On the surface, Montana’s matchup against North Dakota looks like a battle of polar offensive opposites.
The Grizzlies enter Saturday’s showdown averaging 85 plays per game. The Griz throw the ball almost 50 times per game and only recently have put a priority on running the ball, mostly due to a spat of injuries at quarterback.
UM wide receiver Jamaal Jones runs after a catch vs. NDSU
North Dakota makes no secret about what its intention is. UND wants to run the football early and often, late and almost always. North Dakota’s slowdown style is averaging 63 plays per game. UND has run the ball on 306 of 454 plays (67.4 percent) and average 51 rushes for 189 yards per game. Remove the outlier game against four-time defending national champion North Dakota State in which UND ran for just four yards and North Dakota is averaging 264.2 yards per game.
“It’s a contrast of styles, how they want to play and how we want to play,” UND second-year head coach Bubba Schweigert said. “That will be the interesting matchup. We feel like we are going to have to play very solid to really stay in the game and keep their offense off the field.
“When you get the ball, you have to possess it. That’s the best defense to keeping them off the field because they are very explosive. We know Montana is going to run a lot of plays because that’s there style but we have to hold their points down. They spread you out so much that they are going to get plays and get matchups so you have to tackle well in space.”
Montana enters the game with its backs pressed against the wall. The 3-3 Grizzlies are averaging just 22.4 points per game since a season-opening 38-35 upset of NDSU in Missoula. Montana’s up-tempo offense has produced less than 260 yards per game passing despite the prevalence at which Montana throws the ball. UM’s rushing offense is averaging 124 yards per game.
Junior starting quarterback Brady Gustafson and sophomore Chad Chalich have both suffered undisclosed lower body injuries. This week, sophomore Makena Simis will get the start. Montana had a bye week to work out all the kinds with its third quarterback at the helm. But in Simis’ first appearance this season, the Boise product fumbled in overtime, leading to a 24-21 Weber State victory in Missoula, the Wildcats’ first at Washington-Grizzly Stadium since 1987.
Since Gustafson went down in a 31-21 loss at Liberty, Montana has converted just 36 percent of its third downs. The Griz are rushing for 170 yards per game during that span behind an offensive line that has been inconsistent. Still, first-year UM head coach Bob Stitt said Montana might slow it down more like their opponent with UND in town on Saturday.
UM head coach talks with former starting quarterback Brady Gustafson
“You can go as fast as you want but you can’t go three and out,” Stitt said. “You still need to execute your offense. Tempo is very effective if you are moving the ball and you are executing on third down. We won’t necessarily go up-tempo if we are not moving the ball. We may be slowing it down just like North Dakota. We have to get a feel for the game and how well we are executing at quarterback.”
Montana’s offense will try to find it’s footing against a defense that is as aggressive and brings pressure from as many different angles as any unit in the league. North Dakota leads the league in rushing defense by a wide margin, allowing 71 yards per game. Portland State is second at 126.2 yards per game. UND is fourth in scoring defense (24 points per game) and third in total defense (337 yards per game).
Senior linebacker Will Ratelle is one of the league’s most productive players. The stout, ripped 5-foo10, 255-pounder is third in the league with 9.7 tackles per game. His nine tackles for loss are also third in the league. UND plays a true 3-4 defense in which it brings pressure from all seven of its front spots as well as occasionally from its safety spots. Outside linebacker Brian Labat (six tackles for loss, two sacks) and defensive end Brandon Dranka (seven tackles for loss, three sacks) are also keys to putting pressure on quarterbacks and causing havoc in the run game.
“They are a great defense, a pressure defense, very similar to what we have had to deal with our defense bringing pressure in fall camp,” Stitt said.
“They have a great plan and they are aggressive and get a lot of guys in the box and they force you to make some plays outside but you have to be able to run the ball and keep them honest with a few deep balls.”
UM wide receiver Ellis Henderson catches a touchdown against NDSU
Montana has a trio of big play threats in senior wide receivers Jamaal Jones, Ellis Henderson and Ben Roberts. Jones has 38 catches for 579 yards and three touchdowns. Henderson has 26 catches for 408 yards and three TDs. Roberts, a 6-foot-4 former Washington State baseball player, leads the team with four touchdown catches. The trio along with junior Chase Naccarato (team-high 40 catches) will field passes from their third signal caller this season.
“I’ve always thought Makena was a really good quarterback,” Roberts said. “He has a really good arm and he throws a really nice ball. I like catching those balls that he throws. He’s athletic, he’s a strong kid and he’s physical. I would expect you would see some runs from him like you saw from Chad. He’s a good quarterback and I’m excited to see him out there again.”
North Dakota has seen its own spat of injuries, from an ankle injury that has sophomore starting quarterback Keaton Studsrud listed as doubtful to season-ending injuries to junior inside linebacker Taj Rich and junior safety Zach Arnell. Studsrus and stud sophomore safety Cole Reyes are each game-time decisions because of injuries that have kept them out the last two weeks.
If Studsrud cannot go, UND will start junior Ryan Bartels under center. The 6-foot-3, junior won the starting job as a freshman two years ago before being benched in favor of Joe Mollberg, a fellow junior who blew his Achilles last season, opening the door for Studsrud.
“We all trust Ryan and he trusts us,” UND senior captain offensive guard Brandon Anderson said. “We know he can get us in the calls we need. We have all the confidence in the world with him.”
While Montana may switch up its strategy en lieu of its plague of injuries, North Dakota makes not bones about what it wants to do. Offensively, UND wants to run the ball downhill behind an offensive line that averages 6-foot-5 and 314 pounds. The unit features three seniors, including Anderson, a three-year starter. Montana employs one of the top defensive front sevens in the nation with senior defensive end Tyrone Holmes (11 sacks) and junior defensive tackle Caleb Kidder anchoring the line and a senior linebacker trio led by Kendrick Van Ackeren and Jeremiah Kose piling up tackles.
UND running back John Santiago/by Matt Schill
“The key for us is we have to get the movement going in the right direction and that’s moving forward and leaning on them and making the line of scrimmage go towards their end-zone,” Anderson said. “If you want to succeed, that’s what you have to do: physically excel against good teams.”
UND true freshman John Santiago has been a breakout star. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound converted wide receiver leads the Big Sky in carries (132) and rushing yards (754). He has five 100-yard games, four games of more than 150 yards and his seven touchdowns are tied for third in the league.
Montana will likely have to win four of five games down the stretch to get to the coveted mark of seven Division I wins to qualify for the FCS playoffs. North Dakota is in a similar situation with four games left. UND has little room for error with its current 4-3 record and a two-game losing streak in which North Dakota has blown a fourth quarter lead each of the last two weeks.
“It’s a crazy year in the Big Sky, never seen it like this,” Anderson said. “Any given day, anybody can win. It’s all about who plays the best. We know we can’t lose again so we are treating this game like a playoff game.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez or Noted. All Rights Reserved.
