The 123rd 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 influence a contest that has huge playoff ramifications on both sides and will determine if Montana State can complete its first-ever undefeated regular season.
A total of 96 in-state products (including Montana State senior Cole Sain, who grew up in Darby but went to high school at St. John Bosco Prep in Southern California) will play in Saturday’s rivalry showdown at Bobcat Stadium. A total of 30 Montana towns will have native sons representing them in one of the fiercest rivalries in college football.
“This game means the world,” Montana State senior captain Brody Grebe said on Monday. “I love this team, I love this program and there’s no place I would rather be. Coming in here, going throughout the years, there’s highs, lows and man, I think about this game, man, especially last year, what happened….every single day, I walk by that podium out there and look at that and know there should be a trophy sitting there. So going into this game, there’s big stakes and we take that seriously. I can’t wait for this final rivalry game.”
A total of 49 players from the No. 9 Grizzlies hail from in-state, two more than last season and two more than Montana State boasts. No. 2 Montana State’s roster features 47 in-state products entering the game on Saturday, up from 45 a year ago.
The rivalry game has postseason ramifications for the fifth year in a row.
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 a three-game winning streak.
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 dead even with 10 wins for each side. Montana’s 2011 win in Bozeman was technically vacated because of NCAA violations. And the rivalry was not played in 2020 because of the global pandemic.
MSU had won in four of its last five trips to Missoula before the 2021 loss, while Montana had four straight wins in Bozeman between 2007 and 2015 but lost in 2017, 2019 and 2022.
Montana State has won six of the last eight, although fourth-year head coach Brent Vigen is 1-2 in the rivalry and 0-2 in Missoula. Hauck is 7-5 against the Bobcats in his career that includes stints between 2003 and 2009 plus the current stretch that began ahead of the 2018 season.
When 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 45 for the fourth year in a row.
Former Montana State head coach Jeff Choate consistently recruited Montana players during his four-year tenure. His last team, in 2019, featured 46 Treasure State products. The 2016 Bobcats had 52 Montana kids while the 2017 team had 46 and the 2018 team featured 45, two fewer than this season.
This year’s Griz team features 10 starters, including a quartet of Montana-made safeties (Ryder Meyer, Jaxon Lee, Jace Klucewich, Tyson Rostad), who hail from in-state. The Griz have 16 players on the two-deep from in-state.
“I’m very appreciative, very blessed to be in this position and to play in this game,” UM senior captain Trevin Gradney said. “Being able to play this game as long as I have and being able to be in this rivalry game for four years now, it has been tremendous. I couldn’t ask for anything else. And winning them is even better.”
This year’s Bobcat team has 12 total starters from Montana. Nine more in-state players are on the two-deep including specialists and special teamers.
Between the two rosters combined, there are a total of 30 Montana towns represented. A total of 64 in-state players (34 for MSU, 30 for Montana) played Class AA football in high school.
Class A has 12 representatives, including nine Grizzlies. Griz safety Jace Klucewich spent three years at Frenchtown before graduating from Missoula Sentinel.
A total of 12 players cut their teeth in the Class B ranks, including six on each side.
And a total of 8 players prepped in the Class C ranks, including five for the Bobcats, although Montana safety Jaxon Lee has Class C roots. The Griz DB grew up in Phillipsburg and won two Class C state championships at Flint Creek before playing his senior year at Missoula Sentinel.
Bozeman and Missoula are the two most represented Montana towns once again. A total of 19 players from Bozeman, including 14 from Bozeman High School, will suit up. All five Gallatin alums play for Montana State, including Brent Vigen’s son, Jake. Nine ex-Hawks will suit up for Montana State while all five of UM’s Bozeman players went to Bozeman High.
Missoula is the next-most represented town with 18, including 12 who play for the Grizzlies. Missoula Sentinel has 14 alums in the game if you count Klucewich and Lee and a total of five Sentinel alums play at Montana State while there’s nine ex-Spartans playing for the Grizzlies. There’s one former Hellgate Knight on each side while both Missoula Loyola alums play for the Griz. The Griz used to have a Big Sky trio but not any longer.
“It’s my favorite week of the year. Obviously, everybody looks forward to it, big week, big game and it’s gonna be a tons of fun,” said Rylan Ortt, a Missoula Sentinel product and Bobcat captain.
