I-AA National Championship Game
Friday, December 19, 2008 - 8:05 ESPN2
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Finley Stadium/Davenport Field (20,688)
Summary
These two teams met only 1 other time...in 2000, they faced off in the I-AA quarterfinals with Montana winning 37-17...
Montana will be making its sixth appearance in the I-AA title game...Griz RB Chase Reynolds helped Montana upset #1 James Madison last Friday night...Reynolds rushed for 123 yards and 2 TDS...that was his 8th straight game over 100 yards rushing...blocking for Reynolds is I-AA First-Team All-American OL Colin Dow (photo) (6'5", 300)...
The Griz defense is led by senior DB Colt Anderson...Anderson was named this week to the I-AA First-Team All-American squad...
Richmond may be the team of destiny as they upset 3-time I-AA champs Appalachian State in the quarterfinals...the Spiders then crawled up to Northern Iowa and overcame a 20-7 4th quarter deficit to win 21-20...
The defense is led by senior DEs Lawrence Sidbury and Sherman Logan...the Spiders rank sixth in the country in total defense...this season 11 opponents have failed to rush for more than 100 yards...CB Justin Rogers is one of the most versatile threats with 7 interceptions and 3 defensive TDs, a blocked punt, a fumble recovery
and a forced fumble...
Richmond's offense is anchored by 2 Second-Team All-American offensive lineman - Matthew McCracken and Tim Silver...both guys have helped RB Josh Vaughan (photo, below) rush for 1,722 yards and 19 TDS...QB Eric Ward has tossed 16 TDs and is also a threat to run with the ball as he has 8 TDs and 394 yards...
Montana Grizzlies (14-1) - Head Coach Bobby Hauck
Chelsi Moy of the Missoulian writes how local print shops are getting the presses ready if Montana wins... "The moment the game clock runs out in the Football Championship Subdivision title game Friday night in Chattanooga, Tenn., Don Cowles will begin a feverish few days of work. Probably. Maybe. Most likely, Griz fans insist. Should the University of Montana prevail over the Richmond Spiders, the Bozeman Grizwear manufacturer will launch into several days of hair-pulling, all-night work and tight deadlines." ...
Bill Speltz of the Missoulian writes how the Montana fans will be in force in Chattanooga... "Griz backers have stormed Chattanooga in bus caravans, airport shuttle minivans and maroon-adorned motor homes. A fleet of four buses arrived at a hotel here Thursday afternoon and it was as if Ulysses S. Grant had called for reinforcements." ...
Richmond Spiders (12-3) - Head Coach Mike London
Paul Woody of the Richmond Times-Dispatch writes about the benefits of playing in the big game... "Playing in this game provides more intangible than tangible benefits. The game will be on national television, which is good for the Spiders. The results will be published across the country, which is good for Richmond coach Mike London." ...
Paul Woody makes his game prediction... "Missoula, Mont., and Richmond are about 2,400 miles apart and have little in common. Tonight, though, Missoula and Richmond will merge and become one. Sort of." ...
