By DAVE GUFFEY for GoGriz.com
THE GAME: The 11th/12th-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (5-3/3-1 BSC) host the Sacramento State Hornets (1-3/4-4) in a Big Sky Conference game, Saturday, Nov. 1, with kickoff at 12:10 p.m. (Mtn.) in Washington-Grizzly Stadium (25,217).
SERIES/LAST MEETING: The Griz lead 17-1 and are 9-0 in Missoula. The Hornets defeated Montana 42-28 in Sacramento in 2011.
GRIZ LAST GAME: (At Cal Poly 41, Montana 21): Quarterback Chris Brown rushed for 226 yards and two TDs and Cal Poly picked up 421 yards via its ground game to lead the host Mustangs to the Big Sky victory over the 7th-ranked Grizzlies.
GRIZ POW NOMINEES vs. CAL POLY: Offense: Wide receiver Jamaal Jones, who had 8 receptions for 134 yards and 2 TDs. Defense: Senior free safety Matt Hermanson, who had 14 tackles (10 unassisted). Special Teams: junior P/K Chris Lider, who averaged 40.3 yards on six punts.
LAST YEAR: (MONTANA 51, AT SAC STATE 48, OT): Quarterback Jordan Johnson hit wide receiver Ellis Henderson for a 25-yard touchdown pass in overtime, and running back Jordan Canada tied a school record with four touchdown runs to lead the Griz. The win gave Montana its 27th winning season in the past 28 years.
JOHNSON STATS UPDATE: Johnson remains third in career touchdown passes at Montana with 64, and he moved up to fifth in career passing yards with 7,149.
CANADA STATS UPDATE: Canada is ranked fourth in career rushing yards (2,777) and is also fourth in career scoring runs (33).
WAGENMANN UPDATE: Wagenmann is third in career sacks in school history with 29.5, and he remains fifth in career tackles for loss with 42.5.
HERMANSON STATS UPDATE: Hermanson is now 7th in career tackles with 306.
PAYTON WATCH LIST UPDATE: Johnson, a 6-1, 195-pound senior from Eugene, Ore., and a preseason Walter Payton Award candidate, is 109-of-193-2 for 1,318 passing yards and 11 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 46 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 12.5 TFLs this season. He currently leads the Big Sky and is ranked fifth in the FCS in sacks (1.19 pg) and 15th in the FCS in tackles for loss (1.6 pg).
GRIZ LEAD THE NATION IN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: Montana leads the FCS in average attendance (25,509). UM set a WGS record with 26,303 fans at the South Dakota game earlier this season. James Madison is second with an average of 22,761.
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MEDIA COVERAGE:
GRIZ RADIO: Mick Holien has been the voice of Grizzly football the past 22-plus seasons and is 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 game is on ROOT Sports, with Tom Glasgow calling the play-by-play, Jason Stiles is the analyst, and Jen Mueller is the sideline reporter. It can been seen on DirecTV channel 687; Dish channel 426; and Bresnan channels 560/60. The game will not be streamed.
GAME SPONSOR: The Griz-Hornet match-up is sponsored by OPPORTUNITY BANK OF MONTANA.