1928 Bobcats
BOBCAT CALENDAR: The 1928 Bobcats Managed to Tie the Grizzlies, and Used That as a Springboard to a Good Stretch
10/27/2020 2:15:00 PM | Football
Gus Wylie made some big defensive plays to preserve a scoreless tie in 1928
A day-by-day look at Bobcat football history...
October 27
SPOTLIGHT: In the moment it was a largely unsatisfying afternoon for Bobcat fans. Zoom out some, though, and it seems like something of a tide change.
When the Bobcats got together in Butte's Clark Park today in 1928 Montana State hadn't beaten their ancient rivals since 1908. The Cats had been shut out by UM in 1927, and had scored 10 points or more in a rivalry game once since 1902.
In front of 7,800 fans (according to the Montana Exponent) the teams played a "thrilling game" that was widely described as a wild, back-and-forth affair. UM's first serious scoring threat came in the second quarter, when the Grizzlies had the ball at the Bobcat 34. James Morrow completed a pass to Gordon Rognlien at the 20, and the senior from Kalispell toted it to the Bobcat 10, a 24-yard gain. Waldo Ekegren blasted through the Bobcat line toward the goal line, with Harold Wylie saving a touchdown at the five. On second and goal, Ott Gardner "made a spectacular tackle of Morrow on a right end sweep, tossing him for a nine-hard loss, per the Exponent. On third down, Ekegren plunged into the line for a yard, and on fourth down Jason Preston knocked down a pass by Morrow at the goal line to fight off the threat. The Bobcats ran a couple of plays to run out the half.
UM charged into Bobcat territory on the drive that opened the second half, with a 24-yard pass play from Morrow to Ekegren the big play. But a pair of incompletions stalled the drive, and flipped the ball back to Montana State.
The Blue and Gold saw its first scoring chance of the half arrive after a short punt set the Cats up at the UM 35.
A fourth quarter fumble by Ed Chinske presented the Bobcats another opportunity. Earl Semingson's recovery set the Cats up at the UM 45, and after a short run by Wylie and a pass from Gardner to A.O. DeFrate Montana State was at the Griz 35. Joe Wellington hit Gardner for six yards, but UM rose up and forced a loss on downs at the 31. That proved to be the game's last serious threat.
Both teams staked a claim to outplaying the other. UM has the upper hand in the statistical argument, gaining 260 yards to Montana State's 140 and finishing +2 in turnover margin. The Exponent said "the Grizzlies were badly battered throughout the day," and a case can be made for that statement's accuracy. The Cats split their four remaining games against decent competition (beating BYU and Wyoming while losing to Utah State and, on Thanksgiving Day in Sheridan, Wyoming, Mt. St. Charles (now Carroll College). The Grizzlies lost four of their last five against collegiate competition (beating Gonzaga while losing to Oregon State, Idaho, and Oregon).
BONUS: Montana State's 1928 tie with the Grizzlies was the last tie game in Cat-Griz history.
DOUBLE BONUS: In the context of the in-state rivalry, the 1928 tie between the Cats and Griz served as something of a springboard for Montana State. Beginning with 1928, the Bobcats were 2-2-1 against the Grizzlies over the next five years. While that is a humble stretch by any standard, comparing it to the previous 20 games and the ensuing 20 games adds context. From 1908-27 the Bobcats finished 1-15-4 against UM. From 1932-1956 the Cats were 2-18. So to recap, MSU won two games against UM from 1928-32, with three combined wins from 1908-27 and 1933-56.
GAMES ON TODAY'S DATE
2018 - at Idaho St 24, MSU 17
2012 - MSU 55, North Dakota 10
2007 - at UNC 16, MSU 13
2001 - NAU 35, MSU 28
1990 - at UM 35, MSU 18
1984 - MSU 22, Boise St 18
1979 - MSU 28, Idaho 20
1973 - MSU 35, at Idaho 14
1962 - at Wichita St 32, MSU 10
1956 - MSU 28, Western St 13
1951 - Western State 26, MSU 0
1934 - No Colo 19, MSU 0 HC
1928 - MSU 0, UM 0 at Butte
1923 - MSU 83, at Carroll 0
FINIS: For anyone interested in what football revenue was like nearly 100 years ago, UM and Montana State each garnered $4,325 from the Copper Bowl in Butte in 1928. That was said to be $1,500 more than the schools had netted in any of the previous two trips to the Mining City. A total of 1,500 students combined converged on Clark Park. They were not charged admission.
