Editor’s Note: Leading up to the 118th edition of the fierce football rivalry between the Bobcats and the Grizzlies, Skyline Sports will provide features on five of the game’s key matchups between Montana and Montana State.
PART I — THE MATCHUPS: Troy Andersen vs. Griz defense
Montana State starts six seniors. Three of those are three or four-year starters on the defensive line. The fourth Montana State defensive lineman is a Pac 12 transfer who is currently second in the Big Sky Conference in sacks.
Montana is expected to start two former walk-ons, one who is a redshirt freshman, along with a converted defensive lineman, an additional redshirt freshman and a sophomore left tackle along its offensive line when the Griz host rival MSU on Saturday.
On paper, a Bobcat defensive front featuring senior honors candidates end Tyrone Fa’anono, nose tackle Tucker Yates and defensive tackle Zach Wright along with former Washington transfer Bryce Sterk at Buck end has a decided advantage over a Griz offensive line that has been a glaring weakness for most of the season.
Brooks Nuanez contributed to the reporting of this story. Photos by Brooks Nuanez.