FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION

• Big Guns in the Big Sky

  By Andrew Gaddess, FCS Contributing Editor Ogden, UT (Sports Network) - The Big Sky Conference will not be short on offensive firepower this coming season.

  From the top down, the conference is laden with talented, proven, and productive offensive threats.

  Preseason favorite Montana boasts two Walter Payton Award watch lists members. Running back Chase Reynolds was a finalist in 2009, finishing 13th in the voting.

  A senior, Reynolds has rushed for 3,075 yards and 44 touchdowns over the last two seasons.

  Joining Reynolds on the Payton watch list is senior quarterback Andrew Selle. Selle manned an offense which finished first in the Big Sky in scoring last season.

  He threw for 3,043 yards, 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions, while leading the conference in passing efficiency.

  Despite those gaudy numbers, first year head coach Robin Pflugrad describes himself as "cautiously optimistic" about his team's prospects this season.

  To Pflugrad, roster turnover is the main cause for concern.

  Most notably, the Grizzlies are without First Team All-American wide receiver Marc Mariani, who recently took his talents to the NFL's Tennessee Titans.

  Also gone are key offensive line components Levi Horn and Chris Dyke.

  In speaking of his team's inexperience, Pflugrad says, "We have some guys who haven't been in the war together." Still, as the battle for the Big Sky title nears commencement, Montana appears poised to prevail. The going may get tough however, as many teams in the conference have weapons to burn.

  Montana first runs into a stalwart Big Sky gun when they visit Eastern Washington on September 18th.

  Waiting on EWU's new red turf will be the Eagles' own Payton watch member, Taiwan Jones.

  Says Pflugrad of Jones, "When he turns the corner we don't have anyone that can catch him." The numbers bear this out.

  In 2009, Jones averaged 7.5 yards per carry and scored 15 touchdowns.

  Originally a cornerback, Jones also proved to be a dual threat for Eastern Washington, catching 40 passes for 561 yards.

  Perhaps the biggest threat facing any Big Sky defense this year is Northern Arizona senior quarterback Michael Herrick.

  Herrick, a Payton nominee, has also been named first-team preseason all-conference. Herrick had a sensational year in 2009, completing 66.3 percent of his passes for 3,356 yards and 22 touchdowns.

  Sure to add quake to defensive coordinators' kneecaps is the word out of Flagstaff that Herrick appears to have improved his accuracy leading into the 2010 season.

  Not to be outdone, senior Weber State quarterback Cameron Higgins will look to create some fireworks of his own.

  Higgins has been a candidate for the Walter Payton Award each of the past two seasons.

  He has also guided Weber State to two consecutive FCS playoff births.

  Higgins will meet Herrick on November 13, in Flagstaff. The meeting is sure to be a summit of gunslinging prowess.

  In all, it appears there are many gunners aiming for the well-adorned bull's eye on Montana's back.

  With the Grizzlies facing some significant question marks, the battle for the Big Sky could come down to who has the biggest weapon to hit that target.

  2010 Preseason Conference Poll (coaches and media) 1. Montana 2. Eastern Washington 3. Montana State 4. Weber State 5. Northern Arizona 6. Sacramento State 7. Northern Colorado 8. Portland State 9. Idaho State

  07/20 13:17:22 ET