Northern Colorado loss may have doomed Grizzlies

Heading into the 116th showdown with rival Montana State, Montana was still in contention for an at-large playoff bid. Many believed at 6-4, the Grizzlies had played a difficult enough schedule and earned enough wins that if they beat the Bobcats, they would be playing the weekend after Thanksgiving.

But, maybe, just maybe, the Grizzlies postseason fate was sealed in the moments following a 28-25 loss at Northern Colorado in the penultimate week of the season. During his postseason news conference Monday, Montana head coach Bob Stitt said he believed the sting from that loss lingered through the Grizzlies’ pre Cat-Griz preparation and well into the loss that finally determined when Montana’s season would come to an end.

Photos by Jason Bacaj, Blake Hempstead, FOR Skyline Sports. All Right Reserved.