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117th Brawl of the Wild: Like everywhere else, Havre is a Cat-Griz town divided

When the University of Montana and Montana State meet on the football field, there is always a lot on the line and not just for the players, but for the fans, too.

Throughout the Treasure State, most followers of college football in Montana have chosen one side or another.

Either you are a Bobcat or a Grizzly and that’s just the way it works. Some are born into supporting one school or the other. While at the same time, others don’t gain true allegiance until later in life.

But the fact remains, that when the Cats and Griz play, it’s a big deal. And when the two teams meet this Saturday in Bozeman, with a kickoff set for 12:08 p.m., the eyes of just about every sports fan in the state will be watching.

Like many rivalries, what makes the Cat-Griz game so special is the fact that both teams have just about equal following throughout the state. The Brawl of the Wild will divide up families, co-workers, friends and even significant others. And while the Griz are hoping to play their way back into the FCS playoffs, both teams and their fanbases are focused on a much more important prize: bragging rights.

Those bragging rights last for 365 days and this Saturday, we will see which team and which fanbase gets the right to them.

Before the game is played this weekend, the Havre Daily News surveyed local fans from both teams to get their predictions of the final outcome.

Dennis Murphy

Murphy, the long-time athletic director at Havre High, has ties to both Montana and Montana State. He went to the University of Montana to earn his undergraduate degree, before getting his master’s degree from Montana State.

Yet, Murphy said that after growing up as a Cat fan, his time as a student in Missoula, turned him in favor of the Griz.

“This year, I am thinking of using some reverse psychology,” Murphy said. “Last year, I picked the Griz and they lost. So this year, I want to use reverse psychology and pick the Cats. But, I think that would hurt my heart too much, so I will have to pick the Griz.”

Score: 27-21, Griz

Kyle Sheppard

When it comes to local Bobcat fans, there may be none bigger than Sheppard, who graduated from Montana State back in 2008 and currently works as an accountant at Scharfe, Kato and Co.

Sheppard, who regularly attends Bobcat games sees a close game on the horizon between the two teams.

“This is a hard year for me to get a sense of what is going to happen. Neither is a national title contender and both seem average at best,” Sheppard said. “Coach Choate has talked all year about getting to the fourth quarter with a chance to win and seeing how it plays out. Now that hasn’t exactly gone as great as their records shows, but the Cats have been in every game (sans Washington State) with a chance to win in the second half, so that’s why I am predicting a close affair with the Cats finally getting over the proverbial hump with one of the seniors (Mac Bignell on defense or Mitch Herbert on offense) making a play in crunch time.”

Score: 28-24, Cats

Chris Mouat

As a University of Montana graduate, Chris Mouat, the head coach of the Montana State University Northern Women’s basketball team, has formed an allegiance to the Griz. However, he is not sure his team will have what it takes to win Saturday.

“It depends on whether I am picking with my head or with my heart,” Mouat joked.

He said he thought the outcome may depend on who starts at quarterback for the Grizzlies, but when it’s all said and done, he sees Montana coming out on top.

“On the road,” Mouat said. “They are going to bring the trophy home.”

Score: 21-17, Griz

Austin Delarosa

Like many football fans in the state, Austin Delarosa first fell in love with the Bobcats, because of a family member, more specifically, his uncle Brent Zanto. And over time, his love for Montana State football has gotten stronger and stronger.

“I started out liking them because of my uncle,” Delarosa said. “But over time, after watching them, I just started to see how good they were and started to like them more and more.”

Delarosa, who plays American Legion Baseball for the Havre North Stars and basketball for the Havre Blue Ponies, said he sees Montana State winning on its home field Saturday.

“The Bobcats are going to win, because why not?” Delarosa said. “They are a better team than the Griz, so that’s my prediction, the Cats are going to win because they are a better team.”

Score: 27-14, Cats

Karley Martin

Like many families, Karley Martin grew up loving Montana football. She said it all started with her grandfather and it has continued ever since.

