Thousands of fans will be driving into Missoula this weekend for the 118th Brawl of the Wild football game between the Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State Bobcats.

The Montana Highway Patrol will be ready with extra patrols throughout western Montana.

“We’ve got the Safety Enforcement Traffic Team in town for the weekend,” said Captain James Kitchin. “We’ve got a lot of troopers out and everyone will be seeing them. We’re hoping to reduce crashes and get people to not drink and drive and wear their seat belts this weekend.”

Kitchin said drivers will see two or three MHP troopers in the same area.

“We’ll be looking for DUI, impaired driving, non use of seat belts and speeding, of course,” he said. “If we get any weather, people need to slow down and take their time coming into town. That’s the biggest thing we can ask for is for people to be safe while they’re going down the road. Drive slow, drive defensively and get there safely.”

Fans will be coming into Missoula for the Grizzly Bobcat game, as well as the Class ‘B’ state championship game between the Loyola and Fairfield. Fans will be driving into Hamilton for the state championship game between Hamilton and Columbia Falls.

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