The 121th 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 have an influence on a contest with serious playoff ramifications.
A total of 93 in-state products (including Montana senior safety Robby Hauck, who was born in Boulder, Colorado, and prepped in Las Vegas and San Diego but calls Missoula his home town) will play in Saturday’s rivalry showdown at Bobcat Stadim.
A total of 51 players from the No. 12 Grizzlies hail from in-state, the second-most since 2005 behind only last season’s 53 Montanans on Montana. And No. 3 Montana State’s roster features 42 in-state products entering the game on Saturday, up from 38 last season.
The upcoming rivalry game has postseason ramifications for the third 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 2019 FCS Playoffs and MSU advanced to the semifinals that season, marking the first run to the Final Four for the Bobcats since 1984.
Last year, Montana beat Montana State 29-10 in Missoula, snapping a four-game losing streak to MSU and thrusting themselves 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 on the FCS national title game.
The Bobcats enter this year’s game with a 9-1 record, including a 7-0 mark in Big Sky Conference play, identical to a season ago. MSU is certainly into the playoffs for the fourth straight year and the eighth time since 2010. A victory could give Montana State at least a share of its first league title since 2012. A loss and MSU could still get a Top 8 seed and a bye, again.
Montana enters the game on a two-game winning streak to get to 4-3 in league play and 7-3 overall. Montana will certainly be into the playoffs for the third year in a row and the 24rd time since 199 with a win. A loss will mean a 7-4 Griz team would likely need help to get into the 24-team tournament.
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 almost dead even with 10 wins for the Griz, nine wins for the ‘Cats. MSU had won four of its last five in Missoula before last year’s loss while Montana had four straight wins in Bozeman between 2007 and 2015 but lost in 2017 and 2019, the last two trips to Bobcat Stadium for the Griz.
When Bobby 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 50 for the second year in a row.
Montana State had one of its highest number of in-state products in former head coach Jeff Choate’s four years in 2019 with 46. The 2016 Bobcats had 52 Montana kids while the 2017 team had 46 and the 2018 team featured 45.
This year’s Bobcat team has five offensive starters and four defensive starters from Montana. A total of 16 Montanans dot the Bobcats’ two-deep, a number that could increase by at least one player depending on if junior running back Lane Sumner is a go on Saturday.
“It goes without saying that the magnitude and significance to the people in our state is significant,” Montana State second-year head coach Brent Vigen said. “I could tell that the day I got the job. It matters so much to so many. It’s all the small towns with split loyalties, families with split loyalties, it’s all that which creates a rivalry like we have and it’s a great thing. We have over 40 players from Motnana and I assume they do as well
“I’m sure they have former teammates on the other team in some cases. And to be on the right side of it matters.”
The Griz have as many as three starters on offense and six starters on defense (including Robby Hauck) who claim Montana roots. 13 more in-state products, all on defense, appear on the two-deep. And Montana has an in-state product at punter.
Between the two rosters combined, a total of 62 players (32 for UM, 30 for MSU) played Class AA football in high school. A total of 15 players played in Class A, including 9 for the Griz. A total of nine players cut their teeth in the Class B ranks, including five who play for Montana. And a total of four players prepped in the Class C ranks, including three for the ‘Cats.
Bozeman and Missoula are the two most represented Montana towns. A total of 18 players from Bozeman, including 15 who went to Bozeman Senior High and three more from three-year-old Gallatin, will be a part of Saturday’s rivalry, including 10 former Hawks who are now Bobcats.
A total of 17 Missoula natives will be a part of the game, including 14 who stayed home to play for the Grizzlies. Sentinel is the most well represented with nine alums, including eight Griz. Three former Big Sky players, all Grizzlies, will play and three from Loyola, two Griz and one ‘Cat, are part of the tally. Two from Missoula Hellgate, one on each side, are also part of the rosters.
Billings has 10 players in the game, including six that went to West, two that went to Senior, 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 one each are former Senior Broncs and Central Rams will suit up.
Helena has seven players in the game, including five who play at Montana. Both Bobcats are former Helena High Bengals while four of the five Griz also played at Helena High. Griz senior Marcus Welnel is the only Capital product in the game.
Great Falls has three former players in the game, including two total from Great Falls High, one on each side, and one CMR alum playing for the Griz. Three former Kalispell Glacier alums, all Griz, will play in the game.
And Butte has seven players in the rivalry, including five for Montana and four that went to Butte High. Montana State has two Mining City natives, both former Bulldogs, on its roster.
Dillon, Hamilton, Laurel and Polson each have a pair of players in the game. Both former Beavers play for Montana State while both former Broncs and both former Pirates play for the Griz. Red Lodge has three alums, including two Bobcats, in the rivalry while and Huntley Project have one each on Cat and Griz rosters.
