University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Associated Students of the University of Montana Montana Kaimin, 1898-present (ASUM) 11-22-2014 Game Day Kaimin, November 22, 2014 Students of the University of Montana, Missoula Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper Recommended Citation Students of the University of Montana, Missoula, "Game Day Kaimin, November 22, 2014" (2014). Montana Kaimin, 1898-present. 5769. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper/5769 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Montana Kaimin, 1898-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GAMEDAYKAIMIN GRIZ-CAT SPECIAL EDITION LAST CALL PAGE 8 Saturday, November 22, 2014 UM’s Independent Campus Newspaper Since 1898 Cover photo by Jordan Purinton @KaiminSports Montana Kaimin 2 GAMEDAY Saturday, November 22, 2014 PLAYOFFS, great divide trophy UP FOR GRABS IN 114TH BRAWL OF THE WILD Andy Bixler players to miss — they’re win the Big Sky Conference Stadium for the 114th meet- games have helped decide Montana Kaimin plastered all over the locker and beat Montana State. ing between the two teams. the Big Sky regular-season areas, including on the They’ll try to knock one Kickoff is 3 p.m. championship. Each year, the Grizzly double-doors that lead into of those goals off Saturday, “This game has a lot of This year will be no dif- football team sets four goals. the tunnel. Get a UM degree, when they’ll meet the Bob- meaning to it,” said UM head ferent. Many, including Del- The goals are hard for win a national championship, cats at Washington-Grizzly coach Mick Delaney. “It al- aney, consider it to be a play- ways does no matter what, in game for an at-large bid but it has a little more of an into the FCS playoffs. The edge right now.” Bobcats are tied with Eastern Part of the reason for that Washington for the Big Sky edge is recent history. The lead at 6-1 in conference, with visiting team has won the Montana right behind at 5-2. Brawl of the Wild for the Montana State got to that last five years. Four of those shiny 6-1 record in large part See BRAWL, page 3 Montana Kaimin 3 Saturday, November 22, 2014 GAMEDAY BRAWL recorded 34 total sacks this From page 2 season, 10.5 of which have come from Wagenmann, #10 JORDAN JOHNSON thanks to the emergence who only needs one more of quarterback Dakota Pru- to break Tim Bush’s school 2014 SEASON NUMBERS: kop. The sophomore aver- record of 32.5. PASSING YARDS BY GAME: ages 227.9 yards per game But where the defense 185 127 188 181 109 280 248 146 447 181 with 17 touchdowns, and is has flourished, the offense WY USD NDSU UNCO UND UCD CP SAC EWU SUU MSU’s leading rusher with has floundered. The Griz- TOTAL: 2,092 13 touchdowns. zlies average 27.6 points EFFICIENCY: LONGEST PASS: 17 TOUCHDOWNS IN 10 GAMES The only problem? He per game, and have only 132.26 79 YDS might not play. managed 3,180 yards of Prukop is listed as ques- total offense this season, tionable after hurting his 1,375 less than Montana CAREER PERFORMANCE: knee two weeks ago, and State, good for just 10th in sat out MSU’s win against the conference. PASSING YARDS: RECORD: TOUCHDOWN PASSES, SINGLE GAME Idaho State last weekend. DAVE DICKENSON (’92-’95) 11,080 - 1st OVERALL Their offensive philos- BRIAN AH YAT (’95-’98) 9,315 - 2nd OVERALL JORDAN JOHNSON, 2011 V. WEBER STATE In his place against the ophy is based on the run- GRADY BENNETT (’88-’90) 7,778 - 3rd OVERALL BRIAN AH YAT, 1998 @ STEVEN F. AUSTIN JORDAN JOHNSON (’11-’12, ‘14) 5,831 - 9th OVERALL DAVE DICKENSON, 1995 V. BOISE STATE Bengals was junior Jake ning game, and when that 6 Bleskin, who threw for 301 hasn’t gone well, the Griz- yards and two touchdowns zlies suffered. in the Bobcats’ 44-39 win. All four of Montana’s “(Bleskin’s) a good foot- losses have come when the ball player,” Delaney said. Griz have failed to rush for “He does the things the more than 100 yards as a right way, he’s very dedi- team. And at times when cated to the game ... it’s not the ground game has fal- like they’re bringing in Joe tered, the Grizzlies have the Rag Man to play quar- relied on senior quarter- terback.” back Jordan Johnson to Montana defensive end throw them out of trou- Zack Wagenmann said ble. The Grizzlies offense his