This will be the seventh-straight season – and 13th time in the last 19 meetings -- that both teams will enter the game nationally ranked. The Eagles enter the game 8-2 on the season and are fifth in The Sports Network NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Top 25 Poll after an overwhelming 54-3 win against North Dakota on Nov. 1.
Eastern is 5-1 in the Big Sky Conference – currently one of six one-loss teams in the league -- as it defends the league title it won with an 8-0 record last season. Cal Poly is also 5-1, while Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona and Idaho State are all 4-1. After Saturday, at least two schools will have a second league loss.
The Grizzlies are 6-3 on the season after last week’s 31-13 home victory against Sacramento State. Montana leads FCS with just four turnovers in nine games this season and is 10th in turnover margin (+0.89 per game with 12 takeaways). By comparison, the Eagles are 32nd in turnover margin (+0.4 per game with 18 takeaways and 14 giveaways).
The Grizzly defense features defensive end Zack Wagenmann, who is sixth in FCS with an average of 1.17 sacks per game (10.5 total). Montana has allowed opponents to average just 20.3 points per game (20th in FCS) and is allowing only 357.0 yards per game (41st).
“They have an all-league caliber quarterback, productive running backs and a great system, but the lifeblood of where they are this year is a credit to their defense,” said Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin. “They’ve made red-zone stops and have played some salty defense, and have been able to win some low-scoring battles. Wagenmann is one of the best players in the country and he proves it every week. You look for a weak spot or maybe kind of a hole to take advantage of, but you just don’t see it with them.”
