Cats, Griz open Big Sky play

The Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats are each three weeks into the 2016 season. But for both teams, things get really real on Saturday.

Both the No. 6 Grizzlies (2-0) and un-ranked Bobcats (2-1) open Big Sky Conference play on Saturday, and both teams face daunting challenges.

The Griz, who had last week off after upsetting then No. 3 Northern Iowa on the road, have a huge uphill battle when they travel to San Luis Obispo, California for their Big Sky opener against Cal Poly Saturday afternoon.

The Mustangs (2-1) are red-hot to start the season, averaging over 500 yards of offense with their triple-option attack, and bruising fullback Joe Prothroe. And, Poly has also beaten Montana two straight times, including a blowout win at home in 2014, and last year's last-second victory in Missoula.

So, in order for the well-rested Grizzlies to change their luck against the Mustangs, they must first solve the defensive riddle of slowing down Cal Poly's running game. UM is probably as well equipped as anybody to do that, with a revamped defense that's among the FCS' best right now. And, led by Caleb Kidder and linebackers like Josh Buss, the Griz have already stopped one running team in Northern Iowa, and will hope to do it again against the Mustangs.

However, Montana's offense must also wake up. Hopes were high for senior quarterback Brady Gustafson in the preseason, but, he, and the Griz' offense hasn't got clicking just yet. Montana averages just 30 points and 300 yards of offense, and, the Griz' passing attack has really struggled, as they average just 236 yards through the air.

So, for the Griz to get out of Cal Poly with a 1-0 start to conference play, the defense will need to do what it's been doing, but the offense will have to take a major step forward.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats are riding high ahead of their third straight Saturday inside Bobcat Stadium. But, after back-to-back home wins, including a 55-0 dismantling of Western Oregon last weekend, the Cats' third home game will be significantly more difficult.

That's because MSU welcomes in the University of North Dakota (1-2) Fighting Hawks for new head coach Jeff Choate's Big Sky debut. A year ago, the Hawks raced past the Bobcats in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and while UND returns 18 starters from that team, including the best run defense in the Big Sky, and sophomore sensation John Santiago at running back, nothing about the Bobcats is the same as last year.

Instead, MSU has a reinvigorated defense, especially compared to the one that gave up 44 points and 426 yards rushing to UND a year ago. The 2016 MSU defense is not that defense though. Led by linebacker Mac Bignell and transfer cornerback John Walker, the Cats lead the FCS in turnover margin, and are becoming a young, but ferocious unit thus far.

On the other side of the ball, MSU is also starting to come around, and, the return of star running back Chad Newell from injury this week, should benefit an MSU offense that's quarterback by Tyler Bruggman even more.

Still, while the Cats may be coming together on both sides of the ball, Saturday's game against the Hawks will be a big test. Not only must MSU slow down Santiago, and force UND into uncomfortable passing situations, but, the MSU offense will need to be much more consistent against the caliber of defense the Hawks are bringing to Bozeman for MSU's homecoming game.

Saturday's game between MSU and UND will kick off at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast statewide on all Cowles Media affiliates. Montana's game at Cal Poly kicks off at 1 p.m. and will be televised nationwide on Root Sports Northwest.