Welcome back to another edition of the daily Interlake Sports Now. I'm Josh Dugan. It's really hard to believe Thanksgiving is already in the books. Black Friday is behind us, and we're already looking forward to the holiday season and winter prep sports. That being said, there was no fall sports last week with the Thanksgiving break and the transition between fall and winter sports, so we'll have a very light prep sports roundup this week.

We'll get to some class A All-State athletes from the football scene. And then we're going to talk a little categories football. We'll get …

Welcome back to another edition of the daily Interlake Sports Now. I'm Josh Dugan. It's really hard to believe Thanksgiving is already in the books. Black Friday is behind us, and we're already looking forward to the holiday season and winter prep sports. That being said, there was no fall sports last week with the Thanksgiving break and the transition between fall and winter sports, so we'll have a very light prep sports roundup this week.

We'll get to some class A All-State athletes from the football scene. And then we're going to talk a little categories football. We'll get into their playoff preview. Each team has a playoff game this weekend and a little bit of a season recap for both teams. We'll kind of dive into that just a little bit. Maybe a quick clip from our other show, The Big Sky, now hosted by yours truly on the Hagedorn Sports Network.

That all being said. Quick reminder today's episode is brought to you by Nomad, one of the flatheads best manufacturer. Nomad is a long time supporter of our local community and local sports scene. So bring 20 years of building great careers and mission focused custom vehicles. Nomad of Montana based company making a global impact. Visit Nomad geeks.com for more info.

That's Nomad geeks.com for more information. All right, let's get into that all state football talk. And then we'll move on to some college football action, starting with the class A state title team talks about the Valley athletes who made the cut. The Valley was well-represented on the class A all state team led by a strong showing from the state runner up, Columbia Falls Wildcats, where ten players selected shout Columbia Falls for that accolade.

The Wildcats do have Jace Hill and Cody Schleicher were selected on both offense and defense, with Hill being picked as a receiver and safety. Will Schweikert landed the not at QB and linebacker. The all state gunslinger swagger passed for 2886 yards and 26 touchdowns, while tacking on 19 scores with his legs. He. Hill, meanwhile, hauled in 59 receptions for 938 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Those two had a huge part to the team making a run to the state title game. Joining them on the all state team was kicker Kai Golan, offensive lineman Hunter Goodman and offensive lineman Tristan Crane. Wideout Mark Robinson that round out the offensive selection. On the defensive side of the ball, D lineman Layne Boardman's and Lane Horner made the swap with linebacker Arthur Waters and defensive back Allen Anderson rounded out the picks for the Wildcats.

A very strong showing, well deserved for a team to have quite a run this season. Whitefish had Mason coach selected All-State as receiver and safety and Dane Hunt made the squad as a corner for the Bulldogs. Big fourth had four all state picks or tight end Eli Thorne, a safety Tristan Hurd, running back Wyatt Johnson and junior Henry Carlson making the all state team onto the college football action.

Here in the Treasure State. We will skip. We won't skip right into the categories stuff quite yet. We're going to get a quick look at the Montana Western Bulldogs, whose football season did come to an end over the weekend as the Bulldogs lost 49 to 42 at home to Dillon. Excuse me? In Dillon, to the College of Idaho Yachts they lost at home.

It was their first home game since 1994. Definitely a tough loss. It was a close game. The Bulldogs finished the year nine and two overall, ended the regular season as the number 18 in the country according to any I coaches poll. So shout out the Western Montana Bulldogs. Montana Western Bulldogs quite the season. Gosh, can't believe football is already wrapped up.

So they were also the Frontier Conference champions. Let's get to that Grizz and Bobcats football talk. It's that time football fans playoff previews. It's hard to believe the season's in the books. And here we are talking about playoff action and the Treasure State. Let's dive into this and then we'll close things out with a quick season recap. This featured on our other podcast, The Big Sky.

Now of the cats and the Grizz that's on the Hagedorn Sports Network I mentioned. And that actually that's a recap of all 12 big Sky teams. So if you're a diehard big Sky football fan, you'll want to check that out. But here on today's show, we'll just talk about the cats and the Grizz. So let's dive into the playoff previews and then we'll we'll kind of get to that to end it.

