Montana on collision course with sizzling Bobcats

Montana State was forced to start playing like it was the playoffs after a 34-17 loss to Eastern Washington in mid-October. After that game, another loss, in essence, would’ve ended its season.

The goal? Win five straight to close the year, or lose the chance to play in the FCS playoffs. 

The Cats have won four straight.

If the Brawl of the Wild was ever dubbed the Super Bowl of Montana, then it becomes a legitimate label for Saturday’s classic clash in Missoula, where fifth-ranked Montana (10-1, 6-1) meets Montana State (7-4, 5-2) in the 108th rendition.

“Our playoffs really started after the Eastern Washington game. That was the turning point,” said Montana State head coach Rob Ash, whose team is 7-4 and needs a win against the Griz to position itself for an at-large playoff bid.

The Cats enter Saturday after prevailing last week in a shootout with Portland State with third-string quarterback Mark Desin under center after starter Cody Kempt and backup Mark Iddins went down with season-ending injuries. 

The Griz are coming off a bittersweet 29-10 win over Idaho State last Saturday. The Griz offense never found a rhythm against the winless Bengals. Cole Bergquist threw for just 71 yards and the defensive secondary was banged up. Cornerback Trumaine Johnson missed most of the game with an apparent ankle injury.

“For us to get a 29-10 conference win and still feel like we left something on the table probably speaks a lot to where we are at right now in our season and in our development,” said Montana head coach Bobby Hauck.

The win marked Hauck’s fourth 10-win season, (2004, 2006, 2007) and cemented a 16th straight playoff berth, coming as an at large bid.

“Right now we’re focusing in on trying to beat our rival. It’s been a lopsided series and we want to keep it that way.”

The Griz lead the series 67-35-5, and face one final test before learning their playoff fate Sunday afternoon.

Forget the playoffs. Hauck and his players hinted that this game can’t be put into words – and even if a postseason appearance is guaranteed regardless of Saturday, no motivation is needed against their arch nemesis.

“These Montana guys take it especially to heart,” senior safety Colt Anderson said of the 33 natives who will dress Saturday.

“The rivalry is huge to me, especially being a Montana kid and being a Grizzly fan as a kid growing up,” senior receiver Mike Ferriter said.  “I have one last opportunity to put my stamp on it.”

Desin, the former Billing Senior star who set the state record with more than 9,500 passing yards in his prep career engineered a 49-point outburst against the Vikings and was largely aided by Demetrius Crawford’s 187 rushing yards.

“Mark Desin has been fantastic,” Ash said. “He’s really embraced his opportunity. I thought he managed the game extremely well.”

Desin has quality weapons on the perimeter, relying on Crawford and receiver Tyler Lulay, the primary target with the team’s leading receiver DeSean Thomas out for the year.

Crawford is second in the Big Sky in rushing with 1,111 yards and should alleviate some pressure off Desin this weekend in a hostile Washington-Grizzly Stadium, where the largest crowd in Montana football history is expected.

Hostile Washington-Grizzly Stadium won’t be the only challenge the Cat offense faces this week. Montana’s defense has been lights out since its Oct. 4 meltdown at Weber State and has lived up to that billing with notable performances: holding Matt Nichols and Eastern Washington to three points, neutralizing Northern Arizona’s conference second-best rushing attack and holding Portland State’s nation-best pass offense to 195 yards. The defense hopes to continue in light of the buzz being made about Desin.

“Desin is a playmaker,” Anderson said. “Our defense is just going to fly around like we do every week.”

When Montana has the ball, Hauck expects the most heat they have seen this year – even if junior hybrid end Dane Fletcher is out with an injury. Fletcher has 6.5 sacks this season and is second in the conference in tackles for loss. “Probably the highest pressure team we’ve played this year. A lot of blitz,” said Hauck.

Bergquist said senior Bobby Daly will also be important to locate. Bergquist’s preparation for the Bobcat defense this week extends further than his dismal day against ISU.

“Basically, I just want to avoid what happened my freshman year,” said Bergquist of losing to the 2005 Grizzly loss in Bozeman.

Ash said, “Each practice has been inspired,” this week in Bozeman. Everything the Cats have worked for this season comes down to Saturday. In Missoula, the tunnel vision of the game has been honed down to a strict policy ­— no outside distractions. Practices are closed. Cell phones are turned off. The mood has hardened.

“We call it the final 48. Thursday night, we lock down,” Anderson said. “It’s game time.”

roman.stubbs@umontana.edu