Billings boasts 14 players in the game, including nine that went to West, two that went to Senior and three that went to Central, but none that went to Skyview. Seven former Golden Bears are now Bobcats and two more are Griz while UM and MSU each have one former Senior Bronc suiting up. Central is the most well-represented Class A school with three players in the game, including two for the Griz.
Helena has eight players in the game, including five for the Griz and three for the Cats. Helena High has four alums in the game, including three that play for the Griz, while Helena Capital has four graduates — two for each team.
In terms of the other three Montana “cities”: Butte has five representatives, all from Butte High, including three who play for the Griz; Kalispell has five, all Glacier alums playing for the Griz; and Great Falls has three total, including two ‘Cats (one CMR, one Great Falls High) and one former Bison who plays for Montana.
Billings Central and Red Lodge (3) are the only non-AA schools with more than two representatives. Class B Florence and Class C Phillipsburg boast two each.
Class A is also represented with one player from Dillon for the Bobcats, and a player each from Columbia Falls, Polson, Whitefish, Havre, Libby, Laurel, Browning, Hamilton, and Frenchtown.
Class B has two reps from Florence (both Bobcats), plus Bobcats from Jefferson County (Dalton Noble, who’s from Clancy) and Manhattan and Griz from Red Lodge, Huntley Project, and Whitehall.
Class C communities represented in the game include Melstone (the Grebe brothers play for MSU), Savage, Philipsburg (two if you count Lee), Fairview, Darby (Sain), and Brockton (MSU’s Mason Dethman, who graduated from Froid-Lake).
Here’s a look at the 47 Montana products on the Bobcats’ roster headed into the 123rd rendition of the fierce rivalry in Bozeman on Saturday afternoon.
The Stars
Tommy Mellott, Butte, quarterback, senior
It’s a rare occasion in current times, or any time, that someone reaches a level of fame and popularity as rapidly as Mellott did when he was a freshman, and then sustains it like Mellott has.
Not only is he Butte, America’s favorite son, but he’s also one of the steadiest, most competitive and most humble Bobcats in the program’s history.
Mellott is a favorite for the Walter Payton Award and has his team undefeated his senior year. It’s happened because Mellott has actually learned to do less rather than more. He has run the ball way less than in past yeas, yet he’s still averaging almost 10 yards per carry and he has scored 10 rushing touchdowns.
His progress as a passer has been what has transformed Montana State’s offense and given the Bobcats an opportunity to make history against the Griz. They are on the brink of the first 12-0 regular season in Big Sky history and the 11-0 start is already the best ever at MSU. Part of it has been Mellott’s efficiency as a passer. He’s completing nearly 70 percent of his passes for 1,862 yards, 21 touchdowns and just one interception.
One of the most visible and productive players ever at MSU — he surpassed more than 3,000 yards rushing earlier this year and sits third in school history — has one more go-around against the rival Grizzlies.
“It means a lot to me to represent Butte and the state of Montana,” Mellott said. “Butte is the middle ground of this state and it’s going to lean one way or the other and Butte is ultimately here at Montana State. I’ll be expecting their support. I’m all in on Montana State and this program and forever going to bleed blue and gold. Excited for the opportunity to represent the state and represent my hometown of Butte once again in this great rivalry.”
Brody Grebe, Melstone, defensive end, senior
LIke Mellott, the Melstone Cowboy has been a star at MSU since he was a freshman. Now he’s in the midst of what appears to be a third straight All-American season.
He talked effusively on Monday about how excited he was for one last rivalry go-around. So far this year, despite a slew of extra attention from opponents and the injuries to the spine fo the MSU defense (defensive tackle Blake Schmidt and inside linebacker Danny Uluilekepa were each lost for the year to knee injuries), Grebe has been an anchor.
Grebe has 28 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. Those numbers are solid but they are accentuated when one realizes that most of Montana State’s star players have hardly played in the fourth quarters of games. MSU has been up by at least 40 points on six different occasions before putting their starters on the bench during this dominant start.
McCade O’Reilly, Bozeman, linebacker, senior
Because the snaps have been limited both because of MSU’s offensive point totals and its defense has gotten off the field so quickly so often, O’Reilly’s team-leading tackle total is nowhere close to the top of the league. His 54 stops rank 31st in the league, but that is actually revelatory for just how few snaps MSU’s defense has had to play this year.
