BOZEMAN — As he stood on the Bobcat Stadium sideline watching as the hated Grizzlies gashed Montana State to the tune of 537 yards and 54 points, Brayden Konkol felt disgusted.
The Belgrade native spent his high school days starring just up the road, all the while dreaming of playing for the Bobcats. He watched as MSU rode a special group to three straight Big Sky Conference championships and four playoff berths in five years during Konkol’s high school years.
But as he stood on the sideline during the 2015 Cat-Griz game in Bozeman, the redshirt felt helpless, embarrassed and motivated. The former two-way Class A all-state player knew the MSU defense he watched flail in the open field was not the norm for a football program known for hard-nosed football most of the last 50 years.
Jamaal Jones’ 54-yard touchdown put the Griz up 24-7 four minutes into the second quarter. Ellis Henderson scored a 49-yard touchdown five minutes later, putting Montana up three scores, a cushion they would maintain in a 54-35 win to clinch the most recent playoff berth for the Griz. The loss also clinched Montana State’s first losing season since Konkol was four years old.
Please Log In
Or, Subscribe Today!
Photos by Brooks Nuanez or note. All Rights Reserved.