defense is preparing puts up over 200 yards per for Prukop, and worrying game through the air. less about whether he will The Montana State de- play and more about the fense isn’t as statistically Bobcats’ rushing attack, sound as Montana’s (they which is ranked No. 3 in give up nearly 477 yards the Big Sky at 248.4 yards per game), but that doesn’t per game. mean it’s any less of a con- “We know they have cern for Johnson and his some playmakers that may offense. or may not play, so we’re “They fly around, they just going to prepare like have a ton of athletic guys they are going to play,” on defense,” Johnson said. Wagenmann, who has 10.5 “It’ll be a test for us.” sacks in 2014, said. “ It’s Johnson is also ques- an offense that’ll test your tionable to play due to an eyes and test your disci- ankle injury he re-aggra- pline.” vated in last week’s 35-17 Discipline is something win over Southern Utah. the Grizzlies’ defense He said his ankle was “real has in spades. The Big sore,” but that he intend- Sky’s No. 1 total defense ed to make every effort to is allowing 357 yards per play Saturday. game, and has only given It’s Griz-Cat, after all. up 20 touchdowns all sea- [email protected] son. The next best squad, @bixlerandy North Dakota, has allowed 26. The Grizzlies have also Montana Kaimin 4 GAMEDAY Saturday, November 22, 2014 senior saylor seeks to sink cats Seaborn Larson as much as anyone else can,” Montana Kaimin Saylor said. “I’m sure there’s some people that say, ‘You don’t College football rivalry games completely understand’, but I do come with plenty of hype. But and I hate them.” with a final post season on the Saylor has been a veteran line for 16 University of Montana for the Grizzlies since he was a Grizzly seniors and their depart- sophomore. He shrugged his ing head coach, the 114th Griz- rookie status in 2012, starting in Cat game is bursting with energy. nine games and finishing with Just ask Vancouver, Wash, na- 22 catches. But that was at wide tive and Grizzly tight end Mitch receiver, which he said feels like a Saylor, who loves the game, but lifetime ago. hates the players. This year, he has four “I love it, and I hate the Bobcats touchdowns and 257 yards See SAYLOR page 5 Jordan Purinton/Montana Kaimin Tight end Mitch Saylor scores a touchdown against Sacramento State in Montana’s 31-13 homecoming victory. Montana Kaimin 5 Saturday, November 22, 2014 GAMEDAY SAYLOR Delaney said. “You always hope The senior has learned the From page 4 that the senior season will be position side-by-side with the best in that player’s career. redshirt freshman tight end receiving. He would be a perfect example Mike Ralston, who’s 10 pounds Saylor’s been a clutch option of that situation.” heavier and a half-inch taller on third and fourth downs Saylor may have felt like an than Saylor, important numbers since head coach Mick Delaney outsider as a receiver, often out in the tight end game. took the helm of the Griz, and on injury. When he was healthy, Ralston plays the traditional now they’ll be leaving collegiate he was competing for playing “Y” tight end, because he’s big football at the same time. time against players like Chase enough to block the opposing Whether that’s this weekend or Naccarato and Ellis Henderson. line. Saylor, at the “H” tight end in the playoffs. After the release of starting end spot, is better for running routes “I love that young man,” Jordan Harper, Saylor put on and can still check the defense at about 10 pounds and converted the line of scrimmage. to tight end to blend into the “I’ve seen it every day in my Delaney pro set offense in 2014. meeting rooms,” Brunelle said. His size, ability and strength “He has taken that leadership are key, said Montana tight end role in the meetings and Mike’s coach Ross Brunelle. come a long way because of “He had to block skinny guys Mitch.” at DB and corner,” Brunelle said. Four years ago, when Saylor “He’s adapted to learning how was the rookie, Montana went to block defensive ends and I 7-4 and the season ended with think it’s helped him to be more the Griz-Cat game at Washing- physical.” ton-Grizzly Stadium. He didn’t Even in Montana’s 36-26 loss get to play in last year’s rivalry to Eastern Washington, he was game because of injuries.