Griz host Hornets, Cats meet Cats

For the third straight week, the Montana Grizzlies are home, inside the friendly, and for opponents, hostile confines of Washington-Grizzly Stadium. And while the Grizzlies’ latest opponent, the Sacramento State Hornets, may not strike fear into the hearts of UM fans, the game is a big one.

After trouncing Mississippi Valley State in their final non-conference game of the season, the No. 10 Griz (4-1, 1-1) return to Big Sky Conference play when they host the 1-5 Hornets Saturday afternoon. And from the outside looking in, the game may seem like another mismatch. But, for the Griz, it’s the continuation of a building process, and also the prelude to tougher days ahead.

Montana is looking to not take its foot off the gas, as the Griz have averaged 47 points and over 500 yards in their last two home games. Helping that will be senior quarterback Brady Gustafson, who has thrown 14 touchdowns to just four interceptions thus far, as well as a budding group of wide receivers, that will be without sensation freshman Jerry Louie-McGee Saturday, but has seen the likes of James Homan and Justin Calhoun start to impress. An elevated running game with John Nyguen and Jeremy Calhoun has also sparked the Griz’ offense, which will likely be a mismatch for a Sac. State defense that is last in the Big Sky in most defensive categories.

However, Montana won’t take the Hornets lightly no matter what the numbers say. First, Montana’s defense will be challenged by a Hornet passing attack averaging over 300 yards per game, but more importantly, the Grizzlies don’t want any setbacks before they have to strike out on the road for their two biggest games of the season – trips to Northern Arizona next Saturday, and Eastern Washington Oct. 29.

"It seems like we're getting better every week or we're certainly trending that way," said Gustafson, who after throwing for just 118 yards at UNI has 1,084 with 10 touchdowns since. "We just have to keep it up now. Every week is a new challenge."

While the Griz look to continue building momentum for the stretch run of Big Sky play, Montana State is looking to stop some backwards momentum of its own, and a trip to Weber State Saturday is where that begins.

The Bobcats (2-4, 0-3) have lost three straight games to open Big Sky play, but those losses have been by a combined 11 points, including last week’s 20-14 setback at home against NAU. And right now, it’s been a tale of two different teams for head coach Jeff Choate.

On one side, MSU has had a resurgence on defense, as the Cats, led by linebacker Mac Bignell, end Grant Collins and defensive backs John Walker and Bryson McCabe, are in the top half of the league in almost every defensive category, including being first in the conference in scoring defense.

That’s kept MSU in every game it’s played, but on offense, MSU has struggled mightily. Currently, quarterbacks Tyler Bruggman and Chris Murray are splitting time, and while the exciting Murray led MSU on two second-half scoring drives in its comeback attempt last weekend, both have really had their troubles with the passing game. And in all, the Cats still rank ninth or worse in total offense, scoring offense and passing in the Big Sky, and even with a healthy Chad Newell and Gunnar Brekke in the backfield, MSU is still just seventh in the league in rushing. Injuries to the offensive line have led to some of that, and yet, Choate insists his team will turn the corner, as he said in a postgame press conference last Saturday night.

And playing Weber (3-2, 3-0) is a good place to start the turnaround. The Wildcats won’t make it easy on MSU, though. They’ve won three straight games, they allow just 29 points per game, with a secondary that’s as good as any in the Big Sky, and offensively, running back T. Garrett and dual-threat QB Jadrian Clark will no doubt test a young but stingy MSU defense.

“I think they’re one of the more physical teams in the league,” Choate said of Weber. “Something that stands out to me immediately, I think these guys play a really physical brand of football.”

Saturday’s game between Montana and Sac. State kicks off at 2:30 p.m. in Missoula. That game will be broadcast statewide on Cowles Media affiliates. MSU’s road game at Weber State kicks off at 1:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on Root Sports NW.