QB Gustafson stars as Montana wraps up spring

Helena, MT (SportsNetwork.com) - Montana quarterback Brady Gustafson showed Saturday why he has moved to No. 1 on the Grizzlies' depth chart.

He threw four touchdown passes to lead the way as Montana closed spring practices with a scrimmage played at Carroll College's Nelson Stadium.

"Brady is really grasping it, and every rep he takes he gets better," said Grizzlies first-year coach Bob Stitt said. "He's got all summer now to rep it, and he's got all fall camp; and he's going to continue to get better - and he did all throughout spring. He never took a step backwards."

Gustafson, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound junior, threw touchdowns to Reese Carlson, Ryan Burke, Jamal Jones and Ellis Henderson.

Henderson also electrified the crowd with a 92-yard kickoff return.

Sophomore halfback Lorenzo Logwood had game-high 17 carries for 88 yards, while junior John Nguyen had 40 yards on nine carries.

The Griz utilized five quarterbacks. J.R. Nelson, Evan Epperly and Alex Thomas were among the defensive standouts with interceptions.

Stitt took over at Montana after spending the last 15 seasons at Colorado School of Mines. His teams compiled a 108-62 (.635) record, won three Rocky Mount Athletic Conference titles and appeared in the Division II national playoffs three times.

Montana finished 9-5 last season, tying for second place in the Big Sky Conference and with a No. 13 ranking in The Sports Network FCS Top 25 in coach Mick Delaney's third and final season.

The Grizzlies will open the Stitt era on Aug. 29 by hosting four-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State in the second FCS Kickoff.