Cat gris last decade recap

[RockyBearCat]

The Decade of the Divide: Recapping the Last Ten Brawl of the Wild Battles

The Brawl of the Wild. It’s more than just a football game; it is an annual reckoning for the state of Montana, a psychological demarcation line drawn in the snow and turf of Bozeman and Missoula. The last decade of this storied rivalry, played out over ten tumultuous meetings due to the 2020 pandemic cancellation, has been less a steady march of one team’s dominance and more a seismic fault line, characterized by tectonic shifts in momentum, historic blowouts, and sudden, heartbreaking drama.

From the high-scoring days of 2015 to the complete, championship-clinching routs of the 2020s, the battle for the Great Divide Trophy has offered a decade of theater unmatched in the FCS landscape. In the ten games spanning 2014 through 2024, the Montana State Bobcats hold the edge, winning six of the matchups. Yet, the series is defined not by the overall tally, but by the sheer, overwhelming brutality of the individual wins, many decided by margins that leave no doubt as to which team owned the Treasure State on that particular Saturday.

The Grizzly Guard: A Last Hurrah (2014–2015)

The decade began with the Grizzlies still holding court. The 2014 contest in Missoula saw the Griz comfortably handle the Bobcats, winning 34–7. It was a statement that, for the moment, Missoula still controlled the rivalry’s narrative.

This was followed by a shootout in 2015 that, despite the fireworks, ended firmly in Montana’s favor, 54–35. Playing in their signature all-white uniforms, the Grizzlies rolled as quarterback Brady Gustafson torched the Bobcat secondary for 353 yards and four touchdowns. This game felt like a continuation of the rivalry's established order, but beneath the high score, a change was brewing in Bozeman that would soon redefine the series.

The Bobcat Resurgence: A Four-Game Lockdown (2016–2019)

The 2016 season marked the beginning of a profound shift. Montana State, under new leadership of Jeff Choate, finally broke through with a grinding, physical 24–17 victory in Missoula. This game felt ripped from the pages of history; the Bobcats ran the ball an astounding 62 times for 368 yards. True freshman quarterback Chris Murray etched his name into Bobcat lore, rushing for 142 yards and two scores, single-handedly willing MSU to their first Great Divide Trophy win since 2012, kicking off a four-game winning streak that flipped the rivalry on its head.

The next year, 2017, the Bobcats stayed home at Bobcat Stadium and delivered a momentous 31–23 win. Beyond the scoreboard, the victory was historic, marking Bob Stitt’s final game as Montana’s head coach and confirming that the pendulum of power had decisively swung East.
The 2018 contest returned the drama to Missoula in a game remembered for its agonizing finish for the Griz. Montana State clung to a narrow 29–25 lead in the waning minutes. The Grizzlies mounted a furious final drive, pushing the ball to the MSU 1-yard line with time running out. But in a moment of pure, gut-wrenching rivalry agony, Montana’s Adam Eastwood fumbled the ball at the goal line with only seconds remaining. The Bobcats recovered, preserving the win and delivering a shot of adrenaline into the rivalry’s competitive heart.

The 2019 game was not competitive at all, but rather a final, emphatic statement before the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 season. In Bozeman, the Bobcats destroyed the Grizzlies 48–14. Running back Isaiah Ifanse had three touchdowns, and Montana State, firing on all cylinders, solidified their control, leaving the Griz faithful desperate for a chance at revenge that would have to wait nearly two full seasons.
The Modern Era of Blowouts (2021–2024)

When the Brawl returned in 2021, the landscape had changed, but the intensity had not—it had only simmered into a more aggressive boil. The Grizzlies delivered a resounding answer to the 2019 defeat, winning 29–10 in Missoula. Wide receiver Junior Bergen set the tone with a 74-yard touchdown catch on the game’s second play. Montana's defense dominated, and kicker Kevin Macias was immaculate, scoring 17 points, showcasing the Griz’s newfound defensive and special teams prowess.

The rivalry’s most visible and perhaps most stunning chapter came in 2022 when ESPN’s College GameDay descended upon Bozeman. The stage was set for a classic, but what transpired was a Bobcat massacre. Montana State crushed Montana 55–21, once again showcasing their lethal rushing attack, churning out an astonishing 439 yards on the ground. The Cats led 31–7 at halftime and never looked back, turning what should have been a tight, nationally televised affair into an unmistakable statement of Bobcat supremacy.

