Griz, Cats face big road games

Bye weeks came early for both the Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats. But both teams return to action in a big, big way this weekend. And both face their first road tests of the young season.

For the No. 11 Bobcats (1-0), Saturday will be like starting over. Following a long training camp, MSU opened its season with an easy win over NCAA Division II Fort Lewis back on Sept. 3. Now, however, things get anything but easy as the Cats pay a visit to Cheney, Washington, Saturday to hook up with rival Eastern Washington.

The game between MSU and EWU is a non-conference affair for the second straight season, but, it’s a rivalry nonetheless, and it will have lasting playoff implications, just as it did a year ago when EWU pulled off a 52-51, last-second win in Bozeman.

And while MSU hasn’t had a lot of success against the two-time defending Big Sky champion Eagles as of late, Saturday could be the day the Cats turn the corner. For starters, EWU doesn’t have star quarterback Vernon Adams anymore, and the No. 14 Eagles (0-2) are coming into the game hurting. All-American wide receiver Cooper Kupp is injured, though he’s expected to play, while speedster Shaq Hill is out with a knee injury. The Eagles also are down to their third-string running back, and two of their starting offensive lineman are also injured, as is quarterback Riley Hennessey, who has been splitting time with junior Jordan West.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats are rested and ready for Saturday’s showdown. MSU is also the veteran team in the rivalry for a change, led by junior standout QB Dakota Prukop, and junior running backs Chad Newell and Gunnar Brekke, as well as one of the best offensive lines in the FCS. And that veteran offense has to be excited about playing a young EWU defense, which is allowing over 40 points and 450 yards of offense per game thus far.

But even with the injuries, the Eagles are still as good as it gets on offense. EWU put up over 500 yards and 40 points on mighty Oregon two weeks ago, and the vaunted offense will be a big challenge for a revamped Bobcat defense, led by outstanding linebacker Mac Bignell and defensive tackle Taylor Sheridan. But, if the Bobcats can get some stops on defense, which they didn’t do two years ago in Cheney, they should be the superior team in the matchup. After all, EWU is reeling from its road loss at Northern Iowa last Saturday, and without a run game to speak of, and an inexperienced defense still trying to find its football, the game is the Bobcats’ for the taking. It all will come down to how well MSU’s defense plays because there’s no question, MSU’s offense is likely to have a banner day in Cheney.

Meanwhile, the Montana defense is looking to have another banner day when the No. 8 Griz (1-1) trek to Lynchburg, Virginia, to face No. 14 Liberty (1-1) in another big FCS matchup. It’s Montana’s first foray to Virginia to face the Flames, who have grown as a program since they lost 34-14 in Missoula back in 2012. That Liberty team was just finding its way as a program, but now, the Flames, under veteran head coach Turner Gill, are an FCS power, and they are touting Saturday night’s battle with the Griz as the biggest home game in the program’s history.

But big games are nothing new to the Griz, and they’re nothing new in 2015. Montana has already knocked off then No. 1 North Dakota State in a huge showdown back on Aug. 29, and the Bib Stitt era also saw its first loss when the Griz were shocked by No. 18 Cal Poly two weeks ago in Missoula.

So, there’ no doubt, the Griz are already battle-tested. But now, UM, which had a week off last week, must learn to be road-tested. And that won’t be easy against the Flames, who are a Top 15 team with an NFL prospect at quarterback in senior Josh Woodrum and who are also battle-tested, as they played at FBS power West Virginia last Saturday.

But while stopping a balanced Flame offense will be critical for the Griz’ stingy defense, the key to a UM victory Saturday will be getting its fast-paced offense back on track. UM starting quarterback Brady Gustafson was electric against NDSU last month, but, he threw three interceptions and only found the endzone twice in the last-second loss to Cal Poly two weeks ago.

So while UM will have its hands full with Liberty’s offense, and having to play in its first hostile environment of the season, the key to a Grizzly victory will be Gustafson and receivers Jamaal Jones and Ellis Henderson getting back to being explosive, while also getting what has been a less-than-stellar running game going as well.

Saturday night’s game between the Grizzlies and Flames will kick off at 5 p.m. M.S.T. The game is only available on ESPN3 or ESPN Pay-Per-View. Saturday’s game between Montana State and Eastern Washington begins at 2 p.m. M.S.T. That game is being televised nationally on Root Sports. The Bobcats return home to play Cal Poly next Saturday, while the Griz are back at home as well, taking on Northern Arizona.