A Bobcat Kind of Brawl

MISSOULA — Any talk of a another streak brewing in the annual series between Montana and Montana State is over. And it died in much the same way the actual streak, a 16-year Griz streak over the rival Bobcats, did — in front of a shocked, sellout crowd at Washington Grizzly Stadium.

The un-ranked Bobcats, winners of just three games coming in, ran for 368 yards in a 24-17 win over No. 22 Montana in the 116th Brawl of the Wild Saturday in Missoula.

"It's funny, there is this old saying that the Bettendorf Bulldogs used to say when I was in eighth grade: You're only as good as your last game," Montana State lineman Flynn said. "It feels good to go out with a win."

Montana (6-5, 3-5 Big Sky Conference) scored on its first play from scrimmage on a 58-yard touchdown pass from Brady Gustafson to Justin Calhoun, but the Bobcats (4-7, 2-6) controlled the game the rest of the way.

MSU Freshman quarterback Chris Murray, who rushed for 177 yards, erased the Grizzlies' early lead with a diving touchdown into the end zone that capped a seven-play, 40-yard drive that tied the game at 7-7 still early in the first quarter.

"He gives them a chance with his legs and he's a dynamic guy," UM head coach Bob Stitt said. "You give him a couple steps and he's different — you've got to keep him corralled, and you've got to force him to beat you with his arm."

After Montana State's next drive stalled, it got the ball again only to face a third-and-3 and a confused Montana defense. As the Griz tried to get their players in the right position, Murray took off up field racing untouched for a 48-yard score and 14-7 lead with more 10:54 remaining in the second stanza.

The game stalled and was a stalemate for much of the second quarter, as Montana State had a chance to kick two field goals, but both were blocked. However, the Grizzlies were basically rendered inept on offense, as they finished a horrid first half with just two first downs and under 150 total yards, as well as the game’s only turnover, an interception of Gustafson by MSU linebacker Josh Hill. Montana came into the game averaging over 40 points and 500 yards per game, but a young, fired-up MSU defense, headed now by longtime UM coordinator Ty Gregorak, did well to control the Griz’ normally reliable passing attack.

Hill led the Bobcat defense with nine stops, while UM senior Ryan Johnson tallied a game-high 15 tackles for the Grizzles.

"It doesn’t surprise me," MSU first-year head coach Jeff Choate said of Gregorak's defense. "He’s a very good defensive coach and he’s been one of the best coaches in this league for a while. It had nothing to do with the fact that he was at the University of Montana when I asked him to come on board here. It was because he was one of the better guys, and I knew we had ground to make up in that phase."

"They gave us a little bit more man (coverage) than we thought," added Stitt, whose team averaged nearly 80 plays per game at home but ran just 59 Saturday. "I didn't get enough plays called that would have been good against that and we've got to figure it out. … It was a game plan going in based on what we thought we'd get, and you'd like to have 24 more plays in the second quarter and it didn't happen until the third quarter because we didn't get any more time (on the field)."

Montana State opened the second half with Gunnar Brekke's 61-yard run that set up a 1-yard Chad Newell plunge. Nick LeSane then picked up 61 yards before Newell went in for a 24-7 lead, all in a matter of just minutes in the third period.

And while the Griz, who lost four of their final five games of the season, and will surely miss the FCS playoffs for the third time in six years, were down, they weren't quite out.

Montana started its comeback late in the third with a 28-yard Brandon Purdy field goal. In the fourth, the Griz went on a 9-play, 51-yard drive with a 3-yard Joey Counts touchdown that cut the Bobcat lead to 24-17.

"At any point this offense can catch fire," said Gustafson, who finished 16 of 31 for 192 yards, a touchdown and an interception. "I couldn't tell you what it was that led to the struggles early. I mean hats off to our guys never giving up and hats off to them (Cats) for playing a great game."

Montana then stuffed the Bobcats on their ensuing possession, with plenty of time left. John Nguyen rushed for 23 yards on the drive and Gustafson found Jerry Louie-McGee for 12 yards and then another two. But Montana State stuffed Jeremy Calhoun for a loss of two and Gustafson wound up missing a fourth-down pass that all but ended UM’s hopes. Murray and Newell would run out the clock after taking over on downs.

"Going out like this is a dream come true," said Newell after rushing for 77 yards and a touchdown. "Five years ago this is what I came here to do and we got it done today.

"This is so awesome to see the look on those kids' faces and our staff and our fans," Choate said after picking up a win in his first Brawl of the Wild. "I don't know that it's fully sunk in for me yet, but I know it's important and we knew it was important going in. I think we had the mindset and the right level of focus."