A total of 26 Montana towns are represented with players from Anaconda, Eureka, Boulder, Fairfield, Havre, Savage, Melstone, Florence, Frenchtown, Phillipsburg and Sunburst are all represented, all making up the fabric of this historic game.
Here’s a look the 51 Montana products on the UM roster headed into the 121st rendition of the fierce rivalry in Bozeman on Saturday afternoon.
THE STARS
Marcus Welnel, linebacker, senior, Helena — Welnel has been a stud in the middle of Montana’s defense for the last several seasons. He’s also been a stud off the field as well. He’s well on his way to earning All-Big Sky Conference honors for the second year in a row and he’s also closing in on earning two different masters degree’s from Montana’s prestigious school of business.
The former Helena Capital star dreamed of becoming the next from the Capital City to wear the vaunted No. 37 jersey for the Grizzlies. And he’s done it with honor this season after getting the garment passed to him by Townsend’s Jace Lewis.
Welnel is the fifth player from Helena to wear No. 37, joining Jason Crebo, Andy Petek, Ryan Fetherston and Caleb Kidder among the 16 Griz to be immortalized by the legacy number.
On the field, he’s second on the Griz this season with 78 tackles, including 23 solo stops. He has 10.5 tackles for loss, which is the fourth-most in the Big Sky Conference. Over the last two seasons, Welnel has 23 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including 14 sacks. He is one of the best inside blitzers in the history of Griz football and one of the most prolific sack men among inside linebackers that Montana or the Big Sky has seen.
Patrick O’Connell, linebacker, senior, Kalispell — O’Connell is the latest in the long line of overlooked prospects who were productive in high school but didn’t fit a prototype turned ferocious game wreckers after walking on and developing at Montana.
O’Connell was a star at Kalispell Glacier, playing in three football state title games, winning a basketball state title and winning a baseball state title. He didn’t get much of any interest from Bob Stitt’s staff and he did not want to walk on at Montana State, so he spent his first year of college playing baseball and football at the University of Mary.
He returned to Montana when Bobby Hauck did and redshirted in 2018. In 2019, he emerged as the edge player the Grizzlies need in their high-pressure, haphazard defensive attack. As a sophomore, he had 6.5 sacks, the seventh-most in the Big Sky and a harbinger for things to come.
Last season, he had one of the great single seasons in Griz history by a defensive player. The explosive, fast 6-foot-2, 230-pounder had 14 sacks and 21 tackles for loss among his 100 total tackles, helping him earn a top three finish in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award.
Despite battling injuries, the Big Sky Preseason Defensive Player of the Year has been a one-man wrecking crew again this season. He has a Big Sky-best 12.5 tackles for loss and his eight sacks lead the league as well even though he’s missed two full games and most of Montana’s loss at Weber State as well.
The senior captain is expected to play on Saturday in Bozeman.
Robby Hauck, safety, senior, Missoula — Hauck was born in Boulder, Colorado when coach Hauck was coaching for the Buffs and he played his high school ball in San Diego when Hauck III was coaching at San Diego State. Yet he still claims Missoula as his home town and the family’s roots in the Garden City certainly run deep. The gym at Missoula Loyola, for example, is named after Robert Hauck II, Bobby’s father and Robby’s grandfather.
Robby Hauck has been one of the most durable players in the Big Sky Conference and the FCS over the last four seasons. He has note missed a single game, making 48 consecutive starts entering Saturday’s contest.
He is Montana’s leading tackler once again with 87 total stops. He has already moved into the all-time lead on Montana’s career tackles list since tackles became an official stat. He needs 19 more tackles to move past Vince Huntsberger for total tackles counting playoff games in Griz history and he needs 23 more tackles to become the all-time leading tackler in Big Sky Conference history.
He was a Freshman All-American, second-team All-Big Sky selection as a sophomore, a first-team all-league and third-team All-American selection as a junior and entered his senior season as a preseason All-American on the Buck Buchanan Award watch list. Not bad for one of the smallest defensive players in the Big Sky.
Junior Bergen, wide receiver, sophomore, Billings —Bergen technically hasn’t made an offensive start at wide receiver yet in his Griz career, which in itself could be a sort of referendum on Montana’s inconsistent offensive performances this season. And he is averaging less than two catches per game.
But the former Billings Senior stud is one of the most electrifying players in the Big Sky with the ball in his hands. His touchdown catch against Idaho was the No. 1 play on SportsCenter’s Top 10 the following week. And his 74-yard punt return for a touchdown against Porltand State was one of the highlights of the year.