If you ask coaches around the Big Sky, the Bozeman High product is well on his way to earning All-Big Sky honors. The speedy, cerebral inside linebacker has 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble. His interception on UC Davis’ 2-point conversion attempt last weekend sealed MSU’s 30-28 win and secured at least a share of the Big Sky title.
Rylan Ortt, Missoula Sentinel, safety, senior
The former Montana Gatorade Track & Field Athlete of the Year was a walk-on with a chip on his shoulder when he first joined MSU. The son of former Griz offensive lineman Dan Ortt wasn’t recruited by his hometown Grizzlies, and he’s used that as fuel for his fire ever since.
The former state champion javelin thrower was also an outstanding quarterback in high school. When he reached college, he picked up the safety position quicker than anyone in his class and it’s helped him become a three-year starter.
The 2023 honorable mention All-Big Sky selection is likely in line for more all-conference honors. He has 52 tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception this season.
Marcus Wehr, Billings Central, offensive lineman, senior
Wehr might not score the most touchdowns or get the most NIL deals or sign the most autographs among his peers…but he is, point blank, the best player that will take the field on Saturday.
He was the highest graded offensive tackle in the FCS and a first-team All-American last season. This season, out of necessity, he switched to offensive guard and has pulverized opposing defensive linemen all season.
His dominant effort in his first career start at guard against New Mexico helped him get NFL exposure. That’s grown all season and now Wehr is projected as a draft pick who could hear his name called anywhere between the fourth and seventh rounds of next spring’s NFL draft.
Justus Perkins, Bozeman High, center, senior
Perkins is the heart and soul of the Bobcats, another walk-on turned starter turned captain who was one of the most durable players in the program before suffering a high ankle sprain in fall camp that cost him most of his senior season. Before that, Perkins had not missed a start since snaring the starting center job as a redshirt freshman.
It remains to be seen if Perkins returns to the starting lineup this week or if he will wait until the playoffs.
Taco Dowler, Billings West, wide receiver/returner, sophomore
Dowler, a former Montana Gatorade Player of the Year, has come on strong during his first fully healthy season as a Bobcat. Last week, his 79-yard punt return for a touchdown was crucial in the win over UC Davis.
He has also been opportunistic in the passing game. He has made 23 catches for 330 yards and has scored six touchdowns so far this year. He is also averaging 13.4 yards per punt return and is likely going to be an all-league selection.
Kenneth Eiden VI, Bozeman High, defensive end, junior
Eiden’s passion for his hometown team is apparent every time you talk to him. He plays with his heart on his sleeve and constantly talks about the fact that he’s living out a dream.
He has four sacks and five tackles for loss among his 15 tackles so far this season.
Adam Jones, Missoula Sentinel, running back, redshirt freshman
The former high school baseball and hockey standout has exploded in his first season of availability after dedicating his significant talents to one sport.
Jones has rushed for 731 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 7.3 yards per carry along the way. He’s also caught 15 passes for 126 yards and a score.
He is one of the finalists for the Jerry Rice Award given to the top freshman in the FCS.
The Starters
Ryan Lonergan, Bozeman High, tight end, senior
Lonergan was the third banana to the outstanding tight end/H-back pair of Derryk Snell and Treyton Pickering the last two years. This season, he’s had to share the spotlight with H-back Rohan Jones, a Maine transfer who’s turned into MSU’s big-play threat in the pass game.
Lonergan has been Mr. Steady and, performing an important role in the run-blocking scheme in particular. This season, he has eight catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
Paul Brott, Billings West, defensive tackle, junior
Brott’s emergence has been key to the continued performance of the MSU defense after senior stalwart and three-year starter Blake Schmidt went down with a season-ending knee injury.
This season, Brott has 28 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack.
Cole Sain, Darby, center, senior
Sain grew up in Darby, then prepped at national power house St. John Bosco Prep in LA. He returned to Montana to play for the Griz before going back to California to play at a junior college. That led him back to MSU. He was a starter in 2022 then missed all of last season with an injury. When Perkins went down with an ankle injury in fall camp, Sain slid over to center and has been a revelation for one of the dominant offensive line units in the FCS.
Burke Mastel, Red Lodge, offensive guard, sophomore
Mastel is the latest example of MSU’s long-standing ability to develop raw offensive lineman into good players. The 6-foot-4 mauler is up to 315 pounds and when healthy, has been MSU’s starting left guard, splitting time with senior JT Reed, an All-Big Sky selection back in 2022 before missing last year with an injury.
