Rivals Scrap For A Berth

For the first time in 15 years, there will be more than pride at stake Saturday when Montana and Montana State, both 5-2 in the Big Sky Conference football race, meet in their annual bragging-rights showdown.

Kickoff is 12:05 p.m. MST at MSU in Bozeman. The winner will claim sole possession of second place and, in all likelihood, an at-large berth in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs that start Nov. 29.

The last time the schools met when both were among the top three in the standings was in 1982. Montana won that year’s midseason game 45-14, but both teams finished 5-2 and tied with Idaho atop the standings.

The Grizzlies were awarded the Big Sky’s automatic playoff berth by virtue of victories over MSU and Idaho. Idaho received an at-large berth, but the Bobcats were snubbed.

This time around, it would seem as if Montana, 7-3 overall and ranked 10th and 11th in the two most highly regarded polls, would be a lock for a berth if it wins. Unranked MSU is 6-4 overall and could be left out of the playoff picture, even it it wins.

History, however, is on the Bobcats’ side, considering the Big Sky has placed at least two teams in the playoffs for the past 12 years.

Kramer big Matadors fan

Faced with a schedule that included road games against three Division I schools and the loss of quarterback Aaron Flowers for three games because of a broken leg, Cal State Northridge is a modest 5-6 heading into Saturday’s season finale against Northern Arizona.

But Eastern Washington coach Mike Kramer, whose Eagles outlasted Northridge 39-32 last Saturday, warns that the Matadors won’t be down long.

“I consider Northridge to be a slumbering giant,” Kramer said. “It’s just a matter of time until the conference championship goes through Northridge.”

Kramer bases his prediction on the fact that the school is situated in the Los Angeles area, which has long been one of the nation’s recruiting hotbeds. And he noted the Matadors are quick to court “bounce-back” recruits who leave the area to play at top Division I programs but return home for various reasons.

This year’s roster, for instance, includes 11 players who formerly played at schools such as Oklahoma, Michigan State, California, UCLA and Iowa State.

“Regardless of what your offensive or defensive schemes are, athletes can make them work,” Kramer added. “And their pool of athletes is so high and so far beyond what anyone else in this conference has, it won’t be long until Northridge is one of the nation’s premier I-AA teams.”

What, Cliff worry?

Montana State coach Cliff Hysell isn’t playing it as close to the vest offensively as he usually does.

The Bobcats, primarily a run-oriented team during Hysell’s tenure, boast one of the Big Sky’s top wide receivers in Tony Vallez, who caught 10 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns in last Saturday’s 30-6 rout of Cal State Sacramento.

Vallez needs just 80 yards in receptions to become the first Bobcat in 13 seasons to top 1,000 yards. In addition, quarterback Rob Compson has thrown 20 touchdown passes - the second-highest single-season total in school history.

“People have kidded me that I’m going to lose my Conservative Coaches Association card,” Hysell said.

Respect for elder

Sophomore Dario Romero, EWU’s backup right defensive tackle from Lewis and Clark High School, was quick to share the wealth with one of his senior teammates after recording four sacks in Saturday’s 39-32 win over Cal State Northridge.

“Chris Scott has been our big factor all year,” Romero said of Scott, a three-year starter at left tackle. “And when they double team on him, that leaves me with only one man to beat.

“And in a big game like this, you’ve got to make big plays.”

Quick kicks

Montana leads its series against Montana State 59-32-5, but the teams are 17-17 in Big Sky games… . Weber State averages a league-high 10 penalties and 94.3 penalty yards per game… . Saturday’s Northern Arizona-Cal State Northridge matchup features the league’s two most prolific passers in NAU’s Travis Brown, who has thrown for 3,209 yards and 20 touchdowns, and CSN’s Aaron Flowers, who has thrown for 2,928 yards and 21 touchdowns despite missing three games with a broken leg… . Idaho State defensive back Trevor Bell has caused 16 turnovers this season and leads the conference with eight interceptions and six fumble recoveries.

Pairings via satellite

Brackets for the 16-team I-AA playoffs will be announced live on FOX Sports South at 9 a.m. Sunday.

The Sports South network can be found on the Direct TV satellite system or at Telstar 5, Transponder 12 (KU-Band). The downlink frequency is Horizontal 3940. The audio will be carried on 6.2 and 6.8.

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