He’s been in and out of the lineup with a busted up hand and he has technically been Keelan White’s backup. But Bergen single-handedly sparked the Griz to victory last season, scoring a 74-yard touchdown on the second play of the game and dominating in the return game to lead the Griz to a 29-10 victory.
This season, he has 16 catches for 210 yards and four touchdowns. He is
Mitch Roberts, wide receiver, senior, Missoula — The legacy Griz — his mom, Cheri Bratt was the first Lady Griz basketball player to win league MVP back in 1984 — went from under recruited quarterback at Missoula Senintel to mutliple-year starting wide receiver at Montana.
He’s been one of Montana’s steadiest players over the last three seasons. He had 37 catches for 420 yards in 2019, 55 catches for 683 yards last season and enters Saturday’s game with 42 catches for 498 yards this year. he caught one touchdown each in 2019 and 2021, but has added significantly to that total, scoring five times this season.
He and the Griz wide receivers against an inconsistent secondary is one of the matchups of the game.
THE STARTERS
Braxton Hill, linebacker, junior, Anaconda — Hill gray shirted 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. He had 27 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season in spot duty. This year, as a starter when healthy, he has 39 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 more sacks.
He was knocked out of the Portland State game and was limited the next month. But he’s been back to full reps the last three weeks and has 21 tackles over that span.
Garrett Graves, safety, junior, Eureka — Graves has shown great versatility after joining Montana following one of the most decorated small-school prep careers in recent years in the Treasure State. 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 bascially solified him on defense permanently and he’s been good while playing safety next to Hauck and Nash Fouch. He has 23 tackles, three tackles for loss plus a forced fumble and an interception. He still has good ball skills as well, evidence in his 77-yard kick return in last week’s 63-7 beatdown of Eastern Washington.
Levi Janacaro, linebacker, junior, Missoula — The former high school quarterback turned college fullback turned bruising linebacker has continued to earn respect with his abilities in the weight room while weighting his turn for reps on the field.
When Hill went down in Montana’s Big Sky opener, Janacaro got his opportunity. The Missoula Big Sky product has thrived ever since. He had double-digit tackles against Idaho, Sac State and Weber State plus eight more against EWU last week. He has 71 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble during this breakout junior year.
Patrick Rohrbach, punter, freshman, Kalispell — Rohrbach only punted once in the last two weeks as Montana rolled up 124 unanswered points at one point of its recent offensive resurgence. When Rohrbach was not used during the Cal Poly game, a media member joked in the press box, “We didn’t even get to see the best player for the Griz today.”
Bobby Hauck said Rohrbach was one of the most talented Montana high school specialists he’d ever seen in recruiting, which is saying something considering Hauck recruited and coached Dan Carpenter, who played for a decade in the NFL.
He has been so good this season, it seems like a distant memory that Brian Buschini, an All-American as a freshman, transferred to Nebraska in the off-season. Rohrbach has averaged nearly 47 yards per punt and has Montana ranked among the FCS leaders in net punting.
Journey Grimsrud, offensive line, freshman, Huntley — The former state champion discus thrower and standout wrestler was a raw, intriguing prospect when he signed with the Griz out of one of Class B’s most solid programs. He toiled on the defensive line as a redshirt freshman before switching to offensive line last off-season.
He broke into the starting lineup in place of Liam Brown three games ago and has thrived. He was highlighted on Voice of the Griz Riley Corcoran’s weekly coaches show as the Montana Club Montana Player Spotlight. He’s been great at right guard, helping Montana rush the ball prolifically the last few weeks.
THE CONTRIBUTORS
Tyler Flink, linebacker, junior, Missoula — Flink has been a rotational player but has played with his hair on fire every opportunity he’s received. The former walk-on had sacks against South Dakota and Indiana State. His flying QB pressure against Idaho State is 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 as well.
Ryan Simpson, wide receiver, sophomore, Bozeman — The former state champion basketball player has evolved into a solid option on the outside. At 6-foot-6, he’s one of the tallest receivers in the Big Sky. He has 10 catches for 107 yards and two scores this season.
Drew Deck, wide receiver/punt returner, redshirt freshman, Kalispell —The shifty slot receiver has also emerged as a primary option at punt returner, where he started last week. The Glacier product has four catches for 31 yards and five returns for 35 yards so far this season.
David Koppang, safety, redshirt junior, Missoula — The Missoula Loyola product has been a stalwart on special teams and has pushed for time in the safety rotation. He has four tackles this season.
Ryan Tirrell, linebacker, sophomore, Missoula — Tirrell is also a Loyola product (the Rams play for the Class B state title against defending champion Florence on Saturday) and has worked his way into the linebacker rotation. Bobby Hauck’s nephew and Robby’s cousin has 12 tackles and a tackle for loss this season.
