The 122nd rendition of the fiercest rivalry in college football will once again highlight some of the best football players who grew up in the Treasure State. Those Montana-made products will certainly influence a contest that will determine the outright Big Sky Conference champion for the first time in the 60-year history of the conference.
A total of 92 in-state products (including Montana State senior Cole Sain, who grew up in Darby but went to high school at St. John Bosco Prep in Southern California) will play in Saturday’s rivalry showdown at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
A total of 47 players from the No. 3 Grizzlies hail from in-state, four less than last season but two more than Montana State boasts. No. 4 Montana State’s roster features 45 in-state products entering the game on Saturday, up from 42 last season.
The rivalry game has postseason ramifications for the fourth year in a row. In 2019, Montana State routed Montana as the then-No. 8 Bobcats blasted the No. 3 Griz 48-14 in Bozeman. Both teams earned playoff seeds and first-round byes; UM advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs and MSU advanced to the semifinals that season, marking the first run to the Final Four for the Bobcats since 1984.
In the last rivalry game played in Missoula, Montana beat Montana State 29-10, snapping a four-game losing streak to MSU and thrusting the Griz into a playoff seed again. The loss was Montana State’s only Big Sky Conference loss of the season, yet the Bobcats still received a seed and eventually ended up in the FCS national title game.
Last year in Bozeman, Montana State did not punt on its way to a 55-21 decimation of the Griz in the most lopsided Bobcat victory in series history. That helped the Bobcats earn a No. 5 seed and a bye while forcing Montana, which lost four of five down the stretch last season, to play in the first round. MSU’s win over UM also sewed up a share of the Big Sky Conference title for the first time since 2012 for the Bobcats.
The winner of Saturday’s clash — the first time the two teams have met when each squad is ranked in the Top 5 — will win the outright Big Sky title. The winner will certainly receive a top three seed in the playoffs and will have the inside track at the No. 2 seed, which would ensure homefield advantage throughout the postseason.
“I’m excited every Saturday, competition is what drives everybody involved,” Montana head coach Bobby Hauck said. “Competition is what drives our organization. When you are playing your neighbor, there’s probably a little more excitement around that because you are familiar with each other.”
It’s worth noting that the Griz (2008 at James Madison) and the Bobcats (2021 at Sam Houston) each only have one road victory in their respective FCS playoff histories, which lends even more significance to the battle for a potential top-two seed.
Montana enters this game riding a six-game winning streak and sits at 9-1 overall. Montana State lost at South Dakota State in Week 2 and at Idaho the final game of October to enter the rivalry at 8-2. The loser of Saturday’s contest will also likely be in line for a playoff seed.
During the Big Sky Conference era beginning in 1963, Montana State won the first six rivalry games against Montana and 12 of the first 15. Montana won in 1978 and again in 1981 and 1982 before MSU ripped off its most recent three-game winning streak until the current one between 1983 and 1985.
In 1986, Montana won 59-28 in Missoula, starting an era of domination that reached 16 consecutive victories during a stretch that became known as simply: “The Streak.”
Since Montana State won in Missoula 10-7 in Missoula in 2002, the rivalry is dead even with 10 wins for each side. Montana’s 2011 win in Bozeman was technically vacated because of NCAA violations. And the rivalry was not played in 2020 because of the global pandemic.
MSU had won in four of its last five trips to Missoula before the 2021 loss, while Montana had four straight wins in Bozeman between 2007 and 2015 but lost in 2017, 2019 and 2022.
Montana State has won five of the last six, although third-year head coach Brent Vigen is 1-1 against the rivalry and 0-1 in Missoula. Hauck is 6-5 against the Bobcats in his career that includes stints between 2003 and 2009 plus the current stretch that began ahead of the 2018 season.
When Hauck first took over at Montana leading up to the 2018 season, the Griz roster boasted 29 in-state players. Now UM has more than 45 for the third year in a row.
Former Montana State head coach Jeff Choate consistently recruited Montana players during his four-year tenure. His last team, in 2019, featured 46 Treasure State products. The 2016 Bobcats had 52 Montana kids while the 2017 team had 46 and the 2018 team featured 45, same as this season.
This year’s Griz team features six starters, including all three linebackers, who hail from Montana. The UM two-deep features nine more Montana-made players, including two linebackers and three safeties, who will figure heavily into the rotation on Saturday.
“Growing up and watching the Brawl, it was always my favorite game of the year so to be able to play in it has just been a blessing and a heck of an opportunity,” Montana senior linebacker Levi Janacaro, a Missoula Big Sky product, said. “It’s been really cool.”
This year’s Bobcat team has 10 total starters from Montana. Six more in-state players are on the two-deep and that’s not counting starting kicker Casey Kautzman, one of six players who hail from Butte and five who call Butte High School their alma mater.
