August 2005
Bulldogs Fall to Tech in Season Opener
Monday, August 29 2005
Montana Tech scored three first quarter touchdowns, two after Bulldog turnovers as Western fell 24-40 in the season opening game for both teams.
Western scored first on a 38 yard field goal from freshmann Brad Hollen. Tech answered on a three-play scoring to lead 7-3. On the the first play of their next possession, the Bulldogs fumbled and Tech recovered. The Orediggers scored six plays later to make it 14-3. Western dug a deeper hole on their next possession with an interception at their own 27 yard line. The Orediggers scored five plays later to build a 21-3 lead.
On the first play of the second quarter, Travis Hartman hit Jake Larson on a 61 yard scoring play to cut Tech's lead to 21-10. Western's defense held Tech scoreless the remainder of the second quarter.
Montana Tech opened the second half with a 16 play, 80 yard drive that took up almost nine minutes to build their lead to 28-10. After a 37 yard punt return, Tech added to their lead with a four play scoring drive to lead 35-10.
Western answered with their own 8o yard drive capped by a 11 yard touchdown pass from Travis Blome to Jake Larson. The tandem kept the drive alive with a 37 yard strike on a third and long situation.
Western's defense held but the Orediggers punt was downed on the Bulldogs one yard line. One play later Hartman was tackled in the end zone for a safety and a 37-17 lead.
After the free kick, Tech put their final points on the board with a 24 yard field goal.
Western put together a nine play, 80 yard drive capped by a 14 yard touchdown pass from Hartman to Jeff Schultz.
Jake Larson broke the school record for receiving yards in a game with his 12 catches for 230 yards. He breaks Steve Galley's record of 202 yards set in 1983.
Western travels to Central Washington on Friday, September 2.
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Dawgs vs Diggers
Friday, August 26 2005
The University of Montana-Western football team will find out how good they are in the season's first game when they travel to Butte for a Frontier Conference game against Montana Tech. Kickoff is 1:00 p.m. from Alumni Coliseum on the Montana Tech campus.
The game will be broadcast in Southwest Montana on KDBM-AM, 1490 on the dial. The game will also be televised by Montana Sports Programming Channel in conjunction with Omega Productions and can be seen on cable channel 41.
“We are excited about starting a new year and a new season,” said Bulldog coach Tommy Lee. “Our guys are tired of just hitting each other in practice and are ready to get back into business.
Western finished the 2005 season with an overall record of 7-4 and a conference mark of 6-2. The Bulldogs shared the conference title with Montana Tech and Carroll College. Western and Tech split their 2004 series with each winning at home. The Bulldogs won 34-14 in Dillon and lost to Tech 19-9 in Butte.
“Our conference is tough from top to bottom,” added Lee. “Carroll is as strong as ever. Tech returned a lot people from last year and will be tough again. Northern will be a much improved team with Sampson in his second year. Rocky will also be much better. Sanchez is back at quarterback and they had an excellent year recruiting.”
Montana Tech finished the 2004 season with an 8-4 overall record and a 6-2 league mark. Tech lost to Dickinson State 30-13 in the first round of the NAIA Playoffs.
“We lost eighteen lettermen to graduation plus two starters to non-related football health issues,” said Lee. “We have a lot of holes to fill, but we will be a good football team. It will depend how the folks who were back-ups fill the in the holes left by graduation and how the new folks fit in.”
The offensive line will be built around All-Conference center Abe Apilado (6-3, 325) a senior from KeKaha Kauai, Hawaii. Also returning from last year are guard Darrell Bryce (6-3, 259) a junior from Ewa Beach, Hawaii and tackle Lance Fricke (6-5, 240) a junior from Great Falls. Andrew Amosa (6-4, 290) a senior from Tacoma,Washington moves from the defensive line to the offensive line. Freshman redshirt Makana Mardonada (6-2, 300) from Kekaha Kauai, Hawaii rounds out the starting five.
Great Falls senior Caleb Drinkwalter (6-0, 195) gets the starting nod at running back. Drinkwalter rushed for 470 yards last year. Tyler Cress (5-10, 200) a junior from Medimont, Idaho will also see a lot of action.
Josh Illig (5-8, 170) a senior from Missoula, earned All-Conference last year. He caught 20 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns. After a year away from Bulldog football, junior Jake Larson (6-1, 175) from Butte returns to the lineup. Two years ago, Larson earned All-Conference honors as he caught 37 passes for 740 yards and six touchdowns. Sophomore Jeff Schultz (6-1, 210), and senior Seth McLean (5-9, 165) of Twin Bridges round out the starting four wide receivers.
At quarterback, junior Travis Blome (5-11, 180) of Billings will get the starting nod, but sophomore Justin Hartman (6-1, 200) of Great Falls will also play. Last season, Blome passed for 2050 yards and 14 touchdowns. Hartman transfers to Western from the University of Montana-Missoula.
There are big holes to fill on the defensive line with the graduation of All-American defensive tackle Jereme Hess, All-Conference defensive end Nic Rewerts and four year starter Ruley Stingley.
Senior Kama McKeague (6-0, 260) of Honolulu, Hawaii returns to the lineup after taking a year and a half off due to injury. The Bulldog defense will get a big boost from a couple of transfers. Stephen O'Neal (6-3, 230) transfers to Western from the University of Montana and Bryan Gardner (6-4, 245) transfers in from Bowling Green. Also returning to the lineup after a medical redshirt is senior Casey Bingham (6-0, 235) from Paradise, Utah.
All-Conference and All-American Eric Stoverud (5-11, 190) from Great Falls, anchors the linebacker corps. Part-time starter Kawai Curran (6-0, 215) from Kaneohi, HI and Missoula senior Ryan Tuttle (5-9, 205) round out the starters. Stoverud led the team in tackles a year ago with 112.
In the defensive backfield, All-Conference safety Nick Prinzing (6-0, 195), a senior from Great Falls returns. At the other safety position is Derek Stanley (6-0, 190) of Mullon, Idaho. Starting at cornerback, senior Ryan Keltz (5-10, 175) of Missoula and junior Dustin Johnson (5-10, 160) of Glenns Ferry, Idaho. Prinzing is the second leading tackler returning from last year with 72.
For the first time in four seasons, kicking and punting duties will be handled by someone other than Eric Zahler. Zahler ended his Bulldog career with a bunch of school records. Taking over is freshman Brad Hollen (6-2, 185) from Washington.
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Bulldogs Open Fall Camp
Wednesday, August 10 2005
University of Montana-Western Head Football Coach Tommy Lee and staff welcomed 130 players to the first day of Fall Camp.
“The players came back in excellent shape,” said Lee. “We had a great Spring and it is carrying over to the Fall. We have a lot of work to due in preparation for our first game. Opening against Montana Tech will be no easy task.”
Western opens their 2005 season in Butte against Montana Tech on August 27. Western and Tech shared the Frontier Conference title a year ago with Carroll College. Carroll, the defending national champion was picked by the league's coaches to win the Frontier followed by Tech and Western.
Bulldog captains for the upcoming season are senior offensive lineman Abe Apilado of Kekaha Kauai, Hawaii; senior running back Caleb Drinkwalter of Great Falls; senior linebacker Eric Stoverud of Great Falls and senior linebacker Ryan Tuttle of Missoula.
The Bulldogs will spend the first week of practice with two practices a day.
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