'Cat-Griz could be day for 'D', field position

But Montana, Montana State also have some offensive weapons

It could be a day for defenses and field position today in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

That being said, both the University of Montana and Montana State University offenses are very capable units and could find some weak links in each chain. But both defenses and special teams are playing great and they will both dictate what the offenses will be trying to do.

The 106th Bobcat-Grizzly football game starts today at 12:37 p.m.

The Grizzlies lead the all-time series 65-35-5, but have lost three of the last four after winning 16 straight. In Washington-Grizzly Stadium, though, the Griz are 10-1 against the 'Cats.

On defense, the Griz are eighth in the nation against the run. They allow 102.5 yards per game. But the 'Cats are right behind, allowing 105.9 ypg, and are ranked 13th in the nation. Against the pass, the Griz give up 169.5 ypg. The 'Cats are worse, allowing 195 ypg.

MSU switched to a flex defense halfway through the season and have found success with it. It is a complicated, confusing scheme where linemen and linebackers rarely line up in the same spot and unpredictably blitz.

Middle linebacker Bobby Daly leads the squad with 98 tackles, which ranks him 26th in the nation.

"They switched their defense mid-season," UM coach Bobby Hauck said. "They are now running Cal Poly's defense and use an eight-man front."

The UM defense is a staple. It is a vanilla 4-3, which uses blitzes sparingly. The scheme is based on individual talent over the entire unit and seems to be getting better and better each week. The leaders have been the three starting linebackers - Kyle Ryan, Tyler Joyce and Loren Utterback - with ends Kroy Biermann, Dustin Dlouhy and Mike Murphy beginning to thrive. They credit the recent improvement to the defensive tackles.

"Kerry Mullan has had his three best games of the year the last three weeks," Dlouhy said. "That directly correlates to what we are doing. We've got Craig Mettler, Jesse Carlson and Kelly Kain … They've all picked it up. That's probably the No. 1 reason that Mike (Murphy), Kroy (Biermann) and I have been so much more productive."

On the offensive side of the ball, both teams have great weapons.

MSU junior quarterback Jack Rolovich, a transfer from Hawaii, is 4-0 as the team's starting signal caller since replacing injured starter Cory Carpenter. He has completed 50.3 percent of 143 passes for 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns with seven interceptions.

Rolovich's favorite target is Michael Jefferson. The 6-foot-2 senior from El Paso, Texas, has 54 catches for 822 yards and eight touchdowns. He is 19th in the nation in receiving yards per game and has had two games with more than 200 yards receiving.

Jefferson set the school record against Northern Arizona with 239 receiving yards. He has also rushed for 215 yards and four touchdowns.

The 'Cats can also run the ball.

True freshman Aaron Mason has 584 yards and six touchdowns. He broke the 'Cats freshman rushing-yard mark and he hasn't played in two games. Plus, the team's leading rusher from last season - sophomore Evin Groves from San Diego - will be playing in his third game since returning from an injury. He finished last season with 426 yards in three games and set the Bobcat-Grizzly game record for rushing yards in the game by a freshman with 143.

On the season, the Bobcats have run the ball 304 times and passed it 318 times.

"They may be the most balanced team that we've played this year," Hauck said.

"We will have to defend both the run and the pass equally well."

The Grizzlies have run the ball on offense 381 times compared to 299 pass attempts. They lead the league with 138.8 rushing yards per game.

Junior Reggie Bradshaw has 546 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior Brady Green has 415 yards and six touchdowns. They both average 4.1 yards per carry.

Senior quarterback Josh Swogger has completed 54.2 percent of 236 passes for 1,798 yards and 10 touchdowns with seven interceptions.

He spreads the ball out well to four receivers. Ryan Bagely leads the team with 38 catches for 501 yards and four TDs. Eric Allen has 36 grabs for 550 yards and three TDs.

Craig Chambers is next with 26 receptions, 477 yards and four TDs. Mike Ferriter has 25 catches for 337 yards and no touchdowns.

"Offensively, (the Griz) continue to develop at quarterback, where they remain a work in progress," MSU coach Mike Kramer said.

"But at some point, Swogger will erupt for a 400-yard passing day. He's that kind of quarterback and he has that kind of weapons around him."

Stumped on which team to root for?

The Grizzlies have 51 Montana players; the Bobcats have 40.