Cat-Griz Football Capsule
No. 9/10 Montana at No. 2 Montana St.
When: Saturday, noon; TV — CBS (KPAX). Web — ESPN+; Radio — Grizzly Radio Network
Where: Bobcat Stadium (17,777 FieldTurf)
Records: Montana is 8-3 overall, 5-2 in the Big Sky. MSU is 11-0 and 7-0.
When the Grizzlies have the ball: Montana’s two-quarterback system has seen Logan Fife amass superior stats — 67 percent completion percentage, 1,676 yards and 14 touchdowns compared to 59 percent, 872 yards and 5 TDs for freshman Keali’i Ah Yat. Ah Yat is a superior runner and has seven rushing TDs to Fife’s five. The Griz have a potent 1-2 RB punch in Eli Gilman (921 yards, 7.3 average, 12 touchdowns) and Nick Ostmo (745, 6.1, 3 TDs). Both average about 11 carries a game in a running attack that piles up 208 yards per. Keelan White, Aaron Fontes and Junior Bergan have between 39-45 catches. Bergen is the biggest threat, while Sawyer Racanelli’s 81-yard TD last week against Portland State is UM’s longest play of 2024.
When the Bobcats have the ball: It starts with Touchdown Tommy Mellott, who is suddenly a senior QB. He’s averaging half the carries he used to in MSU’s run-heavy attack — about six a game — but gains 9.5 yards a pop. He has two 100-yard games against the Griz: 10 carries for 108 last year, and 141 yards on 14 carries in 2022. RB Scottre Humphrey has 1,221 rushing yards and 13 TDs; Adam Jones has 731 yards and 7 TDs; and Julius Davis gained 91 yards in last week’s win at UC Davis, showing his 2023 form. The Cats average 317 rushing yards a game and 7.0 yards a carry. Meanwhile Mellott’s accuracy as a passer has progressed: He’s completed 70 percent of his passes for 1,862 yards and 21 touchdowns. Ty McCullouch, Rohan Jones and Taco Dowler have between 23-28 catches and 17 combined scores.
Notable: UM leads the all-time series 74-42-5. ... From 1927-50 — with no games from 1942-45 because of World War II — the game was played in Butte, with UM winning 18 of 21 games. ... Since the Big Sky Conference started in 1963, Montana holds a 33-27 edge in the series. ... Starting with MSU’s streak-breaking 10-7 win in 2002, the series is 10-10. ... Bobcat kicker Brendan Hall has touchbacks on 72 of his 80 kickoffs this season, and for his MSU career has had just 13 of 70 punts returned. ... Both teams have returned a punt for a TD — Taco Dowler for MSU and Junior Bergen for UM. ... Ryan Tirrell, UM coach Bobby Hauck’s nephew, leads the Griz with 89 tackles. Hayden Harris has 7.5 sacks and 15 TFLs for UM. ... LB McCade O’Reilly has 54 tackles and S Rylan Ort 52 for MSU. Brody Grebe has six sacks to lead the Cats. ... Forecast calls for 46 degrees, slight chance of rain at kickoff.
Pick: Bobcats, 26-17.