“He and I have been going at it since seventh grade,” Ferriter, the Grizzlies' senior receiver, said leading up to the Saturday's 108th Griz-Cat game at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. “In fifth and sixth grade we played on the same team. And then he moved.”
From then on Daly, Montana State's senior middle linebacker, and Ferriter have been on opposite sides of the football field.
Ferriter played quarterback for the Bengals while Daly played defensive end for the Bruins. Both took a redshirt year at college.
“It's been a long time,” said Ferriter. “But whenever I see him, it's always peaceful. I saw him here this summer and hung out with him, and had a great time. I'd say we're friends. But it's definitely a fun little rivalry we've had going on.”
Colt Anderson is another who can speak to the intensity of this rivalry.
“There are distractions,” the strong safety from Butte said. “I've got two uncles who played there and they're always going to give me a call and pitch me crap. A couple of cousins go to school there, too.”
Of course, Anderson also had two uncles (Dave Manovich and Pat Sullivan) play football for the Griz. Pat Sullivan and his brother Barry, who was playing for MSU, each scored a TD in the 1979 Griz-Cat game.
“You've got to just kind of take it for what it's worth,” said Anderson. “It's all for fun, and the only thing that really matters is the game on Saturday.”
Daly is among a number of strong performers for Montana State who originally walked on - came out without having a scholarship - for the Bobcats.
He counts fellow linebacker Jeff Price, a Billings Skyview product, center Jim Verlanic of Anaconda and defensive end Dylan Kinkelaar of Winifred among those who had to gradually earn grants in aid.
“I wouldn't say I was being recruited by either school,” Daly said this week. “I had interest from both Montana and Montana State, and I came to the realization that neither one was going to offer me a scholarship.
“I'd been a Bobcat fan my whole life and I decided to give it a try down there.”
Daly was a “preferred walk-on,” meaning he was able to join the team when fall camp opened rather than wait until classes began.
Injuries could spell trouble for either side Saturday. The Bobcats list Verlanic, who's missed the last two games with an ankle injury, as questionable for Saturday, along with defensive tackles Chris Kolone (knee) and Dan Ogden (ankle).
MSU tight end Brandon Bostick is listed as out, though the senior said he'll try to play on his damaged knee. Daly missed part of the Cats' 49-32 win over Portland State last week to a hip injury.
“I'm feeling a little better,” Daly said Wednesday. “I'm probably not going to practice this week, but I wouldn't miss this game for anything.”
Montana saw secondary starters Trumaine Johnson (knee), Andrew Swink (hand) and Colt Anderson (ankle) all get injured within moments of each other in a 29-10 win over Idaho State last week. Swink and Anderson returned; Johnson's status, given UM's tight-lipped approach to injuries and closed practices, is uncertain.
The status of receiver/return man Rob Schulte, who was injured with less than two minutes left in that game, is also uncertain.
QUICK KICKS: The Bobcats' run game will have some two-back stuff, and 225-pound freshman C.J. Palmer also has rumbled for 311 yards and seven TDs for MSU. Š While Missoula native Bostick may suit up for MSU, Bozeman product Andrew Schmidt (390 yards, 2 TDs) will certainly suit up for the Griz. Š MSU's current four-game win streak began after its 34-17 home loss to Eastern Washington, which was notable for corner David Taylor's exit from the field during the game and subsequent dismissal. Š If the Gridiron Power Index is indeed a leading indicator for at-large FCS playoff berths, the Bobcats, ranked No. 21 in the GPI, have a chance: No. 15 Central Arkansas and No. 16 Harvard aren't playoff-eligible; No. 17 Furman plays No. 8 Wofford Saturday and No. 19 UMass and No. 20 Georgia Southern each have five losses. Š The FCS playoffs selection show will air at 5 p.m. Mountain on ESPNU.
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