By DAVE GUFFEY for GoGriz.com
THE GAME: The #11/#12-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (8-4) will host the University of San Diego Toreros (9-2) in a first round NCAA FCS Playoff game, Saturday, Nov. 29, with kickoff in Washington-Grizzly Stadium at 2:05 p.m. (Mtn.).
GRIZ FINISH SECOND (TIE): UM’s 6-2 Big Sky Conference record tied them for second with Idaho State and Montana State. Eastern Washington won the conference title with a 7-1 record.
22ND PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: Montana will extend its playoff record berths to 22 in 2014. The Griz have played in 49 Division I-AA/FCS playoff games. Montana also holds the playoff record for most consecutive appearances with 17 (1993-2009). Montana is 26-7 at home in the playoffs. (See add 14 for year-by-year playoff scores).
The Grizzly Defense celebrates in the win against the Bobcats. Photo by ©Mark Mesenko for Make it Missoula.
PHOTO GALLERY From 114th Brawl of the Wild
WHAT IF: The winner of the Grizzly-Toreros game will play the 4th-seeded EWU Eagles Saturday, Dec. 6 in Cheney, in a 2:30 p.m. (Mtn.) kickoff.
GRIZ LAST GAME: At Montana 34, Montana State 7: The defense took advantage of seven turnovers and Jordan Canada and Jordan Johnson paced the offense, as the 13th-ranked Grizzlies defeated the 12th-ranked Bobcats. A Washington-Grizzly Stadium record crowd of 26,352 attended the 114th “Brawl of the Wild” contest. The Griz now lead the series 72-37-5, and have won 24 of the last 29 games.
ANOTHER WINNING SEASON: Montana’s win at Southern Utah on Nov. 15 gave the Griz their 28th winning season in the past 29 years.
JOHNSON & HERMANSON NAMED POWS: Johnson, who was 22-of-36-0 for 313 yards and 3 TDs, and rushed six times for 80 yards, was named the ROOT Sports co-player of the week on offense. Senior free safety Matt Hermanson who had 3 picks, 8 tackles, and a PD, was tabbed the league’s player of the week on defense.
SERIES: The Toreros lead 1-0, with a 24-13 win in San Diego in 1958.
COACH DELANEY TO RETIRE: Griz head football coach Mick Delaney announced that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2014 football season.
WAGENMANN SETS RECORDS: Zack Wagenmann, a 6-3 1/2, 255-pound senior defensive end and a Buck Buchanan Award candidate from Missoula, Mont., became UM’s all-time leader in sacks with 33.5, and he also set a school record in career forced fumbles with 10.
WAGENMANN RANKED IN THE FCS: Wagenmann leads the Big Sky and is ranked fifth in the FCS in sacks (1.13 pg); 18th in TFLs (1.5 pg), fifth in forced fumbles per game (0.42 pg), and 37th (tie) in fumble recoveries (3).
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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. (The 2014 Grizzly Football Radio Network is located on add 6 of the weekly release).
TELEVISION/STREAMING: The game will be televised on ESPN3 and ESPN Gameplan. Jim Barbar calls the play-by-play and Jay Walker serves as the analyst. The game will not be streamed.