Some may enjoy the simplicity of drinking out of a glass or mug, but when it comes to enjoying a cold beverage, Vandals prefer a Little Brown Stein.
Idaho and Montana first faced off in 1903 and have played 86 times since. The Little Brown Stein was introduced in 1938 for the 25th game between the two teams. Idaho won the first matchup 19-6 in front of 8,000 fans in Missoula, Montana on homecoming night. This time around, Idaho hopes to win in front of over 25,000 fans during Montana’s “Family Weekend.”
Idaho leads the series 55-30-2, but Montana has kept the Stein in their trophy case since 2000. The last time the Vandals won was on Nov. 13, 1999, when the Vandals squeaked by the Grizz 33-30. The Vandals kept the next three games within one score, but after a 41-28 loss in 2003, the teams stopped playing each other. The Vandals would make their return to the Big Sky Conference in 2018, where one of their biggest rivals was waiting.
Montana has won the last three meetings, and it hasn’t even been close. In Idaho’s return to the Big Sky, Montana gave them a warm welcome by beating them 46-27. One year later, the Grizz won 42-17. Last year, Montana walked into the Kibbie Dome to a crowd full of Grizz fans and walked out with a 34-14 win and the Little Brown Stein.
In at quarterback for the Grizz will be redshirt senior Lucas Johnson. He has completed 67.6% of his passes, going 94/139. He has thrown for 11 touchdowns, 1,027 yards and only two interceptions. He has also rushed for five touchdowns and 193 yards.
The main receiver for Johnson will likely be redshirt senior Mitch Roberts. Roberts has three touchdowns and 23 receptions for 301 total yards. He also threw a touchdown pass 28 yards into the endzone on a trick play in their game against Idaho State.
The other main receiver for Johnson will be redshirt senior Malik Flowers. Flowers has gotten one touchdown and 15 receptions for 197 total yards. He’ll need 24 yards in Saturday’s game to break his career high of 210 yards in a season. Idaho’s special teams will also have to watch out as he’s one of the best kick returners in the history of the Big Sky.
“(Montana’s) very good on special teams,” Vandals’ head coach Jason Eck said. “They’re number one in the conference on punt returns.”
On offense for Idaho, redshirt freshman quarterback Gevani McCoy will have to continue to play at an elite level to give the Vandals a shot at the Little Brown Stein. He has completed 85.8% of his passes, and totaled 482 passing yards, over the last two games. His stat line against Northern Colorado earned him FCS Freshman of the Week two weeks ago.
Along with an elite QB, the Vandals have a stacked running back core. Freshman Anthony Woods is leading the team in rushing yards with 62 carries for 353 yards. He’s also made it into the endzone once.
Sophomore Elisha Cummings has only played in three games, but he’s made his presence known. He’s gotten into the endzone three times, gaining 119 yards on 23 carries.
The oldest member of the “big three” running backs is senior Roshaun Johnson. Johnson has rushed for three touchdowns and gained 236 yards on 66 carries.
Although the Vandals may have a solid backfield, the Grizz have the best defense in the conference.
Redshirt senior safety Robby Hauck broke the record for most career tackles against Portland State a few weeks ago. He has totaled 45 tackles this season and is 65 tackles away from breaking the Big Sky Conference record for total career tackles.
Redshirt senior linebacker Patrick O’Connell has also had a great season for Montana, totaling 42 tackles, seven sacks and one forced fumble.
Idaho may have allowed more than double the amount of points that Montana has, but that’s bound to happen when an FCS team plays two Power Five teams to start their season.
Leading Idaho’s defense is senior LB Fa’avae Fa’avae. Fa’avae has continued his solid career at Idaho as he currently sits at 50 tackles on the season. While Fa’avae gets things done in the secondary, sophomore defensive lineman Kamari Bailey has been getting the work done in the backfield, totaling three sacks so far this season.
Montana’s offense and defense may be top tier, but the crowd noise will be something that the Vandals aren’t used to.
“We’ll start practice outside then the offense will come inside so we can blast them with crowd noise to get them prepared for it,” Eck said.
Offense, defense and fans are all things that Idaho will need to be ready for on Saturday. A sold-out arena that seats 24,000 will be a whole new experience for many Idaho players, and it likely won’t phase the Grizz.
The game will kickoff on Oct. 15 at noon in Missoula, Montana. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ or listen on the Grizzly Sports Radio Network or Idaho Vandal Radio Network.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jamesaldrich25