Griz set to host Dixie State in first-ever meeting

The Montana Grizzlies return home and get back on that horse this week as first-time opponent Dixie State visits Missoula for UM's final nonconference showdown of the season, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Coming off their first loss of the season, a biting 34-28 heartbreaker at Eastern Washington, Montana will look to rebound against the FCS debutant Trailblazers and improve on its 11-game home win streak.

Dixie State is in its first full calendar year competing at the FCS level after making the transition from D-II in July of 2020. A new member of the WAC, which reinstated football competition in January, the Trailblazers played five games in the spring of 2021, compiling a 2-3 record over five games.

With the WAC opening official conference play in 2022, DSU has pieced together an independent FCS schedule in 2021 against some of the heaviest hitters in the subdivision. The Trailblazers come to Missoula with an 0-4 record this fall, with losses to three Big Sky teams in Sacramento State, Weber State, and UC Davis, falling by a combined 120-31 scoreline.

DSU played its first non-Big Sky team of the year last week, falling 55-7 to No. 3 South Dakota State.

But that doesn't mean the Trailblazers aren't capable of pulling off the upset. In the spring, the Blazers hung 60 points on D-II Fort Lewis in their first game as a D-I institution, and capped their spring with a 26-14 win over fellow FCS debutant Tarleton State. DSU also came close to knocking off FBS New Mexico State in a 36-29 loss.

WATCH: ABC Montana (SWX in Billings) will provide a statewide broadcast of Montana's nonconference matchup against Dixie State, and fans around the nation can tune in via the ESPN+ streaming service. Fans who live in the state of Montana can also pick up a stream of the game on their mobile devices via the Watch SWX App.

Ron Davis will be on the play-by-play, with former Grizzly QB and Glacier High School head football coach Grady Bennett serving as the analyst. Shaun Rainey will be the sideline reporter.

LISTEN: "Voice of the Griz" Riley Corcoran and long-time analyst Greg Sundberg will bring you the action live from Missoula on KGVO Missoula, the flagship station of the Grizzly Sports Radio Network, and its fifteen affiliates around the state. Live audio web streams can also be found at GoGriz.com/Listen.

Also new in 2021, Griz fans have a better than ever way to stream all of Montana's radio broadcasts on their mobile device LIVE and FREE of charge with the Varsity Network App, powered by Learfield and Sidearm Sports.

Fans can download the app for iPhone or Android use for instant access to free gameday audio streams plus the Coach Hauck Radio Show, and receive push notifications to remind them of games starting or upcoming audio broadcasts as well.

COACHES SHOW: The Bobby Hauck radio show returns this week, broadcast live across the state from the banks of the Clark Fork River at the show's new home of FINN in the DoubleTree Hotel in Missoula, each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Admission to watch the live broadcast at FINN is free, with a special coaches' show menu available.

Week 6 Montana Grizzlies Football Press Conference https://t.co/DFbkCzQlWO
— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB) October 4, 2021

KNOW BEFORE YOU #GOGRIZ

MOBILE TICKETING: After a successful rollout of Montana's new mobile ticketing system last week, fans will again have the opportunity to move to a 100% mobile or print-at-home ticket delivery system, offering the convenience of having tickets delivered to your mobile device and added flexibility in case of lost or stolen tickets. As always, fans are encouraged to enter the stadium as early as possible to avoid lines at the gate.

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR TICKETS
·      Visit www.GrizTix.com on a mobile device or computer
·      Login to your account with your email and password
·      Click on Manage My Account
·      Choose REISSUE to download new Print-at-Home tickets
·      Choose TRANSFER to send tickets to someone else
·      Save mobile tickets to your wallet or print them at home
·      Scan your ticket on your phone screen at the gate, just like you would at the airport -OR- Scan your print at home ticket

BENEFITS OF MOBILE TICKETING
·      Instant delivery: No shipping errors
·      Security: Ticket office can provide more options in case of lost or stolen tickets
·      Flexibility: Send tickets to your friends and family easily via email or text
·      Convenience: Manage your account 24-hours a day at home with the ability to transfer and reissue tickets on demand
·      Easy resale: flexibility to resell unused tickets so we can reach sellout status for the best home-field advantage in the league
·      Sustainability: Reduces our carbon footprint due to less paper-and less shipping
·      Touch-free: No contact/handling for social distancing

For complete details on the new mobile ticketing system, including instructional videos and FAQs, visit GoGriz.com/MobileTicketing.

