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GRIZ RADIO: Veteran Mick Holien calls the play-by-play for his 19th season in a row in 2011. Former Griz receiver Scott Gurnsey and Greg Sundberg provide in-booth color. The 2011 Grizzly Football Radio Network is listed on add 6-6-6 of this release.
TV: The game will be aired on ESPN with, Dave Neal calling the play-by-play, Andre Ware providing in-booth color commentary, and Quint Kessenich as the sideline reporter.
Radio Streaming: GoGriz.com.
21ST TRIP TO THE PLAYOFFS/51ST GAME: This is Montana’s 21st appearance in the FCS/Div. I-AA playoffs, and 51st playoff game. It is Montana’s 18th berth in the playoffs in the last 19 seasons. The Griz have a 32-18 record in the playoffs, and are 28-6 at home; 2-8 on the road, and 1-4 at neutral sites. Montana won the national championship in 1995 and 2001.
GRIZ IN SEMIS: This is Montana’s 11th trip to the semifinals, where it has an all-time record of 7-3, including a 6-1 mark at home and 1-2 on the road. The Griz and Bearkats played in the 2004 in SHSU’s only semifinal appearance, UM winning 34-13 at home. UM’s semis scores:
1989: at Georgia Southern 45, Montana 14 2004: at Montana 34, Sam Houston St. 13
1994: at Youngstown St. 28, Montana 9 2006: Massachusetts 19, at Montana 17
1995: at Montana 70, S.F. Austin 14 2008: Montana 35, at James Madison 27
1996: at Montana 70, Troy State 7 2009: at Montana 24, Appalachian State 17
2000: at Montana 19, Appalachian St. 16 (OT) 2011: at Sam Houston State
2001: at Montana 38, Northern Iowa 0
OTHER SEMI/CHIPPER: Saturday, Dec. 17: Georgia Southern (11-2) at North Dakota St. (12-1), 12:30 p.m. on ESPN. The semifinals winners play for the FCS championship Saturday, Jan. 7, in Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, on ESPN2, with kickoff at 11:00 a.m. (Mtn.).
LAST GAME (At Montana 48, Northern Iowa 10): Just as in last week’s 41-14 second round victory over visiting Central Arkansas, the Griz dominated the game. Against UNI, Montana’s offense rushed for 267 yards and passed for another 196, en route to 463 total yards and 20 first downs. UM was 5-of-5 scoring in the red zone and converted 7-of-13 first downs. UNI had 257 total yards and 11 first downs. The Griz defense sacked UNI quarterbacks five times and had 10 tackles for loss. UNI was 5-of-16 on third down conversions. (Game stats, etc. on add 25).
MCKNIGHT EXTENDS CONSECUTIVE FG RECORD: With his two field goals versus UCA, McKnight has made 16 in a row - a school record. Old record: 13, Dan Carpenter, 2005.
MCSURDY POY: Griz senior linebacker Caleb McSurdy, who leads the Griz with 127 tackles, was named the Big Sky’s “Defensive Player of the Year.” (UM’s Big Sky picks on add 12).
COACH PFLUGRAD RECEIVES HONORS: Montana head football coach Robin Pflugrad was the 2011 Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year. He is also one of 20 finalists for the 25th Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the FCS’s national coach of the year.
26 WINNING SEASONS IN A ROW: UM’s victory at Northern Arizona on Oct. 22 was its sixth of the year -- giving the Grizzlies their 26th winning season (since 1986) in a row.
BEARKATS’ LAST GAME (At SHSU 49, MSU 13): SHSU rushed for a season-high 428 yards and the “D” held MSU to 349 total yards (77 rushing). Sophomore wide receiver Richard Sincere rushed 11 times for 160 yards out of the “Wildcat” formation and also scored on a reception. Fellow sophomore wide receiver Torrance Williams had just five carries for 99 yards and two scores. Sophomore quarterback Brian Bell was 5-of-12-1 for 73 yards and 2 TDs and had a 54-yard scoring run.
ABOUT SHSU: The Bearkats are located in Huntsville, Texas, and have an enrollment of 17,618. SHSU is ranked first in the nation in rush defense (67.38 ypg), second in both total defense (275.69 ypg), scoring defense (13.77 ppg), and turnover margin (+2.00). They are also ranked first in the FCS in scoring, averaging 39.77 points a game. Bell is second in the FCS in passing efficiency (165.17), and is 121-198-4 for 1,841 yards and 18 TDs. Sophomore halfback Tim Flanders is 27th in the country in rushing with 97.72 ypg, and has rushed 251 times for 1,273 yards and 21 touchdowns. SHSU is sixth in the FCS in rushing (258.54 ypg). They were Southland Conference champs with a 7-0 league record.
THE SERIES: Montana leads 3-1. The scores: 2001: at Montana 49, Sam Houston 24 (FCS quarterfinal game); 2003: at Montana 38, Sam Houston 14; 2004: at Sam Houston 41, Montana 29 and also in 2004, at Montana 47, Sam Houston 17 (FCS semifinal).
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