Week 8 Big Sky Roundup
- Colby Peterson
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
With two full months of college football now under our belt, the pecking order of the Big Sky is starting to work itself out.The Montana schools have established themselves at the top of the league, while #9 UC Davis’ win over NAU a week ago firmly cemented them in the number 3 spot. Their transition from senior QB Miles Hastings to redshirt freshman QB Caden Pinnick has largely gone well, getting better and better each week after a rough start during the FCS Kickoff in August. Of the 12 schools in the Sky, 5 were on a bye on Saturday. For those that did play, we’ve got all the details here.
Eastern Washington 21, Idaho 14 (Cheney, WA)
The Eags were back in action this week, hosting rival Idaho to see who would lay claim to the Che-Scow Cup this year. Eastern edged Idaho 21–14 in a tight contest marked by strong defense on both sides. EWU’s redshirt junior K Soren McKee hit 2 field goals, and redshirt sophomore QB Nate Bell connected with redshirt junior WR Miles Williams for 2 touchdowns, including a key 4th quarter score. Idaho’s offense compiled 338 total yards, highlighted by touchdown passes from redshirt sophomore QB Jack Wagner and redshirt sophomore QB Nick Josifek, but missed opportunities and a failed 4th down conversion late in the game sealed the loss. Idaho’s offense broke down to 191 passing yards and 147 rushing yards, with Wagner and Josifek each throwing a touchdown while redshirt freshman WR Marquawn McCraney and redshirt senior WR Michael Graves led the receiving corps. The Eags compiled 177 passing yards and 128 rushing yards, with Bell accounting for both passing touchdowns and a long 54-yard run. Williams caught both touchdown passes, helping the Eags maintain a narrow edge over Idaho despite comparable yardage totals. Idaho’s defense was led by redshirt sophomore DE Matyus McLain, who recorded 6 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack, while redshirt junior LB Cruz Hepburn added 9 tackles and redshirt junior LB Dylan Layne contributed 6 tackles with a quarterback hurry. Several players also helped disrupt passing plays, including redshirt senior DB Jhamell Blenman with an interception, and others like freshman DB Caleb Ricks and redshirt senior DL Zach Krotzer breaking up multiple passes. EWU’s defense featured a balanced effort with several players recording 7 total tackles each, including redshirt junior LB Myles Mayovsky, grad DE Trevor Thurman, and redshirt junior S Drew Carter, while redshirt sophomore DE Tylin Jackson and redshirt junior DE Tariq May contributed sacks and quarterback pressures. The secondary also made key plays, with multiple players like redshirt freshman S Josiah Goode and redshirt junior DT Isaiah Perez, breaking up passes with Carter and Jackson forcing turnovers. Eastern Washington will be on the road this weekend, heading to Ogden to face Weber State while Idaho heads back to Moscow to face a struggling Portland State team looking for their first win of the season.
#3 Montana 43, Sacred Heart 21 (Missoula, MT)
The scoring started early and often in Missoula on Saturday, as the Griz welcomed non-conference foe Sacred Heart to Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Montana dominated early with 3 1st quarter touchdowns from sophomore QB Keali‘i Ah Yat, building a 22-0 lead before Sacred Heart got their feet under them to respond in the 2nd quarter. Despite 2 2nd half touchdowns by SHU, Montana’s explosive passing attack — highlighted by long touchdown connections to redshirt senior WR Michael Wortham and redshirt sophomore WR Korbin Hendrix — secured a 43–21 victory. The Grizzlies outgained the Pioneers 484 yards to 340 yards in total offense, showcasing a pass-heavy attack through the air and decent performance on the ground. Ah Yat delivered a standout performance, completing 27 of 33 passes for 349 yards and 5 touchdowns, while also adding his own rushing score on the ground to earn Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honors. Sacred Heart’s sophomore QB Jack Snyder was efficient as well, going 20-for-26 for 214 yards and 2 touchdowns but felt the pressure of the Montana defense and was sacked 4 times. UM’s Wortham led all receivers with 132 yards and 2 touchdowns for Montana, while sophomore WR Dean Hangey caught both of SHU’s touchdown passes. Junior DB Ryan Palmieri led Sacred Heart’s defense with 9 total tackles, while senior DL Peter Schanne added 4 stops, a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. Pioneer grad DL Aboubakare Dabo and senior DL Zach Hathaway also made key plays in the backfield, each recording tackles for loss as the defense struggled to contain Montana’s offense. Redshirt senior LB Elijawah Tolbert led Montana’s stout defensive effort with 11 total tackles, while redshirt senior DE Hunter Peck made a major impact up front with 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss totaling 18 yards. Additional contributors included redshirt sophomore LB Clay Oven and junior DL Zekiel Seumalo, who each added tackles for loss, and redshirt senior DB Kenzel Lawler, who broke up 2 passes to help hold the Pioneers’ passing game to just 214 yards on the day. Montana will hit the road for just the second time this year, heading to Sacramento to face the Hornets on ESPN2 on Friday night.
