By Austin Schempp, Montana Kaimin
Wide receiver Bryce Carver (29) prepares to block Montana State’s Deonte Flowers (37) for Grizzly running back Peter Nguyen during the 112th Brawl of the Wild on Nov. 17, 2012. The Bobcats silenced Washington-Grizzly Stadium with a 16-7 win, but Montana still leads the rivalry series 69-37-5. Austin Smith/Montana Kaimin
This year’s Brawl of the Wild game isn’t just for bragging rights and the Divide Trophy, it’s a fight for the playoffs.
Montana (9-2, 5-2 Big Sky Conference) heads to Bobcat Stadium on a three-game win streak, while Montana State (7-4, 5-2 BSC) has lost two straight games.
With the automatic conference bid secured by No. 3 Eastern Washington and No. 10 Northern Arizona (one game ahead of both Montana and Montana State) this week is a must-win for both teams.
“It doesn’t matter what the records are, it’s going to be a knock-down, drag-out fight. The thing that adds spice so to speak is the fact that we’re both playing for our playoff lives,” Griz head coach Mick Delaney said. “I hear the talk of the last four days, we’re in no matter what — that’s not true.”
“We’re battling for our life and they are too.”
Both teams boast two of the top-three scoring offenses in the conference, something that could make this year’s game different than Montana State’s 16-7 win over Montana in 2012.
Senior quarterback DeNarius McGhee and running back Cody Kirk power the Bobcat offense. Kirk is fourth in rushing in the conference with more than 90 yards per game.
A quarterback like McGhee, who can throw and run well, is nothing new to the Grizzlies this season.
“We’ve faced athletic quarterbacks before, we know what we need to do against those guys,” senior linebacker Brock Coyle said.
Read the full article by Austin Schempp from Montana Kaimin.
