PDF versionTHE GAME: The second-ranked (Sports Network) University of Montana Grizzlies (9-0/6-0 Big Sky Conference) play their final regular-season home game of the year, hosting the Northern Colorado Bears (3-7/1-6) in a league contest on Saturday, Nov. 14th. Kickoff is at 12:05 p.m. (Mtn.) in UM’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium (25,200, Sprinturf) at John Hoyt Field.
SENIOR DAY: Prior to the game, Montana’s 19 seniors will be individually recognized. They are: Tim Anderson, SS (Missoula); Dan Beaudin, TE (Noxon); Thomas Brooks-Fletcher, RB (Bellevue, Wash.); Chris Dyk, OT (Dillon); Brandon Fisher, LB (Franklin, Tenn.); Terran Hillesland, OG (Sidney); Levi Horn, OT (Spokane); Kevin Klaboe, FB (Billings); Shawn Lebsock, LB (Billings); Marc Mariani, WR/Ret. (Havre); George Mercer, DE (Libby); Austin Mullins, DT (Great Falls); Ryan Nelson, SS (Wright, Wyo.); Jace Palmer, DE (Missoula), Tyler Palmer, WR (Missoula); Steve Pfahler, TE (Frenchtown); Shann Schillinger, FS (Baker); Andrew Swink, CB (Rowland Heights, Calif.); and Keith Thompson, CB (Porterville, Calif.).
IMPRESSIVE W-L MARK: Over the past four seasons the Grizzlies have an overall record of 46-5 and are 29-1 in Big Sky games.
GRIZ LAST GAME: Montana 12, at Idaho State 10: Griz kicker Brody McKnight hit a 33-yard field goal with no time remaining to keep the Grizzlies (9-0/6-0 Big Sky) unbeaten. Senior wide receiver Marc Mariani, Montana’s player of the game, caught 8 balls for 192 yards. Quarterback Andrew Selle was 19-28 for 321 yards and an interception. Junior halfback Chase Reynolds ran 22 times for 123 yards, while Thomas Brooks-Fletcher had UM’s lone TD. Montana outgained Idaho State 492-309, including a hefty 335-198 passing advantage, but the Griz had 129 penalty yards and three turnovers.
MCKNIGHT TABBED POW: McKnight, a sophomore from Vancouver, B.C. was named the Big Sky “Special Teams Player of the Week” for his game-winner at ISU. He also won the award last season when he made a 42-yard game-winner in a 38-35 home win over Central Washington.
CAN’T CATCH THEM: Montana’s win over ISU was its 114th victory since the start of the 2000 season. Montana will finish the decade with the most wins of any Division I team. Appalachian State is the closest pursuer at the FCS level with 96 victories and can finish with no more than 104 wins. Oklahoma, Boise State and Texas all have 107 victories at the FBS level. Boise State has four regular-season games remaining and one Bowl game, meaning they can only get to 112 victories. Texas has the potential for five more wins, as does Oklahoma. Montana has an overall winning percentage of .838 (114-22) this decade, which ranks first among FCS teams and third among all Division I teams.
12 IN A ROW!!!: Montana’s win at ISU last Saturday gives UM its 12th Big Sky title (or share) in a row -- the second most by an FCS or FBS team. UM has won the league title 15 of the last 17 years. (Oklahoma won a record 14 straight Big Eight Conference championships from 1946-59).
WINNERS, PART 2: Montana has won nine or more games six of the past seven seasons, and has 10 or more victories four times in the past six years.
24 STRAIGHT WINNING SEASONS: Montana’s victory over Eastern Washington on Oct. 17th gave the Grizzlies their 24th winning season in a row, starting in 1986.
BEARS LAST WEEK: Sac State 38, at Northern Colorado 35: The Bears scored five TDs in the second half, but fell short. UNC tied its season high with 477 total offensive yards. Senior QB Bryan Waggener was 35-of-58-2 for 325 yards.
THE GRIZ-BEARS SERIES: Montana leads 8-1 and has won the last eight.
RADIO/TV: UM’s flagship stations are KGVO Radio (1290-AM) and KVWE Radio (101.5 FM). Mick Holien calls the play-by-play, Scott Gurnsey provides color, and Greg Sundberg works the the sidelines. The game will be televised live on CW-TV of Misssoula and its affiliate stations in Montana. KPAX-TV’s sports director Phil Buck will call the action; former Griz quarterback Grady Bennett provides in-booth color; and KPAX’s Derek Buerkle is on the sidelines.