University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Associated Students of the University of Montana Montana Kaimin, 1898-present (ASUM) 11-13-2010 Game Day Kaimin, November 13, 2010 Students of The niU versity of Montana, Missoula Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper Recommended Citation Students of The nivU ersity of Montana, Missoula, "Game Day Kaimin, November 13, 2010" (2010). Montana Kaimin, 1898-present. 5368. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper/5368 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Montana Kaimin, 1898-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. gamedaykaimin Saturday, November 13, 2010 gamedaykaimin.com the TRANSFERS story by Taylor W. Anderson | photo by Greg Lindstrom twitter.com/ 38°F | 27°F UM’s Independent Campus Newspaper Since 1898 UM’s Independent Campus Newspaper Since 1898 KaiminSports Two transfer wideouts battle for a chance to etch their names into Montana history story by Taylor W. Anderson IMMY FARRIS, Etu afternoon game at Washing- from the Montana 44-yard line. sonnel for me to go in, there be down,” the quiet 6-foot-2 Molden, Marc Mariani. ton-Grizzly Stadium, CJ Atkins After 13 plays, the Grizzlies was no doubt in my mind that receiver said. “There was no JThe names hold varying was given his first chance at had ground their way to the if Roper was able to get the ball major standout at the wide- prominence, depending on the glory since joining the team. As one-yard line with 10 seconds off that I was gonna make the out position, so that made me age of the fan. But each repre- 25,323 fans watched final min- left in the game. play,” Atkins said. “That was mad because I wasn’t given sents a great player in Montana utes turn into final seconds, the On the ensuing play, Roper amazing, it was an amazing a shot to at least show what I football history. Montana team, struggling to lofted a jump ball into the south- feeling.” can do.” Joining the ranks of great- regain lost Big Sky dominance, side end zone. Nervous gasps It was Atkins’ lone catch of Moutra looked to stay in ness requires nothing short of was on the verge of disappoint- turned quickly to joy as Atkins the game and his first touch- the Football Bowl Subdivision, perfection. Chances are lim- ing most of those in attendance. outwrestled NAU cornerback down catch of the season. Ear- hoping he would receive a shot ited, so making the best of each Northern Arizona led by Randy Hale Jr. to give the Griz- lier, he scored his first ever at becoming a go-to receiver rep is key in trying to break four, and things looked bleak zlies its fifth straight conference touchdown for Montana on a elsewhere in the division. But into the ranks of history. for the Grizzlies as Justin Rop- win, 24–21. 48-yard double reverse run to FBS schools stopped showing During a breezy Saturday er started the two-minute drill “When they called the per- the house. interest, he said, while Mon- His history is similar to a tana didn’t. few others on the team. He A new Montana coaching comes from California, where staff bringing an offense based an MVP senior season at Gro- heavily on a passing game at- ver Cleveland High School led tracted Moutra. He committed the 6-foot-2 junior to redshirt at with the Grizzlies. Washington State his freshman year of college. NLIKE MOUTRA, At- He said the presence of leg- kins watched as Mon- endary head coach Bill Doba Utana continued an un- was a key factor in his join- defeated season on national ing the Pac-10 team. But after television by beating Appa- watching from the sidelines lachian State in a snow-filled as the Cougars went 5–7, and thriller. immediately following Doba’s “But the whole second half, release after the 2007 season, from it being just a regular eve- Atkins sought new ground. ning night of football, to it be- He moved back toward ing just snow the second half, home, entered the College of that was unreal,” he said. the Canyons, a community col- This was his first exposure lege in Los Angeles County, to Griz football. He had little and waited his turn in a line of knowledge of the 2008 national All-American receivers and fu- championship run under the ture NCAA Division I players. guidance of Bobby Hauck. The “I just had to humble myself 2001 championship season was and say, ‘Your time will come less than