Will Montana State University stars – running back Isaiah Ifanse, defensive tackle Chase Benson, and nickelback Ty Okada – be at full strength, or close, for this Saturday’s Football Championship Subdivision title game? It’s a great question.
But even if someone knows, they’ll never tell.
Knowledge, as they say, is power and unless there’s a good reason to give it away, MSU will be keeping the status of those three All-Big Sky performers close to the vest until pre-game warmups.
Putting their best foot forward without the luxury of instrumental players has been a strong point for the Bobcats as far back as the 2019 Cat-Griz game that saw all-everything then outside linebacker Troy Andersen walk out of the locker room in street clothe, dampening the spirits of the sellout crowd.
But a bone-shattering hit on Montana All-American wide receiver Samori Toure by MSU safety Jahque Alleyne set the tone, Isaiah Ifanse and Logan Jones went nuts against UM’s hyperactive defense and the Bobcats exploded to an unforgettable 48-14 victory, their fourth straight over the rival Griz.
Fast forward to MSU’s semifinal game just over two weeks ago against South Dakota State University and the straits were even more dire as Ifanse, Benson and Okada didn’t suit up. Benson and Okada were already known to be doubtful as they were both lost early in the previous game, a 42-19 win at Sam Houston State. T
he news on Ifanse was of the ‘breaking’ variety as he played the entire game versus the Bearkats, rushing for 105 yards and a 42-yard exclamation point touchdown, marking the eight time this season and the 17th time in his career he surpassed 100 yards in a single game.
Despite Ifanse’s absence, the Bobcats rushed for 176 yards, including 154 from breakout star quarterback Tommy Mellott helped Montana State earn a 31-17 win over SDSU.
The depth at MSU may be very good. But considering the caliber of player that Ifanse, Benson and Okada are their returns would be considered a boon this Saturday.
“I think we’re moving in the direction of, whether it’s Chase, Isaiah, Ty, (running back) Lane Sumner, will be back in uniform,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen said. “We’ve got a ways to go yet, but things are certainly progressing that way.”
Benson also sat out MSU’s 27-9 win over Idaho State earlier this season. In that game the Bengals were able to move the ball on the ground somewhat successfully, but they all but abandoned their passing game. They ran for 213 yards at 3.9 yards per carry, but managed just 111 yards on 25 passing attempts.
Ifanse missed, or played very little, in several games in 2019. He also sat out the second half of what turned out to be an unexpectedly close, 20-13, win over Idaho. He had 84 yards on just nine carries before leaving with a leg injury. He was used sparingly in a string of eight games in 2019 and MSU was saddled with two of its three FCS losses during that stretch. It was also forced to overtime against Cal Poly. In FCS games he had a significant role, the Bobcats were 5-1 with the lone loss coming to NDSU in the national semifinal game.
Okada suffered a serious knee injury early in his career before making noise late in the 2019 season, then becoming a full-time starter this season.
Another MSU starter that is likely to return is right tackle TJ Session. The redshirt freshman, like Ifanse, was injured just before halftime of the Idaho and hasn’t seen action since. In his stead another freshman Rush Reimer has filled in admirably, which will give MSU good depth at the position regardless of who ends up starting Saturday.
Backup linebacker Nolan Askelson, who was a starter in 2019, has missed most of the season. He was mentioned by Vigen after the SDSU game as another player that may return.
“We need to get as many of our guys back as possible but we understand we are in a one-game mode now,” Vigen said. “We are going to do whatever we can to win the football game.”
