’Diggers open at Raiders

By Bill Foley, of The Montana Standard - 08/25/2007

There’s been even more excitement than usual as the Montana Tech football team prepared for Saturday’s season opener in Ashland, Ore.

That’s because the Orediggers, who are traditionally tough on defense, have been turning heads at practice with the play of their offense.

“We’re smooth, we’re more efficient and we’re more productive snap for snap,” Tech 21-year head coach Bob Green said.

Green added that the Oredigger ‘O’ has shown cohesiveness and consistency while avoiding catastrophic mistakes.

Tech takes that practice-field production to the game field at 2 p.m. (Butte time) against NAIA foe Southern Oregon University in a non-conference game.

The Raiders return 15 starters from last year’s team the finished at 2-7.

Green said SOU has a history of outstanding athletes, which was See ’DIGGERS, Page B6 evident when 2006 Raiders receiver Gabe Hatchett went to camp with the Miami Dolphins and quarterback Kellan Quick signed with the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts.

“They added a lot of transfer guys,” Green said. “Obviously, we don’t have those guys on DVD.” The Oredigger offense brings back a handful of talented receivers and the 2006 Frontier Conference rushing champ in senior Teague Egan. But the fate of the Orediggers likely revolves around Justin Kegel, a fifth-year junior quarterback.

The former Havre Blue Pony started every game last year when Tech, 6-5 overall, placed third in Frontier Conference standings at 6-4.

The Orediggers were the cardiac kids in 2006. Of Tech’s 11 games, nine were decided by 11 points or less, and eight were single-digit decisions. The Orediggers went 5-4 in those games.

The Orediggers, ranked 24th in the NAIA preseason poll, are hoping last year’s close calls will be beneficial this year.

Senior Casey Kelly, a former Butte Central Maroon, leads the Oredigger receiving corps. He set a school record with 72 receptions last season.

Kelly starts opposite Alex Grevas, a 6-foot-4, 201-pound senior from Helena. Grevas and classmate Zach Soukup, a 6-2, 193-pounder from Sheridan, Wyo., give Kegel a pair of home run threats.

Junior Cal McQueary, a Butte High grad, is also a weapon, as is sophomore tight end Justin Hansen, a 6-foot, 255 Scobey product.

The Tech offensive line is young and deep.

Starting up front saturday will be Idaho Falls junior Kyle Sullivan, Butte sophomore Matt Crowe, Absarokee sophomore Shannon Buell, Colorado Springs junior Tom Probert and Polson freshman Aaron Jones.

They’ll pave the way for Egan and Deary, Idaho, senior Corey Warner with some help from senior fullback Levi Briese, a Havre product.

Defensively, All-American linebacker J.J. Perino, a senior from Helena, is the heartbeat of the Orediggers.

Perino tied Travis Hettick’s school record with 17½ sacks last season.

Up front, Kory Dyk, a 6-4, 295-pounder from Dillon will replace big Shane Hensleigh at tackle. Experienced ends Kyle Carter, a senior from Shelby, and Britt Siddoway, a junior from Great Falls, join Dyk on the line.

Billy Glennon, a junior from Billings, and Quincy Bourne, a sophomore from Helena, play inside linebacker. Jeff Braun, a senior from Temecula, Calif., starts at outside backer opposite of Perino, who often plays as a down lineman.

The Oredigger secondary is all back from last year.

Senior Kyle McCall, a four-year starter from Troy, Idaho, and Missoula junior Jason Watkins at cornerback.

A pair of Butte boys are the safeties. Senior Josh Kling, a BC grad, is the strong safety, while junior Cole Salo, a former Butte High star, is the free safety.

Green, who doubles as the defensive coordinator, said he also expects a lot from reserve freshman Jake Stagnoli, a former Butte Central star.

Green said his defense will be tested in the opener.

“They’re going to be really good,” Green said of the Raiders. “We think they’ll be very talented, and we’ll face a tough, tough running attack.” Helena freshman Sean Kelly won the job as the place kicker, while freshman J.T. McIntyre, a BC grad, will take over punting duties.

