By DAVE GUFFEY for GoGriz.com
THE GAME: The 6th/7th-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (5-2/3-0 BSC) are on the road this Saturday, Oct. 25, playing the Cal Poly Mustangs (4-3/3-1 BSC) in a Big Sky Conference game in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Kickoff in Alex G. Spanos Stadium (11,075) is at 7:07 p.m. (Mountain time).
SERIES/LAST MEETING: UM leads15-2. The Griz defeated the Mustangs 21-14 in overtime in Missoula last season. (2013 stats/game story on add 14 of weekly release).
LAST GAME: (At Montana 42, UC Davis 28): Senior halfback Jordan Canada broke loose for three long touchdown runs and senior quarterback Jordan Johnson had two scoring passes and also rushed for a TD, to lead the Grizzlies over the upset-minded Aggies.
GRIZ POW NOMINEES vs. UC DAVIS: Offense: Canada, who had 15 carries for 151 yards and 3 TDs (74, 24, 21). Defense: Junior LB Herbert Gamboa, who had 11 tackles, 2 TFLs, a sack, and a FF. Special Teams: Junior P/K Chris Lider, who averaged 47.0 yards on four punts and had 7 kickoffs, with two touchbacks.
JOHNSON STATS UPDATE: Johnson remains third in career touchdown passes at Montana with 61, and he moved up to fifth in career passing yards with 6,901.
CANADA STATS UPDATE: Canada is ranked fourth in career rushing yards (2,751) and is also fourth in in career scoring runs (33).
Jordan Canada scores vs UC Davis. Photo by ©Mark Mesenko for Make it Missoula
WAGENMANN UPDATE: Wagenmann remains tied for fourth in career sacks in school history with 29, and he’s ranked fifth in career tackles for loss with 42.
HERMANSON STATS UPDATE: Senior free safety Matt Hermanson has moved up to 12th in career tackles with 292.
PAYTON WATCH LIST UPDATE: Johnson, a 6-1, 195-pound senior from Eugene, Ore., and a preseason Walter Payton Award candidate, is 91-of-162-2 for 1,070 yards and 8 touchdown throws so far this season.
BUCHANAN WATCH LIST UPDATE: Wagenmann, a 6-3 ½, 255-pound senior defensive end and Buck Buchanan Award candidate from Missoula, Mont., has 42 total tackles, 9.0 sacks, and 12.5 TFLs this season. He currently leads the Big Sky and is ranked third in the FCS in sacks (1.29 pg) and 13th in tackles for loss (1.8 pg).
GRIZ LEAD THE FCS IN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: Montana continues to lead the FCS in average attendance at 25,509 in four home games. UM set a WGS record with 26,303 fans at the South Dakota game earlier this season. James Madison is second with an average of 22,761.
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MEDIA COVERAGE
GRIZ RADIO: Mick Holien has been the voice of Grizzly football the past 22-plus seasons and is in his 30th year overall. Scott Gurnsey is in his 17th year as analyst, and Greg Sundberg is on the sidelines for his fourth season. (Radio Network on add 6).
TELEVISION/STREAMING: The Griz-Mustang game will be televised on most Cowles Montana Media stations. Chris Byers calls the play-by-play, Grady Bennett is the in-booth analyst, and Shaun Rainey covers the sidelines. The game can be watched on Charter channels 11/511; DirecTV channel 23, and Dish Network channel 23. The game will be streamed on gogriz.com/allaccess.
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