Bobcats look to defend Great Divide trophy in Missoula

Alabama and Auburn, Michigan and Ohio State, Texas and Oklahoma, Army and Navy. These are some of the elite college football rivalries that give college sports the heart that pros just can’t compete with.

A rivalry that is not as nationally well-known — but is equally as fierce — is the Brawl of the Wild: MSU versus the University of Montana (UM). Cat-Griz is the most anticipated matchup for both schools, and this year could be one of the best games of the series to date.

The Brawl of the Wild will be held in Missoula on Nov. 22. Given that both teams are ranked in the top three for the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and the victor will win the Big Sky Conference, this matchup is expected to be an electric game, potentially ending within one score.

With the Bobcats’ high-powered offense and suffocating defense, the Griz will be facing their most formidable opponent of the season. Even though an away team hasn't won the Brawl of the Wild since 2018, I expect the Bobcats’ trip to Missoula to end with a victory.

The Brawl of the Wild dates back to 1897, when the first matchup took place in Bozeman on Thanksgiving Day. MSU — then Montana Agricultural College — lost to the Grizzlies 18-6. With that, the rivalry was born, according to Destination Missoula.

Last year, the Bobcats hoisted the Great Divide trophy after a 34-11 win in Bozeman. The trophy was introduced in 2001 and resembles Bear Mountain, which sits on the continental divide between the schools.

Right now, the trophy record is 11-11. At the end of the century, the team with the most trophy victories will keep the trophy permanently, according to The Historical Marker Database. Currently, the trophy is owned by the Bobcats, who hope to keep it for another year.

In the last 10 rivalry matchups, MSU is 6-4, including a four-game win streak from 2016-2019, according to UM Athletics.

Since the rivalry began, though, things have been pretty one-sided, according to Destination Missoula. UM’s record versus MSU is 74-43-5 in 123 games.

From 1986-2001, the Grizzlies won every single Brawl of the Wild in what would be referred to as “The Streak.” In 2002, the Grizzlies hosted the ‘Cats with freshman quarterback, Travis Lulay, to Missoula to break it.

Before the season even started, Lulay said that he was approached by a teammate who told him the team had to do something about the Bobcats’ losing streak against the Griz.

“I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ He’s like, ‘Man, we haven’t beat Missoula in 16 tries in a row.’ I said, ‘Oh my goodness, let’s do something about that,’” Lulay said. “A couple months later, fast forward, and I'm the guy under center, and we're in there with a chance to win a Big Sky Championship.”

MSU stunned the entire state of Montana by defeating the Grizzlies 10-7 and ending the Bobcats’ Brawl of the Wild drought.

Much like this year, the matchup in 2002 involved conference stakes. If the Grizzlies won, they would have been the Big Sky Conference champions, but because the ‘Cats prevailed, the teams were crowned co-champions. Both finished 5-2 in conference play, marking a turning point for MSU football.

“The thing that is of significance when fans remember that game is, ‘Hey, we can beat the Grizzlies again. We’re back on the same playing field,’” Lulay said. “‘Let's expect to win that game and expect more out of ourselves, our University [and] our football program.’”

Since this game, MSU is 11-11 against the Griz and there has not been a massive win streak for either team, demonstrating how significant this game was for the program.

Bobcat fans spoke optimistically about this year’s Brawl of the Wild match-up.

Delanie Colbert, a business management major, said she believed the ‘Cats would be victorious. “‘Cats by 17. I don't know, like, exactly, but ‘Cats by 17. I think we're going to win,” she said.

Layla Davis, an interior design major, had some very simple words to say to Griz fans heading into Saturday’s game: “Eat s--t Grizzlies. Go ‘Cats go!”

Davis was not the only person with this mentality. These words have been chanted from the Bobcat student section after every touchdown and at every game.

This year, the stakes are particularly high because the teams are playing for two trophies instead of one: the Great Divide trophy and the Big Sky Conference trophy. As a result, this game carries significant implications for the FCS playoffs.

Both teams are ranked in the top three in the FCS, and it will be a winner-take-all matchup for the Big Sky Conference. The winner gets home-field advantage and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Moreover, the Brawl of the Wild hasn’t ended in a one-score game since 2018, when the ‘Cats won with a score of 29-25 in Missoula. If my predictions are correct, though, it will happen again this year.

MSU — a historically run-heavy team — has had exceptionally efficient passing this season. Quarterback Justin Lamson has averaged nearly 200 passing yards per game. For reference, former MSU quarterback and Walter Payton Award winner Tommy Mellott averaged 173 passing yards per game last year.

Lamson has also tacked on 29 total touchdowns to only two interceptions and holds a 71 percent completion rate, ranking third in the FCS. Lamson’s 168.14 passing efficiency grade has earned him seventh-best in the FCS.

Despite the passing success, the ‘Cats are still sticking to their roots: running the ball. Their 2,560 total rushing yards rank fourth in the FCS.

Last year, the Grizzlies weren’t as relevant in Big Sky Conference talk — but this year, they are not to be underestimated. Quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat has shown off his true potential in his sophomore season. He is third in the FCS in passing yards with 2,968, has 30 total touchdowns and has the Grizzlies sitting at 11-0.

In addition, UM running back Eli Gillman has already surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark on the season and is no stranger to the end zone, with 16 rushing scores.

Both teams have enjoyed many wins, but in different ways. MSU’s average margin of victory is 23 points. In just conference play, the ‘Cats have outscored their opponents 332-82, winning by an average of 35 points. They haven’t had a game decided by one score since Sept. 6 against South Dakota State University.

The Grizzlies are outscoring their opponents by 19 points, but have had three one-score games, only one of which was against a ranked team. Many people question whether their wins are valid because MSU will be their first ranked opponent since their one-point win over North Dakota State University in week two.

This game could feature heavy firepower across the field. Some key matchups to look out for are UM’s rushing attack versus MSU’s 12th-ranked rushing defense. MSU’s secondary has also taken quite the leap recently, intercepting the quarterback five times in the past three weeks.

In addition, people should keep an eye on Lamson versus UM’s 115th-ranked passing defense. Lamson, who has had great success passing this year, could feast on this weakness. The Griz also have 25 sacks this year and Lamson has been sacked 22 times. A key to winning this game for the ‘Cats will be protecting their quarterback.

This year will mark the 124th meeting of one of the most underappreciated rivalries in college football. You do not want to miss out on this sports spectacle that will shape the layout of the FCS playoff bracket. Expect an absolute thriller of a game that will keep you glued to your seat until the very end.

“It's a passionate historic rivalry. It truly is one of the best rivalries in North American sports, as far as I'm concerned,” said Lulay, who predicts a 27-17 win over UM.

“[UM has] never been as passionate about beating the ‘Cats as the ‘Cats are about beating the Grizzlies,” Lulay said. “So, I think [MSU] folks are all kind of on the same page, and that's what makes the rivalry so cool and so special and unique.”

To learn more about MSU football, visit https://msubobcats.com/sports/football.