By DAVE GUFFEY for GoGriz.com
THE GAME: The 6th/7th-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (4-2/2-0 BSC) start the second half of their season at home, hosting the UC Davis Aggies (1-5/0-3 BSC) in a Big Sky Conference game in Missoula, on Saturday, Oct. 18. Kickoff in Washington-Grizzly Stadium (25,217) is at 12:07 p.m.
LAST GAME (Montana 18, at North Dakota 15): Junior kicker Daniel Sullivan kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired, as the 7th-ranked Grizzlies defeated upset-minded and host UND in the Alerus Center on Oct. 4.
POW NOMINEES vs. UND: Offense: Junior receiver Jamaal Jones, who had 7 catches for 114 yards, and a 46-yard grab that led to the winning field goal and Special Teams: freshman center Robert Luke, who blocked a field goal.
WAGENMANN HONORED AGAIN: For the second time in UM’s past three games, senior defensive end Zack Wagenmann was named the Big Sky’s ROOT Sports Player of the Week on defense for his play at UND. “Wags” had a team-high 8 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 sacks a forced fumble and fumble recovery, a safety, 2 QB hurries, and a PD.
Defensive End, Tyrone Holmes (Photo by Todd Goodrich UM)
JOHNSON STATS UPDATE: Johnson is third in career TD passes at Montana with 59; fifth in TDs responsible for with 64; and seventh in career passing yards with 6,512.
CANADA STATS UPDATE: Senior halfback Jordan Canada is ranked fourth in career rushing yards (2,547) and career scoring runs (30) at UM.
WAGENMANN UPDATE: Wagenmann is now tied for fourth in career sacks in school history with 27, and he’s ranked sixth in career tackles for loss with 38.
HERMANSON STATS UPDATE: Senior free safety Matt Hermanson remains 15th in career tackles with 281.
PAYTON WATCH LIST UPDATE: Johnson, a 6-1, 195-pound senior from Eugene, Ore., and Walter Payton Award candidate, is 66-of-121-2 for 681 yards and 6 touchdown throws so far this season.
BUCHANAN WATCH LIST UPDATE: Wagenmann, a 6-3 1/2, 255-pound senior defensive end and Buck Buchanan Award candidate from Missoula, Mont., has 31 tackles, 7.0 sacks, and 8.5 TFLs this season. He is currently ranked fourth in the FCS in sacks (1.40 pg) and 29th in tackles for loss (1.7 pg).
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MEDIA COVERAGE GAME SPONSORSHIP
SERIES/LAST MEETING: UM leads 5-0. The Griz defeated the Aggies 42-7 last season in Davis, in UC Davis’ initial season in the Big Sky. (2013 stats & game story on add 14).
GRIZ RADIO: Mick Holien has been the voice of Grizzly football the past 22-plus seasons and in his 30th year overall. Scott Gurnsey is in his 17th year as analyst, and Greg Sundberg is on the sidelines for his fourth season. (Radio Network on add 6).
TELEVISION/STREAMING: The UM-UC Davis game will be televised on most Cowles Montana Media stations. Ron Davis calls the play-by-play, Grady Bennett is the analyst, and Shaun Rainey covers the sidelines. It is available on Charter channels 10/510; DirecTV channel 24, and Dish Network channel 17. The game will be streamed on gogriz.com/allaccess.
MONTANA-UC DAVIS GAME SPONSOR: The Griz-Aggies game sponsor is Team Up Montana and the St. Patrick Hospital Foundation.
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