Mark D. Robertson

Riding the momentum of a bounce-back season in 2013, the Montana Grizzlies head into 2014 with perhaps the highest expectations yet in head coach Mick Delaney’s three years at the helm.

Delaney’s team opens practice Tuesday, hoping to build on last year’s 10-3 record that earned the Grizzlies an FCS home playoff game.

“You sure hope that you have some momentum coming off the end of the season, even though we lost that first playoff game (at home, 42-35, to Coastal Carolina on Dec. 7),” Delaney said. “That was a disappointing situation to go through the winter with. … It is a momentum builder.”

The Griz boast several All-American candidates, highlighted by quarterback Jordan Johnson and defensive end Zach Wagenmann, both tabbed as preseason finalists for excellence awards at their positions.

Montana was voted second behind Eastern Washington in both the Big Sky Conference’s coaches’ and media preseason polls in mid-July. Their archrival, the Montana State Bobcats, were picked third in both polls.

Several central Montana products are expected to contribute for the Grizzlies, the most notable of whom is Helena Capital product Caleb Kidder. A 6-foot-5, 275-pound junior, Kidder is expected to start alongside Wagenmann in UM’s four-man defensive front.

“(Kidder) just had a really good spring … and a really good summer in the weight room,” Delaney said. “Being a junior, he’s one of our leaders in the defensive group.”

Fairfield graduate Bo Harris, a sophomore, is also projected to be in the mix on the D-line.

Tucker Schye, a former Tribune Super-State selection from Malta, will see his fair share of playing time at linebacker, Delaney projected. The redshirt freshman must compete with a quartet of talented Griz juniors, though. Schye was named the Grizzlies’ scout team player of the year in 2013.

Two former C. M. Russell High standouts – fullback Gavin Hagfors and tight end Jordan Harper – left the Grizzlies’ program over the summer.

The 2013 campaign was huge for Delaney’s program after he opened his coaching career with a disappointing 5-6 season in 2012. Montana has reached the FCS postseason 19 of the last 21 seasons, including national championships in 1995 and 2001.

Delaney said the success has come from players settling into his system. With last season’s coaching staff intact, the coach expects a little more in 2014.

“We hope that we’re a little bit ahead of where we were a year ago,” Delaney said. “… The kids are comfortable now with where we’re at and what we’re doing.”

Montana opened 2013 with three straight wins before a Sept. 28 loss at Northern Arizona. The Lumberjacks aren’t on the Grizzlies’ 2014 schedule, but a season-opener against FBS foe Wyoming will be a tough challenge out of the gate.

“Anytime that you step up from FCS to FBS, you have a tremendous challenge,” Delaney said. “Wyoming is looking to get back to their glory days, so to speak, with bowl games and conference championships.”

The feat isn’t unprecedented, however. Three Big Sky teams took down FBS foes in the span of three days – Aug. 29-31 – last season.