But three keys for each team to win. We're going to start out with the Bobcats. And what is shaping up to be, in my opinion, one of the best matchups in the FCS all year long with the North Dakota State Bison coming to town to take on the Bobcats in a battle of the number two rushing attack in the country, Montana State versus the number four rushing offense in the country, North Dakota State, so that one has the potential to be special.

The Bobcats are, of course, coming off a disappointing end of the regular regular season. They lost to brawl the Wild. Well, North Dakota State is coming off a 66 to 3 win over Drake in the first round of the FCS playoffs, so Montana State did have that bye week. Will that become a factor? We'll find out. My first key to that game is the Bobcats need to get off to a fast start versus the bison in a battle of elite rushing offenses.

If one team gets an early lead, they might just run away with it. That's exactly what this is going to be two of the best rushing teams in the country, and we saw what Montana did to the Bobcats a couple weeks ago. The Grays got out to an early lead and just flat out ran away from them. You can't let that happen.

Two games in a row for Montana State. You got to get it clicking early and have some confidence in that offense early. I did mention last week how the Bobcats really fell behind because they couldn't throw the football. They had zero completions in the first half of the first, the Grays. This is going to be my second key.

Last week we talked about it a little. We'll get back to it. Now. If you're the Bobcats in this game you got to add some easy passes in early for Tommy Miller. Major key to this game Brant vegan a Taylor House raid offensive coordinator head coach. You gotta work to get him a lot back on track. He had zero completions in the first half.

First to Griz. You can't win football games in the modern era of college football, no matter how good you run the football, if you can't throw it at all in the first half. So key number two is a set Tommy Miller up for some easy throws early on. Maybe run a few screens in there, get the ball rolling.

Have a wide receiver screen. Have a half back screen. Heck of a tight end screen. So have them completing some passes. Get the confidence going in that offense and let them know, hey, we can go out there, move the football against this bison team. Because if you turn into a battle of running the football, you might get into a tough spot against North Dakota State team.

I think the Bobcats will have to throw the football. We saw what happened versus Montana when they didn't. That's my second key. Let me lock in a good start throwing the ball, set them up for some easy plays. Get the ball rolling. Like I said, a screen pass, maybe a couple low passes underneath, a little dig route, seam route, whatever you want to call it.

A lot of options there. But that's going to be key because you can't be one dimensional in a FCS playoff game versus a team like the bison. The third key for the Bobcats. And this is something I repeated last week quite a bit. Got to get Sean Chambers more involved. This could turn into a really high scoring affair between two offenses capable of putting up points in a hurry.

If they can get chambers rolling on the ground early, it opens the entire offense up for the Bobcats. It's going to keep that bison defense guessing throughout the game. When you have a guy like chambers mixing every couple plays and he can run the football, then all of a sudden it sets him up for that play action attack.

I said earlier in the year, the Bobcats might have the best play action scheme in the country. We didn't see that against Montana. We didn't really see it against Idaho. Let's see if that can make a comeback in a big time game for the Bobcats. And I think having Shawn Chambers in the mix will do that because once chambers is in there, they can run that RPO run pass option.

They did like do a lot of read options where chambers keeps the ball. You let him crack a couple 4 or 5 yard runs up the middle, get a ten yard run, then all of a sudden you mix in the play action. That gives time for receivers to an open space. And that's when the Bobcats are absolutely the most dangerous.

So my prediction for this one I was a little bit all over the place. My keys there. But key number one start fast. Key number two let Tommy Malone get into a rhythm. Key number three Shawn Chambers has to be involved in the offense to set up the play action attack. So my prediction for this one I think it has the potential, like I said, to be one of the best games in FCS all season long.

Two powerhouse type of schools who had by their standards, down years. Both of these schools expect to be top five caliber coming into the year. They both have their ups and downs, lost a couple games they expected to win. I think we're going to see close to 600 yards rushing in this game. I recently heard Fox Sports analyst Tom Cowherd say on his show that whoever wins the rushing yard battle and the Michigan Ohio State game has won 23 straight contests in that matchup.

