Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Plenty on the Line as Bobcats Gear up to Travel to Missoula
11/16/2018 9:57:00 AM | Football
The 118th Cat-Griz football game takes place at noon on Saturday
The Bobcats head to Missoula to take on the Grizzlies in the 118th edition of the storied Cat-Griz rivalry on Saturday. The importance of this game doesn't need to be explained to any fan. When these two teams line up, team records, past success and drama all go out the window.
Montana State head coach Jeff Choate has experienced success in the rivalry, with the Bobcats earning back-to-back victories in 2016 in Missoula (24-17) and in 2017 in Bozeman (31-23).
Choate and the Bobcats will get a chance to win their third game in a row against the Grizzlies. It's a feat that hasn't been accomplished in 33 years, but it's a fact that Choate describes as meaningless on Saturday.
"Throw the last two games out the window," Choate 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."
Choate brings a historical perspective to the game. The team has had guest speakers come in and talk about the importance of the rivalry and how much it matters to everyone in the state.
"(Choate) brings a special energy," said defensive tackle Tucker Yates. "He's from Montana, he gets it. He went to school in Dillon, right in between Griz and Cat country, so he gets the rivalry. He loves the history of the game and he drives a point to bring history to the game and really make it special for us."
The Grizzlies are led by head coach Bobby Hauck. Hauck, was a part of the rivalry from 2003-2009 as the Grizzlies' head coach, before taking the job at UNLV. Hauck will make his return to the sideline for the rivalry when he leads Montana out on Saturday.
The two teams enter this game with identical overall records of 6-4 and 4-3 in the Big Sky. The teams are both on two-game winning streaks. The winner of this game will have hopes for a bid to the playoffs. With so much on the line on Saturday, the teams will have to control their emotions.
"A lot of (controlling emotions) is being able to be mature in this situation," said defensive tackle Zach Wright. "Realizing despite all these pressures, despite everything at stake being able to control yourself is a factor. To control your emotions and to keep your objective in mind."
Wright, a senior captain, helps anchor a defensive line that'll have their hands full with Montana quarterback Dalton Snead. Snead leads a high-powered offense playing as good of football as anyone. The Grizzlies have combined for 103 points in their two previous victories.
The Bobcats' talented defensive line has been one of the most consistent groups on the team. The line has found success and is anchored by seniors Wright and Yates. The group will be facing one of their toughest challenges this season on Saturday. With so much on the line, the teams are going to come out swinging.
"One of the things we've been talking about is the ability to overcome adversity," Wright said. "In these rivalry games, where both sides are willing to bet it all to beat the othe,r there's going to be blows being traded. It's about being able to recover from those blows and being able to press forward. Not let the other side gain too much momentum."
Wright's partner in the middle, Yates grew up in Colstrip, Montana, and has had a special career for the Bobcats. Playing in this game has been a dream come true for Yates. The senior will get a chance to cement his legacy on Saturday if he can lead the Bobcats to another win over the the Grizzlies. Yates brings an important perspective to the game. Growing up in Colstrip, the rivalry was part of his childhood.
"Growing up I watched this game," Yates said. "My dream was to play in the game, now it's a dream come true. I've been watching my whole life. My family, grandparents always watched the game, we made a point to watch it every year, now playing in it is so special to me."
Yates views the team's past success over the Grizzlies as a motivating factor for Saturday. Playing in the rivalry for the last time this weekend, the last two years don't matter now to the players if they can't prevail on Saturday.
"(Winning three in a row) is a big motivating factor," Yates said. "It hasn't been done in 33 years, to be that team to do that and leave our mark in Bobcat history would be special. But that's not our main focus, our main focus is to win and keep playing."
The Bobcats take on the Grizzlies in Missoula with kickoff set for 12 p.m.
Montana State head coach Jeff Choate has experienced success in the rivalry, with the Bobcats earning back-to-back victories in 2016 in Missoula (24-17) and in 2017 in Bozeman (31-23).
Choate and the Bobcats will get a chance to win their third game in a row against the Grizzlies. It's a feat that hasn't been accomplished in 33 years, but it's a fact that Choate describes as meaningless on Saturday.
"Throw the last two games out the window," Choate 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."
Choate brings a historical perspective to the game. The team has had guest speakers come in and talk about the importance of the rivalry and how much it matters to everyone in the state.
"(Choate) brings a special energy," said defensive tackle Tucker Yates. "He's from Montana, he gets it. He went to school in Dillon, right in between Griz and Cat country, so he gets the rivalry. He loves the history of the game and he drives a point to bring history to the game and really make it special for us."
The Grizzlies are led by head coach Bobby Hauck. Hauck, was a part of the rivalry from 2003-2009 as the Grizzlies' head coach, before taking the job at UNLV. Hauck will make his return to the sideline for the rivalry when he leads Montana out on Saturday.
The two teams enter this game with identical overall records of 6-4 and 4-3 in the Big Sky. The teams are both on two-game winning streaks. The winner of this game will have hopes for a bid to the playoffs. With so much on the line on Saturday, the teams will have to control their emotions.
"A lot of (controlling emotions) is being able to be mature in this situation," said defensive tackle Zach Wright. "Realizing despite all these pressures, despite everything at stake being able to control yourself is a factor. To control your emotions and to keep your objective in mind."
Wright, a senior captain, helps anchor a defensive line that'll have their hands full with Montana quarterback Dalton Snead. Snead leads a high-powered offense playing as good of football as anyone. The Grizzlies have combined for 103 points in their two previous victories.
The Bobcats' talented defensive line has been one of the most consistent groups on the team. The line has found success and is anchored by seniors Wright and Yates. The group will be facing one of their toughest challenges this season on Saturday. With so much on the line, the teams are going to come out swinging.
"One of the things we've been talking about is the ability to overcome adversity," Wright said. "In these rivalry games, where both sides are willing to bet it all to beat the othe,r there's going to be blows being traded. It's about being able to recover from those blows and being able to press forward. Not let the other side gain too much momentum."
Wright's partner in the middle, Yates grew up in Colstrip, Montana, and has had a special career for the Bobcats. Playing in this game has been a dream come true for Yates. The senior will get a chance to cement his legacy on Saturday if he can lead the Bobcats to another win over the the Grizzlies. Yates brings an important perspective to the game. Growing up in Colstrip, the rivalry was part of his childhood.
"Growing up I watched this game," Yates said. "My dream was to play in the game, now it's a dream come true. I've been watching my whole life. My family, grandparents always watched the game, we made a point to watch it every year, now playing in it is so special to me."
Yates views the team's past success over the Grizzlies as a motivating factor for Saturday. Playing in the rivalry for the last time this weekend, the last two years don't matter now to the players if they can't prevail on Saturday.
"(Winning three in a row) is a big motivating factor," Yates said. "It hasn't been done in 33 years, to be that team to do that and leave our mark in Bobcat history would be special. But that's not our main focus, our main focus is to win and keep playing."
The Bobcats take on the Grizzlies in Missoula with kickoff set for 12 p.m.
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
DT
/ FootballThursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
