THE GAME: The 10th/11th-ranked ( FCS Coaches’/Sports Network polls) University of Montana Grizzlies (4-1/1-1 Big Sky Conference) continue league play, playing the UC Davis Aggies (2-4/2-0) Saturday, Oct. 12 in UCD’s Aggie Stadium (10,849). Kickoff is at 5:07 p.m. (Mtn.).
GAME STATS: Griz vs UC Davis Game Stats.
GRIZ LAST GAME (at Montana 55, Portland State 27 ): The 10th-ranked Grizzlies scored on five of their first six possessions, and the defense had a pair of impressive goal-line stands in the victory in UM’s homecoming game. Montana also exhibited a power running game, rushing 47 times for 368 yards (and 17 first downs) – an average of 8.0 yards per attempt.
2013 Grizzly Football. Photo by Austin Smith.
CENTURY CLUB: Halfbacks Travon Van and Jordan Canada each rushed for 100-plus yards. Van had a career-high 136, while Canada had 102. It was Canada’s third 100-yard game this season and fifth in his career, while Van has two so far this season.
CANADA MOVES UP: Canada has now rushed for 1,511 career yards and 17 touchdowns to move up on UM’s career lists. (See add 2-2-2).
TRIPP MOVES UP LIST: LB Jordan Tripp had a fumble recovery for a TD in the PSU win, gives him eight career recoveries — tying him for the second most in UM history. (See add 2)
GRIZ POW NOMINEES: Offense: Senior tight end Clay Pierson had 3 catches for 71 yards, and 3 touchdowns (36, 25, 10). Defense: Cornerback Anthony Goodwin: 3 tackles, 2 ints., 7 PDs, and both picks led to Griz TDs. Special Teams: Sophomore linebacker Kendrick Van Ackeren: 4 tackles on the kickoff return coverage team.
GOODWIN HONORED: Goodwin, a senior from Murrieta, Calif., was named the Big Sky’s “Player of the Week” on defense, and he was also named the national co-Defensive POW (along with defensive back Cole Champion of Yale), by the Sports Network. It is Goodwin’s first player of the week award.
UC DAVIS SCORES TO DATE: at South Dakota 10 UC Davis 7; at Nevada 36, UC Davis 6; N. Arizona 21, at UC Davis 10; Portland State 41, at UC Davis 10; at UC Davis 30, Idaho State 13; UC Davis 21, at Southern Utah 3.
SERIES/LAST MEETING: Montana leads the series 4-0. Those scores: 1926: at UM 21, UCD 0; 1995: at UM 41, UCD 20; 2008: at UM 29, UCD 24; and 2009: UM 17 at UCD 10.
LAST TIME: (Sept. 12, 2009): The Grizzlies had to overcome a 10-0 deficit third quarter deficit for the win. Montana scored back-to-back touchdowns on a pass from Justin Roper to Sam Gratton, and then what proved to be the game-winner, a 3-yard scoring run by Chase Reynolds which gave the Griz a 14-10 lead with 10:49 to go in the game.
The contest was delayed 16 minutes when the lights failed with 57 seconds to go and UC Davis facing a 4th-and-7 on UM’s 12-yard line. Griz cornerback Trumaine Johnson out-jumped Aggie wide receiver Chris Carter in the end zone for a game-securing pick to thwart the last-second comeback bid. Aggie QB Greg Denham tied a school-record with 43 pass completions (in 67 attempts), while Carter set a UCD standard with 18 catches. Montana went 14-1 in 2009, losing 23-21 to Villanova in the FCS title game. UC Davis finished 6-5 in 2009.
GRIZ RADIO: Veteran Mick Holien is now in his 21st season as the “Voice of the Grizzlies.” Former Griz (1991-94) wide receiver Scott Gurnsey provides in-booth color, while Greg Sundberg serves as the sideline reporter. UM’s flagship station is KGVO Radio, 1290 AM/KVWE 101.5 FM. (Grizzly Football Radio Network listed on add 1-1-1 of the weekly release).
AUDIO STREAMING: www.gogriz.com/all-access.
LIVE STATS: www.ucdavisaggies.com.
TV: The Montana-UC Davis game will be televised by Max Media of Montana. Chris Byers of KULR-TV in Billings calls the play-by-play, while former (1988-90) Grizzly quarterback Grady Bennett will provide in-booth color, and Anna Cole is the sideline reporter. It will be aired on KULR-TV in Billings; KFBB-TV in Great Falls; KHBB-TV in Helena; KTMF-TV in Missoula; KWYB-TV in Butte and Bozeman; and KXGN-TV in Glendive.
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