The Jackrabbits host the University of Montana Griz on Saturday at 1pm in the second round of the FCS playoffs in a rematch of last seasons National Championship game. Obviously, the rosters have both experienced turnover since then but their will still be many stars and contributors seeing the field from both rosters who played against each other last January. This should be a fun matchup as Montana played just well enough to beat Tennessee State in round one at home. Now they come to Brookings to see how they stack up!
Offense
The Montana offense is again putting up some points in 2024! They averaged 34.5 ppg through 205.1 ypg rushing and 213.85 yards per game passing. They are good on 3rd down and convert 42.17% of the time time while being really good in the redzone scoring on 85% of their attempts (47/55) with 78% being touchdowns (37/47). They have tossed 6 interceptions, lost 7 fumbles, and surrendered 26 sacks on the season. They have a big and experienced offensive line, some of the best skill players in the FCS, but a QB controversy has marred the season.
At quarterback, the Griz start #12 Logan Fife (6-0, 205) who has passed for 1,890 yards, 14 touchdowns to 2 interceptions while completing 63.5% of his passes. He is also has shown solid mobility rushing for 237 gross yards and 5 TDs. He isn’t a true dual threat QB but he is good at evading pressure and making tough runs when he needs to. #8 Keali’i Ah Yat (6-1, 192) has been the backup/part-time starter/change of pace option for much of the year. He has 890 yards passing with 5 TDs to 4 INTs and has completed just 59% of his passes. He has 238 gross yards rushing and 7 TDs on the season. From the outside, it seems like Griz fans have been frustrated by the QB time share while most of the national media has been perplexed by Bobby Hauck’s insistence that this be a thing in 2024 when it seems like their is a clear cut #1 option. It will be interesting to see how Montana utilizes these two on Saturday.
At running back, Montana trots out one of the best in the FCS in #10 Eli Gillman (6-0, 208). He has 1,092 yards and 15 TDs along with an impressive 7 ypc average. He has also demonstrated really solid hands in the passing game with 18 receptions for 176 yards and 2 TD. His backup is typically #26 Nick Ostmo (6-0, 221) but he was held out of the matchup with Tennessee State with an injury. On the season he has 769 rushing yards (6.2 ypc) and 3 TDs along with 20 receptions for 144 yards and 1 TD. The player that turned some heads in round one was true freshman #7 Malae Fonoti (5-11, 200). He churned out some bruising yards in the first half and on the season has 222 yards (6.9 ypc) and 1 TD. If Ostmo is again out, we will see Fonoti.
The Griz wide receiver group is DEEP and explosive. In Frisco, the Jacks did a good job of limiting their impact but they came back this season and have produced for their new QB. #6 Keelan White (6-2, 184) leads the way with 52 receptions for 560 yards and 3 TDs. #5 Junior Bergen (5-11, 184) returned to Montana for his senior season even with major NIL money staring him in the face as one of the most explosive return men in all of college football. He has had a good season collecting 46 passes for 525 yards and 3 TDs. #14 Aaron Fontes is also back and has 41 receptions for 407 yards and 1 TD. The group has been bolster by the emergence of #9 Sawyer Racanelli (6-3, 208) who brings a bigger presence to the group. He has 27 receptions for 343 yards and 1 TD. #13 Xavier Harris is listed as a running back but has more receptions than carries and has 18 for 242 yards and 3 TDs. Finally, the group has #88 Erik Barker (6-4, 240) at tight end and he has 11 receptions for 103 yards and 3 TDs. Again, this is a really deep and talented group of pass catchers.
Again, the offensive line brings back a mix of high level experience experience and 3 new faces to the offensive line. They are obviously very good run blockers and handled the size that TSU brought to the game last week. From left to right they go,
- #60 Dillon Botner (6-6, 290, R-Sr)
- #79 Liam Brown (6-5, 317, R-Jr)
- #72 Cade Klimzcak (6-1, 286, R-Sr)
- #76 Journey Grimsrud (6-3, 302, R-Jr)
- #66 Brandon Casey (6-5, 309, Sr)
Botner is in his first year starting after battling through injuries. Brown has been a spot starter in 2023 and 2022 before claiming the job full time in 2024. Klimczak is a Central Michigan transfer who had 3 starts to his credit before this season. Grimsrud was named 2nd Team All Big Sky this season and has started every game the past two seasons. Casey has started at right tackle for the past three seasons and has earned consecutive All Big 1st Team honors.