I think that's going to be the rule of thumb to apply to this matchup with the Bobcats and Bison, whose ever rushing attack and rattle off more yards and make more plays on the ground probably wins this football game because it's going to be a battle of strength or strength. And whenever that happens, it kind of comes down to who could do it better.

It's like a heavyweight fight. It's really setting up to be a special game. One interesting matchup to watch in this one will be the Bison's dual quarterback approach of Cam Miller, who gets the majority of the snaps, and Cole Peyton, the backup who had ten rushing touchdowns. So reminds you a little bit of what they'll be going up against.

Chambers in the dual quarterback scheme. Who scores more, Miller and Peyton or Miller? Chambers. That might be what the game comes down to which teams quarterbacks can get it done because they there's going to be a lot of talent at the QB position in that football game and a lot of potential for scoring with those guys on the field.

So my prediction, my gut tells me the bison are hungry to make a statement. They've kind of been cast off, written off, whatever you want to call it. People expected the bison to be the top tier team again. They haven't been that this year. That being said, they came into the playoffs. They won 66 to 3. They're going to be motivated.

My guts leaning towards North Dakota State pulling this one out on the road. But that being said, my heart's telling me in the Treasure State at home in Bozeman, Houghton Nation best FCS winning streak on the line trying to push it to 26 games. I think Montana State finds a way. I got them winning this 138 to 35 in Bozeman.

It's going to be a heck of a game if you're an FCS football fan. You will not want to miss that one. Now on to the Grizzlies, who face a nine and three Delaware Blue Hens squad that just reportedly announced they'll be moving to the FBS level in a few years and joining conference USA. As for the playoff matchup this Saturday at Washington Grizzly Stadium, the Blue Hens, our team to look at is an interesting team.

They started really slow first Lafayette last week in round one. They were down 2813. Came back to win 3634. So they had a strong second half last week. Let's get down to the breakdown. Three keys for the grace to beat the Blue Hens and advance. First up key number one for the Grizzlies. Coming off a bye. We don't get too pretty key playing Smashmouth football because that is what turned this season round for the Grays.

The Grays outscored their last four opponents 145 to 24. I think sometimes we see teams come out of a bye week, be a little to calculate, a little to focus on out scheme in your opponent. The Grizzlies need to come out, set the tone early, have the home field advantage. They have more talent than the Blue Hens. It's flat out that simple.

I'm just going to say it. And I think the Grizzlies need to come out, throw a couple haymakers on both side of the ball right out of the gate and keep this train rolling. Keep the momentum on their side. Blue hens quarterback Nick mini threw for three interceptions last week in the win over Lafayette, so the Grizzlies defense should have their ears pinned back early.

Create some havoc around the football, force him to throw a couple bad balls, get a couple turnovers and play that grizzly style football. It's really been working as of late, so you got to stay aggressive is key number one because it's easy. Come in as a favorite at home off a bye week. Get a little lackadaisical I think coach will have his team fired up and ready to play.

That being said, for something to watch, you don't want to have a slow start in a playoff game, let alone coming off a bye when you've been rolling. Don't reinvent the wheel right now. Keep it going. Let that defense do their thing. Key number two slow down Delaware running back Marcus Yards. He rushed for 15 touchdowns this season.

Yards coming off a week that was down by his typical standards. And the blue heads win last week he only had ten carries for 25 yards. So it's not coming off his best performance. They managed to overcome yards. I having his typical big time game. They had Jonathan Silver and Quincy Watson stepping up in the run game. But that being said I think the Grizz have enough.

If they could slow down the Blue Hens top rushing yards, it'll be too much for Delaware to overcome. So the key number excuse me. So key number two is to keep Marcus yards out of the end zone. And don't let him score that 16 touchdown of the year. That's major key right there. You keep him out of the end zone I like the Grizzlies chances.

