OGDEN — They might not be the biggest fans of the University of Montana’s football team, especially since a rivalry has developed in recent years, but the Weber State Wildcats can’t help but to look up at the Grizzlies.

“Every year they’re the best in the conference and rated No. 1 (in the Big Sky Conference) and you have to give them respect,” said WSU wide receiver Tim Toone. “Every year, it’s everyone’s goal to knock off Montana.”

That’s what the No. 14-ranked Wildcats hope to do on Saturday when they travel to Missoula, Mont., to face the No. 2 Grizzlies. But the task won’t be easy since WSU hasn’t beaten the Griz there since 1987, and Montana hasn’t lost at home in a conference game since 2005.

The Wildcats (5-3, 5-1 Big Sky) have their season riding on the game, knowing they need to win Saturday for a chance at the league title and a spot in the Division I FCS playoffs.

Montana’s home dominance is just part of the reason the Griz (7-0, 4-0 Big Sky) have achieved something the other eight Big Sky teams would like to accomplish.

“That’s what you all strive to do, to become the dominant team in any conference,” said WSU coach Ron McBride. “It’s hard to do and they’ve done it for almost 20 years. You’ve got to respect them for what they do and in order to survive you’ve got to beat that team.”

Montana has won or shared 11 straight conference titles, a Big Sky record, including last season’s co-championship with the Wildcats. Despite beating the Griz in Ogden, which snapped a nine-game losing streak to Montana, the Wildcats lost their final regular-season game so both teams finished 7-1 in league play. The two teams met again in Missoula in a playoff quarterfinal, won by the Griz.

If the Griz were to have some part of the Big Sky crown again this season they would tie Oklahoma for the longest streak of consecutive conference football titles. Since 1993, Montana has posted a 103-16 conference record, and the Griz are 59-8 in conference games since 2000. The Griz have lost just one league game in the three seasons prior to this year.

The success in the Big Sky has paid off as the Griz have reached the Division I FCS playoffs for a record 16 seasons.

When asked what has enabled the program to consistently be at the top of the standings, Montana coach Bobby Hauck pointed to hard work.

“We’ve got great assistant coaches and our players work their tails off day in and day out,” Hauck said.

WSU has found that out over the years with the Griz owning a 36-12 record in the series.

“They’re a hard-working team, they don’t make mistakes,” Toone said. “They play as one on both sides of the ball. If they’re lacking in one area somehow the other people can make up for it by playing as a team. When you do that and don’t make mistakes, you’re a hard team to beat.

Because of its success, Grizzly football is the biggest ticket in Missoula and likely the entire state of Montana. Fans invade Missoula the night before home games and their loud support during the game can create a difficult environment for visitors.

But it can also be a welcomed atmosphere.

“I like going there because I like the fans and I like the noise,” McBride said. “I like the town because it’s a blue-collar town. I like the type of fans because they’re loud and they support their team and it’s important to those people that their team is successful.”

That’s one of the reasons the Wildcats are looking forward to Saturday’s game.

“I’d rather play there than anywhere,” said WSU running back Trevyn Smith. “The best crowd I’ve ever played in front of is at Montana. It’s a tough place to play, but a fun place to play.”