Sacramento State 40, Northern Colorado 35 (Sacramento, CA)
After a blow-out performance in freezing rain against Weber State, the Hornets were glad to be back home, hosting a feisty Northern Colorado Bears squad fresh off their upset victory over Idaho. Sac State edged Northern Colorado 40–35 in a back-and-forth matchup highlighted by 4 field goals from sophomore K Grant Meadors and a pick-six by sophomore CB Ricky Lee III. Meadors won Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts. UNC’s redshirt junior QB Eric Gibson threw for 321 yards and 3 touchdowns, including 3 to junior WR Carver Cheeks, while the Hornets relied on a dominant 323-yard rushing performance and over 35 minutes of possession to secure victory. Cheeks hauled in 223 yards and all 3 Bears scores, though Gibson also threw 4 costly interceptions. UNC balanced the air attack with 163 rushing yards, led by sophomore RB Mathias Price’s 102 on the ground. Sac State complimented their running game with 111 passing yards, powered by senior RB Rodney Hammond Jr.’s 134-yard, 1 touchdown performance and senior RB Sam Adams II’s 60-yard, 1 touchdown effort. Redshirt freshman LB Hudson Voggesser powered Northern Colorado’s defense with 16 total tackles, followed by redshirt senior LB Zach Nowatzke with 13 and redshirt senior LB Keenan Guthrie and sophomore S Cam Chapa with 9 each. The Bears recorded several tackles for loss and sacks, highlighted by Guthrie’s and Merrihew’s combined 2 sacks and sophomore DL Makur Abram’s 2 tackles for loss. Junior ILB Alex Rocha led Sacramento State’s defense with 11 total tackles and a sack, while junior S Koa Akui added 7 tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup. Lee III made a game-changing play with a 34-yard interception return, and freshman S Lono Chouteau also contributed an interception to highlight a strong all-around defensive effort. The Hornets will stay home to prep for a primetime showdown with #3 Montana on ESPN2 on Friday night. Meanwhile, Northern Colorado gets to head back home to host #9 UC Davis in Greeley.
Weber State 43, Portland State 27 (Hillsboro ,OR)
The Vikings stayed home this week, hosting a reeling Weber State Wildcats team after their blowout loss to Sac State in Ogden the week before. Weber State jumped out to an early lead with 2 field goals and a defensive interception, steadily pulling away in the 3rd quarter with 3 more scores, including 2 rushing touchdowns and a field goal. Portland State tried to respond with multiple scoring drives in the 2nd and 4th quarters but struggled to keep pace due to turnovers, managing 2 rushing touchdowns and a late passing touchdown. WSU dominated on the ground with 220 rushing yards and 4 rushing TDs, while both teams had similar total offense, but turnovers and big plays allowed the Wildcats to secure a 43-27 victory. Weber State leaned heavily on redshirt freshman RB Chauncey Sylvester leading the way for 135 yards and a touchdown, while their passing game produced 150 yards but no passing scores. The Vikings moved the ball more effectively through the air, racking up 313 passing yards and a touchdown, but their run game was limited to just 65 yards and 2 scores. Weber State's defense was led by junior LB Mayson Hitchens with 11 total tackles and junior DE Josh Hardy contributing 7 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and a sack. Junior S Kao Hansen recorded a 19-yard interception return, earning him Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honors, freshman DE Chevy Robinson forced a fumble, and multiple defenders broke up passes to disrupt the opposing offense. Portland State’s defense was anchored by sophomore DB Isaiah Green with 10 total tackles and strong contributions from freshman DB Pierce Walker and sophomore S Bryson Ross, who added 8 tackles each, including a 21-yard interception return by Ross. Junior LB Jaxton Helmstetler recorded a sack for a loss, while several other players made key plays including pass breakups and quarterback hits to disrupt the struggling Wildcat pass game. Weber State will head back home this weekend to host Eastern Washington in Ogden, while Portland State hits the road, as well, taking the trip to the Kibbie Dome to face the Vandals of Idaho.
Cal Poly (BYE)
Cal Poly stayed home for their bye last week. They’ll do their best to prepare for #4 Montana State to come to town this weekend.
Idaho State (BYE)
The Stripes had the week off, using the time to prepare to host #18 Northern Arizona in Pocatello this weekend.
#5 Montana State (BYE)
The Bobcats took a much-needed week off, preparing for this weekend’s road trip to San Luis Obispo to face Cal Poly.
Northern Arizona (BYE)
The Lumberjacks spent the week licking their wounds after a tough loss to UC Davis the week before. They’ll be back in action on the road this weekend to face Idaho State in Pocatello.
#9 UC Davis (BYE)
The Aggies were home this weekend, taking their bye before heading to Greeley this weekend to face a surging Northern Colorado team that is raising eyebrows.