Griz, Cats begin Big Sky Conference play

Both the Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats played a very tough and very valuable non-conference schedule to open 2018. But that's over now, and the real fun begins.

Neither the Grizzlies, not the Bobcats are considered contenders for the Big Sky championship this season, but the chase for the title for both teams begins Saturday.

And in Missoula it will be a big day for the No. 19 Griz (2-1), and for Griz Nation. Saturday, Montana opens conference play against a resurgent Sacremento State (2-1), while the school will also honor legendary quarterback Dave Dickenson, who is a member of the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame Class. In honor of Dickinson, who will be at the game, the Griz will wear their throwback, copper and gold colors, but once the ball is kicked off, Montana will have its focus on the Hornets and nothing else.

The Griz come into Saturday's game off a heartbreaking loss at Western Illinois, in which they had a 10-point lead with seven minutes left. Now, a powerful Sac. State squad comes to Missoula, and head coach Bobby Hauck says his Grizzlies are going to have to step their game up.

"I don't have a great handle on what happened here two years ago, but it was a blowout," Hauck said Monday. "Those roles are now reversed. I hope they don't beat us like we beat them two years ago."

Hauck was referring to Montana's crushing of the Hornets two years ago in Missoula. Now though, the Hornets are a junior-senior laden team, with a star quarterback, dynamic receivers, and a stout defense led by NFL prospect George Obinna (DE).

Meanwhile, the Griz are arguably one of the youngest teams in the Big Sky, and it shows. Montana is dead last in the league in rushing, and the Griz are barely averaging 30 ppg on offense. On the other side, a stout Griz defense has held together well and ranks in the Top 10 in the FCS in several categories. But Montana also hasn't faced an offense like the one they'll see from Sac. State Saturday, so the Griz defense, which starts just two seniors, will certainly be under fire.

Meanwhile, MSU (2-1) is coming off its best performance of the season as the Cats head to Portland State for their Big Sky opener Saturday. Behind a 300-yard passing game from Tucker Roving and a 100-yard rushing game from Isaiah Ifanse, the Cats rolled up almost 600 yards in a rousing win over Wagner last Saturday in Bozeman.

And while Rovig impressed last weekend, the Cats could turn back to Troy Andersen at quarterback this week against a PSU (1-2) squad that has struggled to open the season, with its only win coming against NAIA College of Idaho last weekend.

The Vikings are certainly in rebuild mode again this year, so whether its Andersen or Rovig at QB, expect to see the MSU offense continue to thrive, while on the defensive side of the ball, the Bobcats should be able to control PSU's run-pass option attack with its stout defensive line, led by Bryce Sterk and Tucker Yates, among others.

Saturday's game between Montana State and PSU will kick off at 3 p.m. M.S.T. in Portland. The game can be viewed on SWX Montana. Saturday's game between Montana and Sacramento State kicks off at 1 p.m. in Washington-Grizzly Stadium and will be televised nationally on Root Sports.