PDF versionTHE GAME: The top-ranked (FCS Coaches’ Poll) University of Montana Grizzlies (10-0/7-0 Big Sky Conference) play their final regular-season game of the year against the 23rd-ranked Montana State Bobcats (7-3/5-2) in the 109th Griz-Cat football contest, Saturday, Nov. 21st. Kickoff is at 12:05 p.m. (Mtn.) in MSU’s Bobcat Stadium (13,500, Field Turf).
GRIZ LAST GAME: At Montana 31, Northern Colorado 10: Junior running back Chase Reynolds rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns to lead Griz to an out-right Big Sky Conference regular-season championship.
The Grizzlies overcame an early 7-0 deficit, and took a 14-7 halftime lead when quarterback Justin Roper hit wide receiver Tyler Palmer on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 28 seconds to go until intermission. Montana outscored UNC 24-3 in the final half, thanks in large part to touchdown runs of 54 and 37 yards by Reynolds.
Roper was 13-of-20-0 for 123 yards and a touchdown, while QB Andrew Selle was 6-of-9-1 for 72 yards and a score. Wide receiver Marc Mariani had three grabs for 49 yards and a TD, while Palmer had three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. Nine different players caught passes for Montana. Linebacker Shawn Lebsock had a team-high nine tackles, while safety Erik Stoll added eight stops. End Severin Campbell had four tackles, including two sacks, a forced fumble, a PD, and two quarterback hurries.
CHASE HITS 1,000 AGAIN: Reynolds now has 1,096 yards rushing for 15 touchdowns this season. It is the 10th time a UM player has rushed 1,000 or more yards in a season. It is the third time a UM player has rushed for more than 1,000 yards twice. He joins Yohance Humphery (1,658 yards in 2001 and 1,277 yards in 1999) and Lex Hilliard (1,322 yards in 2005 and 1,132 yards in 2007) to accomplish that feat. Reynolds, who rushed for 1,583 yards last season, is the first Griz player to exceed 1,000 rushing yards in consecutive seasons.
12TH IN A ROW: It is the 12th straight Big Sky championship for the Grizzlies. Montana has gone 30-1 in conference games the last four seasons and won 42 of its last 43 regular-season games.
TEAM OF THE DECADE: Montana now has 115 victories since the start of the 2000 season and will finish the decade with the most wins of any Division I team. Appalachian State is the closest pursuer at the FCS level with 97 victories and can finish with no more than 104 wins. Oklahoma, Boise State and Texas all have 108 victories.
DOUBLE-DIGIT “W’S”: Montana has won 10 or more games five 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.
CATS LAST WEEK: at Montana State 27, Sac State 17: The Cats held the Hornets to 312 total yards and picked off three passes en route to the win. Junior QB Cody Kempt was 20-of-29-0 for 222 yards and two TDs. Senior defensive end Dane Fletcher had 11 tackles, four stops for losses and 2.5 sacks.
THE GRIZ-CAT SERIES: Montana leads 68-35-5. The Grizzles have won 20 of the last 23 meetings. NOTE: The series year-by-year scores are located on add 22 of the PDF release.
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 sidelines. The game will be televised live on KPAX-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 and former Cat linebacker Mike Callahan provide in-booth color; and KPAX’s Derek Buerkle is on the sidelines.
GRIZ TRAVEL PLANS: The team will depart for Livingston via Beach Bus on Friday, Nov. 20, with ETA TBD. Lodging is the Yellowstone Inn and Conference Center (406-222-6110) in Livingston. The team will depart for Missoula ASAP after the game.