Montana State has nothing left to play for but pride while Montana’s 22nd playoff berth in 25 seasons hangs in the balance with the 117th showdown between in-state rivals looming in Bozeman on Saturday.
The Bobcats have shown admirably in a schedule that has included matchups against seven nationally ranked opponents but have rarely broken through. MSU brings a 4-6 record overall into the rivalry game, a mark that includes a 4-3 mark in Big Sky Conference competition.
The Griz have won five of six entering the contest, including blasting Northern Colorado 44-14 in their home finale last week to move to 7-3. The Griz are 5-2 in league play. UM will certainly need a victory and possibly some help on the national level to secure a playoff berth after missing the postseason last fall following a 24-17 loss in Missoula to MSU.
As is the case every year, this year’s contest features a collection of players from around the Treasure State. Montana State’s roster features 46 in-state players while Montana’s features 29 natives. Montana State has seen 14 in-state products start at one time or another while UM’s starting lineup has featured seven players, counting its punter and kicker, who have started this season.
Billings is Montana’s most represented city with 11 players suiting up, including six for the Bobcats. Kalispell is next with nine, six roam for the Bobcats and three for the Griz, all of whom prepped at Glacier High. Missoula has eight players in the game, including five for the hometown Grizzlies. Bozeman has six players in the game, all who play for the hometown Bobcats. Helena has five players in the game, three who play for the Grizzlies and four who hail from Helena Capital. If you include Montana State’s Ben Folsom from Jackson and Caleb Gillis from Glenn, both of who went to Beaverhead County High, Dillon has five players as well and all five play for the Bobcats. Great Falls and Whitefish both have three players in the contest. All three Electric City products are from C.M. Russell High.
Other towns with multiple representatives include: Bigfork (2), Boulder (2), Polson (2), Belgrade (2) and Colstrip (2). Culbertson, Sidney, Stevensville, Thompson Falls, Townsend, Butte, Conrad, Drummond, Ennis, Glendive, Huntley Project and Troy are all represented as well.
Here’s a look at all 29 Montana natives on the UM rosters headed into the 117th rendition of the fierce rivalry in Bozeman on Saturday afternoon.
THE MONTANA GRIZZLIES
The Stars
Montana defensive end Tucker Schye/by Brooks Nuanez
Tucker Schye, defensive end, senior, Malta — Montana’s No. 37 has represented the lineage number like many former great standout defensive ends with Treasure State roots. The Malta product has blossomed in his first year wearing the number and his first year as a starter.
Schye leads the Big Sky with 13.5 tackles for loss and his 6.5 sacks ranks fourth in the league. The former middle linebacker has 46 total tackles, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a blocked kick to affirm himself as a candidate for the Big Sky Defensive MVP.
“You go out and take it,” Schye said when asked what it takes to win the rivalry game. “That’s really what it’s all about. It’s something you look forward to all year. It really comes down to who wants it more.”
Jesse Sims, defensive tackle, sophomore, Stevensville — Sims has turned the corner in the second half of his second season starting on the interior of Montana’s defensive line. After posting just 14 tackles, including just three solo stops and one tackle for loss, in UM’s first five games, Sims has come on strong.
Sims, who earned Class A state tournament MVP honors in basketball as a sophomore at Stevensville before spending his last two years at Corvallis High, has 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks over the last month of the season. His 2.5 sacks against Idaho State helped spur on a 39-31 victory in Pocatello. His blocked PAT against Northern Arizona proved crucial as it forced NAU to go for two with less than a minute to go. The conversion failed and Montana survived with a 17-15 win.
Montana defensive tackle Jesse Sims/by Brooks Nuanez
“This is a really exciting week,” Sims said before Tuesday’s practice. “Practices ante up a little bit. There’s always big stakes in the game so it’s really exciting.
“In Montana, everybody is a Cat or a Griz fan. As a kid in school, you don’t like somebody because they are a Cat or a Griz fan or vice versa. I always remember that growing up.”
Sims is not only the only Stevensville product in the game but he is also the only player who grew up in the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula.
“I know there’s going to be a lot of people, a lot of my friends who are going to be watching so I just want to go play hard,” the 6-foot-4, 272-pounder said.
Josh Sandry, safety, sophomore, Bigfork — The 6-foot-1, 203-pounder from Bigfork made a splash in the second start of his sophomore season, taking an interception 36 yards for Montana’s lone touchdown in a 63-7 loss at Washington earlier this season.
This year, Sandry has 48 tackles, including a half a tackle for loss. He also is tied with fellow safety Justin Strong for the team lead with three interceptions despite battling an ankle injury for most of the season.
“It’s definitely a big game being from Montana,” he said before Tuesday’s practice said. “It definitely holds a special place in my heart just the kind of hatred I have toward them. I know a lot of their players. It’s going to be a fun game going out there and competing.”
A total of 16 players hailing from the Flathead Valley are playing in the rivalry game on Saturday, including one from each side who grew up in Bigfork. Montana State redshirt freshman cornerback Adam Jordt is the former Viking on the Bobcats.
“He’s actually one of my good buddies so I’m sure when I go back to Bigfork and see him, there will be a little trash talking involved,” Sandry said. “It will be fun to get out there and compete against guys I know and guys from around the Flathead Valley.”
Josh Horner, wide receiver, senior, Great Falls — The former Class AA first-team all-state quarterback from C.M. Russell took a year off following his team’s heartbreaking last-second loss in the state semifinals to eventual state champion Butte.
