MSU's defensive line faces a tall task vs. North Dakota State
Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez
BOBCAT FOOTBALL GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #15: Montana State Sends Strong Run Game Against No. 1 Bison
12/21/2019 11:00:00 AM | Football
MSU looks to extend historic playoff run
Montana State is likely to be without the services of linebacker Troy Andersen today, as he continues to battle leg injuries. The final decision will be made in the time before kickoff.
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Today's game is the third-latest a Bobcat football team has played. Montana State's 1947 (January 1) Harbor Bowl and 1956 Aluminum Bowl (December 22) are the only games later than today's December 21 FCS Semifinal.
Montana State's 15th game of the season, which Jeff Choate calls "almost like an NFL season," sets a program record today. The team's 14 games en route to the 1984 National Championship, matches the 14 games played by the 2019 Bobcats to this point as the most in school history.
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Today's showdown is the fourth post-season clash between the Bobcats and Bison. Montana State won the 1976 NCAA Division II Semifinal contest – technically the Grantland Rice Bowl – to advance to that season's national title game. NDSU won second round games in Bozeman in 2010, and in Fargo last season. MSU has played Sam Houston State and New Hampshire twice each.
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Running back Tom Kostrba rushed for 106 yards at North Dakota State in the 1976 playoff game to lead MSU to the win in frigid conditions, and gained 306 rushing yards in the team's three playoff wins that season. That stood as the career playoff rushing yardage record until Isaiah Ifanse's record-breaking run through the 2019 post-season. The sophomore's 196 yards rushing against Austin Peay last week is MSU's single-game record, his 417 career post-season rushing yards is also a Bobcat record, and with 235 yards this post-season he is 71 from matching Kostrba's record for a single post-season. Ifanse gained 43 yards against North Dakota State in 2018.
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Both teams in today's semifinal contest are built, as Jeff Choate says, from the line of scrimmage out, so it shouldn't be surprising that some of today's most-decorated players are linemen. Two of Montana State's four All-Americas play on the lines - offensive tackle Mitch Brott and defensive end Bryce Sterk have each been honored as second- or third-teamers by every FCS All-America team issued to this point.
Of North Dakota State's eight All-Americas, four reside in the trenches: left tackle Dillon Radunz, right guard Zack Johnson and defensive end Derrek Tuszka each earned first team honors, and right tackle Cordell Volson is a second team choice.
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The ability of Montana State's ground game to produce against a stingy Bison defense stands as one of the key matchups today. The Bobcats average 265.9 rushing yards a game, 7th in the FCS, while North Dakota State surrenders 133.4 yards a game, 30th nationally. On the flip side, the Bison rush for a robust 285.9 yards a game, 4th in the FCS, while Montana State allows 107.1 rushing yards per game, 9th nationally.
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The excellence of Montana State's defense throughout the season is apparent, but that unit has risen to the occasion as the stakes have increased. In the last four games this season - against three playoff teams and a talented UC Davis squad fighting at that point for its season - MSU has allowed an average of 305 total yards per game, including just 70 yards a game on the ground. The Cats have forced eight turnovers in those four games, allowing an average of just 15.5 first downs a game.
* * * * *
Today's game is the third-latest a Bobcat football team has played. Montana State's 1947 (January 1) Harbor Bowl and 1956 Aluminum Bowl (December 22) are the only games later than today's December 21 FCS Semifinal.
Montana State's 15th game of the season, which Jeff Choate calls "almost like an NFL season," sets a program record today. The team's 14 games en route to the 1984 National Championship, matches the 14 games played by the 2019 Bobcats to this point as the most in school history.
* * * * *
Today's showdown is the fourth post-season clash between the Bobcats and Bison. Montana State won the 1976 NCAA Division II Semifinal contest – technically the Grantland Rice Bowl – to advance to that season's national title game. NDSU won second round games in Bozeman in 2010, and in Fargo last season. MSU has played Sam Houston State and New Hampshire twice each.
* * * * *
Running back Tom Kostrba rushed for 106 yards at North Dakota State in the 1976 playoff game to lead MSU to the win in frigid conditions, and gained 306 rushing yards in the team's three playoff wins that season. That stood as the career playoff rushing yardage record until Isaiah Ifanse's record-breaking run through the 2019 post-season. The sophomore's 196 yards rushing against Austin Peay last week is MSU's single-game record, his 417 career post-season rushing yards is also a Bobcat record, and with 235 yards this post-season he is 71 from matching Kostrba's record for a single post-season. Ifanse gained 43 yards against North Dakota State in 2018.
* * * * *
Both teams in today's semifinal contest are built, as Jeff Choate says, from the line of scrimmage out, so it shouldn't be surprising that some of today's most-decorated players are linemen. Two of Montana State's four All-Americas play on the lines - offensive tackle Mitch Brott and defensive end Bryce Sterk have each been honored as second- or third-teamers by every FCS All-America team issued to this point.
Of North Dakota State's eight All-Americas, four reside in the trenches: left tackle Dillon Radunz, right guard Zack Johnson and defensive end Derrek Tuszka each earned first team honors, and right tackle Cordell Volson is a second team choice.
* * * * *
The ability of Montana State's ground game to produce against a stingy Bison defense stands as one of the key matchups today. The Bobcats average 265.9 rushing yards a game, 7th in the FCS, while North Dakota State surrenders 133.4 yards a game, 30th nationally. On the flip side, the Bison rush for a robust 285.9 yards a game, 4th in the FCS, while Montana State allows 107.1 rushing yards per game, 9th nationally.
* * * * *
The excellence of Montana State's defense throughout the season is apparent, but that unit has risen to the occasion as the stakes have increased. In the last four games this season - against three playoff teams and a talented UC Davis squad fighting at that point for its season - MSU has allowed an average of 305 total yards per game, including just 70 yards a game on the ground. The Cats have forced eight turnovers in those four games, allowing an average of just 15.5 first downs a game.
Players Mentioned
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