Big Sky Extra: Montana, Montana State prepare for playoffs

Many folks will be counting their blessings on Thursday, you understand.

The Montana State Bobcats have been thankful for this entire week.

"Ending our season on that game would have left a horrible taste in your mouth," said Bobcat offensive guard JP Flynn, referring to last Saturday's 34-7 loss to the Montana Grizzlies.

Both teams were selected for the FCS national playoffs, of course, and the Bobcats are preparing to play host to South Dakota State on Saturday in Bozeman.

"The chance to get another shot and redeem ourselves and show the country what we're really made of is a blessing," Flynn said. "And we're extremely excited to have it."

THE MONTANA GRIZZLIES had their awards banquet on Sunday, with quarterback Jordan Johnson and defensive end Zack Wagenmann leading the way.

That's no big surprise. The seniors have been UM stars for years and Saturday will lead the Grizzlies against San Diego in a first-round playoff game in Missoula.

Johnson and Wagenmann were named the co-recipients of Montana's Steve Carlson Award (Most Valuable Player).

Senior running backs Jordan Canada and Travon Van were the co-winners of the Terry Dillon Award, which goes to the team's outstanding back(s) or receiver(s), while defensive tackle Tonga Takai was voted the recipient of the Larry Miller Award (Outstanding Defensive Lineman), while center Logan Hines earned the Paul Weskamp Award (Outstanding Offensive Lineman).

The Most Inspirational Player, who is annually presented the Pat Norwood Award, was senior defensive tackle Trevor Rehm.

THANKS TO INJURIES, the quarterback situation at Montana State is far from clear.

Junior Jake Bleskin suffered a shoulder injury on Saturday, and starter Dakota Prukop has been sidelined with a knee injury. Freshman Quinn McQueary finished the game against the Grizzlies.

"It's mixed, right now," Ash told reporters in Bozeman on Tuesday when asked for an update.

"Jake got a little banged up in the game, Dakota is making really good progress, and Quinn played well when he was in there," Ash said. "Honestly, and I'm telling you the total truth here, it could be anyone of the three … I'm fine with whoever it is."

BLESKIN WAS under constant duress from a fierce Montana Grizzly pass rush and threw five interceptions against the Grizzlies.

No excuses, said MSU offensive lineman JP Flynn.

"I'd like to say hats off to (the Grizzlies)," said a Flynn, a first-team all-Big Sky sophomore from Bettendorf, Iowa. "They outschemed us, outworked us and outplayed us. I don't what else to tell you. They just beat us. I always give credit where credit is due and this is one time when I have to give some credit to them."

FLYNN SAID more often than not the Grizzlies sent extra pass rushers.

"They had blitzed around 10 percent of the time this season, from our film breakdown," Flynn said. "When they played us they blitzed about 50 percent. So they got us on that one."

Flynn was asked if it matters who plays quarterback for the Bobcats.

"Tell you what," he said, "one thing about being an offensive lineman, you never know who's behind you. The only thing you hear is a voice. It doesn't matter to me who's back there … My deal is, I'm confident in whoever we've got back there because I'm confident in the guys we've got up front.

SOUTH DAKOTA State features All-American senior halfback Zach Zenner.

"He's a stud," said Flynn. "He's no joke."

Said Ash: "He's like (former Bobcat star) Cody Kirk, but a lot faster, probably. When he gets a crease he can turn it on and go.

"Zenner is as good as we ever faced, I think."

FLYNN GREW up in Missouri Valley Conference country. The MSU honor student who is majoring in mechanical engineering said it doesn't take long to realize what South Dakota State football is all about.

"It's a hard-nosed team," Flynn said. "They want to run the ball and stop the run. That's what the Missouri Valley Conference prides itself on … Up front they've got some big boys, some big old Midwestern farm boys who play low, play hard and hustle everywhere they go. It's going to be 7 on 7, we'll be up against a loaded-up box. So we'll see who wins the battle."

Ash, an Iowa native who came to Montana State from Drake eight years ago, has high respect for the Missouri Valley.

"It's a tough blue-collar league," Ash said. "Like the Big Ten of FCS football. Big, hardnosed tough teams that play good defense."

MONTANA'S GRIZZLIES are in the playoffs for the 22nd time (the 2011 appearance was vacated because of NCAA sanctions).

The Griz have won two national titles and advanced to the postseason a record 17 times from 1993-2009. Montana is 30-19 all-time and 27-6 at home in the playoffs.

SATURDAY's playoff games in Bozeman and Missoula will start at 2 p.m. and be available only on ESPN3. Consumers should check with their local cable or satellite providers for details.

Next week's second-round games, also to be televised by ESPN3, include North Dakota State playing host to the Montana State-South Dakota winner and Eastern Washington playing host to the Montana-San Diego victor.

The FCS national championship game is Friday, Jan. 10 in Frisco, Texas, to be televised by ESPN2.

SAN DIEGO, the Pioneer League champion that plays the Grizzlies on Saturday, is that rare team that holds a series edge against Montana.

The teams have met just once, with San Diego prevailing 24-13 in 1958.

The Pioneer has been represented in the national playoffs just one other time, when Butler lost 31-0 to Tennessee State in 2013. The Pioneer League began receiving automatic playoff bids last season when the field was expanded to 24 teams.