“I have grown up being loyal to the Griz,” Martin said. “Griz fans are loyal to the end. Whether the weather is 100 degrees or below zero, we will be there cheering our hearts out and having a great time, win or lose.”

Martin, who works as a property manager for Watkins Development, also said she believes last season’s loss in Missoula, will motivate the Griz to get the win in Bozeman this time around.

“I think the Griz will win because they were defeated last year,” Martin said. “They have the drive and determination to bring the Brawl of the Wild (trophy) back to Missoula.”

Score: 35-14, Griz

Brett Patrick

Brett Patrick, who runs Patrick Construction and is a board member for Havre Youth Hockey, has been a lifelong Bobcats fan. He grew up cheering for the Cats and is also an alum of Montana State. And this weekend, he believes the Cats will get their second straight win in the series.

Patrick and Sheppard often travel to Bobcat home games together, and few locals are as diehard about the Cats as they are.

“I think the Griz will have a good start to the game,” Patrick said. “But the Cats will make better adjustments to slow down (Montana’s) offense and be able to come back in the second half as they control time of possession. The Bobcats will get a touchdown late to take the lead and the defense will cap off the win.”

Score: 28-27, Cats

Tommy Brown

Like Delarosa, Tommy Brown is a junior at Havre High. He plays tennis and basketball for the Blue Ponies, but unlike his basketball teammate, he grew up a Griz fan.

“Both of my parents went to college at Montana,” Brown said. “So I kind of picked it up from them and ever since I went to my first game, I have been a diehard fan.”

When it came time for his prediction, Brown didn’t hold back either. He has confidence in his team and isn’t afraid to show it.

“I think the Griz are going to win,” Brown said. “I don’t think (Montana State) can stop our offense at all. I also don’t think they can score on us, at least not easily. They are going to have to have every play go right if they want a chance and they can’t have any turnovers. I just think the Griz are too strong and too powerful.”

Score: 34-21, Griz

Maura Gatch

Maura Gatch, the Director of Admissions as Montana State University-Northern and wife of Havre High head football coach Ryan Gatch, said her family follows the Cats, but mostly because of personal ties to the team.

“We are more of who you know fans,” Gatch said. “We are Cats fans because we know Brian Armstrong (MSU offensive coordinator). Ryan also played spring ball there one year and we went to Bozeman for our honeymoon. So we have those ties and Brian Armstrong coached at Rocky when Ryan (Gatch) coached at Dickinson State, so there is that tie. Also, our son is a huge Bobcats fan. He got a signed football from coach Choate, so he loves any football player in blue and gold.”

In terms of her prediction, Gatch said she was staying loyal to her team, but with good reason.

“I think Montana State has some good momentum and they have had a really good season,” Gatch said. “I think their offense is clicking and they have it going on right now.”

Score: 21-17, Cats

George Ferguson

There’s one last pick that has to be made. This time of year, I’m always thinking about my good friend Wells Lamey. All of us in Havre who love sports as much as we do, we all miss Wells a great deal. He was as loyal a Griz fan as I’ve ever known, and prior to his passing, I had never dared pick a Cat-Griz game in a public forum. I’m just too superstitious.

Yet, the year Wells passed, I decided to do it, to honor him. For many, many years, Wells was a part of this yearly column, and he never once picked against the Griz, no matter the circumstances surrounding that year’s game.

And while I feel like the Grizzlies are going to have a really difficult time escaping Bobcat Stadium with the Divide Trophy, because Chris Murray is probably going to run right through them just like he did last year, and I would rather use Dennis Murphy's reverse physiology trick, I can’t do it. Just like Wells, I cannot pick against the Griz. I didn’t pick last year’s game publicly, and the Griz lost. So maybe that’s the trick, maybe picking this year will change their fortunes.

So in honor of the late Wells Lamey, my pick, Griz 30, Cats 27.

 

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