Saturday, November 17
Missoula, MT
12 p.m.
Montana State University
at
Montana
Jeff Choate, with Montanans Brayden Konkol (left) and Connor Sullivan, brace for the Brawl of the Wild
Photo by: Montana State University
GAME #11: Bobcats Head to Missoula for 118th Cat-Griz Game on Saturday
11/15/2018 2:12:00 PM | Football
More than pride at stake in Brawl of the Wild
BOZEMAN, Montana – The hype is built in, the intensity inherent. When the Bobcats and Grizzlies get together for a football game on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the state of Montana stands still. The annual Cat-Griz game rolls around this week, when Montana State travels to Missoula for the 118th renewal of one of the West's oldest and most storied rivalries.
"This game is very meaningful to the state of Montana, both programs, both fan bases, both groups of alumni," said third-year MSU coach Jeff Choate, "and I think it will be an exciting game. I think the University of Montana is playing some of its best football right now."
The Cats and Griz both enter Saturday's game with 6-4 records, 4-3 in Big Sky play. And while the Big Sky title is not at stake, a berth in the FCS Playoffs may be. But that doesn't matter to Choate. "Our focus right now is solely on the University of Montana," he says simply.
Revitalized during Bobby Hauck's second stint as Montana's head coach, the Grizzlies enter Saturday's showdown on an offensive roll. UM averages 434.1 yards a game offensively, triggered by versatile quarterback Dalton Sneed. The junior throws for 236.9 yards a game and rushes for 65.4, and leads a Grizzly offense that scores 34.8 points a game, fourth in the Big Sky, but that's not the entire story. The Grizzlies have exploded for 103 points in the last two games, both on the road.
"Sneed is their leading rusher, and if you ask me some descriptors that pop out to me watching him on film I think he's tough, he's physical, and he's competitive," Choate said. "He wants the ball in his hand, he has that point guard mentality, and when he takes care of the football they have been a machine on offense. He's playing at a really high level, he can make all the throws."
The Grizzlies have "a bunch of guys" that offensive weapons, Choate says. "The Eastwood kid is a tough, physical downhill runner, a nice complement in the run game. Not knowing exactly what their situation is at running back. Jerry Louie-McGee, who's a dynamic player, they put in the backfield somewhat last week last week against the University of Idaho in a blowout win for them, a great momentum-builder for them. The Akem kid is a rising star, a vertical shot threat, but he's not the only targt that they have on the outside. They have a number of very, very good wide receivers, he's just emerging as a guy that can blow the top off. He's a matchup problem because he is so long, but he can turn it over, a long strider, but once he gets down field he can separate."
As many offensive weapons as the Grizzlies possess, Choate says, they give opposing defenses that many different looks. That also translates to special teams success. "They use three tight ends, they get after you in a variety of ways," he said. "They're a really well-coached team, veteran coaching staff, you can see how they've matured and grown over the course of the season."
Montana's arsenal of offensive weapons translates to the kicking game, Choate said. "They're very good on special teams They have a kicker who's 12-of-15 on the year, they're excellent in the kickoff return game, they have a dynamic punt returner in Louis-McGee who is always a threat, because I'm not even sure he knows where he's going sometimes. He turns nothing into something by taking it out the back door, and that's a guy you've got to be concerned about. They're good on kickoff coverage."
Defensively, the Grizzlies "use lots of post-snap movement up front," Choate said. "They're twisting on almost every down so you have to do a really good job keeping your eyes up. They'll create some negative plays if you don't do a good job on eye discipline on the front. I think they've got to excellent linebackers in (Dante) Olson and (Josh) Buss who are playing at a very high level. The Olson kid is a tackling machine. He's a physical guy, once he gets his hands on you you're probably down. Josh is dynamic, he can track guys down, he's got excellent speed. They play a lot of guys in the back end, but three guys that stand out the most are (Robby Hauck), (Reid Miller), and (Justin Calhoun). The Hauck kid is second on the team in tackles, does a really good job getting the ball on the ground."
Montana State counters with a diverse, multiple ground game, engineered by Troy Andersen. The sophomore quarterback, who has also started games at running back and linebacker in his 21 games at MSU, rushes for 109.2 yards a game. Isaiah Ifanse lightens Andersen's load, gaining 78.0 yards a game on the ground. Andersen throws for just 74.9 yards per contest, but he is 30-for-50 in the last three games, throwing 261 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in that stretch. Receiver Kevin Kassis (42 catches, 481 yards) and tight end Connor Sullivan (15 catches, 141 yards) have emerged as Andersen's most reliable pass-catchers.
The Bobcats defense, battling injuries throughout the season, shuttled players in and out of the back end on a regular basis. Throughout the season, though, a stout defensive front anchored by senior captains Tucker Yates and Zach Wright inside and ends Tyrone Fa'anono and Bryce Sterk has held the fort. Supplemented by a healthier cast of characters in the back end, MSU has forced 11 turnovers in the last four games.
