THIS WEEK in the BIG SKY

Montana (3-0, 2-0) at Portland State (3-1, 2-0)

An early-season showdown will leave one team in sole possession of first place, heading for a Big Sky Conference title. This one could come down to who has the ball last. Montana, defending Big Sky champion, is averaging 60 points in conference games and is coming off an 81-22 thrashing of Weber State. Portland State is averaging 51 points in conference games. The teams average a combined 1,006 yards. “There is no doubt in my mind they will be the best offensive football team that we have played so far this year,” Montana Coach Mick Dennehy said. Montana is ranked No. 3 in one Division I-AA poll and is playing its first road game. Drew Miller, a transfer from Brigham Young, leads I-AA with a 191.2 efficiency rate. Portland State’s Jimmy Blanchard passed for 235 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-13 victory over Idaho State last week. Montana has won the last four meetings between the teams, including a 20-17 victory last season in which the Grizzlies scored a touchdown with 29 seconds to play.

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Cal State Sacramento (3-1, 1-1) at Weber State (2-2, 1-1)

The Hornets have lost their three games against Weber State. But those days appear to be history. Sacramento, arguably the most improved team in the Big Sky, lost to Montana in double-overtime two weeks ago and routed Montana State, 41-10, last week. Weber State, predicted to finish near the bottom, will try to recover from an 81-22 loss to Montana, the most points ever allowed by the Wildcats. Weber State trailed, 30-0, before Mike Minnoch kicked a 29-yard field goal and Cole Cooper threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Richard Clark. Sacramento’s Charles Roberts continues to rush at a record-setting pace. Roberts, who gained a I-AA-record 2,260 yards last season, set a school game record with 277 yards and four touchdowns in 28 carries last week against Montana State.

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Eastern Washington (2-2, 1-1) at Northern Arizona (2-1, 0-0)

Northern Arizona opens Big Sky play after fine-tuning its offense in a 29-26 victory over Southwest Texas State. The Lumberjacks’ pass combination of Travis Brown to Francis St. Paul is emerging as one of the Big Sky’s best. Brown connected with St. Paul for a 19-yard game-winning touchdown pass with 1:20 to play against Southwest Texas State. Both are returning starters. BYU transfer Ronney Jenkins, from Hueneme High, added to the mix with 111 yards and two touchdowns in 16 carries. The Lumberjacks allow an average of only 156 yards. Eastern Washington running backs Jovan Griffith and Jesse Chatman combined for an NCAA-record 473 yards in a 48-41 victory over Cal State Northridge last week.