MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — The University of Montana opens its 2004 football campaign Saturday against the University of Maine and it appears Griz quarterback Craig Ochs will start.

Ochs missed both fall scrimmages with a sprained right thumb, but returned to practice on Tuesday. He missed the first three games last season with an ankle injury.

Backup UM quarterback Jeff Disney, who led the Grizzlies to a 30-20 victory at Maine last season, said as far as he knows, Ochs is starting.

“I haven’t been told anything,” Disney told the Missoulian. “As far as I know, he’s playing. Of course, I’m going to prepare myself to start, because that’s just the way that I am.”

It’s the third-ranked Grizzlies versus the No. 11 Black Bears in the Battle of the Bears II.

Maine is ranked as high as second by Street and Smith’s and third by Sports Illustrated.

“We’re trying to figure out why,” said Maine coach Jack Cosgrove. “We’ve never had those things happen to us before. It’s very unfamiliar ground to have that happen. It’s more familiar to Montana and the greatness of their program. We’re certainly excited about it. We have a lot of hills to climb to be mentioned in the same breath as Montana.”

In Montana’s win at Maine last year in Orono, Levander Segars returned a kickoff 91 yards for one touchdown and the Grizzlies got another TD on a fumble recovery while Disney passed for 152 yards and a score.

“I think that they’re a very good football team,” UM coach Bobby Hauck said. “We were very fortunate to beat them a year ago.”

Ochs, who passed for 1,612 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and Maine running back Marcus Williams, are on The Sports Networks’ Walter Payton watch list. Williams rushed for 1,284 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and had six 100-yard games.

Montana returns with running backs Justin Green, Lex Hilliard and JR Waller – a trio that Hauck says may be the strength of a team that is rebuilding on both the offensive and defensive lines.

Maine also returns its three top receivers – Ryan Waller, Christian Pereira and Kevin McMahan. Pereira caught 10 touchdown passes last season. The Black Bears also return sophomore quarterback Ron Whitcomb, who passed for 21 touchdowns last season.

“Maine returns a lot of starters from a very good football team of a year ago,” Hauck said. “We will definitely have our hands full. They could be the best, or one of the best, teams that we play all season.”

Maine, however, is just beginning the tough part of its schedule.

After taking on Montana, Maine is home to meet No. 27 Northern Colorado, followed by back-to-back road games against Division I-A Mississippi State and defending I-AA champion Delaware.

Hauck said the opening few drives will set the tone of Saturday’s game.

“Maine is a very physical football team,” Hauck said. “You need to be prepared to stand toe-to-toe with them and slug it out. If you are not ready for that they could just run over you. They are a team that can come out of the gate fast.”