But the rivalry, as always, is cyclical. In 2023, the Grizzlies reclaimed the narrative and, critically, the outright Big Sky Conference Championship. In a stunning reversal in Missoula, the Grizzlies routed the Bobcats 37–7. It was a complete performance, holding the high-powered Bobcat offense to its lowest point total in the Brent Vigen coaching era. The 37-point total was a symbolic punctuation mark, representing Montana's first outright conference title since 2009 and serving as a massive psychological victory to balance the scoreboard.

This decade of warfare concluded, for now, with the 2024 edition in Bozeman. The undefeated and No. 2-ranked Bobcats played host and, like so many games in this ten-year stretch, the outcome was decisive. Montana State claimed a 34–11 victory and the outright Big Sky title, fueled again by a dominant rushing performance, tallying 326 yards on the Grizzly defense. Missoula product Adam Jones was unstoppable, racing for 197 yards, including an 88-yard burst that sealed the third-quarter momentum. The Bobcat defense held the Griz to season lows in total yards and points, bringing this chaotic, unforgettable decade of the Brawl full circle: a Bobcat win, a conference crown, and the Great Divide Trophy remaining in Bozeman.

The Evolving Legacy

The last ten games of the Brawl of the Wild represent a fascinating chapter in this historic rivalry. Gone, for the most part, are the nail-biting, last-second field goal finishes of years past, replaced instead by a series of high-stakes, high-leverage blowouts. The rivalry has morphed into a battle of Big Sky Conference titans, with the winner often not only taking the trophy but claiming a championship title or a high playoff seed.

Montana State finishes the decade with the overall edge, 6–4, yet both programs have shown they are capable of delivering a crushing defeat at any time and in any stadium. As we look ahead to the next installment, one thing is certain: the stakes have never been higher, and the desire to wipe away the stain of a blowout has never been more intense. This is the Brawl of the Wild, where memories are forged in fire and the only certainty is that the next chapter will be as volatile as the last.

[nanacat]

Excellent!!! Thanks for that!

[MrGoodKat]

The different trends in the Brawl are fascinating.

When I moved to MT in 2010, we were in year 2 of the road teams winning. From 2009-2016, the home team only won once (UM in 2014).

Since 2019, the home team has won decisively every year.

We all tend to have recency bias (myself included), saying that the Griz have the biggest advantage because of home field (and there's a measure of truth in that). But sooner or later, that trend will end just like the last trend did.

There is a clear reason NOT to expect that it will happen this year (i.e. UM hasn't loss a football game).

But there are some factors that indicate that this could be the year (i.e. MSU has almost all the MT kids and have been statistically better all season).

There are three outcomes that won't surprise me: Cats winning close, Griz winning close, or Griz winning big.

There is only one outcome that I don't expect: Cats blowing them out.

[RockyBearCat]

The different trends in the Brawl are fascinating.

When I moved to MT in 2010, we were in year 2 of the road teams winning. From 2009-2016, the home team only won once (UM in 2014).

Since 2019, the home team has won decisively every year.

We all tend to have recency bias (myself included), saying that the Griz have the biggest advantage because of home field (and there's a measure of truth in that). But sooner or later, that trend will end just like the last trend did.

There is a clear reason NOT to expect that it will happen this year (i.e. UM hasn't loss a football game).

But there are some factors that indicate that this could be the year (i.e. MSU has almost all the MT kids and have been statistically better all season).

There are three outcomes that won't surprise me: Cats winning close, Griz winning close, or Griz winning big.

There is only one outcome that I don't expect: Cats blowing them out.

I'd flip your last 2. Cats defense travels. No way gris score enough to win big. Cats Defense can shut down gris and Cats could blow them out. Either could win close.

[Cataholic]

The Cats are 6-2 over the last 8 games. Love that trend!

[MrGoodKat]

The different trends in the Brawl are fascinating.

When I moved to MT in 2010, we were in year 2 of the road teams winning. From 2009-2016, the home team only won once (UM in 2014).

Since 2019, the home team has won decisively every year.

We all tend to have recency bias (myself included), saying that the Griz have the biggest advantage because of home field (and there's a measure of truth in that). But sooner or later, that trend will end just like the last trend did.

There is a clear reason NOT to expect that it will happen this year (i.e. UM hasn't loss a football game).

But there are some factors that indicate that this could be the year (i.e. MSU has almost all the MT kids and have been statistically better all season).

There are three outcomes that won't surprise me: Cats winning close, Griz winning close, or Griz winning big.

