121st Brawl of the Wild: Montana Grizzlies season in review

MISSOULA — With the 121st Brawl of the Wild on deck this week, we’ll have a look again at how the Grizzlies received thus far of the season, as they enter the sport 7-3 and are searching for their second straight win over the Bobcats.

The Grizzlies entered the season ranked No. 3 within the preseason polls, and had been picked to win the common season title within the Massive Sky Convention.

Issues received off to a bang behind new quarterback Lucas Johnson, because the Griz kicked off the season with a 47-0 win over Northwestern State, and of their three non-conference video games, Montana out-scored opponents 120-21 to begin the 12 months 3-0.

Convention play began off strongly as nicely, because the Grizzlies topped Portland State and Idaho State to start league play 2-0, and head into their bye week, 5-0.

Coming off the bye is the place issues started to go off the rails for the Grizzlies. A mistake-ridden contest towards the Idaho Vandals value the Griz their first sport of the 12 months, as Idaho received the Little Brown Stein for the primary time since 1999.

The next week was a giant one because the Grizzlies needed to hit the street to Sac State for a prime 10 matchup on nationwide TV. After accidents affected the Griz, and a few late essential calls, Montana misplaced to Sac State in additional time to drop to 5-2 with their second straight loss.

After Johnson went down towards the Hornets, the next week he was out once more because the Griz hit the street to tackle Weber State, and the offense mustered simply 114 yards complete, and the Wildcats received 24-21 handy UM its third straight loss.

However during the last two weeks, the Griz have bounced again in a giant method.

Two weeks in the past Montana blew out Cal Poly 57-0 on a snowy night time in Missoula, they usually adopted that up with a 63-7 beat down of Jap Washington this previous weekend at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

So, that leads us to this week, the place the Griz sit at 7-3 general and 4-3 in league play and ranked No. 13 within the FCS. With that file, they’re seemingly within the playoffs, and Saturday’s consequence may have a giant think about the place they find yourself on the Sunday after the sport.

For now, all eyes on are the rivalry sport, and it will be a High-15 conflict when UM and MSU meet in Bozeman on Saturday.

“I am excited for this sport. I really like taking part in down there, I simply at all times have,” Griz head coach Bobby Hauck stated throughout his Monday press convention. “Simply at all times actually loved it. I believe I noticed my first faculty soccer sport there and simply form of at all times have loved the video games down there.

“We’ll must play nicely once more in an effort to have an opportunity to win this sport. I assume we’ll be an underdog within the sport, however we have crushed this opponent 73 occasions within the historical past of this rivalry, and out of doors of Nebraska’s 91 over Kansas, I do not know if there is a Division I group with extra wins over one opponent so we form of have a sense like we must win this sport too.”

Kickoff for the sport is at midday on Saturday, and MTN may have your broadcast throughout the state. ESPN’s Faculty GameDay may also make its inaugural look within the Treasure State.