“This is it in Montana, every little kid dreams of playing in this game,” Montana State senior captain Nolan Askelson, a Billings Senior alum, said. “All eyes are going to be on this game. All the eyes in Montana will be watching this. It’s everything, man. Going home – there’s so many guys on both teams, whenever you go home anywhere in the state, there’s bragging rights to be had and people are going to get at you either way, so you want to make sure you end up on the right side of this one.”
Between the two rosters combined, there are a total of 61 in-state players (31 for MSU, 30 for Montana) who played Class AA football in high school.
Class A has 13 representatives, including nine Grizzlies.
A total of 12 players cut their teeth in the Class B ranks, including seven who play for Montana.
And a total of six players prepped in the Class C ranks, including five for the Bobcats, although Montana safety Jaxon Lee has Class C roots. The Griz DB grew up in Phillipsburg and won two Class C state championships at Flint Creek before playing his senior year at Missoula Sentinel.
Bozeman and Missoula are the two most represented Montana towns once again. A total of 18 players from Missoula will feature, including 11 who went to Missoula Sentinel, three whi went to Big Sky, two who prepped at Hellgate and a pair of Griz who graduated from Loyola. A total of 12 Missoulians play for Montana while five Bobcats are from the Garden City. Sentinel features seven Griz and four Bobcats among its alums in the game. All three Big Sky alums are Griz, while there’s one player each from Hellgate for UM and MSU.
Bozeman has 16 natives playing in the game, including 13 who graduated from Bozeman Senior High (eight ‘Cats, five Griz) and three more Bobcats who are Bozeman Gallatin alums.
Billings boasts 11 players in the game, including six that went to West, two that went to Senior and two that went to Central, but none that went to Skyview. Five former Golden Bears are now Bobcats and a sixth is a Griz while UM and MSU each have one former Senior Bronc suiting up. Central is the most well-represented Class A school with three players in the game, including two for the Griz.
Helena has nine players in the game, including five who play at Montana. Helena High has five alums in the game, including three that play for the Griz, while Helena Capital has two graduates on each side of the rivalry.
Butte has six players in the rivalry split evenly between the ‘Cats and the Griz. Five are Butte High alums, including three former Bulldogs at Montana. Butte Central has one alum in the game – Aaron Richards, who plays for the Bobcats.
Great Falls and Kalispell each have three representatives in the rivalry. One Great Falls High product plays for each team, while Cole Taylor, a freshman on the Bobcats roster, is the lone Great Falls Charles M. Russell High graduate in this rivalry game. All three Kalispell products prepped at Glacier High and all three play for the Griz.
Laurel and Hamilton are the two other Class A programs with multiple players in the game. One former Locomotive plays for Montana and Montana State while both former Broncs, the Rostad brothers, are Grizzlies. Other Class A towns represented include one Dillon native on Montana State plus natives of Havre, Libby, Polson & Whitefish on Montana.
Three Class B towns have multiple representatives: Huntley Project (one Bobcat, one Griz), Florence (two Bobcats) and Red Lodge (two Bobcats). Anaconda, Eureka, Fairfield and Whitehall all also have athletes in the game, all four of whom suit up for Montana, including three — Braxton Hill of Anaconda, Garrett Graves of Eureka and Ryder Meyer of Fairfield — who figure to play prominent roles.
Class C communities represented in the game include Melstone (the Grebe brothers play for MSU), Sunburst (MSU), Phillipsburg (two if you count Lee), Fairview (MSU) and Savage (UM).
A total of 28 Montana towns are represented, each making up the fabric of this historic game.
“I grew up watching the game every single year and it’s a great opportunity to get to play in it,” Hill said. “It will be electric out there Saturday. I can’t wait.”
Here’s a look at the 47 Montana products on the Griz roster headed into the 122nd rendition of the fierce rivalry in Missoula on Saturday afternoon.
THE STARS
Junior Bergen, wide receiver, junior, Billings — After being underutilized for most of his sophomore season (at least offensively), the electrifying slot receiver and kick returner has had a breakout campaign this fall.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder had 100 yards receiving against Idaho State, marking the first time a Griz receiver surpassed the century mark in a regular-season game since 2019. He followed it up with 118 yards and a 75-yard touchdown in Montana’s 23-21 win over Idaho at the Kibbie Dome two weeks later.
This season, Bergen is averaging 14.6 yards per catch and has 37 grabs for 543 yards to go with three touchdowns for Montana’s explosive, balanced receiving corps.
The returning All-American punt returner also is averaging 14.3 yards per punt return and had a 47-yard touchdown against Utah Tech, giving him 10 total touchdowns in his career.
