BRAWL OF THE WILD: Bobcats Host Grizzlies in 117th Renewal of Cat-Griz

Saturday, November 18

BOZEMAN

12 pm

Montana State University

Montana (Senior Day/BOTW)

The Cats look to evade powerful Montana in Bobcat Stadium Saturday

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

BRAWL OF THE WILD: Bobcats Host Grizzlies in 117th Renewal of Cat-Griz

11/16/2017 5:09:00 PM | Football

Montana State Notes vs. UM 11-18-17 Montana Notes vs. MSU 11-18-17

Explosive Grizzlies invade Bobcat Stadium

By: Bill Lamberty

Jeff Choate is no stranger to rivalry games. He grew up on the Boise State-Idaho blood feud, has coached on both sides of the Apple Cup, and coached at Florida against Georgia in one of college football's fabled annual events. But Montana State's second-year head coach has never forgotten his first taste of the Cat-Griz game.

"When I came to school at Western (Montana College, now UM Western) and I was around all the Montana boys, there was a very clear line," Choate says with a smile. "Everyone was either a Cat or a Griz."

Choate's indoctrination into the rivalry was one year ago, when he became Montana State's first first-year coach to beat the Grizzlies since 1983, and the first since 1968 to earn that win in Missoula. He checks another box Saturday, leading MSU onto the Bobcat Stadium field for the first time in this ancient rivalrye.

And while Choate has no idea how today's contest will end – "Every team is different from year to year, every matchup is different," he says – he knows one thing for certain. "It will be a great game. With the exception of Washington State (in the season opener), our games have all been decided in the fourth quarter. I don't think this game will be any different."

The Bobcats face a powerful and explosive Grizzly team today, one poised to secure an FCS Playoff berth. Quarterback Gresch Jensen fuels Montana's offense, throwing for 245 yards a game with 19 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. He (and three other quarterbacks) have distributed the ball generously – four Grizzly receivers have at least 450 receiving yards.

Any thoughts that Montana's offense is one-dimensional are dispelled by the one-two punch of Jeremy Calhoun and Alijah Lee, who have combined for 1,108 yards and a dozen touchdowns on the ground. Jensen has also gained 168 yards on the ground.

"Philosophically," Choate says, "Coach (Bob) Stitt and I aren't that far apart. They do what they do, they're committed to it, and they do it well. Stylistically it may look different, but I think the mindset is similar."

One thing the Grizzlies have always done is play exceptional defense, and this year's team is no different. The linebacker trio of James Banks, Josh Buss and Connor Strahm lead the way, combining for 34.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. "They are really good at taking the ball away," Choate said, and the numbers punctuate that observation. Montana has 16 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. Defensive end Tucker Schye has forced and recovered three fumbles himself.

A year ago, the Cats won in Missoula while throwing only nine passes. Chris Murray completed two, but ran for 142 yards. As a team, the Cats rolled up 368 rushing yards, and scored all three touchdowns on the ground.

Choate said he expects this year's game plan for the Grizzlies to reflect the season as a whole. "I think we're a little more balanced offensively this year," he said, "and we'll need to be." Still, every team is what it is by this point in the season. The Cats have rushed the ball on nearly two-thirds of its offensive plays this season, gaining 242.2 yards per game. Nick LaSane's emergence as a workhorse back has diversified MSU's run game, but Chris Murray remains the home run threat. He has already become just the third quarterback in Big Sky history to gain 1,000 yards on the ground in a season.

Defensively, Montana State's front seven great leads the Bobcats into the season finale. Treasure State products Derek Marks and Tucker Yates form, with Tyrone Fa'anono and Zach Wright, the heart of the defensive front. Mac Bignell anchors the linebacker corps, the last in his generation of one of the greatest and proudest Bobcat families. This year's Bobcat defense has not produced turnovers or flashy plays, but it has been effective.

The wait for this day seems interminable. The buildup and hype is undeniable. The intensity and passion is obvious. But when it arrives, Cat-Griz day always exceeds expectations regardless of how the game goes because it is ours. For players, for coaches, for graduates and fans of both schools, what divides a state every other day of the year brings it together on this one. Even for a freshman from Idaho in Dillon 30 years ago, it is like no other day.

Kickoff is 12 noon, and the game is televised on ROOT Sports Northwest, and on DirecTV's Audience Network. Jay Sanderson, Dan Davies and Jason Alvine provide the radio call on the Bobcat Radio Network around the state, and on msubobcats.com.