DIGITAL PROGRAMS: Montana fans can capture the memory of Saturday's game easier this season with gameday programs moving to a digital platform.

Fans can pick up a free roster flip-card from any retailer inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium and scan a QR code for quick and easy access to the full gameday program.

GRIZ TRACKS

GRIZ IN THE POLLS: Montana dropped from four to No. 6 in both the Stats Perform media poll and the AFCA FCS Coaches' poll this week after Saturday's loss at EWU. As expected the Griz are now the second-highest of five ranked Big Sky teams.

Montana is, however, the highest-ranked one-loss team in the FCS, with four undefeated teams below it in the media poll and five in the coaches' poll.

GRIZ IN THE RATINGS: Montana dropped from No. 77 to No. 87 in this week's Sagarin Ratings with a 67.28.

The Griz remained the highest-rated Big Sky team and are the third-highest rated FCS team behind South Dakota State (49), North Dakota State (73), and James Madison (75). Montana is also rated ahead of notable programs like Cal (90), Utah State (91), Illinois (92), and Florida State (97). Eastern Washington climbed from 114 to 99.

Compiled by statistician Jeff Sagarin for USA Today, the Sagarin Ratings formula compares and ranks all 258 Division-I college football teams. They are also used as part of the tie-breaking protocol within the Big Sky to determine conference champions.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK NODS: Montana produced some unforgettable performances in last week's clash between the two top teams in the Big Sky, with two Grizzlies earning FCS and Big Sky Player of the Week nominations.

Flowers was once again phenomenal in the kick return game, totaling 217 return yards on six attempts with a 99-yard touchdown against Eastern Washington. It was his second kick return TD in as many weeks and the fifth of his career, one shy of tying the Big Sky and FCS record.

His total of 217 return yards is the most in the FCS so far this season by nearly 70 yards, and his 255 all-purpose yards are the most in the league and fifth-most in the FCS..

Flowers also added five rushing yards and 33 receiving yards against the Eagles for a personal haul of 255 all-purpose yards.

For his efforts he earned an honorable mention for the Stats Perform FCS Special Teams Player of the Week.

Senior linebacker Jace Lewis also had one of his best games of the year at EWU, totaling a season-high 10 tackles (7 solo), 2.5 TFLs for a loss of 23 yards, a sack for a loss of 17 yards and two QB hurries.

It was the second week in a row Lewis has picked up 2.5 TFLs and his second-straight week with a sack as well. He is currently fourth on the team in tackles with 26 this season and sixth in the Big Sky with seven TFLs.

Lewis also earned an honorable mention for the Stats Perform FCS Special Teams Player of the Week.

BOOM-SCHINI: Montana's punting unit continues to be a major asset for the Grizzly defense, with freshman Brian Buschini continuously flipping the field on opposing offenses to help win the field position battle.

The Grizzlies enter this week's clash with Dixie State with the No. 1 overall net punting team in the nation, averaging 45.24 net yards per kick, adjusted to account for UM's phenomenal return average against the punt.

On 21 punts this season, the Griz have allowed just five returns for a total of 13 yards, keeping opposing offenses in their own territory.

In four games, Buschini, a graduate of Helena Capital, has dropped eight of his 21 attempts inside opponents 20 with only one touchback and a total haul of 983 yards and eight punts of 50-plus yards. His average of nearly 47 yards per punt puts his No. 7 in the FCS and top 15 in the FBS as well.

In the first game of the season at Washington, Buschini was named ROOT Sports Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week and was an honorable mention for the Stats Perform FCS Freshman of the Week as well. He was instrumental in Montana's upset of the Huskies, dropping three of his seven punts inside the 20 and posting a long of 58 yards.

STREAKS ALIVE: Montana enters the week riding an 11-game win streak in the friendly confines of Washington-Grizzly Stadium, dating back to 2019's home opener against North Alabama. The Griz went 7-0 at home that season and added two more home wins in the spring of 2021. With wins over Western Illinois and Cal Poly so far this season, UM extended its streak to 11.

Montana holds a 211-33 all-time record inside WGS, a .864 win percentage.

