The University of Montana-Western had 18 Frontier Conference All-Conference selections, with 11 on the first team and seven on the second team. Two players, senior Josh Shrum of Boise, Idaho and senior Eric Zahler were selected to the team at multiple positions.
Named to the first team were Josh Shrum at running back and kick return specialist; Dallas Mock, a senior from Kuna, Idaho, at tight end; T Artis, a senior from Missoula at wide receiver; Toby Beck, a junior from Helena and Ben Snipes, a senior from Great Falls, both on the offensive line; Eric Stoverud, a junior from Great Falls at linebacker; Jereme Hess, a senior from Puyallup, Washington and Nik Rewerts, a senior from Libby, were both named to the defensive line; Nick Prinzing, a junior from Great Falls, at defensive back; and Eric Zahler who received first team honors as a punter and second team honors as a place kicker.
Bulldogs earning second team honors include Missoula junior Josh Illig at wide receiver; junior Abe Apilado of Kauai, Hawaii and senior Mike Schmidt of Great Falls on the offensive line; Butte senior Bryan Arnston at linebacker; senior Ruley Stingley of Ellensburg, Washington on the defensive line and senior Jake Shrum of Mountain Home, Idaho at defensive back.
Josh Shrum rushed for 650 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns this past season. As a return specialist, Shrum had 13 returns for 325 yards. He had 1340 yards in All-Purpose yards for an average of 121.8 yards per game. Shrum set a school record for touchdowns scored in a career to add to his school record of most touchdowns scored in a single season. Eric Zahler set four school records during the 2004 season. He set records for Career Scoring (266 points), Career P.A.T.’s, (113-114) Career Field Goals (51 of 70), and Career Field Goal Percentage (.728). For the 2004 season he average 45 yards per punt.
Dallas Mock led the Bulldogs in receiving with 40 catches for 520 yards and three touchdowns. He finished third in the league in catches per game and fourth in receiving yards per game. T Artis was second on the team in receiving with 32 catches for 379 yards and three touchdowns. Josh Illig was fourth in receiving with 20 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns. Toby Beck, Ben Snipes, Abe Aplilado and Mike Schimdt anchored an offensive line that produced 3480 yards in total offense or 316.4 yards per game. Eric Stoverud led Western in tackles with 112 (49 unassisted and 63 assisted). He finished 4th in the Frontier in tackles. Bryan Arntson was second on the team in tackles with 107 (26 unassisted, 81 assisted). Arntson also had two interceptions and four sacks. Nick Prinzing was fourth on the team in tackles with 72 (24 unassisted, Jake Shrum finished the year with 54 tackles (26 unassisted and 28 assisted). He had two interceptions and nine pass deflections.
NOVEMBER 13, 2004
DILLON – The University of Montana-Western Bulldogs closed their season with a 17-14 win over the Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers from Dillon’s Vigilante Field.
Western turned the ball over on their first possession when Nick Hannah intercepted a Travis Blome pass. Eastern Oregon converted the turnover into a 30 yard field goal from Cody Bloom.
The Bulldogs answered with an 11 play, 75 yard scoring drive that ended with a 15 yard strike from Blome to Thatcher Taylor. The Mountaineers cut the Western lead to one on Bloom’s second 30 yard field goal of the game in the closing seconds of the first half. Western scored 10 points in the third quarter on a 22 yard Eric Zahler field goal and a 55 yard touchdown pass from Blome to Kyle Hannah.
Eastern answered on the next drive as they drove 66 yards on 10 plays capped by a Scott Jensen one yard quarterback sneak. The Mountaineers cut the Western lead to three with a two point conversion. Western’s Jake Shrum intercepted the conversion attempt, but fumbled as he brought the ball out of the end zone. Offensive lineman Travis Holbrook picked up the fumble and carried it into the end zone to give Eastern Oregon the two point conversion and cut Western’s lead to three.
Western’s defense and the toe of Eric Zahler were the difference in the final ten minutes in the fourth quarter. After Eastern forced Western to punt, Zahler boomed a 41 yard punt. But, the Bulldogs were whistled for holding and Eastern Oregon accepted the penalty and moved the Bulldogs ten yards back. Zahler responded with a 72 yard punt that pinned the Mountaineers deep into their own territory. The Bulldog’s defense stifled Eastern’s offense as the fourth quarter ended.
Western racked up 312 yards in total offense, 233 through the air and 79 on the ground. Kyle Hannah, playing in his final game as a Bulldog led the receiver corps with 6 catches for 96 yards and his touchdown. Zahler punted four times for 214 yards (53.5 average). Bryan Arnston led the Western defense with 12 tackles. Western ends the regular season with a 7-4 record. Eastern falls to 6-4.