However, Green said those spots are set in stone.

Montana Tech has next Saturday off before beginning a stretch of 10 Frontier Conference games in 10 weeks Sept. 8 at home aganst MSU-Northern.

Montana Tech Coach — Bob Green (21st season) Offensive starters QB — Justin Kegel, 6-3, 215, jr, Havre.

FB — Levi Briese, 5-9, 215, sr, Havre.

TB — Teague Egan, 5-11, 201, sr, Great Falls.

WR — Casey Kelly, 5-9, 172, sr, Butte.

WR — Alex Grevas, 6-4, 201, jr, Helena.

TE — Justin Hansen, 6-0, 225, so, Scobey.

C — Kyle Sullivan, 6-3, 305, jr, Idaho Falls.

G — Matt Crowe, 6-2, 266, so, Butte.

G — Shannon Buell, 6-0, 269, so, Absarokee.

T — Tom Probert, 6-5, 285, jr, Colorado Springs.

T Aaron Jones, 6-4, 272, fr, polson.

Defensive starters T —Kory Dyk, 6-4, 295, sr, Dillon.

E — Kyle Carter, 6-3, 263, sr, Shelby.

E — Britt Siddoway, 6-4, 296, jr, Great Falls.

ILB — Billy Glennon, 6-1, 230, jr, Billings.

ILB — Quincy Bourne, 5-11, 226, so, Helena.

OLB — J.J. Perino, 6-1, 245, sr, Helena.

OLB — Jeff Braun, 5-11, 185, sr, Temecula, Calif.

CB — Kyle McCall, 5-9, 183, sr, Troy, Idaho.

CB — Jason Watkins, 5-10, 179, jr, Missoula.

FS — Cole Salo, 5-10, 188, jr, Butte.

SS — Josh Kling, 6-0, 195, sr, Butte.

Special K — Sean Kelly, 5-8, 160, fr, Helena.

P — J.T. McIntyre, 5-11, 178, fr, Butte.

Southern Oregon Coach — Steve Helminiak (Second season) Offensive starters QB — Casey Mitchell, 6-0, 190, so, Baleer City, Ore.

FB — Greg Stewart, 5-10, 215, sr, Vancouver, Wash.

TB — Shane Van Zant, 6-4, 185, fr, Spanaway, Wash.

WR — Tim Greenidge, 5-11, 186, sr, Portland, Ore.

WR — Kevin Holtzman, 6-2, 190, sr, Tigard, Ore.

TE — Brian harding, 6-5, 255 jr, Clackamas, Ore.

C — Adam Akan, 6-2, 280, sr, Makawao, Hawaii.

G — Trent Henson, 6-4, 270, so, Bend, Ore.

G — Byron Cole, 6-3, 295, fr, Lacey, Wash.

T — Jake Purcell, 6-5, 285, sr, Portland, Ore.

T — Jordan Myers, 6-4, 275, so, Estacade, Ore.

Defensive starters T — Daniel Harvey, 6-6, 280, sr, Portland.

T — Taylor Doss, 6-1, 260, jr, Portland, Ore.

E — Anthony Scolamieri, 6-1, 240, jr, San Marcos, Calif.

E — Will Watson, 6-6, 260, jr, Portland, Ore.

MLB — Austin Stack, 6-0, 235, sr, Redding, Calif.

OLB — James Williams, 6-3, 215,sr, Hermiston, Ore.

OLB — Damario Watson, 6-0, 230, jr, San Francisco.

CB — Ivy Jones, 5-9, 175, jr, Sacramento.

CB — Byron Sconiers, 5-11, 175, jr, Wayne County, Ga.

FS — Brandon Beatty, 6-2, 200, sr, Irrigon, Ore.

SS — Jared Elarmo, 6-2, 215, sr, Rocklin, Calif.

Special K — Corey O’Neill, 5-7, 170, jr, Medford, Ore.

P — Steve Palmer, 5-11, 175, jr, Eugene, Ore.