Key number three take advantage of Delaware's lack of a pass rush. The Blue Hens finished 75th in the country with 21 total sacks as a team. Clifton McDaniels, an expert at extending plays from outside the pocket, giving guys extra time to get open downfield. That's what he does best, and I think McDowell should have plenty of time to operate Saturday and give the Grizzlies receivers a lot of time to get open and dial up a few of those chunk plays to guys like Junior Bergen, Keelan White, Aaron Fonts and get those guys moving and space downfield.

It's going to be a long day for the Blue Hens, so McDowell should have time to operate. Find the open man. I do still expect a heavy dose of the Grizzlies rushing attack led by McDowell, Eli Gilman and Nick Osmo versus the Blue Hens rush defense. That's 54th in the country. But having that time in the pocket to operate for McDowell is overall going to be an impact kind of a thing.

That offense blind's been pretty steady down the stretch. Grizzlies have had a great offensive line and if they can keep McDowell from taking hits, let him operate. It's going to be a long day for the Blue Hens. My prediction for this one I have Montana keeping things rolling at home, knocking off the Blue Hens, 34 to 17, in Missoula.

Look for Jerry Rice Award finalist Eli Gilman. Have a big, big day in the run game. And I expect the Grizzlies to rack up at least two rushing touchdowns as a team, possibly three. That could be a key stat right there. The Grizzlies will have to get it done on the ground. But you know like I said keep McDowell upright and good things are going to happen.

Let's roll through the three keys for the Grizz one more time. Key number one don't get too pretty. Keep playing that Smashmouth style football that helped turn this season around. Number two slow down Delaware running back Marcus Yards because he rushed for 15 touchdowns this year. That was a lot of the Blue Hens offense. Slow him down. And I don't think they have enough guys around him to make up for that.

And number three, take advantage of Delaware's lack of a pass rush. Like I said, the 75th least most sacks in the country. So they're quite a ways down the list. McDowell's great extending plays. That's a matchup the Grizzlies have to capitalize on. Like I said, I got the Grizz win in this one 3417. And that might be generous to the Blue Hens.

We'll see though coming off a second half comeback. That could be something for Delaware to build momentum on. They have this new FBS announcement. Maybe they're feeling a little bit extra swagger knowing they're going to go up at Division in a few years. And they got to perform. I don't know, I think it's going to be tough to go on the road in Missoula, so that's going to be a fun one to watch.

Overall, this is going to be an epic weekend of FCS football. We're lucky that both Montana schools still plan interested to see what happens. Montana State, I would say is the definitely the must watch game though. First the North Dakota State Bison. All right, before we move along, quick reminder today's episode is brought to you by Nomad. Voted the flatheads best manufacturer.

Nomad is a long time supporter of the local community and local sports scene. Sobering, 20 years of building great careers and mission focused custom vehicles. Nomad of Montana based company making a global impact. Visit Nomad gcs.com for more info. That's Nomad geeks.com for more information. All right, before we wrap up this week's sports. Now, here's a quick clip featuring the Bobcats and the Grizzlies from our other show, The Big Sky.

Now the Hagedorn Sports Network. From the mixing these season recaps kind of sum up the regular season for each Montana school. It's going to be a heck of a weekend of football. A lot of playoff action left to have, but this is just a little something to kind of look back on the regular season and put it in perspective.

Like I said, if you're a diehard big Sky football fan, go check out the full episode with all 12 teams and the whole breakdown. Montana, the big Sky champions, what went right for the ten and one? Grizzlies secured bragging rights in the Little Brown Stein game with a hard fought win over Idaho on national television, and followed it up later that year.

This year. Excuse me. What a statement. Victory in the categories game for bragging rights in the state of Montana over the Bobcats. And of course, they won the big Sky title for the first time since 2009. So a lot went right from Montana. What went wrong? This is an easy one. That new game Northern Arizona loss was rock bottom for the Grizzlies this season.

It felt like such an up and down ride for the Grizz. The ship was sinking after that new loss. It was sinking quick. Grizz nation was in panic mode but we know how the story ends. I'll save you the details. Montana turned their season around. Won the big Sky conference, but that new game was no doubt about it where it went wrong for the Grizzlies.

