Unseeded North Dakota State heads to No. 2 seed Montana for a Saturday afternoon FCS semifinal matchup.
What does NDSU need to do to reach its 11th FCS title game? Here are five keys for a victory.
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Quick Start
Whether it be the physical toll (NDSU is playing 12 straight weeks, including now three straight road playoff games) or the mental toll (dealing with NIL/transfer portal rumors last week and Matt Entz accepting a new job this week/wondering who the next coach will be), it’s been a taxing playoff run. Yet the Bison keep rolling.
A slow start on Saturday could drain NDSU quickly, however.
The Bison had consequential slow starts against South Dakota and North Dakota in the regular season. It also didn’t do much to slow down SDSU’s offense in the first half. One key to NDSU’s success after the SDSU loss was quick starts and seizing the momentum. Except at Montana State, when there was a bit of a slow start. The Bison did a good job of settling in there.
There might not be time to settle in on Saturday. The Montana crowd will be unglued, at an absolute pandemonium level hosting its first semifinal game since 2009. If the Griz land a couple of haymakers early and the crowd is raining down noise and talk at NDSU, do the Bison have the physical and mental energy to climb out of an early hole?
A quick start can quiet the crowd while instilling the thought into the minds of the Montana fans and players that the big bad Bison are back.
Get Your Hands On Clifton McDowell, And Keep Your Hands On Clifton McDowell
In the first six games of the season, NDSU had nine team sacks. In the last eight games, NDSU has had 27. Defensive ends Jake Kava and Dylan Hendricks have really elevated their play.
Hendricks did leave last week’s game and didn’t return. Head coach Matt Entz said he’s hopeful Hendricks will be ready for Montana, but also mentioned Hendricks and some others in the locker room are dealing with flu-like symptoms.
Montana’s starting left tackle Chris Walker didn’t play last week after an injury late in the second-round game. Guards Liam Brown and Hunter Mayginnes have also missed time recently.
NDSU will like its chances to get after Clifton McDowell and get their hands on him, although Montana’s PFF pass-blocking grade is 19th in the FCS. Getting home and getting him on the ground is key. McDowell is physically impressive at 6-foot-4 and 224 pounds. He’s strong enough to shake off a hand on his shoulder pads, but also mobile enough to take off if there’s an open lane up the middle of the pass rush.
RELATED: 5 Keys For A Montana Victory
Keep The Comfort King Comfortable
Cam Miller has been fabulous for the majority of this season. He’s been PFF’s No. 1-graded FCS quarterback, has had clutch plays in big moments, and has made next-level throws.
He was thrown off his game the last time he visited Montana in the second round. Maybe it was just an off day, where Miller finished 5/12 for 66 yards and one touchdown. Or maybe it was the cold, the crowd, and a blitzing Montana State defense. He’ll face about the same temps this weekend, but a louder crowd and an even more pressure-heavy defense.
Miller responded emphatically last week at South Dakota, going 13/15 for 210 yards and a TD. He’ll need to play like that again, and the o-line will need to keep him comfortable. A frenzied Montana crowd can avalanche on you if you’re off your game early.
The Grizzlies are No. 9 in rushing defense statistically (97.2 YPG), and its PFF rushing D grade is sixth in the FCS. Miller will have to make plays with his arm.
Tackling 101
Statistically, and frankly by FCS standards, the Bison are a solid defense. But when compared to past dominant units, they are more gettable this fall. NDSU is 22nd in the FCS against the run, 27th against the pass, and 15th in scoring defense. Its PFF grades include 32nd in rush defense, 37th in coverage, and 92nd in tackling.
Tackling has been an issue in several games. And Montana is not the team to have a bad tackling day against.
Wide receivers Junior Bergen, Aaron Fontes, and Keelan White can make you look silly in the open field if you’re not breaking down. Clifton McDowell can escape pressure, evade tacklers, or push the pile downfield if you’re not wrapping him up. Running backs Eli Gillman, the 2023 Jerry Rice Award winner, and Nick Ostmo can bounce off defenders if you’re trying to shoulder tackle them.
RELATED: Montana vs. NDSU Tale of the Tape
Special Teams
The amount of game-changing special teams plays this postseason has been silly. Kick return TDs, punt return TDs, blocked punts for TDs, shanked punts, missed field goals, game-winning field goals, blocked PATs … it’s all happened in the bracket.
Bobby Hauck may go down as one of the brightest special teams minds in football. His ability to watch film, find tendencies, and scheme up fakes, returns, blocks, etc. is incredible. If you’re not buttoned up in your alignment, your protection, your directional kicking/punting, or your coverage lane responsibilities, Montana will expose you.
Junior Bergen had two returns for touchdowns last week. The placement of NDSU’s kicks and punts is a vital part of this game.
