THIS WEEK IN THE BIG SKY

Montana (4-2, 2-1) at Northern Arizona (5-2, 3-1)

Montana’s armor was pierced last week by Eastern Washington, 40-35, ending a 30-game winning streak in Missoula. It was the fourth-longest home winning streak in Division I-AA history. The loss dropped the Grizzlies four spots to No. 6 in The Sports Network poll. Northern Arizona, ranked 11th, defeated Cal State Sacramento, 48-25, last week. The Lumberjacks had a team-record 44 first downs, including 11 by penalty that set a Big Sky single-game record and tied the I-AA mark. Junior Travis Brown, who passed for 438 yards and three touchdowns, earned 22 of the first downs on passes. Brown leads I-AA in total offense at 325.6 yards per game. Eight players caught passes for Northern Arizona and five players carried the ball. Brown’s counterpart at Montana, junior Brian Ah Yat, passed for 394 yards and one touchdown against Eastern Washington. Montana leads the series, 20-10, and has defeated Northern Arizona nine consecutive times. Montana is the only Big Sky team that Steve Axman, the Lumberjacks’ eight-year coach, has not defeated.

Montana State (4-2, 3-1) at Portland State (2-5, 1-3)

A perennial second-division dweller in the Big Sky since winning the I-AA national title in 1984, Montana State is experiencing a revival. The Bobcats knocked off Eastern Washington and did away with Cal State Northridge last week, 31-20. They need only to defeat Portland State, Weber State and Sacramento before facing Montana in the conference finale Nov. 23 with the championship possibly on the line. The Bobcats, however, are 1-2 in road games and Portland State’s two victories came at home. Montana State, which relies on the pass and went into the game against Northridge averaging 31 carries, rushed 55 times for 228 yards. Portland State’s defense is weaker against the pass than the run, so Bobcat quarterback Rob Compson, who has passed for 1,325 yards, probably will be busy again. Portland State freshman Charles Dunn is fourth in the Big Sky in rushing at 83.7 yards per game.

Idaho State (1-5, 0-3) at Eastern Washington (6-1, 4-1)

By virtue of a 40-35 victory at Montana last week, Eastern Washington sits atop the Big Sky standings. Northern Arizona and Montana State are a half-game off the pace. The Eagles, who shared their only Big Sky title with Idaho in 1992, moved up eight slots to No. 12 in The Sports Network poll. Senior Harry Leons passed for 423 yards, the third-best total in school history, and four touchdowns against Montana. Two of the touchdowns came in the fourth quarter, when the Eagles overcame a 28-20 deficit. Leons leads the Big Sky and is fourth in the nation in passing efficiency with a 176.74 rating. Eastern Washington gained 658 yards against Montana, the most allowed by the Grizzlies in 12 years. The Eagles have the top two ballcarriers in the Big Sky, senior Rex Prescott, who has 724 yards, and junior Mike McKenzie at 685.