Montana State carries its first two-game winning streak in 15 years into Saturday's contest, but Choate knows that is irrelevant now. "Throw the last two games out the window," he said. "It's a different coaching staff, it's a different scheme, it's different players to a large degree. I appreciate the fact that people want to talk about what's happened the last two years, but it's absolutely meaningless on Saturday."
Saturday's game kicks off at 12 noon and airs regionally on ROOT Sports Northwest and nationally on DirecTV's Audience Network.
#GoCatsGo
"This game is very meaningful to the state of Montana, both programs, both fan bases, both groups of alumni," said third-year MSU coach Jeff Choate, "and I think it will be an exciting game. I think the University of Montana is playing some of its best football right now."
The Cats and Griz both enter Saturday's game with 6-4 records, 4-3 in Big Sky play. And while the Big Sky title is not at stake, a berth in the FCS Playoffs may be. But that doesn't matter to Choate. "Our focus right now is solely on the University of Montana," he says simply.
Revitalized during Bobby Hauck's second stint as Montana's head coach, the Grizzlies enter Saturday's showdown on an offensive roll. UM averages 434.1 yards a game offensively, triggered by versatile quarterback Dalton Sneed. The junior throws for 236.9 yards a game and rushes for 65.4, and leads a Grizzly offense that scores 34.8 points a game, fourth in the Big Sky, but that's not the entire story. The Grizzlies have exploded for 103 points in the last two games, both on the road.
"Sneed is their leading rusher, and if you ask me some descriptors that pop out to me watching him on film I think he's tough, he's physical, and he's competitive," Choate said. "He wants the ball in his hand, he has that point guard mentality, and when he takes care of the football they have been a machine on offense. He's playing at a really high level, he can make all the throws."
The Grizzlies have "a bunch of guys" that offensive weapons, Choate says. "The Eastwood kid is a tough, physical downhill runner, a nice complement in the run game. Not knowing exactly what their situation is at running back. Jerry Louie-McGee, who's a dynamic player, they put in the backfield somewhat last week last week against the University of Idaho in a blowout win for them, a great momentum-builder for them. The Akem kid is a rising star, a vertical shot threat, but he's not the only targt that they have on the outside. They have a number of very, very good wide receivers, he's just emerging as a guy that can blow the top off. He's a matchup problem because he is so long, but he can turn it over, a long strider, but once he gets down field he can separate."
As many offensive weapons as the Grizzlies possess, Choate says, they give opposing defenses that many different looks. That also translates to special teams success. "They use three tight ends, they get after you in a variety of ways," he said. "They're a really well-coached team, veteran coaching staff, you can see how they've matured and grown over the course of the season."
Montana's arsenal of offensive weapons translates to the kicking game, Choate said. "They're very good on special teams They have a kicker who's 12-of-15 on the year, they're excellent in the kickoff return game, they have a dynamic punt returner in Louis-McGee who is always a threat, because I'm not even sure he knows where he's going sometimes. He turns nothing into something by taking it out the back door, and that's a guy you've got to be concerned about. They're good on kickoff coverage."
Defensively, the Grizzlies "use lots of post-snap movement up front," Choate said. "They're twisting on almost every down so you have to do a really good job keeping your eyes up. They'll create some negative plays if you don't do a good job on eye discipline on the front. I think they've got to excellent linebackers in (Dante) Olson and (Josh) Buss who are playing at a very high level. The Olson kid is a tackling machine. He's a physical guy, once he gets his hands on you you're probably down. Josh is dynamic, he can track guys down, he's got excellent speed. They play a lot of guys in the back end, but three guys that stand out the most are (Robby Hauck), (Reid Miller), and (Justin Calhoun). The Hauck kid is second on the team in tackles, does a really good job getting the ball on the ground."
Montana State counters with a diverse, multiple ground game, engineered by Troy Andersen. The sophomore quarterback, who has also started games at running back and linebacker in his 21 games at MSU, rushes for 109.2 yards a game. Isaiah Ifanse lightens Andersen's load, gaining 78.0 yards a game on the ground. Andersen throws for just 74.9 yards per contest, but he is 30-for-50 in the last three games, throwing 261 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in that stretch. Receiver Kevin Kassis (42 catches, 481 yards) and tight end Connor Sullivan (15 catches, 141 yards) have emerged as Andersen's most reliable pass-catchers.
The Bobcats defense, battling injuries throughout the season, shuttled players in and out of the back end on a regular basis. Throughout the season, though, a stout defensive front anchored by senior captains Tucker Yates and Zach Wright inside and ends Tyrone Fa'anono and Bryce Sterk has held the fort. Supplemented by a healthier cast of characters in the back end, MSU has forced 11 turnovers in the last four games.
Montana State carries its first two-game winning streak in 15 years into Saturday's contest, but Choate knows that is irrelevant now. "Throw the last two games out the window," he said. "It's a different coaching staff, it's a different scheme, it's different players to a large degree. I appreciate the fact that people want to talk about what's happened the last two years, but it's absolutely meaningless on Saturday."
Saturday's game kicks off at 12 noon and airs regionally on ROOT Sports Northwest and nationally on DirecTV's Audience Network.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
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