The Montana Grizzlies' six football trips to Sacramento State have been successful; they just haven't all been very pretty.

In 2007 it was a 17-3 struggle in which the Griz sealed the outcome with Torrey Thomas' interception return for a touchdown. In 2005 the Griz won 31-14 thanks in part to two TDs off interceptions.

A solid defensive front has become the norm for the Hornets, and they're strong there again this year with junior tackle Christian Clark leading the way.

Add in a game day atmosphere that is a little less rabid than UM's, some 80-degree temperatures and it figures the 6-0 Griz, who kick off against their Big Sky Conference foe at 3:05 p.m. Mountain time, will have to create their own energy.

"It's a different atmosphere. It's nothing like here," said Griz receiver Ty Palmer. "It's a lot quieter. It's hot. That's about all I can say about it.

"It's not anybody's favorite place to play, but that doesn't make any difference. You have to go down and work hard, do what you do."

Through two home games Sac State is averaging 10,029 fans. That's a little under half of the capacity of Hornet Stadium: 21,195.

It has the markings of a classic overlooked game, given that Montana has a showdown with Weber State a week from Saturday.

Palmer would have none of it.

"I actually have no idea who we're playing next week," said the senior, who has 21 catches for 270 yards and two TDs. "We're watching film of Sac State. That's the plan."

Hornets' quarterback Jason Smith remembers the 2007 game vividly.

"I was just young and still learning the offense," said Smith, who threw five interceptions and lost a fumble in that game. "I took a year off from high school and didn't play any sports, and then I walked on. I thought I could make it as a freshman, being my arrogant self."

Last season Smith dropped his interception total from 17 in 2007 to six. He threw for 1,826 yards and earned honorable mention praise from the Big Sky Conference.

This season he feels he's taken another step forward, though his five interceptions almost match his total from '08. There's room for improvement against Montana, too. Last season he had one interception and threw for 185 yards in a game that belonged to Griz QB Cole Bergquist (17-for-19, 290 yards, four TDs).

"The first one wasn't too good, and last year wasn't too good," Smith admitted. "But it was a lot better than my freshman year. I had six turnovers."

Montana brings in a defense that is among the best in terms of pass defense efficiency, even if the Griz don't have a lot of sacks and rank 115th in the Football Championship Subdivision in passing yards allowed.

"Same stuff as the last three years," said Smith. "They're really disciplined, really smart, they fly around to the football. We're going to have to play good football and not have any turnovers."

The University of Montana athletic department will be honoring Montana service men and women who are supporting military operations around the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan, during pre-game ahead of the Weber State battle on Oct. 31.

Fans who would like their loved ones recognized should send the soldier's name, unit, hometown and a JPEG photo to grizzlymarketing@mso.umt.edu.

QUICK KICKS: Speaking of Weber State, anyone who has a Griz wallet football schedule, take heed: The kickoff for the Oct. 31 game is 1:05 p.m., not noon. ... The Griz have nine nominees for the ESPN Managin Co-SIDA Division I Academic All-America team: Dan Beaudin, Brandon Fisher, Shawn Lebsock, Caleb McSurdy, Andrew Selle, Alex Shaw, Erik Stoll, Alex Verlanic and Bryan Waldhauser all have grade-point averages above 3.30. ... ISU, which signed John Zamberlin to a two-year contract extension last week, is going to play at Georgia next season. ... Montana is No. 2 among FCS schools in the Sagarin Ratings, behind Richmond. Four other Big Sky schools are among the top 25 in the Sagarin: NAU (No. 8), Weber State (17th), Montana State (19th) and Eastern Washington (22nd).