Defense
The Griz defense plays a funky 3-3-5 defense. The linebackers are incredibly active and against Tennessee State they showed a love for the double A gap blitz. On the season, they are surrendering 25.15 ppg, 140.3 ypg rushing, and 214.7 ypg passing. Opponents are converting on 37% of their 3rd down attempts. In the redzone, Montana’s opponents have scored 84% (37/44) of the time but only 67.5% 25/37) have been touchdowns. The Jacks will need to make sure these are touchdowns on Saturday. Montana is good at turning over their opponents and has collected 5 fumbles, and has 13 interceptions along with 27 sacks.
Up front, this Griz defense really depends on these front 3 to raise havoc. The defensive ends are #48 Hayden Harris (6-5, 255) and #96 Henry Nuce (6-4, 253). Harris is a monster and has 49 tackles, 16 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 3 QBH, and 3 forced fumbles. That is an impressive stat line! Nuce has 36 tackles, 5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, at INT and Forced fumble. It is a high quality duo! #55 Anders Lehrmann (6-2, 246) is a solid reserve and he has 32 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 QBH. #99 Pat Hayden (6-2, 285) is the new nose. He has 12 tackles, 2 TFL, and a sack this season. His backup is #90 Jareb Ramos (6-4, 285) who filled in while Hayden was down with injury and he has 19 tackles, 2 batted balls and a QBH.
The trio of linebackers is paced by #44 Ryan Tirrell (6-2, 235) who leads the team with 103 tackles. He also has 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks, and 4 PBU. #42 Riley Wilson (6-2, 230) appeared to be all over the field against TSU and has 80 total tackles, 11.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 PBU, and 7 QBH on the season. The transfer from Hawaii looked really good last Saturday! #0 Vai Kahoo (6-1, 235) and #45 Caleb Otlewski (6-4, 235) are splitting time at the 3rd spot. Kahoo has 61 tackles, 5 TFL, and 1 sack this season while Otlewski has has 32 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT and 2 more QBH. #56 Garrett Hustedt (6-2, 235) is an experienced reserve who has 17 tackles and an INT this season.
The cornerbacks for Montana are #37 Trevin Gradney (6-0, 184) and #2 Ronald Jackson (6-1, 191) and #25 Jaxon Lee (6-1, 210) in the nickel. Lee is second on the team in tackles with 84. He has 1 INT, 1 PBU, and 4 QBH and a forced fumble. Jackson has 56 tackles and 1 forced fumble. Gradney has 46 tackles, 2 tfl, 1 INT, and 9 PBU. #32 Tyson Rostad (6-1, 201) is the reserve nickel and he has 31 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, and 2 PBUs this season. On the outside true freshman #14 Kyon Loud ( 6-2, 172)is the only guy seeing any other significant amount of action and he has 17 tackles and 2 PBU.
The safety duo for the Griz are #39 Jace Klucewich (5-10, 166) and #13 Ryder Meyer (5-10, 185). Meyer had a great 2023 and has built off of it this season. He has 69 tackles, 3 TFL, and 1 INT. Klucewich has 26 total tackles and a team leading 4 INT. Klucewich as bounced between safety and corner in his career for Montana so he has some solid coverage skills. #9 Crishawn Gordon (5-11, 191) and #10 TJ Rausch (6-3, 205) are key reserves. Gordon has 32 total tackles, 1 sack, and 4 PBU while Rausch has 29 tackles and a forced fumble.
Special Teams
The Montana special teams are again very good and are highlighted by the spectacular play of #5 Junior Bergen who is now tied for the most punt returns for TD in FCS history. He took 2 to the house against TSU and has 10 returns for 240 yards and 3 TDs on the season. On kickoffs, he has 20 kick returns for a 21.45 yard average and a long of 41. #13 Xavier Harris has returned 10 kicks this season for a 28.4 average including a 76 yard return.
In the punting game, #36 Ty Morrison has 49 punt attempts for a 43.41 average. He has forced 13 to be fair caught, landed 11 inside the 20 and has booted 7, 50+ yards AND he only has 2 touchbacks. Opponents only have a 6 yard return average against him on 16 attempts with a long of just 21. He also handles the field goal duties and is just 16 of 22 on the season but drilled a 50 yarder so he has a big leg. The kickoff responsibilities belong to #97 Grant Glasgow. He has a 61.5 yard average and has just 23 touchbacks on 67 attempts. Opponents have had some success on kick returns with a 23.38 yard average, including a 95 yard TD return.
Predictions
I think SDSU starts hot in this one. The Jacks have been REALLY good coming out of a bye the past few years. The week of rest and the chance to get away from football should have the team ready for this final push. The Jacks were playing their best ball of the season before the bye so it will be interesting to see if they have the same edge that they were playing with. Montana does not look like the same team that reached the championship game in 2023 and looked very beatable against TSU in round one.
Jacks 35 Griz 9.
Go Jacks!
Matt
