Bobcats plan chilly reception for SDSU
The last time the Montana State Bobcats were in the FCS semifinals, the subdivision was called I-AA and Kelly Bradley was throwing 39 times in a 32-20 win over Rhode Island.
Don’t count on that many throws from Tommy Mellott, the Cats’ fresh-faced quarterback, when MSU (11-2) takes on South Dakota State (11-3) today at noon at Bobcat Stadium, and on ESPN2.
In fact Chris Oladokun, the senior transfer QB who stepped in for the Jackrabbits this fall, usually doesn’t throw more than 25 passes.
It is forecast to be 26 degrees at kickoff in Bobcat Stadium, where volunteers had to clear several inches of snow this week. The run game will be key.
“We’ve got our hands full,” said MSU coach Brent Vigen, whose No. 8-seeded club earned the home game by knocking off top seed Sam Houston 41-19 last Saturday. “They lost some games and their seeding didn’t end up going for them, but it’s not a surprise to me that they’re a semifinal team.
“They’re extremely balanced. Very good up front, very good at tight end in the running game, and have as good a back combo as there is out there.”
Vigen is talking about PIerre Strong, Jr., who has 1,592 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground, and Isaiah Davis, who has another 692 yards and seven scores.
MSU has a nice counter in Isaiah Ifanse (1,539 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Elijah Elliott. And Mellott’s ability to run gives other teams (like Sam Houston) headaches.
Meanwhile the Bobcats’ rushing defense (232.6 ypg) ranks seventh nationally.
Lance McCutcheon continues to be a dangerous outside receiver for MSU, while SDSU has the tight end tandem of Tucker Kraft and Zach Harris, who have six TD receptions each, as well as Jaxon and Jadon Janke, who have combined to catch 13 touchdowns.
Kraft, like Strong, was named to the HEROsports.com All-America team Tuesday. Vigen also recruited Kraft during his days as Wyoming’s offensive coordinator.
Minus quarterback Marc Gronowski — he was hurt on the first series of the spring FCS title game, which SDSU lost 23-21 to Sam Houston — it’s a lot of the same Jacks. They’re gunning for a third straight road playoff win.
“Much like Sam Houston, they had a full season this spring,” Vigen said. “They were obviously right on the doorstep of a championship last year. But they’ve been close for a long, long time.”
John Steigelmeier has been the Jackrabbits’ head coach since 1997, which was Vigen’s senior year playing for North Dakota State.
“I don’t know if that dates me or him or both of us,” Vigen said.
MSU has injury concerns, mainly with defensive tackle Chase Benson and safety Ty Okada. The defensive line is the deeper group; Vigen thought he might have corner Eric Zambrano back on the field.
Vigen also mentioned the increased time for nickel/safety Tadan Gilman out of Glacier High.
“Tadan Gilman has been out there a bunch,” he said of the junior, who has played in 10 games and made five tackles and an interception.
Junior Jarrett Kessler, another Glacier product, saw action in one game this season.
Montana State is playing the Jackrabbits for the 16th time, and second time in postseason play. The Cats lead the series 10-5, but it was 10-2: SDSU beat the Cats 47-40 in Bozeman in the 2014 playoffs, and also owns a 45-14 regular-season win over MSU on Sept. 8, 2018,
Strong ran twice for 40 yards in the 2018 meeting. Tucker Rovig started at QB for MSU; Troy Andersen had a sack.
Vigen is the first Big Sky Conference coach since Montana’s Joe Glenn to guide his team to the semifinals in his first season. If the Bobcats win Saturday, it will mark the 14th time a Big Sky team makes the FCS title game since it began in 1978.
The Cats won their lone appearance in the championships, following up that win over Rhode Island with a 19-6 victory over Louisiana Tech.