Griz to face NDSU in rematch
The University of Montana football team shocked the college-football world with its dramatic 38-35 victory over four-time defending national champion North Dakota State at Washington-Grizzly Stadium to begin the 2015 season.
The Grizzlies of first-year head coach Bob Stitt will look to recreate a similar result on Saturday in a rematch with the Bison, this time in the hostile territory of the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D. at 1:30 p.m. MST.
NDSU boasts an unblemished 13-0 record at home all-time in the FCS playoffs since becoming eligible for postseason play in 2008 after moving up from Division II in 2004.
The Griz last trip to Fargo resulted in a 22-10 loss to the Bison last season.
The two teams’ paths to the FCS playoffs have been quite different since they parted ways in late August, as the Bison finished the season with a 9-2 record, with the lone hiccup coming on October 17 in a 24-21 loss to former UM head coach Joe Glenn’s South Dakota squad.
NDSU brought home a share of the Missouri Valley Conference title for the fifth year in a row after a 55-0 drubbing of Missouri State on Nov. 21, earning a first-round bye in the postseason.
The Grizzlies’ season, however, has been a roller coaster at times since the win over the Bison, playing three different starting quarterbacks due to injury and suffering two narrow losses at home on field goals.
Following a last-second loss on a field goal in week two against Cal Poly, UM dropped its second-straight game to Liberty and lost starting quarterback Brady Gustafson to a leg injury in the process.
University of Idaho transfer Chad Chalich stepped under center for the Griz as Gustafson’s replacement, leading UM to consecutive victories before also going down in a home loss to Weber State on Oct. 10.
Sophomore Makena Simis took over the starting role and threw six touchdown passes in a win over North Dakota in his first start, but the Griz sputtered the following week in a 35-16 defeat at the hands of Portland State.
Needing three wins to close out the regular season to remain eligible for the playoffs, UM faced almost certain defeat as Idaho State lined up for a short field goal in overtime, but a bad snap had both teams scrambling for the loose ball and UM’s Eric Johnson eventually picked it up and ran to pay dirt for the win in one of the most bizarre and miraculous finishes in school history.
Gustafson’s return the following week brought life back into the Griz offense, scoring 111 points in wins over Eastern Washington and Montana State to close out the regular season, earning an at-large bid in the playoffs, where the Griz won their opening-round game 24-17 over South Dakota State.
UM features an offense with many dangerous targets for Gustafson, including receivers Jamaal Jones, Ben Roberts and former C.M. Russell High quarterback Josh Horner, along with leading rusher John Nguyen.
The Grizzlies’ defense, which ranks third in the Big Sky Conference in points allowed per game, has been the rock for the team at many times this year, led by Buck Buchanan (the FCS’ top defensive player) candidate Tyrone Holmes, who leads the country in sacks, and Kendrick Van Ackeren, the team’s leading tackler.
NDSU’s Carson Wentz, thought by many to be the top NFL prospect quarterback in the FCS entering the season, suffered a wrist injury in the loss the South Dakota, but redshirt freshman Easton Stick has filled in nicely, scoring 15 total touchdowns vs. only two picks since taking over.
The Bison rushing attack is led by King Frazier, who has almost 800 yards and seven scores on the year.
NDSU features a tough defense, which ranked second in the MVC in total (less than 300 yards per game) and scoring defense (17.6 per game) on the year.