With only three regular-season games left on the 2024 slate, the race for the Big Sky football title heats up this Saturday, as all 12 teams will be in action. Below are news and notes for Week 11 of the football season.
WEEK 11 SCHEDULE
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Eastern Washington at Northern Colorado* ESPN+ 12:00 p.m.
Sacramento State at #2 Montana State* ESPN+ 1:00 p.m.
Idaho State at Weber State* ESPN+ 1:00 p.m.
#9 Idaho at Portland State* ESPN+ 2:00 p.m.
Northern Arizona at Cal Poly* ESPN+ 6:00 p.m.
#4 UC Davis at #7 Montana* ESPN2 8:15 p.m.
NEWS & NOTES
ANOTHER TOP 10 SHOWDOWN ON ESPN2
No. 4 UC Davis faces No. 7 Montana this Saturday, as the two teams take national stage with the Top 10 showdown being aired on ESPN2. Kickoff in Missoula is slated for 8:15 p.m. MT. UC Davis, who enters the game riding an eight-game winning streak, is undefeated in conference play so far this season, while Montana holds a 4-1 mark in league action. Montana leads the all-time series against UC Davis, with the Griz holding a 9-1 advantage for a series that dates back to 1926. Overall, Montana is 1-1 in ESPN2 regular season Big Sky games dating back to 2021, while the league game for UC Davis will be its first on the network.
Regular-Season ESPN2 Game History
11/9/24: UC Davis vs. Montana (Missoula)
10/12/24: MSU 38, Idaho 7 (Bozeman)
10/21/23: MSU 42, Sac State 30 (Sacramento)
10/14/23: Montana 23, Idaho 21 (Moscow)
10/22/22: Sac State 31, Montana 24 (Sacramento)
10/2/21: EWU 34, Montana 28 (Cheney)
NEW RECORD HOLDER IN MISSOULA
Montana’s Junior Bergen returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown in last Saturday’s win at Cal Poly, giving the Billings, Montana native six for his career. The punt return touchdown broke Big Sky record, which was previously held by Corey Smith of Montana State (2001-03).
TRAIN BELL TROPHY RETURNS FOR ISU-WSU
Idaho State and Weber State announced the return of the Train Bell Trophy for the rivalry football series between the Bengals and Wildcats. The series dates back to 1964, with the trophy representing the old train line that went from Pocatello to Ogden that fans would ride to the game in the early years of the rivalry. This inspired the Weber State student government to secure an old locomotive train bell in 1964.
UC Davis-Montana Featured Game on “This Week in Big Sky Football”
No. 4 UC Davis travels to No. 7 Montana this Saturday, as the two teams garner national attention with the Top 10 showdown being televised on ESPN2. Kickoff in Missoula is slated for 8:15 p.m. MT. The Top 10 showdown will be featured on “This Week in Big Sky Football” which airs each Friday on @BigSkyConf’s YouTube.
UC Davis, who enters Saturday riding an eight-game winning streak, is undefeated in conference play so far this season, while Montana holds a 4-1 mark in league action. Montana leads the all-time series against UC Davis 9-1, with the first meeting pre-dating the Big Sky Conference in 1926.
Since 2021, Montana is 1-1 in Big Sky games on ESPN2, while the league game for UC Davis will be its first on the network.
Big Sky Football Players of the Week (Oct. 28, 2024)
Offensive Player of the Week:
Dante Chachere, Portland State (QB, Sr., Fresno, Calif.)
Portland State’s Dante Chachere scored five touchdowns and combined for 410 yards of offense, as the quarterback led the Vikings to a 58-point explosion in the 58-38 win at Sacramento State. Chachere had 245 passing yards and one score, while earning 165 yards on the ground and four touchdowns. Chachere’s four rushing touchdowns give him 12 on the season and 31 in his career. He is also now just seven yards shy of 5,000 yards passing for his career and 10 yards short of 2,000 rushing yards in his career. The weekly conference honor for Chachere is the second of the season.
Defensive Player of the Week:
David Meyer, UC Davis (LB, R-Jr., Mission Viejo, Calif)
David Meyer racked up 12 tackles, with 11 being solos, picked off a pass and added two tackles for loss in the 59-7 win over Northern Colorado. The UC Davis defense allowed only 283 yards of offense, with 103 being passing. Meyer now has 78 tackles on the year, which is tied for the league lead. The interception for Meyer was his third of the season. The weekly conference honor for Meyer is the second of the season.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Junior Bergen, Montana (PR, Sr., Billings, Mont.)
Montana’s Junior Bergen returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown in Saturday’s 42-7 win over Cal Poly, which was the sixth of his career and broke a Big Sky all-time record for the statistic. The Montana return specialist is just two shy of tying the FCS all-time record for punt return touchdowns.