fictitious to him. when it does,’” he said. “I thought that the way the stadium looked with the moun- BOUT 20 MILES down tain behind it with the emblem the road, at Culver City of the ‘M’, I thought that was AHigh School in Culver pretty cool,” Atkins said. City, Calif., senior Antwon He looked at Syracuse and Moutra was the leading receiv- Hawaii, before getting a call er for his team during the 2007 from Shalon Baker, the wide re- season. ceiver coach who himself had He was a do-it-all sort of played under Pflugrad. player, earning spots as both “I just decided to take a visit, starting receiver and safety. and I loved it,” he said. His success had attracted the Through most of the season, attention of Robin Pflugrad, Atkins has found himself wait- who was then the head receiver ing for his chance to stand out coach at the University of Or- on the offense. As the regular egon. season winds toward an un- Moutra joined UCLA af- certain finish, his stats remain ter high school, and patient- modest. His nine catches for 77 ly watched as two seasons yards put him behind six other slipped away with unsuccess- Grizzlies. ful results. Coach Pflugrad said Atkins During his first season, was a bit behind the core of the Moutra caught just one pass for team when he joined the team nine yards as the Bruins fin- during fall camp. ished 4–8. “CJ unfortunately got here The modest 188-pounder so late that he was really be- wanted to leave, but said he hind the learning curve of stuck it out for his parents. Be- learning the offense,” he said. sides, the opportunity to play Pflugrad added he expects Pac-10 football down the road Atkins to get more reps as he Greg Lindstrom/Montana Kaimin from high school was some- continues to mature mentally Antwon Moutra looks for an open hole during the game against Sacramento State earlier in the season. thing too sweet to let pass, and and physically, and grasp the Moutra’s hard work could pay offense. off the next year. Atkins credits teammates His second season saw only Sam Gratton, Jeff Larson, Jabin gamedaykaimin disappointment, as one catch Sambrano and Moutra as being and a less-than-stellar 7–6 re- instrumental in helping to ad- Editor Photo Editor Sports Reporters Photographers cord from the Bruins followed. just to the new team. Roman Stubbs Alisia Duganz Taylor Anderson Sally Finneran It was time to start shopping “They were like, ‘Look, this AJ Mazzolini Greg Lindstrom for teams. is the tradition here: We win Sports Editor Design Editor Daniel Mediate Brandy Kiger “I was very unhappy there. ball games,’” Atkins said. “So Tyson Alger Alison Kilts Troy Warzocha I was upset; at times I would Continues on next page Montana Kaimin Saturday, November 13, 2010 GAMEDAY 3 just from the moment I arrived those guys have helped me come along.” IS SEASON HIGH 44 yards on two receptions Hin the 30–21 loss to We- ber State two weeks ago may be a sign that the opportunity to create a name for himself on the field is finally here. The wideout position is a spot on the field that attracts attention with every passing play. Receivers can either out- race coverage and catch a per- fectly crafted pass, or they will run under coverage, only to do it again next play. Moutra’s time to shine on the Montana field emerged much more rapidly. In his first season as a Griz, Moutra is third in recep- tions and second in receiving yards, and only one catch and 14 yards behind junior Jabin Sambrano. He is also tied with Bryce Carver for the lead in re- ceiving touchdowns, with five to his credit. “It feels good to finally be Brandy Kiger/Montana Kaimin able to contribute to the team,” CJ Atkins catches a pass from Justin Roper with four seconds left in the game against Northern Arizona University to garner a 24–21 win. It was his first he said. “Rather than just going and only receiving touchdown of the year. The Griz are 5–2 in conference, and 6–3 overall. in and getting garbage time and that’s it, but to actually in particular,” Roper said, add- “when”, as it was this time last sion rankings. They currently “I don’t want to be known as make a difference and be a fac- ing, “I kind of feel comfortable year. sit in third behind 6–1 Montana the class who came in and [lost tor to the offense and the team, with Moutra; he makes those Back-to-back wins would State and Eastern Washington.