Following are game notes provided by the University of Montana Sports Information Department for the Grizzlies football game Saturday at home against Montana State. Click below for a PDF of the game notes.
THE GAME: The University of Montana Grizzlies (5-5/3-4 BSC) conclude their season against the #2-ranked Montana State Bobcats (9-1/6-1 BSC), as the teams play each other for the 112th time in this storied, long-time rivalry in a Big Sky Conference contest. It will be “Senior Day” Saturday, Nov. 17, at 1:40 p.m. in UM’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium at John Hoyt Field (25,217).
GRIZ RADIO: Veteran Mick Holien, who has been chosen “Montana Sportscaster of the Year” an unprecedented 12 times in his career, is in his 20th season as the “Voice” of Grizzly football. Former Griz (1991-94) wide receiver Scott Gurnsey and Greg Sundberg provide color commentary. UM’s flagship station is KGVO Radio, 1290 AM/KVWE 101.5 FM. (The entire 2012 Grizzly Football Radio Network is listed on add 6-6-6 of the weekly release).
TV: The Griz-Cat game will be televised by ROOT SPORTS. For DIRECTV customers it is available on ROOT SPORTS Channel 687 (NW region) and Channel 683 (Rocky Mtn. Region). The game is also available on Audience Network Channel 239-1. For Dish Network customers it airs on Channel 426 in the Northwest Region and Channel 414 in the Rocky Mountain Region. ANNOUNCERS: Tom Glasgow (play-by-play), Sherdric Bonner (analyst), Jason Stiles (analyst), and Jenny Cavnar and Jenny Mueller (sideline reporters).
MONTANA’S 12 SENIORS:
Brett Brauer, OC/Snaps, Missoula
Jake Hendrickson, OG, Gilbert, Ariz
Bryce Carver, WR, Dillon
Gerald Kemp, WR, KOR, San Diego, Calif.
Sam Gratton, WR/ Holder, Billings
Dan Moore, RB/FB, Tucson, Ariz.
Jacob Haas, TE, Portland, Ore.
Peter Nguyen, HB/Returns, Seattle, Wash.
Greg Hardy, TE, Fairview
Josh Stuberg, LB, Helena
Josh Harris, DE, Kalispell
Caleb Walden, RB/P/ST, Boise, Idaho
MONTANA-MSU SERIES HISTORY: Montana leads the series 70-36-5 and has won 22 of the last 26. However, MSU won 21-16 in Missoula in 2010. The Bobcats have beat the Grizzlies twice in Washington-Grizzly Stadium (10-7 in 2002 and in 2010). SERIES RECORD: The Grizzlies lead in Missoula 29-15-1; and in Bozeman 23-18-3; and lead 18-3-1 at a neutral site (Butte, Mont.). Grizzly-Bobcat series game-by game scores on add 3-3-3 of the weekly release.
GRIZ LAST GAME (Nov. 3): Montana 24, at Weber State 21: Sophomore quarterback Shay Smithwick-Hann was 17-of-30-1 for 231 yards and a touchdown, and senior running back Peter Nguyen rushed for 103 yards and had three receptions for 88 yards to lead the Griz offense.
Brock Coyle had a team-high 12 tackles, while fellow junior linebacker Jordan Tripp had 8 stops, a sack, and a forced fumble, while sophomore end Zack Wagenmann had two sacks and two forced fumbles. The Griz “D” held the Wildcats to 238 total yards — just 92 in the second half.
NGUYEN MOVES UP ON CAREER LIST: Nguyen now has 1,873 career rushing yards, moving him up to seventh all-time. (See add 1-1-1).
“WAGS” EARNS co-POW AWARD: Wagenmann, a 6-3 1/2, 240-pounder from Missoula, was named the Big Sky’s co-Player of the Week on defense for his performance at WSU two weeks ago. It is his first POW award. Nguyen was UM’s nominee on offense.
GRIZ ARE ALWAYS IN THE GAME:
Montana has had the lead in four of the five games it has lost this season:
at Montana 24, Northern Arizona 14 (halftime).
Montana 26 at Eastern Washington 17 with 8:26 left in the game.
at Montana 17, Southern Utah 13 (halftime).
Montana 34, at North Dakota 31 with 6:05 left in the game.
OF NOTE: Montana trailed Appalachian State 28-27 with 8:54 left in the game.
