Vandals-Griz: ‘Just like in the old days’

Montana at Idaho, tonight, 7:30 p.m. TV: ESPN2

By MARK NELKE

Sports editor

It was last year about this time the Idaho Vandals went into Missoula as a relative unknown.

The Vandals left with an impressive 30-23 victory over Montana, and rode that momentum into their first FCS playoff berth since returning to the Big Sky Conference in 2018.

One year later, Montana (5-1, 2-1 Big Sky) and Idaho (5-1, 3-0) are poised to meet up tonight in the Kibbie Dome for the Little Brown Stein — two teams at or near the top of the conference standings, regional rivals, a matchup triggering memories of great games between the two teams in the 1980s and early ‘90s.

“What a great setting and atmosphere it’s going to be this week, playing our biggest rival in Montana,” Idaho coach Jason Eck said earlier this week, in his weekly meeting with area media. “This is a huge game. Just like in the old days, this has a lot of implications for the Big Sky race, the national race, playoff positioning … so it’s a huge game.”

A sellout crowd at the 16,000-seat Dome is expected for the 7:30 p.m. game, to be televised by ESPN2.

“Idaho came in here and upset us when we were No. 2 in the nation … and then they went on to win seven games, and got into the playoffs,” Montana coach Bobby Hauck said earlier this week, to Montana media. “I know a lot of old Grizzlies care deeply about this game.”

Idaho enters the game ranked No. 3 in the Stats Perform FCS poll and coaches poll.

Montana is ranked 16th in the Stats poll, 10th in the coaches poll. The Griz stumbled at Northern Arizona in their Big Sky opener, but has played their best ball in recent weeks, since Clifton McDowell has been inserted at quarterback. McDowell, a senior who previously played at Central Arkansas, has four passing touchdowns and a rushing score in the last two games.

“They probably played their best football game of the year last week vs. (UC) Davis,” Eck said of Montana’s 31-23 win in California. “I think they were going through a process of finding out what they wanted to be on offense, and last week I think they found their answers — use the quarterback more in the run game, get the ball out of his hands quick to the playmakers.”

Eck said Montana’s receiving corps of Aaron Fontes, Junior Bergen and Keelan White are “the strength of their offense.” Bergen is also an outstanding kick returner, averaging a Big Sky-high 18.6 yards per punt return, with one touchdown.

Last year, Idaho won in Missoula despite rushing for just 52 yards on 44 attempts. The Vandals slowed down the Grizzlies rush attack (34 yards on 18 attempts), making them one-dimensional.

“Some of us from last year still have that bitter taste in our mouth,” Fontes said.

“That wasn’t a fun game to lose,” Montana junior linebacker Ryan Tirrell added. “We have to control the game, like they did last year.”

This year, Idaho is averaging 204.5 rushing yards per game, led by sophomore Anthony Woods (662 yards, 10 TDs, 6.7 yards per carry), who is seventh in the FCS in rushing yards and third in rushing touchdowns.

“I feel like we’re running the ball better than we were at this point in the season last year,” Eck said. “But this will be a great test for us.”

“They’re physical runners,” Hauck said of Woods and Nick Romano, who has 241 rushing yards in his last three games. “They want to run the ball, they have great wide receivers. They want to run the ball, and their backs are good at it.”

The Griz are plus-5 in turnover margin. Idaho is minus 3.

Montana boasts two starters with North Idaho ties. Junior Kale Edwards (Coeur d’Alene High) has started five of six games at defensive end, with 4.5 tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble. And junior Brandon Casey (Sandpoint High) is in his second year starting at right tackle.

Bryce Erickson, former Lake City head coach and son of former Idaho coach Dennis Erickson, is in his third season as an assistant at Montana. He’s coaching receivers this year, after coaching tight ends the past two years. Former Idaho State head coach Rob Phenicie is assistant head coach in his second year in his second stint in Missoula, also coaching tight ends and tackles.

Timm Rosenbach, former Washington State quarterback, is a senior offensive analyst for Montana. Defensive line coach Mike Linehan played at Idaho and is the brother of former Vandal quarterback Matt Linehan, currently Idaho’s wide receivers coach.

Idaho leads the all-time series 56-30-2. Montana beat the Vandals in 2018 and 2021 in Moscow, and in 2019 in Missoula; Idaho’s win last year was the first since The Return.

“Regional rivalries are what’s neat about college sports,” Eck said. “They’re deciding to get away from those a little bit at the Power 5 level, but I think it’s awesome. I know they travel well, and we’ll take their money; we want to sell this thing out however we can. It’s a big rivalry any year, but with both teams 5-1 it adds spice to the matchup.”

The game will be the first linear ESPN broadcast (meaning, not just on ESPN Plus), and the first sellout at the Kibbie Dome since Boise State’s last visit to Moscow, in 2010.

For star Idaho receiver Hayden Hatten, who has experienced highs and lows in his five years in Moscow, playing a game on a national stage is “something I dreamed about for a long time — to be able to control our own destiny in the Big Sky.”

As for beating Montana again …

“I think it would mean a lot for me, personally,” Hatten said. “Montana and Eastern Washington are my two personal vendetta teams, but I think it would mean a lot more to this university, and the people who support this university, and the people who have played here before me, to take care of business this Saturday, because those are the people who really care … this is my fifth year; I’ve seen the ups and downs. Being able to go out there and play a great game and get a victory would mean a lot. Not only to me personally, but to the entire community.”