JALMOND
September 21st, 2009, 11:13 PM
For awhile on Saturday it looked like the conference was going to be turned on its ear. First Portland State was ahead of Montana 14-7 before Montana got it going, and then later Idaho State was up on Weber State 14-7, before the Wildcats woke up. At the end of the day, though, all was right. Here are this week's power rankings. Once again, all are my opinion only and all are open for discussion. This week (last week).
1. Montana (1)---Things were not going great for the Grizzlies until Mariani pulled in a shoestring catch and made a speedy run to the end zone. The Griz recovered from the 14-0 hole they dug, and won going away against Portland State. A complete team effort on both sides. This week, the long trip to Flagstaff to play Northern Arizona. Can the Griz stay unbeaten?
2. Weber State (2)---Supposed to be a breather, especially after two FBS games, yet there was Idaho State taking the lead over the Wildcats. Of course, though it was not meant to last as the Wildcats came storming back to earn the rout. Can they afford to start slow this week as they head into Portland to take on the pesky Portland State team?
3. Eastern Washington (3)---Great showing by the Eagles on defense as they held the Northern Colorado offense scoreless, making an otherwise sluggish Eagles offense to play just good enough to get the win. This week, a trip to Sacramento to play Sacramento State, a team that surprised the Eagles at Cheney last year. Payback time for the Eagles, can they get the win?
4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Jacks offense had a field day against Southern Utah, but could not feel comfortable as the Thunderbirds would creep closer as the game wound down. Yet in the end, the Jacks had just enough to get the win. This week, the Jacks welcome the mighty Montana team to Flagstaff. They have not had enough to beat the Grizzlies, do they have enough this time?
5. Montana State (6)---After two rather dismal showings, the Bobcats took a weekend off to regroup. Still, even with the outcomes, the Bobcats are 1-1 and that is where everyone thought they would be at this time. Coming up, a trip to Greeley to face Northern Colorado, a team that has given the Bobcats all they could handle and then some. Have the Bobcats ironed out the wrinkles yet?
6. Northern Colorado (5)---After a great showing against San Diego, the Bears were brimming with confidence as they headed in to Eastern Washington. The Bears defense held the powerful Eagles offense for most of the day, yet the offense sputtered, and what was great expectations morphed into a cruel reality. Can they make some noise in the conference? This week they entertain Montana State. Maybe this week?
7. Portland State (7)---What could have been. After the first ten minutes, the Vikings were up on Montana by two touchdowns and had the Griz pinned back. But don't anger a Grizzly. After those ten minutes, the Vikings could not do anything right. How soon to get past this game? This week, mighty Weber State comes to town. Can the Vikings regain focus?
8. Sacramento State (8)---Great optimism seems to have gone downhill after the Hornets lost their feature back. Shaky offense and a so-so defense means that a bye week was welcomed in Sacramento. Now, Eastern Washington comes to town, a team that the Hornets won on the road last year. With the game in Sacramento and an extra week to fix the wrongs, can the Hornets get the win?
9. Idaho State (9)---Sometimes better things happen when a team plays with nothing to lose, and there were the Bengals on top of Weber State late in the first quarter. But just like past Bengals teams, it was not to last. The good news is the fierce three game opening stretch is done and the Bengals can return to Pocatello to play DII Central Washington. Home cooking is usually better than on the road, will it be for the Bengals?
1. Montana (1)---Things were not going great for the Grizzlies until Mariani pulled in a shoestring catch and made a speedy run to the end zone. The Griz recovered from the 14-0 hole they dug, and won going away against Portland State. A complete team effort on both sides. This week, the long trip to Flagstaff to play Northern Arizona. Can the Griz stay unbeaten?
2. Weber State (2)---Supposed to be a breather, especially after two FBS games, yet there was Idaho State taking the lead over the Wildcats. Of course, though it was not meant to last as the Wildcats came storming back to earn the rout. Can they afford to start slow this week as they head into Portland to take on the pesky Portland State team?
3. Eastern Washington (3)---Great showing by the Eagles on defense as they held the Northern Colorado offense scoreless, making an otherwise sluggish Eagles offense to play just good enough to get the win. This week, a trip to Sacramento to play Sacramento State, a team that surprised the Eagles at Cheney last year. Payback time for the Eagles, can they get the win?
4. Northern Arizona (4)---The Jacks offense had a field day against Southern Utah, but could not feel comfortable as the Thunderbirds would creep closer as the game wound down. Yet in the end, the Jacks had just enough to get the win. This week, the Jacks welcome the mighty Montana team to Flagstaff. They have not had enough to beat the Grizzlies, do they have enough this time?
5. Montana State (6)---After two rather dismal showings, the Bobcats took a weekend off to regroup. Still, even with the outcomes, the Bobcats are 1-1 and that is where everyone thought they would be at this time. Coming up, a trip to Greeley to face Northern Colorado, a team that has given the Bobcats all they could handle and then some. Have the Bobcats ironed out the wrinkles yet?
6. Northern Colorado (5)---After a great showing against San Diego, the Bears were brimming with confidence as they headed in to Eastern Washington. The Bears defense held the powerful Eagles offense for most of the day, yet the offense sputtered, and what was great expectations morphed into a cruel reality. Can they make some noise in the conference? This week they entertain Montana State. Maybe this week?
7. Portland State (7)---What could have been. After the first ten minutes, the Vikings were up on Montana by two touchdowns and had the Griz pinned back. But don't anger a Grizzly. After those ten minutes, the Vikings could not do anything right. How soon to get past this game? This week, mighty Weber State comes to town. Can the Vikings regain focus?
8. Sacramento State (8)---Great optimism seems to have gone downhill after the Hornets lost their feature back. Shaky offense and a so-so defense means that a bye week was welcomed in Sacramento. Now, Eastern Washington comes to town, a team that the Hornets won on the road last year. With the game in Sacramento and an extra week to fix the wrongs, can the Hornets get the win?
9. Idaho State (9)---Sometimes better things happen when a team plays with nothing to lose, and there were the Bengals on top of Weber State late in the first quarter. But just like past Bengals teams, it was not to last. The good news is the fierce three game opening stretch is done and the Bengals can return to Pocatello to play DII Central Washington. Home cooking is usually better than on the road, will it be for the Bengals?