUICK KICKS: Griz RB Peter Nguyen had 194 all-purpose yards against South Dakota. That gives him 3,226 for his career, moving him past Jefferson Heidelberger (3,158 from 2001-04) and into eighth place in UM history. … Nguyen’s mark ranks fourth in the FCS so far this young season. … RB Dan Moore (career-high 148 rushing yards) was UM’s nominee for Big Sky offensive player of the week. … Montana is ranked No. 4 among FCS teams in the Sagarin computer ratings, which take into account strength of schedule. Appalachian State is No. 11, right behind No. 10 Montana State. … App State is 202-62-5 all-time at Kidd Brewer Stadium and has won 48 of its last 51 there. … Both App State and UM were founded in 1893. …Both programs have nine players on NFL rosters, including those on practice squads. … Montana’s 2-0 mark against App State came in FCS semifinal games in 2000 (19-16 in overtime) and 2009 (24-17). “Heartbreakers,” Moore called them.