Henry Nuce, defensive line, sophomore, Kalispell — Nuce, a Glacier product, has battled injuries this season. But he had his first career sack against Eastern Washington last week.
Kris Brown, quarterback, sophomore, Bozeman — The former Bozeman High standout has had his ups and downs when called upon for the Griz. He went 3-1 as a starter last season but then got pulled after just a few series in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs, a game Montana lost 28-6 to James Madison.
Brown was called upon again when starter Lucas Johnson was on the wrong end of a cheap shot targeting penalty in what ended up as as 31-24 overtime loss to Sac State. Brown started the next week against Weber State as well and managed to guide the Griz offense to just 114 yards of total offense in a 24-21 loss.
The sophomore is a talented athlete who throws a nice ball and remains a promising prospect for the Griz.
Jaxon Lee, safety, sophomore, 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. He transferred to Sentinel for his senior year and helped the Spartans to their first of what is now as streak of four straight semifinals appearances in the Class AA playoffs.
For the Griz, Lee has been a solid reserve, playing on special teams and sometimes in the safety rotation. He has seven tackles this season.
Trevin Gradney, cornerback, sophomore, Billings — Gradney was a first-team all-conference selection as a special teams ace last season. He worked his way up the depth chart and is essentially Montana’s fourth corner, although the Griz have heavily relied on Justin Ford, Corbin Walker and Jayden Dawson primarily this season. The won of former Bobcat Joe Gradney has eight tackles and two pass breakups this season.
Colter Janacaro, running back, redshirt freshman, Missoula — Levi’s younger brother has seen a few reps late in Montana’s recent blowout wins. He has 17 carries for 35 yards and scored his first career touchdown against Indiana State earlier this season.
Carson Rostad, linebacker, sophomore, Hamilton — The former Montana Gatorade Player of the Year was a four-year starter at quarterback at Hamilton, while also standing out on defense. His 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame made it difficult for the coaching staff to not try him on special teams and once they did, he was moved to linebacker. He’s made nine tackles covering kicks over the last two seasons.
Jace Klucewich, safety, redshirt freshman, Frenchtown/Sentinel — Klucewich was a standout in every way possible at Frenchtown, playing both ways and also starring in track and field. He transferred to Sentinel his senior year and helped lead the Spartans to their first football and first boys’ state track titles in more than 50 years. At Montana, he has waited his turn but has started to play a little more recently. He had four tackles against Cal Poly and three more against Eastern Washington, bringing his total to eight this season.
Matt Rensvold, tight end, junior, Polson — Rensvold was catching touchdowns as a freshman and looked like Montana’s tight end of the future. Then he blew out his knee multiple times and had every reason to walk away from the game. Instead, he’s stuck around and has seen spot reps this season. He caught a 12-yard pass against Idaho.
THE MONTANANS
Gabe Longin, safety, redshirt freshman, Great Falls High
Camden Capser, kicker, redshirt freshman, Billings Central
Ryder Meyer, safety, redshirt freshman, Fairfield
Kaden Huot, quarterback, freshman, Helena High
Joey Visser, safety, freshman, Boulder
Chase McGurran, safety, freshman, Helena
Padraig Lang, safety, freshman, Bozeman
Brady Lang, safety, freshman, Bozeman
Beau Dantic, running back, freshman, Laurel
TJ Rausch, safety, redshirt freshman, Missoula Sentinel
Drew Klumph, cornerback, freshman, Missoula Sentinel
Tanner Huff, wide receiver, redshirt freshman, Butte
Geno Leonard, linebacker, redshirt freshman, Missoula Sentinel
Tyson Rostad, safety, freshman, Hamilton
Asher Croy, linebacker, redshirt freshman, Bozeman
Marcus Evans, linebacker, freshman, Helena High
Kellen Detrick, defensive end, redshirt freshman, Havre
Zac Evans, defensive tackle, redshirt freshman, Helena High
Braunson Henriksen, Defensive end, freshman, Polson
Corby Mann, defensive end, redshirt freshman, Red Lodge
Dillon Botner, offensive line, redshirt sophomore, Whitefish
Gerrit Bloemendaal, offensive line, junior, Great Falls CMR
Ian Finch, wide receiver, freshman, Missoula Hellgate
Joe Weida, tight end, freshman, Missoula Sentinel
Jake Olson, tight end, redshirt freshman, Butte
Sloan McPherson, defensive line, redshirt freshman, Savage
Dylan Smith, defensive line, redshirt freshman, Whitehall
Adam Botkin, punter, senior, Frenchtown
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