Braxton Hill, linebacker, senior, Anaconda — Hill grayshirted as a walk-on after having shoulder surgery after his standout senior basketball season at Anaconda ended. No one knew just how much he would develop over the next few years.
His rise has been mercurial and he has emerged as one of Montana’s most consistent and explosive defensive players. This season, he is a captain and a tackling machine, leading Montana’s swarming defense while moving between several linebacker positions.
Anaconda’s all-time leading scorer in basketball has piled up tackles like he used to pile up buckets. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder has a team-best 83 tackles, including 31 solo stops. He has 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, five pass breakups and five quarterback hits. Only Weber State’s Winston Reid has more tackles among Big Sky Conference players this season.
Levi Janacaro, linebacker, senior, Missoula — The former high school quarterback turned college fullback turned bruising linebacker went from an underdog to one of the stars of the Griz.
Last season, when Hill went down in Montana’s Big Sky opener, Janacaro got his opportunity. The Missoula Big Sky product rolled up double-digit tackles against Idaho, Sac State and Weber State plus eight more against EWU during his breakout junior year last fall.
He earned honorable mention All-Big Sky honors thanks to his 87 tackles and 10 tackles for loss, which helped him earn preseason all-conference recognition this summer.
He also received the vaunted honor of wearing Montana’s No. 37 jersey when Marcus Welnel passed along the revered garment last off-season.
This year, Janacaro has been a part of the best linebacking crew in the conference, chipping in 40 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks while almost constantly rotating in a group that also includes Hill, upstart sophomore Riley Wilson and a trio of Montana natives coming up on this list.
Ryder Meyer, safety, sophomore, Fairfield — An undersized safety from small-town Montana who steals the souls of ball carriers in the open field….sound familiar?
It’s a common tale at Montana. This season, the former Class B state champion has been one of the breakout players in the Big Sky. He’s second on the team behind Hill with 60 tackles and he also has three tackles for loss. Meyer has had 12 tackles in a game twice and is certainly one of the fastest rising sophomores in the Griz program.
Tyler Flink, linebacker, senior, Missoula — Flink is in the star category as much for his fearless playing style as his production. One of two “Bash Brothers” from Missoula Big Sky (along with Janacaro), the former walk-on has piled up a collection of highlights because of his blatant disregard for his body. He throws himself at opposing offensive players like no one else in the league and now that he’s developed experience, he has emerged as one of Montana’s surest tacklers.
His flying QB pressure against Idaho State made for one of the photos of the year. And his touchdown on a Levi Janacaro blocked punt gave the Missoula Big Sky duo one of the moments of the season last fall as well. This season, he’s had all sorts of important moments as Flink has played his best football as a senior.
The 5-foot-11, 225-pounder enters his final rivalry game third in the Griz with 52 total tackles, including four for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Jaxon Lee, safety, junior, Phillipsburg/Missoula — Lee was a Class C star playing for the Flint Creek co-op of Drummond-Phillipsburg as a sophomore and junior in high school, where he helped the Titans win consecutive Class C 8-man titles.
He transferred to Sentinel for his senior year and helped the Spartans to their first of four straight semifinal appearances in the Class AA playoffs.
After toiling behind Robby Hauck, Lee has emerged as a playmaking safety for Montana. He’s rotated frequently with senior Nash Fouch and has a few of the top defensive highlights for the Griz this season, including snaring a pick in UM’s win at Idaho and then taking his second interception of the season 48 yards for a touchdown against Northern Colorado in UM’s next contest.
Lee’s mother’s side of the family hails from Anaconda, so he has ties across Western Montana and has been dubbed, by Wilson, as one of the “Highway 1 boys” along with Hill. Highway 1, the Pintler Scenic Highway, stretches between Drummond, through Phillipsburg before getting to Anaconda.
Garrett Graves, safety, senior, Eureka — Graves was a versatile athlete in high school who became a multi-faceted contributor in college. During his prep career, he was one of the most decorated small-school athletes in Montana. The multiple time state champion in football and in wrestling came to the Griz as a quarterback. He moved to wide receiver while also emerging covering kicks on special teams.
His bone-jarring hit against Eastern Washington basically solidified him on defense permanently. This season, he has 19 tackles and two pass breakups as he’s been a part of Montana’s prevalent safety rotations.
Trevin Gradney, cornerback, junior, Billings – The slick defensive back is one of half a dozen West High products in the game but the only one that plays for the Griz. After two years as a special teams stalwart, Gradney has emerged as a ball-hawk, snaring an interception in each of his first four games as a starting corner. He has missed the last two weeks with a leg injury but is expected to play this week.
THE STARTERS
Ryan Tirrell, linebacker, junior, Missoula — The Loyola product has a family lineage at his high school and in college. Tirrell is Bobby Hauck’s sister’s son. Hauck’s father was the athletic director at Loyola and the locker room at the Sister Rita Mudd Activities Center is dedicated to the Montana High School Coaches Hall of Famer.
