Sacramento State doesn't have history on its side as it renews its Big Sky Conference relationship with the unbeaten Montana Grizzlies.

"They've had their way with us, there's no doubt," said Marshall Sperbeck, whose program is 0-for-14 against the Griz, who are ranked No. 2 in the nation going into Saturday's game. "But they've been pretty much like that with everybody in the conference.

"We're not the only ones sitting here. They've dominated the conference for quite a while."

Montana, 6-0, has been explosive on offense while working in two quarterbacks and a little generous on defense while working in players from the line through the secondary.

Injuries have thinned the cornerback position, with the three main guys from last season - Trumaine Johnson, Andrew Swink and Keith Thompson - all questionable because of injuries.

None of this is liable to have Sac State quarterback Jason Smith licking his chops, but it doesn't figure the Hornets, who have two league wins already and lost a 56-30 score-fest with Eastern Washington, will blink.

"He's a good football player," Montana coach Bobby Hauck said of Smith, a three-year starter. "He's not real flashy. But he made two great (cross-field) throws against Eastern that were throws I hadn't seen him make before.

"I think he's pretty good running the ball even though if you look at his totals he's not looking to run it as much. He's more about staying alive and looking to deliver the ball."

Montana's pass defense has statistically been shaky, though in terms of efficiency the Griz rank high. Johnson, though, was literally knocked out of Tuesday's Griz practice. Sac State has big targets like 6-foot-4 Brandyn Reed and 6-2 Dylan Lane and John Hendershott.

In 195-pound Washington transfer Terrance Dailey the Hornets have a running back on a par with their injured standout, Bryan Hilliard. Tackle Clint Lessard is the best of three 300-pounders who make room for Dailey.

"The front is the same guys from last year," noted UM defensive tackle Austin Mullins. "They always seem to have a great back, a quarterback who can get the ball to the running back and wide receivers. And now this year, they've got an experienced O-line.

"They've got all the tools: Players, personnel, coaching, experience. We've got to match that."

Montana's offense will have to contend with a defensive line that was solid last year and has every starter back. Tackle Christian Clark is the clear leader. The 260-pound junior has four sacks.

The Griz offensive line continues to gel in front of running backs Chase Reynolds and Thomas Brooks-Fletcher. Reynolds' yard-per-carry average isn't shiny, but he is the top scorer in the Big Sky with 10 touchdowns.

Add in a receiving corps that has Tyler Palmer, Steven Pfahler and Marc Mariani, and the Hornets have problems.

"All their receivers are good, really," Sac State safety Zach Schrader said. "But he (Mariani) is their go-to guy, and they've got a really good running back who runs it hard and has the moves.

"And they're well-coached. That's what makes them such a good team."

Special teams have played a role as well, with Mariani taking a punt 82 yards for his third career TD return, in a 41-34 win over Eastern last week. The offense has consistently scored points from the second quarter on, and neither Hauck nor Sperbeck see UM's rotation as a detriment.

"They don't necessarily put the ball in the quarterback's hands to win it," said Sperbeck. "I don't think it really matters who they have in. They're both efficient."

Efficient, with some explosiveness mixed in, has worked. The defense hasn't been as ball-hawking as some years, but the Griz dialed up their pressure late in the win over Eastern Washington.

"I think we can improve in that area, certainly," said Hauck, mindful that his tackles - Mullins, Tyler Hobbs, Carson Bender, Bryan Waldhauser - have been strong points. "But it was good."

Sacramento State is the next test. The Hornets know a landmark win would be a huge lift.

"It's going to be exciting," said Schrader, a former Western Washington teammate of UM backup lineman Russell Piette. "I hear Montana brings a big crowd. We're trying to get our minds right and get ready to play.

"We want to make it a good game for the crowd. Hopefully it'll turn out good. But like I said, they're a great team. It's a big, big challenge."