The Griz solidified their quarterback spot on Saturday.
Montana Grizzlies head coach Bob Stitt named senior Reese Phillips the starter following the team’s second and final live scrimmage of fall camp.
Phillips played with the first-stringers in both scrimmages. He was the assumed successor of two-year starter Brady Gustafson following last season and has been the front-runner for the job throughout camp. Saturday, the former Kentucky transfer completed 13-for-21 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
“Reese has always been the starter,” Stitt said following the 83-play scrimmage that lasted roughly 70 minutes. “He’s been running with the ones and it’s something that definitely, if he doesn’t come out and compete every day, the next guy’s going to move up. If Reese continues to do what he’s doing, he’s going to be the guy. We’ve known that. That’s why we brought him in.”
Montana head coach Bob Stitt addresses his team after its second fall scrimmage of 2017/ by Jason Bacaj
Stitt kept the battle for the starter under center open since December of last year. Junior Caleb Hill and redshirt freshman Gresch Jensen made a run for the job, but Phillips separated himself after a solid first scrimmage, throwing for two touchdowns and 188 yards. He will take the snaps September 2 when the Griz open their season against Valparaiso.
Phillips made a perfect pass to sophomore Justin Calhoun in the corner of the end zone for a two-yard touchdown to cap a fast-paced, 13-play opening drive. A few drives later, Phillips connected with senior H receiver Makena Simis for a 16-yard touchdown. With a defender rushing toward him, Phillips scrambled left and flicked a spiral to Simis, who made a leaping catch over senior linebacker Jimmy Banks in the corner of the end-zone.
“We watched an Aaron Rodgers video last night in the team meeting and Reese came around and threw a scramble up to Makena, he made a play. Those are the types of things that can take you from good to great,” Stitt said.
Phillips also rushed for 39 yards on eight carries. Hill, a left-handed transfer from Blinn College, threw eight completions for 53 yards and one interception and rushed for 19 yards. Jensen went 3-for-8 for 65 yards.
Montana senior quarterback Reese Phillips/ by Jason Bacaj
Justin Calhoun busted loose for a 48-yard catch-and-run. He ended with three catches for 70 yards and one touchdown. Keenan Curran hauled in five passes for 54 yards. Jerry Louie-McGee caught two for 14 yards and was stuffed by junior linebacker Josh Buss on his only rush attempt.
“We’re starting to see how good we can be, and it’s exciting,” Phillips said. “It takes time to get used to me being out there instead of Brady…You can tell we’re starting to get more comfortable and not getting upset if we make a bad play. Third-and-long — who cares? We’re going to make plays and we’re going to trust our coaches.”
Buss made seven tackles, including the play on Louie-McGee that pushed the offense back four yards. Redshirt freshman safety Gavin Crow and junior linebacker Shayne Cochran stood out with six tackles apiece, each making two stops in the backfield. Redshirt freshman Dareon Nash, a converted wide receiver, picked off Hill midway through the scrimmage on tight, man-to-man coverage. Esai Longoria earned a touch sack on Jensen for an eight-yard loss.
The Griz defense was at its best in the red zone, stopping two momentous drives cold. After a perfect end zone pass from Phillips to Curran was deflected, Curran gave props to the defense and the offense was forced to kick.
“Our kickers have been very solid in practice and we got a couple of nice ones today and we’ve got to continue to move forward with that. If we get inside the 30, we’ve got points,” Stitt said.
Montana running back Jeremy Calhoun is tackled by linebacker Josh Buss/ by Jason Bacaj
The Griz clicked on all sides Saturday. The special teams players looked game-ready. Punter Eric Williams earned an applause from the fans for a 53-yard punt to start out the scrimmage. He later placed one inside the five-yard line from midfield with a rugby-style kick that took a friendly bounce on the one-yard line.
“I feel like this week was miles from where last week was, but you’ve got to keep getting better,” Williams said. Williams, a junior walk-on out of Missoula Loyola, received a full scholarship this season.
Sophomore kickers Brandon Purdy and Tim Semenza each went 1-for-2 on field goals. They missed on a 41-yarder and a 46-yarder, respectively. Semenza hit a 40-yard field goal and Purdy split a 28-yarder.
The Griz will host a closed tune-up scrimmage Aug. 24 in preparation for the season.
“The team’s coming together,” Stitt said. “That’s the key word. It’s a team. It’s not an offense or a defense or position groups. It’s a team…They’re very talented but now they’re having a lot of fun together. They want to succeed for their teammates.”
Nick Puckett is a University of Montana senior journalism student who covers the Grizzlies for multiple outlets. He can be followed on Twitter @puckettofnick and reached at nicholas.puckett@umontana.edu.
Photos by Jason Bacaj. All Rights Reserved.
