Rivalry renewed
It’s one of the oldest college football rivalries west of the Mississippi.
The annual Brawl of the Wild, dating back to Nov. 26, 1897, has been the boiling point of the season for both Montana and Montana State football teams — and fans — for the past 109 years.
At this time of year, as one team travels across the state to the other’s home, so goes a parade of motor homes and cars packed full of fans trailing behind.
For the expatriates no longer in-state, it becomes a hunt through out-of-state cities for anywhere showing the event. In San Diego, a gathering of Montana alumni meet at McGregor’s Grille to watch the game every year. In Bluffon, South Carolina, there’s the Montana’s Grizzly Bar. There’s Torrey Pines in Las Vegas; Joxer’s Daily in Culver City, Calif. Even a shout out for the Griz-Cat game isn’t unlikely in downtown Manhatten.
That’s how far down the roots of this game lie.
Today at 12:05 p.m. in Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, the two teams battle anew. The pre-game show is scheduled to be televised on KAJ Channel 8 starting at 11 a.m. Dish Network is showing the game on sports channel 446 and DirecTV is showing it on channel 652.
This year, the undefeated Griz (10-0) sit on top in the FCS Coaches’ Poll and third in the TSN Sports Network rankings. They already own their 12th-straight Big Sky title.
The skies aren’t as blue on the other side of the divide. The 23rd-ranked Bobcats (7-3) desperately need a win against their old foe to keep playoff hopes alive. They have a three-game win streak going up against Montana’s 10-game streak.
The Griz have won the last three meetings with the Bobcats and lead the series 68-35-5. In last year’s game in Missoula, fans were surprised to see the classic brown and gold colors as the Griz took the field wearing their old jerseys for the first time in years. The excitement didn’t wear off for the home crowd as the Griz rolled on to win 35-3.
The key to Montana’s success this season appears to be its’ tenacious second-half play coupled with big-play offensive weapons. The Griz have outscored their opponents 121-49 in the fourth quarter alone. Offensively, junior running back Chase Reynolds passed 1,000 yards for the second year in a row and continues to inch closer to Flathead graduate Lex Hilliard’s all-time rushing yards record.
But the yards likely won’t come easy today. Montana State’s defense, with the help of Kalispell’s Dan Ogden, has become one of the best in the conference. The Bobcats hold opponents on average to 21.1 points per game. Against the run, Montana State holds teams to an average of 81.2 yards per game.
Ogden, a junior defensive end, has five sacks and 36 tackles this season. Libby graduate Joel Fuller, a freshman safety, has stepped in on defense as well and has recorded five tackles. Columbia Falls’ Mackey Nolan has also seen action as a freshman and has filled in at punter.
Flathead graduate Josh Harris, a freshman, is third on the depth chart for the Griz at defensive end.