Montana State and North Dakota State are meeting on the football field for the first time since their 2021 FCS national championship game this Saturday in Bozeman and there are plenty of familiar and new faces along with familiar and new schemes.
Marquee roles like the head coaches – MSU’s Brent Vigen and NDSU’s Matt Entz – and starting quarterbacks – MSU’s Tommy Mellott and NDSU’s Cam Miller – are the same, although the two quarterbacks have matured since they were freshmen. Gone are then FCS-household names in MSU linebacker Troy Andersen, now with the Atlanta Falcons and NDSU fullback Hunter Luepke, now of the Dallas Cowboys.
“The tradition that North Dakota State brings here it goes without saying,” Vigen said. “So many of these guys have been a part of this run. Thirty-plus seniors just in the two-deep.”
The Bison emerged victorious as Mellott went out for the game with an injury during the first possession of the day. That promising drive fizzled and it was all NDSU from there as they scored 28 first half points, including three rushing touchdowns by Luepke en route to a 38-10 win in Frisco, Texas.
Several players besides Andersen and Luepke are still pursuing careers in the National Football League. MSU defensive end Daniel Hardy, wide receiver Lance McCutcheon, and Ty Okada, along with NDSU offensive lineman and star of the title game post-game show, Cody Mauch, and wide receiver Christian Watson. Former Bison offensive lineman Cordell Volson is also starting for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Seemingly, everyone currently starting on both teams got in the game. Aside from Mellott, MSU center Justus Perkins, cornerback Simeon Woodard, running back Elijah Elliott and tight end/fullback Derryk Snell all started that day. Aside from Miller, TaMerick Williams and Raja Nelson got into the mix for NDSU.
MSU defensive end Brody Grebe was on the field that day as well as a freshman.
“We kinda know what they’re about is the main thing I guess you could say,” Grebe said. “Coach Vigen coached there, coach (Willie Mack) Garza coached there as well. It hasn’t changed a whole lot since they were there. They pride themselves on being a physical team that wants to run you over and we know that’s what we’re going to have to stop. We know what their values are and what they want to accomplish.”
The Bison listed two players as starting fullbacks with Hunter Brozio joining Luepke.
Miller attempted just 13 passes on the day primarily because the Bison run game was so overwhelming. They had 378 yards at 7.1 per carry – numbers MSU is used to putting up the past two seasons. The Bobcats put up some decent numbers as they were able to get something going after NDSU had built an insurmountable lead and finished with 335 yards of offense with McCutcheon scoring the one touchdown on a pass from Tucker Rovig. He’d also finish with a game-high 106 receiving yards. Isaiah Ifanse also got going late and finished with a respectable 84 yards on 18 carries.
“I just remember being nervous going into the game,” Miller said. “Only played 7-8 games prior to that. Stepping into that venue as a second-year freshman was nerve-wracking. We had a third and long on the first drive and we converted got and went in and scored. Then I was good after that.
“At the time I was more of a game manager. Throwing underneath stuff. I think my game has evolved. Taking command of our offense Trying to be that guy for us. I’ve loved to make plays for our offense and don’t shy away from that at all.”
NDSU dominated the stat sheet with five players gaining over 50 yards led by Kobe Johnson, who had 106 on just four carries with most of those coming on a 76-yard touchdown jaunt. Backup quarterback Quincy Patterson had 98 yards on 11 carries, while Luepke had 82 yards to go with his three TDs.
Scheme-wise MSU is still running a similar format on offense although the Bobcats do attempt to pass more often. Defensively, MSU is still in a 4-2-5 set with a nickelback and two interior linebackers. NDSU also goes to the air a little more often still depends on its offensive line to be the base of whatever it does.
“I do remember preparing three weeks up to that game,” Miller said. “Montana State played very hard on defense, and everyone was in the right spots. They’re a very well coached football team and I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon.”
“Some teams (UT-Martin, William & Mary) come in here and you just don’t know,” Vigen said. “We clearly know what North Dakota State’s been about. They’ve got our absolute attention. I think there’s schematic similarities (for each team), which I think works in both teams favors in how you practice.”
The teams have a few things in common this year – both were trounced by their in-state rivals. NDSU lost to North Dakota 49-24, while MSU was dropped by Montana 37-7. The Bobcats and Bison both played at South Dakota State and both hosted Eastern Washington.
MSU gave the Jackrabbits their toughest game of the season falling 20-16 amid a controversial replay reversal of the would-be game-winning touchdown, while NDSU grabbed an early lead before falling by a 33-16 count. The Bison throttled EWU 35-10 in their season-opener player at US Bank Field home of the Minnesota Vikings. The Bobcats thumped the Eagles in Bozeman just three weeks ago 57-14.
This week’s game will be the first between the two teams in Bozeman since they met in the playoffs in 2010. MSU lead 17-14 at the start of the fourth quarter only to see NDSU rattle off 28 unanswered points to claim a 42-17 win. The Bobcats went to Fargo for a pair of sound beatings under then head coach Jeff Choate before meeting up again under Vigen in the 2021 title game. MSU beat NDSU in the semifinals of the Division II (pre-IAA/FCS) back in 1976 as they went on to win the national title that year. NDSU is MSU’s most common playoff opponent with five meetings.
