Former CMR star Dylan Mahoney savors Cat-Griz experience
Dylan Mahoney is the latest on a list of linemen from Great Falls who have starred on the football field at Montana State.
The pipeline has produced a gusher of talent for the Bobcats, a group that in recent years includes talented Electric City natives and former MSU stars Aaron Papich and Jeff Hansen.
Mahoney, a former C.M. Russell High star, is a senior captain and one of the main reasons this year’s Cats lead the Big Sky Conference in rushing offense. A 6-5, 245-pounder when he first signed with the Bobcats, Mahoney is now a 6-6, 285-pound left tackle who has been a reliable blocker and pass protector throughout his career.
He grew up with the Bobcat-Grizzly rivalry, which will be renewed for the 117th time Saturday afternoon in Bozeman.
“It’s the most fun game you can play in,” Mahoney said. “It will be a great memory for me and an honor to play in that game. It always is. And I’m hoping to go out on high note.”
The Bobcats salvaged their season a year ago, of course, with a 24-17 victory over the Grizzlies in Missoula that effectively knocked Montana out of the playoffs. Mahoney was part of a MSU O-Line that helped the Cats rush for 368 yards.
“Last year, that was really fun being able to do that over there, and then bring the (Great Divide) trophy back to Bozeman. That was awesome,” Mahoney said. “It was probably one of the highlights of my life and my college career.”
How did it feel?
“It’s an indescribable feeling,” he said. “You just don’t know until you’ve done it.”
Great Falls is a town with divided loyalties this time of year. Mahoney, the son of longtime CMR assistant football coach Duff Mahoney, knows that better than most.
“My sister,” Dylan said, “went to other school. And I grew up a Bobcat fan. But all my friends were fans of the other school.”
You see, that’s how it is in an intense deal with like this. When you’re at one place you don’t really refer to the rival by their name. It’s ‘the other school.’
Said Mahoney: “It was always fun and definitely means a lot more now that I’m a part of it.”
The former Rustler said young players from out of state on either side of the rivalry don’t necessarily understand the magnitude and emotion of it until that classic Saturday when the teams clash.
Like they’ll so Saturday for the 117th time.
“You’ve got to see it before you can actually realize what it means to the people of Montana,” Mahoney said. “I don’t think you can really get it until you experience it.”
The Bobcats were hoping to get a taste of the playoffs in 2017. But that’s not going to happen. So the Cats are reduced to playing a spoiler’s role in hopes of ending the Grizzly season.
“That does add a little motivation,” Mahoney said. “But that is not the main objective. It’s to win that game regardless of the circumstances.”