Since then though, a lot's gone right. Team MVP Clifton McDaniel, who completely changed the look of this Montana offense. Once he took that starting job, they were a different unit. He made explosive plays with his arms, explosive plays with his legs. Overall, just one of those guys who makes plays and he does a great job of taking care of the football.

Shout out Buck Buchanan, nominee Braxton Hill and Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Alex Gardner, both on the defensive side of the ball. Big play makers deserve to have their names in the conversation, but McDowell's the guy who transformed this complete team. Change the season around once he took the starting job. Future Outlook Bobby Houck's contract is set to be up after the season, but after winning a big Sky Championship run, he'll have the opportunity to return on less on school.

Were to come with the right opportunity. Star running back Eli Gilman is a redshirt freshman. McDowell has another year of eligibility, so things are looking up for the Grizzlies. They feel like they're back to that level of being a FCS power year in and year out, where you can count on the grades to be a top ten team every year moving forward for the foreseeable future at least.

Montana State, the finish of year eight and three. What went right for the Bobcats? They continued to dominate at home. They extended their FCS best home winning streak to 25 games, and they finished second in the country in total rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. What went wrong? The Bobcats struggled against top tier competition on the road. They lost to Idaho, Montana, and top ranked South Dakota State Jackrabbits, so we'll see if they can make the adjustments in the postseason.

When they do have to go on the road, their first game will be at home, likely against a North Dakota State Bison. So we'll see what happens in that one. If they can get a win at home, they'll have to go back on the road, make a run. Do they make the adjustments? Team MVP it's hard not to pick Tommy Miller, Sean Chambers or Julius Davis, even for their impact on offense and in particular the rushing attack.

But I'm going to go with the defensive lineman Brody Grebe. He was the anchor for that Montana State front. He had 8.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 43 tackles on the year. And not to say that rushing attack someone from there didn't deserve it. But grebe, if you watched Montana State play, it felt like every play you saw him around the football making plays.

He just has a nose for harassing opposing quarterbacks, catching ball carriers in the backfield. One of those guys on a Montana state defense that doesn't always get a lot of credit played a huge role. And he was the anchor of that defensive front. In my opinion, Sean Chambers probably would have been my next choice for the Bobcats. outlook moving forward, chambers in his final year of eligibility.

So it's going to be the Tommy Miller Show next year. A lot of faith in this coaching staff. Brant vegans, a great coach. Tommy Ballots back Julius Davis will be back. The rushing attack is going to do its thing again. Green will be back on defense. So it looks like the Bobcats with a lot of star power returning.

They'll have to replace chambers on offense. Find a way to make up for, I believe, 14 rushing touchdowns and nine passing touchdowns. That's a lot of productivity you're going to have to replace. That being said, they're still poised to be at the top of the pack in the big sky next year, fighting for that top spot. Whether they're at top, they'll be in the top three once again, top ten team in the nation, kind of a squad.

So the Bobcats are in a good position. Keep an eye out of Brant Vengeance. Any offers through the off season might be a hot take, but he's a guy whose name has been mentioned in the Boise State job and other job, so something to keep an eye on. All right. Thanks as always to everyone for checking out the show.

And as always, thanks to Nomad Geeks for the support. Shout out Clark Auto Group as well for the support. We didn't have our typical poster player of the week this week because there was no prep sports in action, so we'll get back to that soon. As prep sports are ramping back up this winter, everyone enjoy an epic weekend of FCS playoff football on the horizon, featuring the cats and the Braves, and soon enough are going to be breaking down winter prep sports again here in the Treasure State.

So everyone have a great weekend. Enjoy the fun. Enjoy your week. We're not quite there yet, but I'm getting ready for football. Ready in my head. Can't wait for that Ndsu versus Bozeman matchup. That's going to be a heck of a game for the Bobcats, and I just can't wait to see what the Grizz do as well. All right everyone, I'm pumped up.

I hope you are too. It's gonna be a fun weekend. I'm Josh Keegan and I'm out.