Big Sky Conference football starts flying Saturday

Sep. 2—The Big Sky Conference season is upon us, with four games happening Thursday night, and while one important question has been answered — Marcus Welnel is No. 37 for the Griz — others remain.

First, does everybody have a key San DIego State transfer? A quick look at the Saturday openers for Montana (against Northwestern State) and Montana State (McNeese State) show a quarterback for the Griz, a running back for the Cats and a receiver for McNeese getting starts after leaving SDSU.

Alas, Northwestern State has no Aztec connection. The Demons do have a former Kansas Jayhawk starting at quarterback, however, conforming to another trend: Of the four teams playing in Montana Saturday, only the Bobcats have a non-FBS transfer.

That's Butte's Tommy Mellott, who withstood a push by Wyoming transfer Sean Chambers to retain the starting QB spot he earned in last year's FCS playoffs.

Mellott's legend grew with each playoff win, and could continue that trend against the Cowboys at Bobcat Stadium Saturday.

The Cats lost top receiver Lance McCutcheon to the NFL, and top running back Isaiah Ifanse (1,600 yards rushing in 2021) is on the shelf after knee surgery.

Add in an unknown opponent — McNeese State hired Gary Goff, fresh off an appearance in the DII title game with Valdosta (Ga.) State last December — and Mellott is the most sure thing.

"There's uncertainty as far as what we're going to see Saturday," second-year MSU coach Brent Vigen said this week. "We have several guys that will be playing for the first time, and we'll have to keep things as simple as possible so we can play as fast as possible."

Asked about the Cowboys' personnel, Vigen demurred.

"I think we can assume they'll be athletic," he said. "To single anybody out right now would be a mistake."

He also noted: "That's a lot of Valdosta that moved along with (Goff). They were very explosive." The Blazers averaged 41.4 points a game last fall.

Back to the Aztecs: Kaegun Williams is starting at tailback for the Cats Saturday; his backup is Lane Sumner, though Vigen figures Elijah Elliott and Jared White will also get carries.

Montana has the same depth at running back; a bunch of guys could carry the ball Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

But coach Bobby Hauck had little to say about Northwestern State on Monday, or his team: Unlike Vigen no two-deep had been released by UM.

"Coach (Brad) Laird has kind of turned it over there," Hauck said. "He has new coordinators, a ton of new players. He's been here before, so he knows what we're about."

Laird was the Demons' defensive coordinator for their last visit to Missoula in 2004, when they lost 56-7 to Hauck's Griz in the playoffs.

"We don't have any idea to a degree what to prepare for. Offense, defense. .. there's a lot of transfers coming in, so personnel-wise," Hauck continued. "Coach Laird will have them prepared, have them playing physical. But prep-wise this one is really hard."

One thing we did learn Thursday is that Welnel, the senior middle linebacker from Helena Capital, will be No. 37 as former owner Jace Lewis intended. A hype video released by Grizzly Athletics showed Welnel in the jersey (starting at the 37-second mark).

Youngsters will play roles Saturday. Glacier's Patrick Rohrbach will be the Griz punter; fellow true freshman Taco Dowler out of Billings West will return punts for the Cats.

The Wolfpack influence continues at UM with all-Big Sky linebacker Patrick O'Connell gunning for another standout year, and sophomore Henry Nuce playing a bunch at defensive end.