Oct. 20, 2007

Recap |  Final Stats |  Notes

University of Northern Colorado at #3 University of Montana

Post-Game Quotes

October 20, 2007 * Missoula, Montana

Head Coach Scott Downing:

"It's fairly obvious we played the number three team in the country today. Montana came out and played well and they did everything I thought they could do. We had our opportunities and we didn't cash in on them and we have to continue to do what we do and get better. We played a very, very good football team today.

"We had an interception, it was a great play by Max (Hewitt) and we really thought at that point in time if we got some points on the board we could gain some momentum and get back into the game. Obviously, when you come out with nothing, we ended up getting the field goal blocked, it wasn't very good. We've got to take an opportunity and cash in on that opportunity and we haven't done that. It was a good play by a maturing defense but we weren't able to hold up our end on the offensive side.

"Kroy Biermann is obviously a very talented young man, as are a lot of their defensive players. They've got a lot of fifth-year seniors out there playing, backed up by fourth-year juniors and Kroy presents a problem, not only with his physical presence out there and his ability but the fact is when you're in a third-and-eight, or a third-and-nine you're in an obvious passing situation, he can crank it up and turn it loose. Our tackles are no different than tackles that are playing on Sunday, when you've got a guy out there that's a big time guy, you're going to get a false start, you're going to get a motion penalty because we're trying to maybe jump the gun just a little bit to set back a little bit farther so not only does he physically give you a problem, but the presence of him being there makes you have to be more alert of where he is at all times.

"Montana is a good program, they're well coached. Like any good program they're going to have their base offense or base defense and you're going to see it week in and week out and they're going to execute it and do the right things. There wasn't anything that they did that we didn't prepare for. It's just the fact that they were able to execute it and get the ball to the guy on the pass route or obviously, get the running back loose a little bit and they just made plays today that they hadn't made earlier. I think they've got a good scheme and they've got a good coaching staff.

Freshman defensive back Max Hewitt

"We were in a three-cover and basically I saw the quarterback run an out-route and saw him staring down the whole way and he threw it right to me. I made the play on it but I should have taken it to the house but what can you do."

Senior defensive tackle Vinny Pallone

"I was surprised by the first couple weeks of conference play how low their (Montana) scoring was so I knew that we couldn't take them lightly. We couldn't say they had an average offense. I knew in the back of my mind that they had weapons and they proved it today, especially at the wide receiver position. Those guys came alive today. You know as far as us, I think we could have gotten a better pass rush but they've got some big boys up front and all we could do is battle and play our best and I don't think we did that today. I don't think we played our best. I think there were flashes of good defense out there. In the first half we held their rushing yards down a little bit, more where we wanted to hold them, but that's the thing about moving up a division, you can't just show flashes. It has to be 60 minutes and I think that's what our team needs to realize and needs to mature to is that you can't just get lucky and you can't just have a series that goes your way. You have to make it go your way and I think that's what our team needs to grow up and realize and I think that it will happen here, soon it's going to happen, it just didn't happen today."

Senior wide receiver Clint Wright

"We haven't run that particular play (the touchdown) except for in practice every week but the opportunity hadn't come for us in a game. It's a good third down or fourth down short play. It just so happened that I scored a touchdown on it. I'm glad I caught the ball.