PHENOMENAL FLOWERS: Malik Flowers continued his march into the UM record books with his fifth career kick return touchdown at EWU. He broke Montana's school record two weeks ago with his fourth kick return TD, passing Jefferson Heidelberger (2001-04) and Greg Anderson's (1974-76) career totals of three.

The junior is now one kick return shy of tying Weber State senior Rashid Shaheed's current Big Sky record of six, which is also the current FCS mark.

Flowers' current average of 29.41 yards per-return are the most in UM history as well, ahead of Marc Mariani's career average of 27.57 yards per-return. He also only needs 146 more kick return yards to become UM's leader in that category, breaking Rob Schulte's career total of 2086.

He's the only player this season in the FCS to return a pair of kickoffs to the house.

MORE RECORDS TO WATCH:
• With 13 tackles against EWU and now 276 to his name, Robby Hauck past six Grizzlies on UM's all-time tackler list this week, including legends like Josh Buss, Mike McGowan, JP Kanangata'a, and Adam Boomer. He's now among Montna's top-20 all-time tacklers and needs 122 stops in his next year and a half of eligibility to pass Dante Olson's school record of 397.

• Jace Lewis also jumped up UM's all-time list 10 tackles against EWU. He's now tied with National Championship-winning linebacker Mike Bouchee at 245 in his career.

• Samuel Akem improved his career totals with four grabs for 58 yards and a TD at EWU. He passed Grizzly Hall of Famer and NFL alum Brian Salonen in career receptions and needs just two more to pass his former teammate Samori Toure at 155.

With one TD grab in Cheney he's also now tied at No. 5 on UM's all-time touchdown catch list with legendary Joe Douglass with 25 in his career, needing just five more touchdown catches to pass Mariani's career total of 29.

LAST TIME IT HAPPENED:
• Malik Flowers had 5 rush yards, 33 receiving yards, and 217 kick return yards for a total 255 all-purpose yards at EWU. Last time a UM player had 250+ all-purpose yards was Samori Toure in 2019 against SE Louisiana when he had 315 total, which broke Randy Moss' FCS playoff record.

• Eastern Washington's Talolo Limu-Jones had a big day for the Eagles, hauling in 11 grabs for 231 total yards. You have to go back to 2012 to find the last time a UM opponent had 200-plus receiving yards when North Dakota's Greg Hardin set a Big Sky record with 333 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-40 loss in Grand Forks.

• Montana allowed its first blocked field goal in five years against EWU when Kevin Macias had a 48-yard attempt knocked down by Caleb Davis. The last time UM had a field goal blocked was in 2016 - a 44-yard attempt by Brandon Purdy in a 43-20 Grizzly win.

GRIZ QUICK HITS:

• Montana has outrushed all of its opponents so far this season by a total of 386 yards, with the Griz totaling 654 yards on the ground to opponents combined 268 yards, but are 2-1 on the year when putting up less total yardage.

• The Grizzly Defense leads the FCS in team tackles for loss this week after tallying 10 TFLs and five sacks against the Eagles, averaging 10.8 per contest. UM is also ranked No. 2 in the FCS in team sacks with an average of 4.5 per game.

• Montana is also top-10 nationally and first in the Big Sky in team passing efficiency defense with a 103.9 rating. UM is also No. 11 nationally in scoring defense, holding opposing offenses to less than 14 points per game, despite having just played the potent EWU offense.

• Marcus Welnel picked off another pass against the Eagles to bring his season total to three, a number that leads all players in the Big Sky and ranks him fifth nationally.

• Patrick O'Connell continues to lead the Big Sky in sacks and tackles for loss while coming in at No. 3 and No. 2, respectively, in each category in the FCS stats.

• Montana went off to its first 3-0 start to the season since 2013 before falling to 3-1 at EWU. That year the Griz also opened the season with a big win over Appalachian State, but were tripped up one the road at NAU in their fourth game of the season as well. UM went on to a 10-3 overall record with an overtime loss to EWU and a playoff loss to Costal Carolina.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Samuel Akem

Brian Buschini

Malik Flowers

Robby Hauck

Jace Lewis

Kevin Macias

Patrick O'Connell

Samori Toure

Marcus Welnel

University of Montana Athletics