Grizzlies, Bobcats reaching crunch time

It's the last Saturday in October, and for the Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats, that means the clock is ticking.

Both the No. 24 Griz (5-2, 3-1) and the Bobcats (3-4, 3-2) have just three games each until they meet in the annual Brawl of the Wild Nov. 19. But right now, neither team is thinking about the other. Instead, they are thinking out how to get another win in what is still a wide-open Big Sky Conference race.

The Grizzlies return from their bye week to face No. 25 Weber State on the road. The Wildcats (4-3, 3-1) looked like a Big Sky powerhouse early in the season, and with the league's top-rated defense, they still are in some respects. But a home loss to Southern Utah two weeks ago, and a lackluster offensive showing at Cal Poly last Saturday has the Wildcats reeling a bit.

And still, Montana head coach Bob Stitt is not fooled.

"They're (Wildcats) a very, very good football team," Stitt said. "They have an experienced defense, a defense that's as good as we've seen this season. They held Cal down, they've pretty much held almost everybody down. They're just a very good football team."

Indeed, the Wildcats are loaded on defense, but with starting quarterback Stefan Cantwell recovered from a concussion, and one of the best tight ends in the country in Andrew Vollert, the Wildcats could be poised to get back on track offensively, especially against a Montana defense that rates among the worst in the Big Sky in passing defense, and one that will be without starting All-Conference safety Justin Strong who is now serving a two-game suspension.

As good as Weber is on both sides of the ball, Montana feels it's hitting strides. The Griz won three straight going into the bye week, and red-shirt freshman QB Gresch Jensen is not playing like a freshman. A healthy Jeremy Calhoun at running back should also help loosen up Weber's incredibly talented secondary.

Another thing going for the Griz is they've won their last two road games. And with back-to-back home games coming up, including next Saturday's bout against league-leading Northern Arizona, the Griz could make a huge statement on Saturday in Ogden, Utah.

Meanwhile, MSU is also feeling it's made strides in recent weeks, especially after the Cats beat Northern Colorado on a last-second field goal last week in Greeley, Colorado. The win was big for the Bobcats, who aren't out of the FCS playoff race just yet.

Now the Cats will face a much bigger test in the form of the Idaho State offense Saturday in Bozeman. The Bengals (4-4, 2-3) are one of the most potent offensive teams in the Big Sky, led by quarterback Tanner Gueller and star running back James Madison, who is the only player in the Big Sky besides MSU's Chris Murray, averaging over 100 yards rushing per outing.

Montana State's defense is also banged up, as starting defensive end Grant Collins has been lost for the season to a shoulder injury. Despite a host of injuries, the Cats have perservered, as they're the No. 2 scoring defense in the Big Sky and they'll have to be good again Saturday against the high-flying Bengals who are second in the Big Sky in scoring offense and passing.

On the other side of the ball, MSU will continue to lean heavily on Murray, the dynamic dual-threat quarterback who engineered last Saturday's comeback, one in which the Cats trailed 21-7 at halftime. Murray will be needed again this week, as will MSU's stout running game includes Nick LaSane, Edward Vander and star freshman Troy Andersen. If MSU's rushing attack gets going and the Cats are up to the challenge defensively, as they have been for much of this season, than a second straight win with two of their last three at home as well would certainly have the Cats trending in the right direction.

Saturday's game between the Bobcats and Bengals kicks off at 1:30 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman. The game will be televised nationally on Root Sports. Montana's visit to Weber State Saturday kicks off at 2 p.m. and will be televised state wide on all SWX Affiliates.