Its dead-end season neared a long-inevitable conclusion, yet Montana State showed life. That prospect seemed implausible as unwelcome visitor Montana erupted for 31 consecutive first-half points and threatened to bury its listless rival early in Saturday’s 115th Brawl of the Wild. As the third quarter wound down on a pristine late-November afternoon, however, Bobcats junior Chad Newell plunged across the goal line, trimming a once daunting deficit to 15 points.
It appeared as though MSU would pull even closer after backing the Grizzlies into a fourth and 20 on the ensuing possession. Then came a roughing the kicker penalty, one of the 13 that docked the Bobcats 120 yards. Then came a maddeningly familiar sight: A protracted opposing drive culminating with seven, and the potential for victory dashed in mere moments. “It kind of took a little life out of us,” quarterback Dakota Prukop conceded of the crucial punt, on which no teammate appeared to make contact with Chris Lider. “If we would’ve gotten that (ball back), I think we’d be sitting here in a different attitude, a different tone, but it didn’t go our way.” After a slow stroll across Bobcat Stadium following the final whistle, MSU players solemnly gathered in the fading sunlight bathing the Sonny Holland end zone one more time.
On the other end of the turf, in the shade but glowing, UM jubilantly hoisted the Great Divide Trophy. There will be no postseason in Bozeman. No winning campaign. No parity added to a rivalry that has become inequitable once more. There will be no relief. One more fall Saturday ended in bitter disappointment for the Bobcats, who dropped to 5-6 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky after the 54-35 decision. The Grizzlies (7-4, 6-2) have won three straight in the series and five consecutive games in Bozeman. They likely are heading to the postseason.