Tirrell has made his own name for the Griz in his first season as a starter. The rangy 6-foot-2, 230-pounder has 47 tackles and a fumble recovery this season.
Jake Olson, tight end, sophomore, Butte – The son of former Griz basketball player Bob Olson looks like a hooper in height (Jake is 6-foot-7) but also looks like a tight end with his 257-pound frame. He was Montana’s opening day starter at tight end and has played in all 10 games this season. He is currently behind Evan Shaffer and Erik Barker on the depth chart and plays a role on special teams.
Journey Grimsrud, offensive guard, sophomore, Huntley Project – The former defensive lineman has converted nicely to the interior offensive front and will make his 13th consecutive start on Saturday.
THE CONTRIBUTORS
Jace Klucewich, safety, sophomore, Frenchtown/Missoula —
Klucewich, who was a state champion sprinter in Class A at Frenchtown before transferring to Sentinel for his senior season, has settled in nicely after switching to cornerback this last off-season. He has backed up Corbin Walker all season and has played well when he’s gotten into games, notching 12 tackles and breaking up a pair of passes.
TJ Rausch, safety, sophomore, Missoula – Rausch was a star receiver on Sentinel’s 2020 state championship team and has made the transition to defense seamlessly because of his penchant for physicality.
The 6-foot-3, 208-pounder gives UM great size in his backup role playing behind senior captain Trajon Cotton at nickel back. Rausch is the son of Ann Lake Rausch, who was the 1994 Big Sky Conference MVP for the Lady Griz women’s basketball team.
Carson Rostad, linebacker, junior, Hamilton — Rostad, a former Gatorade Player of the Year-winning quarterback, is on the two-deep but mostly plays on special teams. He has five tackles this season. He and his younger brother, Tyson, are cousins with former Griz All-American linebacker Jordan Tripp.
Ryan Simpson, wide receiver, junior, Bozeman — Montana has shortened its receiver rotation, mostly playing Bergen with juniors Keelan White and Aaron Fontes. Sawyer Racanelli, a former transfer from Washington who missed last season with a blown knee, has emerged as the fourth option.
That’s resulted in the 6-foot-6 Simpson — who was a state champion in basketball at Bozeman High — seeing fewer opportunities. He has two catches this season.
Drew Deck, wide receiver/punt returner, sophomore, Kalispell — Deck, who is a Glacier graduate, is backing up Bergen on offense and special teams. He has one catch for seven yards this season.
Henry Nuce, defensive line, junior, Kalispell — The Glacier product was slated as a starter coming out of spring ball but suffered a season-ending injury during fall camp.
Kris Brown, quarterback, junior, Bozeman — Brown started games in 2021 and 2022 but has been forced down the depth chart with the additions of former transfers Clifton McDowell and Sam Vidlak plus the emergence of freshman Keali’i Ah Yat.
David Koppang, safety, senior, Missoula — The former multi-sport athlete from Loyola has been primarily a special teams guy during his time with the Griz. He is getting his master’s in education. He has not recorded a statistic this season.
THE MONTANANS
Gabe Longin, safety, sophomore, Great Falls
Kaden Huot, quarterback, freshman, Helena
Kade Boyd, safety, freshman, Billings
Chase McGurran, safety, redshirt freshman, Helena
Padraig Lang, safety, sophomore, Bozeman
Gage Sliter, quarterback, freshman, Kalispell
Brady Lang, safety, sophomore, Bozeman
Beau Dantic, running back, redshirt freshman, Laurel
Cameron Guernsey, wide receiver, freshman, Butte
Drew Klumph, wide receiver, redshirt freshman, Missoula
Tanner Huff, cornerback, sophomore, Butte
Geno Leonard, linebacker, sophomore, Missoula
Tyson Rostad, safety, redshirt freshman, Hamilton
Asher Croy, linebacker, sophomore, Bozeman
Marcus Evans, linebacker, redshirt freshman, Helena
Kellen Detrick, defensive tackle, sophomore, Havre
Austin Buehler, offensive line, freshman, Helena
Cy Stevenson, linebacker, freshman, Libby
Braunson Henriksen, offensive line, redshirt freshman, Polson
Clay Oven, linebacker, freshman, Billings
Hayden Opitz, linebacker, freshman, Helena
Dillon Botner, offensive line, junior, Whitefish
Tate Templeton, offensive line, freshman, Missoula
Ian Finch, wide receiver, freshman, Missoula
Joe Weida, tight end, redshirt freshman, Missoula
Sloan McPherson, defensive line, sophomore, Savage
Dylan Smith, defensive line, sophomore, Whitehall
