BOZEMAN, Montana – Considered one of Montana State’s most anticipated non-conference video games in latest historical past arrives Saturday when third-ranked Montana State visits No. 1 and defending FCS Nationwide Champion South Dakota State. Kickoff is 5 pm MT (6 pm CT) and the sport airs throughout the Treasure State on MTN stations.
Whereas MSU and the Jackrabbits by no means shared a convention affiliation, the groups have met 17 instances for the reason that collection started in 1956. The groups took flip ending one another’s season within the final two years – MSU topped South Dakota State with a visit to the 2021 FCS Nationwide Championship Recreation on the road, whereas SDSU gained underneath comparable circumstances 9 months in the past – and have met 4 instances in the newest 5 campaigns.
Bobcat coach Brent Vigen’s battles with SDSU date to his enjoying days at North Dakota State within the mid-Nineteen Nineties and his time teaching his alma mater in opposition to the Jackrabbits by way of 2013. His two seasons at MSU have performed nothing to show down the warmth. “They’re the defending champs, No. One-ranked within the nation proper now, and this can be our third sport in our final 18 video games in opposition to them so there’s familiarity from each the semifinal matchups,” he mentioned.
The Bobcats earned their approach to Frisco, Texas, with the 31-17 win in Bobcat Stadium in 2021. That sport stays a Blue & Gold traditional. South Dakota State turned the tides final yr with a 39-18 win in Brookings.
The Jackrabbits journey a 15-game successful streak into Saturday’s showdown, with two of these wins over present No. 2 North Dakota State and one over the third-ranked Cats. Since transitioning to NCAA Division I standing in 2004 the Jackrabbits declare 17 successful seasons, together with the final 11 in a row. Every of these 11 campaigns have resulted in FCS Playoffs appearances, the second-longest present streak behind NDSU’s 13.
South Dakota State and the Cats have a robust mutual custom on the gridiron. The groups met yearly from 1956 to 1966, with MSU successful 9 of these 11 conferences. 4 of these, together with one SDSU victory, occurred in Nice Falls. The rivalry went dormant till 2004, when the first-year Division I Jackrabbits visited Bozeman. A decade later the Jackrabbits have been again, this time for a 2014 FCS Playoff contest gained by the guests. Within the decade that began with that sport, MSU is 1-4 in opposition to the foes from Brookings, together with 1-2 within the playoffs.
All of that queues up Saturday’s showdown between two of the most effective groups within the FCS. “We each deliver lots of gamers again,” Vigen mentioned. “Will probably be a type of video games that I think about will go right down to the fourth quarter. To get there it’s a must to play effectively on each side of the ball and we’d like to have the ability to push to play a bonus on the particular groups facet of issues, however they’re good in all three phases. It is going to take an improved effort on our half so far as execution goes, (together with) that very same relentless approach of going about issues by way of how arduous we play.”
As anticipated, the Jackrabbits return a wealth of expertise. “You do not see an actual weak spot throughout the board from them, and also you should not,” Vigen mentioned. “They’re the defending champs and so they deliver lots of gamers again.”
Junior quarterback Mark Gronowski brings a championship pedigree to the Jackrabbits offense after main the group to the 2022 crown. He accomplished 10 of his 13 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns within the FCS Semifinals in opposition to Montana State final season, then went 14-for-21 for 223 yards with three touchdowns within the championship sport in opposition to NDSU. Receivers Jaxon and Jadon Janke return as key weapons on the skin, as does operating backs Isaiah Davis and Amar Johnson.
“Gronowski had an exceptional playoff run final yr, he can run it and throw it, and so they return the Janke twins who’re clearly some extent of consideration,” Vigen mentioned. “I take a look at their operating backs and that tandem’s actually good, Davis and Johnson. They’re a special mix of operating again. Davis is a robust again that may actually run, and we discovered how Johnson can actually run speed-wise final yr.”
Vigen can also be impressed with the offense’s huge males. “They return all 5 starters up entrance (on the offensive line),” Vigen mentioned. “That was a energy of theirs final yr.”
Linebacker Adam Bock leads the best way on protection. The junior linebacker completed 2021 as a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, and logged 2.5 tackles-for-loss in opposition to the Cats final season. Line of defense starters Cade Terveer and Ryan Van Marel additionally return, together with linebackers Jason Freeman and Isaiah Stalbird, who flank Bock.
Each groups loved decisive season-opening wins. South Dakota State whipped Western Oregon 45-7, whereas the Cats ran previous Utah Tech 63-20. Vigen noticed a lot to love, and loads of work forward of his group, within the opener. “It felt prefer it was an excellent effort, and on the identical time there’s a lot for us to enhance upon,” he mentioned. “”To win the turnover margin, to not be penalized – for probably the most half our penalties got here on the finish of the sport – we performed fairly clear. The playmaking was there. It is definitely a efficiency for us to construct upon.”
The Bobcats rode offensive weapons each acquainted and recent. Junior quarterback Tommy Mellott ran for 79 yards and threw for 157, finishing passes to seven completely different receivers. MSU’s floor sport churned out 402 yards, led by first-year freshman Scottre Humphrey’s 114 yards and three touchdowns. He’s the primary true freshman since at the very least World Conflict II to hit these benchmarks in a season opener.
Defensively the Cats picked off three passes, together with one by senior defensive finish David Alston. That marked MSU’s first line of defense interception since Tyrone Fa’anono in 2018. MSU held Utah Tech to 309 complete yards and 16 first downs.
Vigen is aware of that it’ll take elevated play to compete with South Dakota State on Saturday. “This can be a good group, greater than that, an incredible group, and we’ll want to enhance this week.”
Along with airing on MTN Stations the sport is broadcast on the Bobcat Radio Community (Keaton Gillogly, RJ Fitzgerald, Dan Davies) and streams on ESPN+ with audio on the Varsity Community.
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