Damn I wish mule train was still around!

I am surprised to say that he has been remarkedly well restrained today.

That aside, I was somewhat surprised to see how much the Cats controlled the line of scrimmage. Griz definitely need bigger linemen.

Of course, it is tough to recruit a big corn fed eastern Montana farm boy to be a lineman, when all you can offer is a creative writing degree.

Perhaps fatherhood explains muley's calm demeanor.

I thought the Bobcats played the Grizzlies? This was more like the Robertcats played Los Tres osa.

Going into the game yesterday, the Cats were about a touchdown underdog at home. Based on what I had seen from the Bobcats in Greeley a couple of weeks ago and the griz dismantling Weber at home, I thought this was about right. I figured this game would be a close one, both teams with about an equal chance to win. Some of the predictions by griz fans were absolutely ridiculous, with the griz winning by 21, 28, 40 or more points. No way this Cats team would get blown out at home like that. But the #8 ranked Cats completely destroyed the #3 ranked griz in the most lopsided win in the Brawl in a long time. I was not completely surprised by this outcome. The Cats team yesterday played more closely to their potential than any game this year, even with their best player on the bench. The young QB, Rovig was not spectacular but completed enough passes to keep the griz defense honest and didn't throw any interceptions. The line of scrimmage was controlled by the Cats limiting the griz to only 241 total yards while the Cats were able to rush for 388, with 488 total yards. The time of possession was equally lopsided. This was a great win for MSU football and coach Choate.

Both teams will be in the FCS playoffs. I can now return to cheering on both Montana teams and hope they both represent our state well.

Both teams will be in the FCS playoffs. I can now return to cheering on both Montana teams and hope they both represent our state well.

Not only are both teams in the playoffs, both are seeded, both get first-round byes, and both get to host a second-round game! HOW COOL IS THAT!

Best of luck to BOTH Cats and Griz. The 2 are on opposite sides of the playoff bracket so they would not meet in the playoffs unless they did so in the national championship...don't think that will come to fruition, but a guy can dream!

I was confused by this "Brawl of the Wild" thing. Turns out, it was made up around 2010 for an advertising campaign. I still call it the Cat/Griz Game and I care about just as much now as I did when I was back in college, which is to say, not at all.

Bobcats will be playing Albany (NY) at 1:00 next Saturday at Bozeman Dec 7.

Grizzlies play SE Louisiana

[Edited by Don Birkholz (11/30/2019 5:27:38 PM)]

Maybe someone can use this information so.... both the Cat and Griz games are at one p.m. tomorrow, Sat., on ESPN 3. If you don't know the following and are interested in watching the game, check this out. Google WatchTVEverywhere and there is a long list of providers where you can choose yours if it is there and sign up or log in if already signed up AND...there is ESPN 3 among all of the choices. MidRivers is our provider so we have it. I think I have it figured out how we can have both games going
The Everywhere means everywhere so, worth checking where ever you live. GO MONTANA!

Halftime scores: the Griz lead SE Louisiana 38-21. Cats lead Albany 26-7. Interesting side note: Weber State was losing at half to Kennesaw State 17-12...if that were to hold-up and the Griz win today, the Griz would get to host another game next weekend...we'll have to wait and see, though, Weber has re-taken the lead in the 3rd.

Finals: James Madison 66, Monmouth 21....
ND State 37, Nicholls State 13
Ill State 24, Cent Ark 14
Montana 73, SE Louisiana 28
MSU 47, Albany 21
Weber 26, Kennesaw 20
UNI 13, SD State 10
Later tonight Sac State and Austin Peay



Weber plays U of Montana next, Montana State plays the winner of the Sac State/Peay. James Madison plays UNI and NDSU plays Illinois State. Not sure of the home teams, although I assume the higher ranked teams will have the home field advantage. (ND State, James Madison, and Weber....Sac State is ranked higher than MSU)

Austin Peay defeats Sac State 42-28. Looks to me as if Austin Peay will travel to Bozeman this weekend.

[Edited by Don Birkholz (12/7/2019 5:36:16 PM)]

[Edited by Don Birkholz (12/7/2019 5:38:14 PM)]

[Edited by Don Birkholz (12/7/2019 5:42:10 PM)]

[Edited by Don Birkholz (12/7/2019 10:19:56 PM)]

Not bad - two of the eight remaining teams are from Montana. The Cats have Austin Peay at home and the Griz pretty much kicked Weber's butts earlier this season.

Its also impressive that the Big Sky has three of the final eight teams left.

Its going to be a great weekend of football! maybe even Amorette will feel a twinge.

Don't know if I am dreaming or not, but the FCS schedule says Montana State plays Austin Peay tonight at 6:00 (in a few hours). The Griz play at Weber tonight at 8:00, and N Iowa plays tonight at James Madison at 5:00. N Dakota plays tomorrow against Illinois State.

MSU 24; Austin Peay 10
James Madison 17; N Iowa 0 Finals
Weber 17: U of Montana 10 (Dalton Sneed had 5 interceptions)Final

[Edited by Don Birkholz (12/13/2019 9:18:31 PM)]

[Edited by Don Birkholz (12/13/2019 11:13:38 PM)]

So much for a Montana rematch, But I still got 1 Montana team to root for.

Dalton Sneed was awful. Three of those picks were thrown into triple coverage.

Gunnar Emilsson wrote:

Dalton Sneed was awful. Three of those picks were thrown into triple coverage.

He did have a bad night, indeed...it wasn't the type of outing that did justice to the season the Griz had.

Meanwhile, I'm a bit surprised that the top-ranked Bison are letting Illinois State hang around! Redbirds are not a very balanced team - they have a great RB and not much else and they're giving ND St. all they can handle. Bison will likely hang on for the win but...maybe the Cat's chances of pulling an upset at Fargo are pretty good.

[Edited by Shu Pius (12/14/2019 12:43:39 PM)]

I have a feeling the Cats may have Troy Anderson back this week, not that they've needed him. I also have a feeling the Cats won't get drubbed like last year.

Bobcats play Saturday Dec 21 at N Dakota State at 12:00pm on ESPN2 MST

Weber plays at James Madison same day at 4:30 MST on ESPNU

Bison 7, Bobcats 7 Just into the second quarter.

At the half: Bison 29, Bobcats 7

After three quarters: Bison 36, Bobcats 14

Final: Bison 42, Bobcats 14

[Edited by Don Birkholz (12/21/2019 2:43:24 PM)]

Final score 42-14 NDSU...and here I was thinking the Cats had a puncher's chance of pulling the upset based on the Bison's milquetoast effort last week vs. Illinois State. Turns out that was an aberration. Oh, well.

At any rate, CONGRATULATIONS to both the Cats and the Griz on great seasons! They both finished with double-digit wins and quarter- and semi-final playoff appearances. Nothing to laugh at and certainly something to build on!

You made our state proud, boys! THANK YOU!

The Cats got 14 points closer this time. In three or four years we ought to be caught up.