Caden Dowler, Billings West, nickel back, sophomore
Dowler went from fourth string to first string last season before suffering a season-ending injury. During fall camp this year, he established himself as a top option at both nickel and safety. Then he suffered another season-ending injury. Taco Dowler’s twin brother has 15 tackles and two tackles for loss in his career.
Bryce Grebe, Melstone, linebacker, redshirt freshman
The younger brother of the Melstone Cowboy brings a similar work ethic, a similar snap and a similar mindset to the MSU linebacker room. He was thrust into action when senior captain Danny Uluilakepa suffered a season-ending knee injury, but then got hurt before his first start. He’s back in the fold now and has 28 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble so far this season.
Neil Daily, Billings West, linebacker, sophomore
Daily, who actually spent his first two years of high school at Sentinel, was thrust into action when Danny U went down then Bryce Grebe got dinged leading up to the Portland State game.
The rangy, explosive Daily found his stride pretty early once thrust into the action, making six tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack against Portland State. The next week against Eastern Washington, he piled up 10 tackles. He has 34 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks so far this season.
Zac Crews, Missoula Sentinel, defensive end, sophomore
Crews did it all at Sentinel during one of the great prep careers in recent memory. He was a first-team all-state defensive end as a junior on Sentinel’s first state-title team since the 1960s. As a senior, he was a dual-threat quarterback who threw for nearly 2,000 yards and rushed for nearly 1,000, compiling 33 total touchdowns along the way as the Spartans repeated.
He also landed on the podium in the 110-meter hurdles, triple jump, javelin and shot put to lead Sentinel to a team track championship. He gave basketball a shot and wrestled as a senior, placing in that as well.
He found himself awash in controversy (google it), but now is back to athletic dominance. He’s been a steady contributor on special teams the last few years. Last week, he had one of his breakout games as a rotation player, notching his first two sacks of the season.
The contributors
Rylan Schlepp, Bozeman Gallatin, tight end, sophomore
The former two-time all-state tight end was one of the first DI commitments from Bozeman Gallatin, which is turning into a Division I factory. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder caught a touchdown in MSU’s comeback win over New Mexico, the second TD of his career. He has six catches for 125 yards this year in a crowded tight end room.
Talon Marsh, Helena Capital, defensive tackle, redshirt freshman
The former Montana Gatorade Player of the Year has seen some turns both because Montana State has been so dominant that MSU regularly empties its bench — and also because Marsh has rapidly accelerated into earning reps. The 6-foot-1, 280-pounder has two tackles for loss and a sack among his seven total tackles.
Max Murphy, Billings West, fullback, sophomore
Murphy had a breakthrough moment as a special teams standout when he punched the ball out against Eastern Washington, leading to an MSU takeaway. His first career forced fumble was a key play in Montana State’s 42-28 win in Cheney. He has three special teams tackles this year and is Rohan Jones’ backup at the H-back/fullback spot in the MSU offense.
Hunter Sharbono, Fairview, defensive tackle, redshirt freshman
The former three-sport athlete and track champion is in the rotation but has not recorded a stat yet for the Bobcats.
The Montanans
Patrick Duchien Jr., Florence
Thomas Buchanan, Red Lodge
Tom Carter, Helena Capital
Kee Christiansen, Dillon
Colter Petre, Helena
JJ Dolan, Missoula Sentinel
Mason Dethman, Broxton
Cole Taylor, Great Falls CMR
Ryan Nansel, Bozeman Gallatin
Josh Woodberry, Bozeman Gallatin
Casey Kautzman, Butte
Ryan Krahe, Great Falls
Jake Vigen, Bozeman Gallatin
Dalton Noble, Clancy/Jefferson County
Everett Carr, Bozeman
Tommy Nilson, Missoula Hellgate
Dylan Rollins, Missoula Sentinel
Jaren Perkins, Bozeman
Jaden Perkins, Bozeman
Braden Zimmer, Billings West
Jonathan Luhmann, Florence
Maclain Burckley, Billings Senior
Luke Smith, Bozeman
Rocky Lencioni, Bozeman
Kade Kruse, Manhattan
Hudson Wiens, Bozeman
