Last week the Lumberjacks found the right recipes on both offense and defense to institute the kind of dominant performance they were expected to make going into the season. A 52 – 7 victory over Idaho State was a powerful showing to be sure, but compared to what the Montana Grizzlies have been doing it almost seems mediocre. The Lumberjacks will look to try and bring top form to both sides of the ball this week as they face off against the 10th best team in the polls of the FCS
Grizzlies Mighty Roar
Montana has been dominant over the last two weeks. Their +114 point differential in the past six quarters proves it. That isn’t a typo nor is it missing a decimal. They have been 114 points better than their opponents in just the last game and a half. That includes a six quarter shut out streak that started in the second quarter in their 67 – 7 win over MS Valley State and went on until the fourth quarter in last week’s 68 – 7 victory over Sacramento State. The main focus of the offense has been senior quarterback Brady Gustafson. At 6′ 7” and 230 pounds Gustafson is built like a premier NFL quarterback prospect who just so happens to be playing in the FCS. While his season started off slow he has certainly soared recently with his play over the last few games. Over 1,300 yards passing with 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions in the last four weeks make him a player to watch in the FCS with murmurs already starting that he could be the front runner for the FCS Player of the Year. NAU will have to focus on bring the pressure early. Gustafson is considered a bit of a statue in the pocket and likes to wait for the plays to develop. If they can throw off his timing, they can throw off the Grizzlies entirely.
Montana Looking At NAU As A Speed Bump?
The Grizzlies may be a dominant team but they are reaching the point in their season where they will have to start really barring down the hatches on their playoff hopes with the tougher competition right across the horizon. After this week, Montana will be taking a trip up to Eastern Washington to play the #3 Eagles in a game that could end up deciding the Big Sky. There is a chance that the Grizzlies might be looking forward to that game and treat the Lumberjacks as more of a tuneup practice scrimmage. When teams get like that it is up to the players across from them to get that initial big play first to make sure they know it is going to be a game. The defense will have to set themselves up for a big play right out of the gate and let the offense start their work early. Look for the newly revitalized defense, who have come together to become a tough unit to score on as they have only given up 21 points over the last two games, to get back into the turnover column as early as the first two possessions. The last two games the defense has stolen the ball a grand total of eight times, so they have the hot hand to get that job done against Montana in Flagstaff this week if they get the openings they need.
Blake Kemp Finding His Groove and His Receivers
In college football you don’t find many journeymen quarterbacks. Most stay with one program until they graduate or they jump once to a new school to earn the right to start and compete. Blake Kemp ended up jumping from schools twice and graduated from East Carolina thinking he wouldn’t ever get the chance to play football as a starting quarterback in college. Coming home to Arizona, the Chandler native has now found himself as the starter after Case Cookus’ injury sidelined him and continues to keep the former Freshman of the Year out of the lineup. Now Kemp is showing that he still has a tight spiral left in that left arm of his as he has found a comfortable place under center for NAU. Just last week against Idaho State he threw for 319 yards and four touchdowns in a romp against the Bengals. His ability to find Emmanuel Butler as well, who received two of the touchdown passes Kemp threw last week, is impressive considering how little the two have played since Kemp was inserted into the lineup. Kemp’s continuing progression leaves the thought open that Cookus could sit out the rest of the season if need be and the former Pirate could help the Jacks sneak into the postseason. This matchup will prove to be the toughest test for him thus far, but Kemp should be ready come kickoff to bring his game.
The matchup will start at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome at 4:00 PM this Saturday.