UM wide reciever Joshn Horner takes on a group of SDSU defenders in the 2015 playoffs/by Brooks Nuanez
When Horner returned to football in 2014, he transitioned to tight end in former head coach Mick Delaney’s pro-style offense and caught one pass. With the arrival of current head coach Bob Stitt the following season, Horner transitioned to H wide receiver, the de facto tight end or H-back in Stitt’s spread system.
In 2014, Horner started four games, catching 22 passes for 294 yards and a touchdown. His six-catch, 80-yard performance in UM’s 24-17 win over South Dakota State in the first round of the playoffs helped lead Montana to its lone playoff victory under Stitt. Last season, Horner suffered a knee injury that cost him the last month of the season including the Cat-Griz game, yet he still finished with 22 catches for 242 yards and four touchdowns.
This season, he has 20 catches for 203 yards and a touchdown against ISU.
“This game means a ton,” Horner said during Monday’s press conference. “We have been watching this game for a long time now so we know how important it is to the state of Montana, to all the people who live here. It’s an honor to be able to be able to go out and say you were a part of this game.”
THE STARTERS
Evan Epperly, safety, junior, Kalispell — The former Western AA Offensive MVP has found a home on defense for the Grizzlies. He assumed a spot in the starting lineup when Strong was suspended for a run in with the law during Montana’s bye week. Epperly started against Weber State, Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado, collecting 17 of his 34 total tackles during that span. He snared his first career interception in UM’s 44-14 win over Northern Colorado.
Montana kicker Brandon Purdy/by Brooks Nuanez
Brandon Purdy, kicker, sophomore, Kalispell — A Glacier product like Epperly and every other Kalispell kid playing in Saturday’s rivalry game, the lefty has found his stride as of late, hitting his last four field goals, including a career-long 47-yarder in the second quarter of the UNC win, one of three field goals that day. He also hit three field goals in UM’s win over Portland State. Purdy is 12-of-14 kicking field goals and 42-of-45 on PATs.
Eric Williams, punter, junior, Missoula — The Loyola product is the other half of Montana’s Class B specialist duo. After earning all-conference honors at Division III Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, Williams transferred back to Montana in 2015.
Last season, his first as UM’s starting punter, Williams averaged 40.8 yards per punt with a long of 59. This season, he has been stellar, averaging 40.4 yards per punt with a long of 58. He has four touchbacks, has forced 20 fair catches and has pinned opponents inside the 20 on 18 occasions.
THE CONTRIBUTORS
Colin Bingham, wide receiver, sophomore, Missoula — The former Class AA first-team all-state tight end at Big Sky was slowed by an ankle sprain early in the season. That injury combined with the rapid ascension of senior Makena Simis has cut into Bingham’s production this fall.
After catching 24 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman last season, the son of former NFL player Guy Bingham does not have catch this season although he’s played more recently in blocking situations. With Horner and Simis graduating, Bingham will be the incumbent to start at H next season.
Montana linebacker Shayne Cochran/by Jason Bacaj
Shayne Cochran, middle linebacker, junior, Culbertson — The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder is the lone representative from Class C Culbertson, where he lettered 10 times scored 28 touchdowns as running back and linebacker on a successful prep football team. In his fourth season at Montana, Cochran has earned more snaps, piling up 18 tackles and two tackles for loss. His sack and forced fumble against Idaho State helped seal the game.
Jace Lewis, linebacker, redshirt freshman, Townsend — The former Class B all-state quarterback led Broadwater County High to the state title as a senior in 2015. In his first year of action, he has contributed on special teams and in spot duty behind senior Connor Strahm and Cochran. Lewis has 15 tackles this season, including a career-high six stops against Savannah State.
Jed Nagler, wide receiver, redshirt freshman, Whitefish — Nagler won individual titles in the 100 meter and the high jump, ran a leg on the state championship 4×100 relay team and led Whitefish to the state track team title as a senior on the heels of leading the Bulldogs to their first state football title in decades.
As a Griz, Nagler has two catches for 32 yards, including a 24-yard reception on his first career grab against Savannah State earlier this season.
Gage Smith, linebacker, junior, Whitefish — The former Class A state track champion saw time on special teams earlier this season. He has two tackles but has not played since the Portland State game.
Andrew Harris, defensive end, sophomore, Kalispell — The former Class AA first-team all-state selection is the son of Greg Harris, a standout defensive lineman for the Griz from 1971 to 1975 who went on to play for the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers. His older brother, Josh, played for Montana from 2008 until 2012. Andrew Harris is yet to register a stat for the Griz.
THE FRESHMEN
Nate Dick, quarterback, true freshman, Billings Senior
Devin Maua, defensive end, true freshman, Billings Senior
Bryson Deming, wide receiver, true freshman, Billings West
Braydon Deming, defensive end, true freshman, Billings West
Trase Le Texier, linebacker, redshirt freshman, Boulder
Cole Rosling, defensive end, true freshman, Helena Capital
Marcus Welnel, middle linebacker, true freshman, Helena Capital
Danny Burton, wide receiver, true freshman, Helena Capital
Colton Keintz, offensive line, true freshman, Missoula Big Sky
Josh Deshner, athlete, true freshman, Missoula Sentinel
Mitch Roberts, wide receiver, true freshman, Missoula Sentinel
Matt Rensvold, wide receiver, true freshman, Polson
Tanner Wilson, quarterback, true freshman, Polson
Michael McGinnis, safety, true freshman, Sidney
McKenzie Holt, athlete, true freshman, Thompson Falls
Photos by Brooks Nuanez or noted. All Rights Reserved.
