By DAVE GUFFEY for GoGriz.com
THE GAME: The 5th-ranked (Sports Network poll) Montana Grizzlies (9-2/5-2 Big Sky Conference) conclude their regular-season with a HUGE road game, facing the 13th-ranked Montana State Bobcats (7-4/5-2 BSC), Saturday, Nov. 23 in the 113th meeting in this storied rivalry. Kickoff in Bobcat Stadium (17,777) is at 12:10 p.m. (Mtn).
LAST GAME: (at Montana 42, Weber State 6): Halfback Jordan Canada rushed for a career-high 189 yards and the defense was stellar in all phases, to lead the Griz. Canada rushed 24 times for his 189 yards, which is the 12th most rushing yards in single-game history at UM.
GROUND ATTACK: The Grizzlies rushed 60 times for 338 yards and 5 TDs in the WSU win.
CANADA IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Canada’s 80-yard touchdown run against the Wildcats ties him with five other players for the longest run in school history.
STAT LEADERS VS. WSU: UM junior end Zack Wagenman led the Griz with 9 tackles, and he also had 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. J.P. Kanongata’a had 8 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, a forced fumble, and an interception, while fellow senior linebacker Jordan Tripp had a fumble recovery and an interception. UM senior defensive tackle Alex Bienemann had his first career pick.
TRIPP BREAKS RECORD: Tripp now has a school record 10 career fumble recoveries. Going into the WSU game he had been tied with former linebacker Mike Rankin (9, 1986-89).
BIG SKY POW NOMINEESS: Canada was UM’s selection on offense, while Wagenmann was the defensive nominee. Stephen Shaw, who had four punts for a 41.8-yard average with all four were inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, was the special teams nominee.
WINNING WAYS: Montana’s win at Sacramento State on Nov. 2 gave the Grizzlies their 27th winning season in the past 28 years (starting in 1986).
MSU SCORES TO DATE: at MSU 42, Monmouth 24; at SMU 31, MSU 30; at MSU 26, Colorado Mesa 0; at Stephen F. Austin 52, MSU 38; MSU 63, at North Dakota 20; at MSU 36, #15-Northern Arizona 7; MSU 34, at Weber State 16; at MSU 34, UC Davis 17; MSU 35, at N. Colorado 28; at #3-E. Washington 54, MSU 29; S. Utah 22, at MSU 14.
LAST MEETING: (Nov. 17, 2012-MSU 16, at Montana 9): Montana took a 7-3 lead on a 7-yard scoring run by senior halfback Peter Nguyen at 2:04 to go in the first quarter. But UM’s lead was short-lived as quarterback DeNarius McGhee connected with wide receiver Kruiz Siewing on a 16-yard touchdown pass to give MSU a 10-7 lead with 7:54 left to play, and the Cats held the Griz scoreless in the final three quarters to register the win. Montana had 26 winning seasons in a row (1986-2011) before the loss to MSU in 2012.
SERIES: The Grizzlies lead 69-37-5. (Year-by-year scores on add 25 of the weekly release).
GRIZ RADIO: Veteran Mick Holien is in his 21st season calling the play-by-play and the “Voice of the Grizzlies.” Scott Gurnsey provides in-booth color, while Greg Sundberg serves as the sideline reporter. UM’s flagship station is KGVO 1290 AM & 101.5 FM. (Griz FB Radio Network listed on add 6-6-6 of the weekly release).
AUDIO STREAMING: gogriz.com/all-access.
LIVE STATS: www.msubobcats.com.
TWITTER: @umgrizzlies_fb & umgrizzlies_sid.
TV: The Griz-Cat game will be televised by ROOT SPORTS. Tom Glasgow calls the play-by-play, Jason Stiles is the in-booth analyst, and Jen Mueller serves as the sideline reporter. The game will air on ROOT SPORTS Northwest and Rocky Mountain. It will also be on Dish Network Channel 102 and DIRECTV Channel 101. DIRECTV customers can stream the game to smartphones or tablets through the Watch Anywhere App.
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