There is only one outcome that I don't expect: Cats blowing them out.

I'd flip your last 2. Cats defense travels. No way gris score enough to win big. Cats Defense can shut down gris and Cats could blow them out. Either could win close.

Anything is possible, but historically the Cats almost never blow the Griz out in Missoula. The last time they won there by more than 10 points was in 1980.

[LTown Cat]

The different trends in the Brawl are fascinating.

When I moved to MT in 2010, we were in year 2 of the road teams winning. From 2009-2016, the home team only won once (UM in 2014).

Since 2019, the home team has won decisively every year.

We all tend to have recency bias (myself included), saying that the Griz have the biggest advantage because of home field (and there's a measure of truth in that). But sooner or later, that trend will end just like the last trend did.

There is a clear reason NOT to expect that it will happen this year (i.e. UM hasn't loss a football game).

But there are some factors that indicate that this could be the year (i.e. MSU has almost all the MT kids and have been statistically better all season).

There are three outcomes that won't surprise me: Cats winning close, Griz winning close, or Griz winning big.

There is only one outcome that I don't expect: Cats blowing them out.

I'd flip your last 2. Cats defense travels. No way gris score enough to win big. Cats Defense can shut down gris and Cats could blow them out. Either could win close.

Anything is possible, but historically the Cats almost never blow the Griz out in Missoula. The last time they won there by more than 10 points was in 1980.

Then they're due!!

[MrGoodKat]

The different trends in the Brawl are fascinating.

When I moved to MT in 2010, we were in year 2 of the road teams winning. From 2009-2016, the home team only won once (UM in 2014).

Since 2019, the home team has won decisively every year.

We all tend to have recency bias (myself included), saying that the Griz have the biggest advantage because of home field (and there's a measure of truth in that). But sooner or later, that trend will end just like the last trend did.

There is a clear reason NOT to expect that it will happen this year (i.e. UM hasn't loss a football game).

But there are some factors that indicate that this could be the year (i.e. MSU has almost all the MT kids and have been statistically better all season).

There are three outcomes that won't surprise me: Cats winning close, Griz winning close, or Griz winning big.

There is only one outcome that I don't expect: Cats blowing them out.

I'd flip your last 2. Cats defense travels. No way gris score enough to win big. Cats Defense can shut down gris and Cats could blow them out. Either could win close.

Anything is possible, but historically the Cats almost never blow the Griz out in Missoula. The last time they won there by more than 10 points was in 1980.

Then they're due!!

My mistake. You’re so right! Cats by 90.

[RyeCat]

The different trends in the Brawl are fascinating.

When I moved to MT in 2010, we were in year 2 of the road teams winning. From 2009-2016, the home team only won once (UM in 2014).

Since 2019, the home team has won decisively every year.

We all tend to have recency bias (myself included), saying that the Griz have the biggest advantage because of home field (and there's a measure of truth in that). But sooner or later, that trend will end just like the last trend did.

There is a clear reason NOT to expect that it will happen this year (i.e. UM hasn't loss a football game).

But there are some factors that indicate that this could be the year (i.e. MSU has almost all the MT kids and have been statistically better all season).

There are three outcomes that won't surprise me: Cats winning close, Griz winning close, or Griz winning big.

There is only one outcome that I don't expect: Cats blowing them out.

I keep telling myself that the home team winning narrative has to end some time and why not this year? On the flips side, I’ve had my ancient heart broken by the Bobcats so many times though that I’m running out of “next years”.

[MrGoodKat]

The different trends in the Brawl are fascinating.

When I moved to MT in 2010, we were in year 2 of the road teams winning. From 2009-2016, the home team only won once (UM in 2014).

Since 2019, the home team has won decisively every year.

We all tend to have recency bias (myself included), saying that the Griz have the biggest advantage because of home field (and there's a measure of truth in that). But sooner or later, that trend will end just like the last trend did.

There is a clear reason NOT to expect that it will happen this year (i.e. UM hasn't loss a football game).

But there are some factors that indicate that this could be the year (i.e. MSU has almost all the MT kids and have been statistically better all season).

There are three outcomes that won't surprise me: Cats winning close, Griz winning close, or Griz winning big.

There is only one outcome that I don't expect: Cats blowing them out.

I keep telling myself that the home team winning narrative has to end some time and why not this year? On the flips side, I’ve had my ancient heart broken by the Bobcats so many times though that I’m running out of “next years”.

Win it for Ryecat will be the rally cry of this year’s postseason.