Wednesday, June 10, 2026
48.0°F

No. 3/3 Montana St. at No. 1/1 South Dakota St. Capsules

FRITZ NEIGHBOR | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 5 months AGO
by FRITZ NEIGHBOR
SPORTS EDITOR Fritz Neighbor is the Sports Editor for the Daily Inter Lake. He oversees sports coverage across the Flathead Valley, including high school athletics, youth sports, and regional competitions. In his leadership role, he helps shape the newspaper’s sports coverage and editorial direction. Fritz’s column, Full Count, taps into his decades’ long career covering Montana sports. You’ll also see Fritz sharing his thoughts and insights on the Big Sky Now podcast. IMPACT: Fritz’s work celebrates the athletes and teams that bring Northwest Montana communities together. | December 15, 2022 10:55 PM

No. 3/3 Montana St. at No. 1/1 South Dakota St.

When: Saturday, 2 p.m.: TV — ESPN2; Web — ESPN+; Radio — Bobcat Radio Network.

Where: Dana J Dykhouse Stadium (19,340, AstroTurf)

Records: Both teams are 12-1.

When the Bobcats have the ball: It starts with sophomore quarterback Tommy Mellott, who is up to 1,118 rushing yards; continues with fellow QB Sean Chambers, who has rushed for 850 yards and 18 touchdowns; and now includes running Isaiah Ifanse, who has run for 100-plus yards in both his games back from knee surgery. Mellott has thrown for 1,521 yards and 10 scores; he and Chambers have combined for 2,136 yards and 18 TDs passing. Willie Patterson continues to be the top receiver — nine of his 39 catches (for 568 yards) have gone to the house.

When the Jackrabbits have the ball: Sophomore Mark Gronowski is back at QB after missing 2021 with injuries; he’s thrown for 2,555 yards and 21 touchdowns and run for 10 scores. His main targets are twins Jaxon (54 catches, 723 yards, seven TDs) and Jadon Janke (45-695, 6 TDs) and Tucker Kraft. Kraft missed the first six games of 2022 and has 21 catches for 249 yards and two scores, but is rated an NFL-caliber tight end. He had 65 catches a year ago. Isaiah Davis (1,190 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing) has filled in capably for the graduated Pierre Strong, and Amar Johnson backs up Davis.

Notable: As of Thursday the temperature at kickoff is expected to be 11 degrees. … Ifanse has averaged 109.5 rushing yards over seven FCS playoff games. … The Cats’ only previous trip to Dykhouse Stadium was a 45-14 loss in the 2018 preseason, and the Jacks are 124-34 at home all-time under Coach Steigelmeier. … SDSU is 4-4 against Big Sky foes in the playoffs, including a 1-1 mark against MSU and an 0-2 record against Montana. … Four SDSU kickers have combined to convert 122 PATs. … SDSU lost 2021 coordinators Jason Eck (offense; Idaho) and Brian Bergstrom (co-defense; Winona St.) to head coaching gigs. … Home teams are 18-2 in the 2022 FCS playoffs.

The Pick: Cats 28-14.

ARTICLES BY FRITZ NEIGHBOR

June 4, 2026 midnight

Sluggers: Familiar faces head out on road

There’s an odd dichotomy at work in the local baseball scene, in that it looks on paper — OK, on GameChanger — like more athletes are playing than ever while in places Legion ball is losing ground.

May 31, 2026 midnight

Wolfpack takes 3rd at AA softball

The Glacier Wolfpack’s annual sojourn through the consolation bracket ended a game early this spring, with a 7-5 loss to Great Falls CMR in the State AA softball third-place game Saturday.

May 30, 2026 midnight

AA softball: Pack wins 3, plays CMR next

The Glacier Wolfpack got better the longer Friday got, and when you add in a 3.5-hour lightning delay, that’s pretty long.