A sellout crowd at Washington-Grizzly Stadium will see if the second-ranked Grizzlies, 9-1 overall, can nail down a 10th straight win, sole possession of the Big Sky Conference crown and a top seed into next week's Division
I-AA playoffs.
That MSU has won three of four from UM may not constitute a sea change in a series that saw the Griz win 16 straight from 1986-2001. But it's close enough.
“It's bad losing to your rival,” said Griz defensive end Mike Murphy, who has done that twice in three games against the Cats. “It's a bad feeling ending the regular season with a loss.
“It's big motivation. You don't want to lose to these guys Š period.”
Beating the Cats is easier said than done, as MSU has proven to its last six opponents. That the visitors haven't won as impressively at times matters little. Both sides have had nail-biters while winning a combined 15 straight games. Montana is 7-0 in league while the Cats are 6-1.
“I would say we're a little streaky,” MSU guard Brant Birkeland said. “Against NAU and Idaho State, we looked like the best offense in the Big Sky. Then there are some games, like obviously Cal Davis, where we didn't score a point.
“Our defense has carried us in quite a few games, just as the Grizzlies' defense has carried their team. If we're on, we play pretty well.”
Montana has relied heavily on a “D” that is statistically the best and realistically the deepest in the Big Sky. At least 21 Griz rotate among the front four, linebackers and secondary. Montana State may not quite as deep, but has talent that is apparently best suited to its third defense of the season, the Flex.
“Everybody's watched Cal Poly,” coach Mike Kramer said of the Cats' preferred defense. “Having had to block it for so many years, we thought it was perfect for the personnel we have.”
It has allowed MSU to better pressure the quarterback, which Kramer feels will be a key. Montana's offense kicked into high gear last week at last-place Northern Colorado in a 53-21 win.
Quarterback Josh Swogger was sharp, particularly when throwing to receiver Craig Chambers. Running back Thomas Brooks-Fletcher stepped in for injured Brady Green and produced 100 yards and two touchdowns rushing.
“There are a lot of physical tools there,” Kramer said of the Griz offense. “I like the ability of their quarterback. We felt the same thing about Craig (Ochs in 2004), and then he kind of got going and pretty soon in the playoffs he's rolling them up and down the field.
“Certainly Josh has the same qualities and the same potential. He's made some great throws, and not just to Chambers. The slant that he threw I think against Idaho State (to Ryan Bagley) - man that was a money shot. Two or three of those and pretty soon the game's out of reach.”
Montana coach Bobby Hauck has been most impressed with MSU's latest defense, but is guarding against surprises. The Cats began the year playing a 3-4 and tried the 4-3 before settling on the Flex, which disguises blitzes and coverages. Behind it, MSU linebackers Bryant Matthews, Epikopo King and Bobby Daly - especially Daly - have made a ton on tackles.
The Bobcats do go mostly zone in pass coverage.
“That's where they differ (from Cal Poly),” Hauck said. “But again, with them having two weeks off, we've got to be ready for everything.”
Montana's defense has to contend with three MSU receivers that Kramer considers the best he's coached: Michael Jefferson, Donnell Wheaton and Josh Lewis. Jefferson has had the biggest games.
Aaron Mason has been productive as a true freshman running back, but Evin Groves is again healthy after missing nine games with an injured knee.
“Groves is a little better,” said Hauck. “He played well against UNC, and played well against us a year ago (143 yards in MSU's 16-6 win).
“That's one of those things where you've got to decide what you're going to stop. And with Groves being healthy, and with their other receivers as threats - you just need to play defense and try to slow them down.”
It may come down to, as Kramer says, special teams and turnovers. Montana has been, at times, lights out in both.
Beyond that, Kramer tries to skirt the state bragging rights aspect of the game.
“More than any other Griz game - whether I am here or when I was at Eastern Washington - this is not about playing the Grizzlies,” he says. “It's not about playing in that stadium in front of the best crowd in I-AA. It's about getting to the postseason, which is our first goal.”
The Griz are already in the postseason for a record 14th straight season, but have plenty to play for.
“It's not a matter of taking care of our goals already,” said Murphy, one of eight seniors on the Griz. “This is one of our main goals. We're not going to let down because we've already accomplished a share of the Big Sky or a bid to the playoffs. We're going to go out there like it's the most important game of the season.”
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