Grizzlies have the nation's 11th-best rush defense, 3rd-best scoring unit

The Grizzlies could be in for a grueling day Saturday.

The University of Montana football team hosts Wofford College of South Carolina in a first-round playoff game in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Get ready for the Griz to be on defense a lot.

Wofford (8-3) won the Southern Conference over two-time defending national champion Appalachian State. The Terriers use an option-based offense with a lot of misdirection mixed in and are the nation's second-best rushing team, averaging 318 rushing yards per game. They also own the nation's ninth-best scoring offense, averaging 37 points per game.

"They are the most multidimensional option offense I've ever coached against," UM coach Bobby Hauck said. "They've got the veer. They've got the mid-line. They've got the read-zone. They've got every option imaginable. They are hard to get a handle on. We are going to need all week to figure them out.

"The danger with playing a team like them and a team that can rush the ball so well is they control the game. They control field position. They control the time of possession. They shorten the game and you don't get a lot of chances with your offense."

The Terriers start two halfbacks, a fullback, a tight end and a wide receiver. Seven different players have had at least 50 yards rushing in one game.

The main halfback is 205-pound senior Kevious Johnson (jersey No. 20). Johnson averages 95 rushing yards per game and has scored eight touchdowns. He's had four 100-yard games and two 90-yard games.

Senior quarterback Josh Collier (No. 12) is the team's second-leading rusher, averaging 46 yards per game. He's had three two-touchdown games and rushed for 191 yards last week. On top of the running, Collier's moxie in the passing game has the Terriers ranked 24th in the nation in passing efficiency.

Fullbacks Michael Hobbs (No. 3), a 215-pound senior, and Adrian Young (No. 6), a 200-pound sophomore, each average 36 yards per game. Hobbs has scored five touchdowns in the last four games. Young rushed 24 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns three weeks ago.

The second halfback position is manned by 210-pound junior Dane Romero (No. 18) and 175-pound sophomore Jeremy Marshall (No. 22). Marshall averages 35 yards per game and has scored two touchdowns. Romero averages 33 yards and has scored four touchdowns.

But here's the kicker.

Both Romero and Marshall, as well as another halfback, have thrown touchdown passes.

"They have a chance to fool you when you're trying to stop the option," Hauck said. "All of the sudden the tailback will stop and throw it down the field to the guy who is either stock blocking or crack blocking. They've got a lot of action off their option game, which makes it difficult to stop. Plus, they've had a lot of luck - a lot of big plays."

All right, so the Terriers sound like they have confusion and stats on their side, but can their athletes stand up to the great Griz D?

"They are definitely shifty," UM senior linebacker Loren Utterback said. "I saw a couple of guys from Appalachian State whiff in the open field. So we need to be good tacklers. Plus the misdirection is whole new thing to worry about. They could have some slow guys running and still be fairly successful.

"They've got great athletes and whole lot of misdirection with a bunch of low, powerful guys."

As for the Griz defense, the vanilla 4-3 squad is ranked 11th in the nation in rushing yards allowed, giving up 106 yards per game. It allows just 14 points per game, too, which is the nation's third best.

Senior defensive end Kroy Biermann leads the unit and is a top candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the nation's top defensive player.

"I have been at Montana for 30 years and it is fair to say that Kroy Biermann is the best, most dominant player we have had during that time span," UM Sports Information Director Dave Guffey said.

The Hardin native has 15 sacks, 17 1/2 tackles for losses and five forced fumbles. He is ready for quick runners and big blockers.

"Being an option team, they (the Terriers) will be fast - both laterally and vertically," Biermann said. "Plus they will be getting some surprisingly big blocks everywhere on the field."

The winner of this game will play the winner between Richmond (9-2) and Eastern Kentucky (9-2) next weekend.