Cat-Griz game has local flavor

Ready or not, the Cat-Griz game is Saturday in Bozeman.

The Grizzlies have 48 Montanans on their rosters and the Bobcats have 45. The Griz start 14 in-state kids while the 'Cats start eight.

Included in those starters are Kalispell's Lex Hilliard and Brandon Hoffenbacker. They could be lining up against each other. It is still not known if Hilliard will play after having surgery on his thumb because UM never comments on injuries, but Hoffenbacker will get the nod for MSU at nose tackle with starter Chris Kolone doubtful.

"Sitting for one game is a whole lot easier than sitting out a whole season," Hilliard said.

"(Last week's game) brought back a lot of memories from last year."

Hoffenbacker, a sophomore, has started the last two games, with true freshman Dan Ogden of Kalispell rotating in for him. The two combined for four tackles and two tackles for losses two weeks ago against Northern Arizona, but got no tackles last week against Portland State.

The Griz have three local boys (Hilliard and Kalispell's Brandon Dwyer along with Libby's George Mercer) contributing a lot; the 'Cats have two (Ogden and Hoffenbacker).

All five (well, maybe four) will be knocking heads.

"It's always a physical game against guys that you played against growing up," UM defensive end Kroy Biermann of Hardin said. "It's just got that kind of mentality so it will be physical."

While the game is meaningless on the season outlook (the Griz are league champs and the 'Cats season is over after this game), it is huge in the annuals of Griz history. A win would give UM its fourth undefeated regular season in school history.

Still, it's a rivalry game.

"I've been involved in rivalry games where guys get too high and too motivated and try too hard and don't have any fun and don't play very well," MSU first-year coach Rob Ash said. "So my job is to try and make sure we focus all this great energy we're going to have in the right direction."