BOZEMAN – One area for each team in this Saturday’s game between Montana and Montana State has gone from a question mark to a big plus and they just happen to line up against one another for the 124th rendition of the rivalry in what could be one of if not the key matchup of the day.
Due to the loss of their entire secondary from a year ag,o the Bobcats were hopeful a group of young and mostly untested players could at least partially replace five veterans. They’ve more than exceeded expectations as MSU leads the Big Sky Conference in passing yards allowed per game (197.5) and pass efficiency defense (115.2). The Grizzlies picked up a pair of senior transfers in Michael Wortham (Eastern Washington) and Blake Bohannon (Kennesaw State) to go along with budding freshman Brooks Davis and veteran senior Drew Deck. Pair that with speedy sophomore Korbin Hendrix, an Arizona State transfer who ran 10.4 seconds in the 100 meters in high school, and UM has not missed a beat despite graduating a talented trio after last season.
While UM graduation star receivers Keelan White (CFL) and Junior Bergen (NFL), who combined for 105 catches for 1,170 yards and seven touchdowns during UM”s 9-5 season last fall, the previously mentioned four receivers turned a passing game that was good for just 215.1 yards per game and a pass efficiency rating of just 127.8 in 2024 into a 289.0 yards per game and 163.1 rating unit. The quartet of Wortham, Davis, Deck and Bohannon have combined for 138 catches for 2,014 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Grizzlies are second in the BSC in passing yards per game and pass efficiency rating.
“It’s a new-look group for sure,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen said. “I really have felt like their group of receivers the last couple of years have been as good as any receivers, anywhere, so it’s just evolved. I think for us, it’s first defending the quarterback more than it is defending the receivers. Defending the quarterback meaning how can we challenge him pre-snap and how can we put pressure on him? That will influence what the defensive backs have to do.”
Like every coach that’s gone up against the Grizzlies’ offense, Vigen is especially wary of Wortham. The slashing speedster who went from junior college quarterback to All-American kick returner and playmaker at EWU to one of the Big Sky’s leading Offensive Player of the Year candidates. Wortham enters Saturday’s showdown with 1,060 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns to go with 49 yards passing and a throwing score + a 28-yards per kick return average.
“The unique, different ways they’ve been able to use Wortham has added a dimension,” Vigen said. “From a receiver perspective, he’s done similar things to what guys have done but now you put him in the wildcat. Even from an option perspective, power read game, those types of things, he’s an exceptional athlete. We saw that last year when he was at Eastern. He did some special things that day in a small sample size, so it’s not surprising. But they’ve done a great job of utilizing him.”
Wortham, who ran 36 times for 313 yards while at Eastern Washington a year ago, will get a lot of attention from not only the MSU secondary but the entire defense as versatile athlete bounces around to three positions throughout any game. So often this year, Montana has followed up a gash play by any of its offensive skill players with Wortham lining up at Wildcat quarterback and essentially running the option.
Wortham has 43 carries for 238 yards and five touchdowns. He has thrown just three passes but has completed two of them – both in a key 42-38 win at Idaho State – and one went for a key touchdown of 16 yards to tight end Josh Gale. In the EWU game against the Bobcats in 2024, Wortham broke off a 75-yard touchdown run, but lost a fumble on a kickoff return.
The Bobcats will rotate 10 players between their cornerback, safety and nickelback positions. Starting cornerback Seth Johnson is expected to return from an injury, while safety Taki Uluilakepa, who started the season opener, returned two weeks ago and is expected to see increased action. The unit is primarily known for its tackling ability, which has enabled them to allow just 5.7 yards per pass attempt. Only one other team in the BSC is under 7.0 yards per attempt (Sacramento State 6.9).
“Our guys have played really disciplined for the most part all season,” Vigen said. “They have allowed the ball to be completed in front of them when that’s what the defense allows for. But more and more, as the season has gone along, we have been able to challenge passing games at the same time with them.”
MSU just took on UC Davis and its star freshman quarterback Caden Pinnick and standout wide receiver Samuel Gbatu, Jr., who they kept in check in the passing game. Pinnick made some plays with his feet and arm against the Bobcats, but he was also intercepted twice by safety Cade Dowler in the second half with one returned 83 yards for a touchdown. The other saw Dowler outmaneuver Gbatu, Jr. for the ball and return it 33 yards to set up another MSU score.
Dowler has been a force the past two weeks as he’s been named the BSC Defensive Player of the Week against Weber State and UC Davis. He has three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a touchdown between the two games. MSU converted Dowler’s four takeaways the last two weeks into 28 points.
The Bobcats have faced the top seven receivers in the BSC and four of the top five quarterbacks in terms of yards per game this season. What sets the defensive backs apart in Vigen’s eyes is not only their discipline but their confidence.
“They don’t lack in confidence,” Vigen said. “I know that, but they’ve really played a disciplined brand of secondary play at the same time. Real well coached group with (safeties coach) Brian Shepherd and (cornerbacks coach) Trent Greene. Communication on the back end is really no different than on the front end for us and is really important.
“When we’ve had a few breakdowns – it’s been limited – but it’s been that. Be able to go in there and, again, play your 1/11th, your piece. Be able to know what the guy next to you is doing, you’re on the same page. We’ve gotten a little bit more diversified back there as the seasons gone along. We show more looks; pre-snap looks that kind of stuff and we gotta do that again. Ultimately, know that they’re gonna complete some balls and if they do, we gotta be able to tackle it and play the next play. If we can get a hand on the ball, if there’s an opportunity to make a game changing turnover type play, we gotta be able to make it.
Vigen’s words may be the product of the explosiveness that abounds for UM’s wide receiver group, as just three weeks ago, the Grizzlies had three passes for 60 or more yards in the first half against Weber State. Bohannon caught two of those, while Davis had the other. Last week at Portland State, Deck brought in a 39-yarder, while Wortham had one for 38 yards.
When asked about if he had any early thoughts on the matchup, Montana head coach Hauck simply said, “No, not really.”
Hauck did say he’s been impressed with the total body of work for his wide receivers not only catching the ball but blocking as well.
“We are scoring quite a few points, and those guys are producing yards and catches, they are working hard in the run game, and I think they’ve played as a group pretty well-rounded football and they’ve performed,” Hauck said.
Montana State defensive tackle and senior captain Paul Brott believes the MSU secondary’s energy is a big reason for the overall success of the defense.
“The young secondary, that was one of our biggest question marks coming in,” Brott said. “And that’s one of the biggest surprises. Those guys have UNLIMITED juice. As I get older in that locker room, I’m like ‘these guys do not have an off switch.’ They play like that too. They play with relentless effort. They want it to be known that they are hungry. I think that’s what makes them very good. They want to be known around the country, and they want to be known in this program, and they want to be known in this state. They LOVE to hit people, too.”
The Grizzlies feed off the arm of quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat who has been dynamic under center and trails only Jordan Cooke of ISU in yards passing per game, but Cooke has thrown 46 more passes on the season. Ah Yat has thrown for 24 touchdowns against just seven interceptions, but four of those came in the first three games. He’s third in the BSC in passer rating with a mark of 154.6 in league games and 163.1 in all games.
The Bobcats and Grizzlies are set to kickoff this Saturday at noon in Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula.
