GAME #15: Bobcats Prep for FCS Semifinal Game Against North Dakota State Dynasty

Saturday, December 21

Fargo, ND

12 noon MT

Montana State University

North Dakota State

MSU's defense faces a powerful North Dakota State offense on Saturday

Photo by: Garrett Becker

GAME #15: Bobcats Prep for FCS Semifinal Game Against North Dakota State Dynasty

12/18/2019 8:38:00 AM | Football

MSU Game Notes vs. NDSU NDSU Game Notes

Montana State returns to Fargo for second straight season

By: Bill Lamberty

BOZEMAN, Montana – The superlatives flow easily.

At various times, describing Montana State's opponent in Saturday's FCS semifinal, Bobcat head football coach called North Dakota State "a machine" with "a very efficient offense" and a "suffocating defense." While calling the philosophies of the two programs "similar," Choate says "we've got to play football for a long time around here for a long time to catch up to those guys." He says NDSU's 35-game win streak is "hard to wrap your head around."

Facts reside on Choate's side. The Bison have won 35 consecutive games, the longest winning streak in Division I football during the two-platoon era (mid-1960s on), are stampeding toward the program's 16^th national championship, and with 135 wins since the beginning of the 2010 season stand as college football's winningest program of the decade. Drilling down to this season's team, NDSU leads the nation in rushing offense, scoring offense, passing defense, scoring defense, and turnover margin – among many other categories.

But Choate knows one thing. He knows that last year's result has no bearing on the outcome Saturday.

"It doesn't matter what happened a year ago," he said. "It doesn't. It doesn't matter for them, and it doesn't matter for us. You're not the team you were yesterday, let alone a year ago. We've got to avoid having any PTSD from our traumatic experience that took place in the Fargodome (a 52-10 in the 2018 FCS Playoffs), but our guys have played a ton of football since then, I mean played a ton of football, and have played to a higher degree. We're more competitive, I think we're a better team overall, we're more well-rounded. They are who they are. What happened last year, what happened this year, throw it out the window. Doesn't matter. Some (of the same) guys are playing in the game, but 385 days is the difference, and that's a long time."

Freshman quarterback Trey Lance, this year's Jerry Rice Award winner as the top FCS freshman, triggers the North Dakota State offense. Lance is "completing almost 70 percent of his passes, he's thrown 25 touchdowns and no interceptions," Choate said. "He's stepping right in where (current NFL quarterbacks) Carson Wentz and Easton Stick left off." He benefits from benefits from the production of running backs Ty Brooks (902 yards) and Adam Cofield (719 yards), and receiver Christian Watson (644 yards). Watson, Josh Babicz and Ben Ellefson have each caught six touchdown passes.

But Choate's opinion is that the strength of the Bison offense is elsewhere. "It doesn't matter who's coaching them, it doesn't matter who's playing quarterback, as long as that O-line is what it is they're going to be pretty good." Left tackle Dillon Radunz, right guard Zack Johnson and right tackle Cordell Volson have each earned All-America honors already in 2019.

The defensive unit that Choate calls "suffocating" allows just 11.6 points per game, and leads the nation in defensive passing efficiency and passing yards allowed. Linebacker Jabril Cox is one of the top defensive players in the nation, safeties James Hendricks and Michael Tutsie are among the nation's leaders in interceptions (Hendricks ranks in passes defended, as well), defensive end Derrek Tuszka has 11.5 sacks and five other tackles-for-loss.

While fully aware of North Dakota State's wide-ranging and impressive achievements, Choate's focus is closer on his 11-3 Bobcats. "This has nothing to do with who we're playing," he said. "This is all about us. If we start getting into who we're playing and where we're playing them and what I get to do when I get home for Christmas, we can just call it in. So this can cannot be about North Dakota State. This is 100 percent about Montana State University."

Montana State brings its own successes into Saturday's tilt against 14-0 NDSU. The Bobcats' season is cresting at the right time, with the team winning six straight games, including a pair in the post-season. Quarterback Tucker Rovig completes 67% of his passes during the current win streak with a 7-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio, and Isaiah Ifanse rushes for 120 yards a game in his four games since returning from injury.

Defensively, safety Brayden Konkol has three interceptions and three pass breakups in the last four games, and linebacker Josh Hill has 25 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, in the last four games, and cornerback Tyrel Thomas three pass breakups and an interception in the last four games.

But most especially, Choate likes the way his team's lines are playing, led by All-America offensive tackle Mitch Brott and All-America defensive end Bryct Sterk. "I think (the lines have) been good all season, but our depth has improved. So when you substitute, maybe that's the thing that shows up. Instead of having a dropoff there's a pretty high level of play on both sides."

Even after losing 52-10 in the Fargodome during last season's FCS Playoffs second round game, Choate said the experience was valuable. "I think it really matters because it is a unique environment," he said. "It's loud, it's very compact, so it's different. I think having (played) there does help. We've been in there when it was loud and rowdy. We don't have to be intimated by the environment."

And he thinks the most important characteristic for his team to lean on Saturday is not measurable. "I think our guys are still hungry and excited to play."

Kickoff is 12 noon MT/1 pm CT in North Dakota State's Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. The game is televised on ESPN2, and available around Montana on the Bobcat Radio Network.

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