Gary Davies (12) fires a pass to Dick Posewitz in the 1957 Cat-Griz game
BOBCAT CALENDAR: Today in 1957, Cats Log Back-to-Back Wins Against Silvertips for First Time Since 1902-03
11/9/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
Bobcats use strong ground game to grind out win against Griz
A day-by-day look at Bobcat football history...
November 9
SPOTLIGHT: The Exponent said all that needed to be said.
"Last Saturday's annual Montana football classic saw a steam-driven Bobcat team roll over the Grizzlies 22-13 before the largest crowd ever to witness a football game in Bozeman."
More than 9,000 jammed into Gatton Field, as reported by the November 15, 1957 edition of the Montana State student newspaper, and photographs show fans standing everywhere possible. And it was with good reason.
Montana State's football resurgence in 1956 included a win at Missoula's Dornblaser Stadium and a tie in the Aluminum Bowl in Little Rock, Arkansas. The 1957 Cat-Griz game brought the opportunity to beat the Grizzlies in Bozeman for the first time since 1908 and the first back-to-back wins in the series since 1902-03.
That opportunity presented itself early, and the Cats capitalized. Gary Troisi scored on a six-yard run 10 plays into the game, and on Montana State's third drive Bob Rudio bolted 51 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 Bobcat lead. A third-quarter punt return by Dick Posewitz gave the Cats possession in Grizzly territory, and Rocco Perciavalle plunged into the end zone from one yard later in the series to give the Bobcats a 19-0 lead.
The matter was far from decided, as it turns out. While UM shifted to an eight-man defensive front to slow the hard-churning Bobcat ground game, the Grizzlies got their offense rolling with an aerial attack. Earl Keely and Joe Pepe connected on passes that pushed UM into scoring position, and Ervin Rosera's seven-yard run got UM on the board. On the next Grizzly possession, as the game clock hit 11 minutes, Keely connected with Larry Myer on a 53-yard pass that cut the Bobcat lead to 19-13.
The University forced another Bobcat punt, and drove into Montana State territory, but Montana State's George Marinkovich stepped in front of a Keely pass and returned the ball to the UM 47. Facing a fourth-and-nine from the Grizzly 17 Brad Lowell connected on a 37-yard field goal with 3:10 to play which all but ended the game.
Again, the Exponent offers the cota. Ev McGlothlin's Sports Shorts noted: "No sense rubbing a good thing in, referring of course to the scrimmage the Cats had last Saturday with Missoula. The Grizzlies payed wonderful ball, if you consider their caliber."
Montana State beat UM in 1957 for the program's first back-to-back wins against UM since 1902-03.
BONUS: The Bobcat program reached a milestone today in 1968. On the way to a 41-7 win in Grand Forks against North Dakota, Hans Pidino rushed for 143 yards and Gary Hughes 121. That marked the first time on record two Bobcats passed the 100-yard rushing mark in one game.
GAMES ON TODAY'S DATE
2019 - #14 MSU 45, Northern Colorado14
2002 - MSU 25, Eastern Washington 14
1996 - MSU 37, Cal Poly 20
1991 - at Boise State 31, MSU 14
1985 - Idaho 34, MSU 0
1968 - MSU 41, at North Dakota 7
1963 - MSU 18, UM 3
1957 - MSU 22, UM 13
1946 - MSU 19, Portland 6 at Great Falls
1930 - MSU 21, Carroll 0 at Great Falls
1924 - MSU 0, at Denver 0 road trip with Wyoming game
FINIS: The Bobcats completed a difficult road trip today in 1924, when the Bobcats played the Denver Pioneers in the Mile High City. The game ended in a scoreless tie, but Denver fielded some familiar faces. According to the October 28, 1924 Exponent: "In her lineup Denver 'U' has several Montana men who played in that notorious Anaconda-Billings game in Bozeman in 1921. The names Bowman, Scilley, Cooper, O'Connell, Wilson and Maier of Billings, and Bert of Anaconda will long be remembered by Montana football fans."
November 9
SPOTLIGHT: The Exponent said all that needed to be said.
"Last Saturday's annual Montana football classic saw a steam-driven Bobcat team roll over the Grizzlies 22-13 before the largest crowd ever to witness a football game in Bozeman."
More than 9,000 jammed into Gatton Field, as reported by the November 15, 1957 edition of the Montana State student newspaper, and photographs show fans standing everywhere possible. And it was with good reason.
Montana State's football resurgence in 1956 included a win at Missoula's Dornblaser Stadium and a tie in the Aluminum Bowl in Little Rock, Arkansas. The 1957 Cat-Griz game brought the opportunity to beat the Grizzlies in Bozeman for the first time since 1908 and the first back-to-back wins in the series since 1902-03.
That opportunity presented itself early, and the Cats capitalized. Gary Troisi scored on a six-yard run 10 plays into the game, and on Montana State's third drive Bob Rudio bolted 51 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 Bobcat lead. A third-quarter punt return by Dick Posewitz gave the Cats possession in Grizzly territory, and Rocco Perciavalle plunged into the end zone from one yard later in the series to give the Bobcats a 19-0 lead.
The matter was far from decided, as it turns out. While UM shifted to an eight-man defensive front to slow the hard-churning Bobcat ground game, the Grizzlies got their offense rolling with an aerial attack. Earl Keely and Joe Pepe connected on passes that pushed UM into scoring position, and Ervin Rosera's seven-yard run got UM on the board. On the next Grizzly possession, as the game clock hit 11 minutes, Keely connected with Larry Myer on a 53-yard pass that cut the Bobcat lead to 19-13.
The University forced another Bobcat punt, and drove into Montana State territory, but Montana State's George Marinkovich stepped in front of a Keely pass and returned the ball to the UM 47. Facing a fourth-and-nine from the Grizzly 17 Brad Lowell connected on a 37-yard field goal with 3:10 to play which all but ended the game.
Again, the Exponent offers the cota. Ev McGlothlin's Sports Shorts noted: "No sense rubbing a good thing in, referring of course to the scrimmage the Cats had last Saturday with Missoula. The Grizzlies payed wonderful ball, if you consider their caliber."
Montana State beat UM in 1957 for the program's first back-to-back wins against UM since 1902-03.
BONUS: The Bobcat program reached a milestone today in 1968. On the way to a 41-7 win in Grand Forks against North Dakota, Hans Pidino rushed for 143 yards and Gary Hughes 121. That marked the first time on record two Bobcats passed the 100-yard rushing mark in one game.
GAMES ON TODAY'S DATE
2019 - #14 MSU 45, Northern Colorado14
2002 - MSU 25, Eastern Washington 14
1996 - MSU 37, Cal Poly 20
1991 - at Boise State 31, MSU 14
1985 - Idaho 34, MSU 0
1968 - MSU 41, at North Dakota 7
1963 - MSU 18, UM 3
1957 - MSU 22, UM 13
1946 - MSU 19, Portland 6 at Great Falls
1930 - MSU 21, Carroll 0 at Great Falls
1924 - MSU 0, at Denver 0 road trip with Wyoming game
FINIS: The Bobcats completed a difficult road trip today in 1924, when the Bobcats played the Denver Pioneers in the Mile High City. The game ended in a scoreless tie, but Denver fielded some familiar faces. According to the October 28, 1924 Exponent: "In her lineup Denver 'U' has several Montana men who played in that notorious Anaconda-Billings game in Bozeman in 1921. The names Bowman, Scilley, Cooper, O'Connell, Wilson and Maier of Billings, and Bert of Anaconda will long be remembered by Montana football fans."
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