This Week in the Big Sky

Montana State at Montana

This game usually comes down to bragging rights because Montana State struggled for several seasons until last year, but the 98th meeting between the schools has considerably more at stake. The winner can share the Big Sky Conference championship with Cal State Northridge if the Matadors beat Idaho State tonight. The loser probably stays home for the Division I-AA playoffs. That’s where Montana State (7-3, 5-2), ranked No. 19 by the Sports Network, was the last 14 years while Montana participated in the playoffs seven times during that span, including the last five years. Montana (7-3, 5-2) won the national title in 1995 and placed second in 1996. Montana State’s only playoff appearance was memorable because it won the national championship in 1984. History--and Brian Ah Yat--are on Montana’s side. The Grizzlies, ranked No. 17 by ESPN/USA Today, have won the last 12 games in the series and hold a 60-32-5 advantage. Ah Yat, a senior from Hawaii, ranks fourth in I-AA in offense at 299.6 yards per game. He has 9,059 yards passing, second on the Montana career list behind Dave Dickenson’s 11,080 yards from 1992-95. Ah Yat passed for 335 yards and two touchdowns against the Bobcats last year and Kris Heppner’s 37-yard field goal as time expired gave Montana a 27-25 victory. Senior Rob Compson ranks second on Montana State’s career passing list with 6,612 yards. This season he’s fifth in I-AA in passing efficiency. The second-largest crowd at Montana’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium, 19,024, came when Montana State visited Missoula two years ago.

Nonconference

Eastern Washington at Southern Utah

Pride Bowl No. 1. Time to pad statistics and, for Eastern Washington (5-5), to post a winning season. Last year, the Eagles went into their last regular-season game needing a victory over Northridge to claim the Big Sky title outright. They won, 39-32, to finish 7-1 in conference play and advanced to the I-AA semifinals. This year, they’re aiming to get more records for Bashir Levingston more yards for Mike MacKenzie. Levingston ranks first in I-AA in punt returns at 20.8 yards per attempt, eighth in kickoff returns at 29.6 yards per return and 15th in all-purpose yards at 156.0 per game. He set several team, Big Sky and I-AA records this season. MacKenzie has rushed for 100 yards or more in six consecutive games and has 1,176 yards rushing, fourth-best in the Big Sky. Southern Utah (4-6) ranks second in I-AA in rushing at 371.1 yards per game. The Thunderbirds, who play an independent schedule, are 1-2 against Big Sky teams this season.

Portland State at Northeast Louisiana

Pride Bowl No. 2. Portland State (5-5) is seeking its first winning season since 1995, when it played in Division II, and Jimmy Blanchard can clinch the I-AA passing efficiency derby. The sophomore has thrown 118 consecutive passes without having one intercepted. Charles Dunn, a Viking sophomore from Muir High, has 1,425 yards rushing and needs 195 yards to surpass Steve Papin’s school single-season record of 1,619 yards set in 1995. Dunn’s 2,601 yards rank second all-time at Portland State behind Curtis Delgardo’s 4,178 yards from 1986-90. The Vikings are coming off losses to Northridge and Northern Arizona. Northeast Louisiana (4-6) moved from I-AA to I-A in 1994 and plays as an independent. Three of the Indians’ losses came against Florida, Kansas State and Arizona. It’s the first meeting between Portland State and Northeast Louisiana.