October 27
SPOTLIGHT: In the moment it was a largely unsatisfying afternoon for Bobcat fans. Zoom out some, though, and it seems like something of a tide change.
When the Bobcats got together in Butte's Clark Park today in 1928 Montana State hadn't beaten their ancient rivals since 1908. The Cats had been shut out by UM in 1927, and had scored 10 points or more in a rivalry game once since 1902.
In front of 7,800 fans (according to the Montana Exponent) the teams played a "thrilling game" that was widely described as a wild, back-and-forth affair. UM's first serious scoring threat came in the second quarter, when the Grizzlies had the ball at the Bobcat 34. James Morrow completed a pass to Gordon Rognlien at the 20, and the senior from Kalispell toted it to the Bobcat 10, a 24-yard gain. Waldo Ekegren blasted through the Bobcat line toward the goal line, with Harold Wylie saving a touchdown at the five. On second and goal, Ott Gardner "made a spectacular tackle of Morrow on a right end sweep, tossing him for a nine-hard loss, per the Exponent. On third down, Ekegren plunged into the line for a yard, and on fourth down Jason Preston knocked down a pass by Morrow at the goal line to fight off the threat. The Bobcats ran a couple of plays to run out the half.
UM charged into Bobcat territory on the drive that opened the second half, with a 24-yard pass play from Morrow to Ekegren the big play. But a pair of incompletions stalled the drive, and flipped the ball back to Montana State.
The Blue and Gold saw its first scoring chance of the half arrive after a short punt set the Cats up at the UM 35.
A fourth quarter fumble by Ed Chinske presented the Bobcats another opportunity. Earl Semingson's recovery set the Cats up at the UM 45, and after a short run by Wylie and a pass from Gardner to A.O. DeFrate Montana State was at the Griz 35. Joe Wellington hit Gardner for six yards, but UM rose up and forced a loss on downs at the 31. That proved to be the game's last serious threat.
Both teams staked a claim to outplaying the other. UM has the upper hand in the statistical argument, gaining 260 yards to Montana State's 140 and finishing +2 in turnover margin. The Exponent said "the Grizzlies were badly battered throughout the day," and a case can be made for that statement's accuracy. The Cats split their four remaining games against decent competition (beating BYU and Wyoming while losing to Utah State and, on Thanksgiving Day in Sheridan, Wyoming, Mt. St. Charles (now Carroll College). The Grizzlies lost four of their last five against collegiate competition (beating Gonzaga while losing to Oregon State, Idaho, and Oregon).
BONUS: Montana State's 1928 tie with the Grizzlies was the last tie game in Cat-Griz history.
DOUBLE BONUS: In the context of the in-state rivalry, the 1928 tie between the Cats and Griz served as something of a springboard for Montana State. Beginning with 1928, the Bobcats were 2-2-1 against the Grizzlies over the next five years. While that is a humble stretch by any standard, comparing it to the previous 20 games and the ensuing 20 games adds context. From 1908-27 the Bobcats finished 1-15-4 against UM. From 1932-1956 the Cats were 2-18. So to recap, MSU won two games against UM from 1928-32, with three combined wins from 1908-27 and 1933-56.
GAMES ON TODAY'S DATE
2018 - at Idaho St 24, MSU 17
2012 - MSU 55, North Dakota 10
2007 - at UNC 16, MSU 13
2001 - NAU 35, MSU 28
1990 - at UM 35, MSU 18
1984 - MSU 22, Boise St 18
1979 - MSU 28, Idaho 20
1973 - MSU 35, at Idaho 14
1962 - at Wichita St 32, MSU 10
1956 - MSU 28, Western St 13
1951 - Western State 26, MSU 0
1934 - No Colo 19, MSU 0 HC
1928 - MSU 0, UM 0 at Butte
1923 - MSU 83, at Carroll 0
FINIS: For anyone interested in what football revenue was like nearly 100 years ago, UM and Montana State each garnered $4,325 from the Copper Bowl in Butte in 1928. That was said to be $1,500 more than the schools had netted in any of the previous two trips to the Mining City. A total of 1,500 students combined converged on Clark Park. They were not charged admission.
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