News you can use

BIG BRAWL IN BOZEMAN

So much on the line as Cats and Griz meet for the 121st time

If you think last year was crazy, you might have seen nothing yet.

The 121st Brawl of the Wild kicks off at noon Saturday with what is expected to be a record crowd at Bobcat Stadium, and once again the stakes couldn't be higher between #3 Montana State (9-1) and No. 13 Montana (7-3).

Riding on Saturday's game are things like a conference championship for Montana State and possible top four seed and home field advantage in the playoffs. The playoffs are also on the line for Montana, which could not only qualify for the FCS field of 24 with a win, but jump all the way back up to a seed. Rumor has it the Griz could still qualify for the playoffs even with a loss in Bozeman, but, at 7-4, that is dicey.

And there's more. There's the Divide Trophy, which Montana reclaimed with a 29-10 win in Missoula last November - snapping a four-game MSU winning streak in the process. Fan base bragging rights and recruiting wars are also at stake in Saturday's massive showdown.

Adding ESPN College Gameday to the mix is like throwing gasoline on a bonfire, which means, Saturday in Bozeman might be cold, but it's going to be explosive.

"It's just going to bring a lot of energy to the town and a good spotlight on the rivalry," MSU linebacker Callhan O'Reilly said to 406 Sports, of Saturday's festivities. "I think it's the best rivalry in college football, and I'm excited for the rest of the country to see that."

It is no doubt the best rivalry in the FCS, and one of the longest-running rivalries in all of college football. It's also been very competitive since Montana's 16-game winning streak now more than a decade ago. In the last 20 yards, Montana holds a 10-9 edge over the Bobcats with the 2020 game being canceled due to the pandemic.

"It's always been a huge game growing up watching it and the opportunity to play in it the last few years and this year, it's always very special," Montana senior wide receiver Mitch Roberts (Missoula) said. "It means a lot to every Montana guy ... it's a joy to play in and I'm looking forward to it."

And it will be huge Saturday because not only is so much at stake, but also both teams are once again really, really good.

The Grizzlies have rebounded from a three-game losing streak, with two blowout home wins, so they are riding good momentum.

"We're playing well," head coach Bobby Hauck said. "I think the demise of the Montana Grizzlies was greatly exaggerated."

Montana's mid-season slump was due more to injury than anything. The Griz lost quarterback Lucas Johnson for narrow losses at Top 5 powerhouses Sacramento State and Weber State. Since Johnson's return (he exited last Saturday's game with a lower leg injury), the Griz are averaging over 50 points, 500 yards of total offense and 300 yards rushing. That rushing attack has been spurred by junior Nick Ostmo, who in the last two games has almost 400 yards and four touchdowns.

The Grizzly offense also has weapons in the passing game, like Roberts, Junior Bergen and Malik Flowers, who is also the most dynamic kick returner in all of college football.

"I think they throw the ball to a variety of guys, so it's not a deal where, well, you've got to be pinpointed on this guy or another," MSU head coach Brent Vigen said in Monday's press conference. "When they're going, they're a good mix of running the football in play-action, RPO. They've been able to play at a high rate in many of their games and I think the common denominator in those games is Lucas Johnson is playing."

UM's dynamic offense, assuming Johnson is healthy, is countered by a Bobcat defense that is talented but has been known to give up some big plays. The Cats are just sixth in the Big Sky in scoring defense, fifth in total defense and eighth against the pass. Still, with stars like O'Reilly, a leading candidate for Big Sky Player of the Year, as well as DT Sebastian Valdez, linebacker Ty Okada and defensive end Brody Grebe, MSU's defense might bend on occasions, but, in their incredible run to a potential Big Sky championship, the Cats haven't broken, yet.

Neither has Montana's defense.

The Griz come into the Brawl allowing just 15 points, 290 yards and a measly 97 yards of offense, all of which lead the Big Sky Conference, and are Top 10 in the FCS. A healthy Patrick O'Connell, who leads the Big Sky in sacks and tackles for loss despite missing the last two games, along with All-Americans Justin Ford and Robby Hauck, are the leaders of a defense that has really shut down the run.

But the run is what Montana State does better than just about anyone.

The Cats lead the Big Sky at 44 points per game, and MSU averages an incredible 314 yards rushing per outing. Of course, it's all spearheaded by sophomore quarterback Tommy Mellott. The Butte product rushes for 96 yards and throws for 150 per game, making him one of the most electric players in all of the FCS. With a massive and elite offensive line in front of him, Mellott can also turn to a stable of backs, like Elijah Elloitt, Lane Sumner, Jari Johnson, and now possibly even Isaiah Ifanse, the former All-American who has yet to play this season. Yes, despite injuries all year, Montana State has a running game that rivals any offense in the country, and no one has stopped it yet. Oh, and don't forget about backup quarterback Sean Chambers, who has been explosive when healthy.

"They're playing well, they run it really well," Hauck said. They're well coached. Coach

Vigen does a great job, man. He's a good coach, he's a good man. I have a lot of respect for him and how he does it. He'll have them ready to go."

Montana State's power-run game, led by Mellott, who leads the FCS in total touchdowns, taking on the Griz' vaunted defense is perhaps the biggest storyline of the game Saturday.

"(Their defense is) different than anything else that we see in our league," Vigen said. "And I think that helps them that they're kind of this standalone within our league as far as their scheme goes."

But as good as that matchup is, it's not the only storyline. Kickers like MSU's Blake Gleaner and UM punter Jared Rohrback, along with Flower and MSU's Taco Dowler in the return game will be key, as will the turnovers. Montana State ranks No. 1 and Montana No. 2 in the Big Sky in turnover margin. So there's that.

But then there's also the emotion. The Cat-Griz game is always filled with so much emotion, and Saturday could end up being the most emotional game yet.

"You've got to disregard all the outside stuff from all the people who don't really know what they're talking about," O'Connell said. "You've got to prepare like no one has ever prepared for a game like this and then in the game, you've got to stay even. You can't get too high on the good plays and you can't get too low on the bad plays. You can't make the game like a roller coaster, you've just got to stay even keel the whole time."

No matter what, though, it's hard not to get emotional about Cat-Griz. It just means so much to so many, but especially to the players and coaches playing Saturday.

"It's a pretty cool thing to be able to play in ... on both sides, I would assume everybody agrees with that," Robby Hauck said. "The emotions get high and everybody wants to win, and that's what makes it a great game and a great rivalry.

"You have two good football teams that are going at it," Vigen said. "With so much at stake, (momentum is) naturally going to not always be in your favor, and we have to find ways to get it back in our favor when it gets away from us.

"I'm excited for this game," Bobby Hauck said. "I love playing in this game, I love playing down there (Bozeman). I just always have. I have always really enjoyed it. I think I saw my first college football game there. I just have always really enjoyed the games down there."

Saturday's 121st Brawl of the Wild kicks off at noon in Bobcat Stadium. The game will be broadcast statewide on all MTN stations, as well as nationwide on ESPN+. College Gameday airs from 7-10 a.m.

121st Brawl of the Wild

#3 Montana State Bobcats (7-0, 9-1) vs #13 Montana

Grizzlies

(4-3, 7-3)

Saturday, 12 p.m.

Bobcat Stadium

Bozeman

Streaming: ESPN+

TV: MTN Channel 5 in Havre

Twitter: Twitter/Havredaily

Cat-Griz

Game Day

Inside

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 03/08/2024 22:00