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While both the Griz and Cats are off to strong starts this season, they will need better quarterback play if they want to achieve their goals this fall.
Week two for the Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats was certainly interesting. So what did we learn about both teams? Simple.
The quarterback is so huge for both, just as it is with any college football team.
In the case of the Bobcats, their loss to No. 1 South Dakota State Saturday night was at least in part because of the loss of Tommy Mellott to an injury. Mellott is a front-runner for FCS National Player of the Year, and the Cats no doubt go as he does. And it was pretty obvious that, had Mellott been healthy, MSU's offense would not have stalled in the second half, and, the Cats would have had a great chance to leave Brookings with a win, and perhaps the No. 1 ranking heading into week 3.
Instead, Mellott is banged up, and as great a second option as Sean Chamber is, the Cats need Mellott to make their high-octane offense go.
So, from what we saw of that massive showdown last Saturday night, MSU at full strength is as good as any team in the FCS.
On the flip side, the Montana offense is sputtering. I know, the final score at Utah Tech didn't indicate that, and the Griz are 2-0.
Having said that, if Montana's passing game doesn't get going, that undefeated record may not last long. The Griz brought in two transfers this season at QB, Boise State transfer and former Oregon State signee Sam Vidlak won the starting job in fall camp, while former Central Arkansas QB Clifton McDowell was brought in to compete for the job, but is now starting. However, neither QB has gotten off to a good start in the passing game, and the Griz are averaging just 172 passing yards per game, and that was against two really bad teams.
So, with all of Montana's weapons on offense, and with a tough schedule upcoming, the Griz' quarterbacks have to do better, a lot better, or it's going to be an uncomfortable fall in Missoula.
No. 12 Montana (2-0) will look to do better when the Griz host Ferris State, the two-time defending DII national champions Saturday night at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. No. 3 MSU (1-1) hosts Stetson Saturday at 1 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium. Both games will be televised locally on SWX, as well as streamed on ESPN+.
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