FCS national championship game: Does Montana have a shot against SDSU?

When was the last time a meeting of two successful football programs felt this much like a David-versus-Goliath matchup? According to oddsmakers, that is exactly what to expect from the FCS championship on Sunday afternoon in Frisco, Texas, when the South Dakota State Jackrabbits match up with the Montana Grizzlies. The Jacks are a prohibitive favorite; most sportsbooks currently have them favored by 13.5 points. That has increased by a point from the initial line of 12.5, a sign that most of the betting public agrees.

Outside of Montana, it is practically impossible to find people who are picking Montana to win. Luckily for the Griz, football is not played at the sportsbook but decided on the field, and Montana has passed each critical test it has faced en route to the program’s eighth national championship game appearance. Meanwhile, South Dakota State has marched back to Frisco for the second consecutive season, now boasting a 28-game winning streak, an undefeated season and the swagger that comes with being the defending FCS champion.

Like most championship games, this competition will be decided by several individual and group battles. Below, we identify those matchups and present them to you in a pay-per-view card fitting for a championship fight of this magnitude. As legendary UFC announcer Bruce Buffer would say, “It’s time!”

The Main Event: The “605 Hogs” (SDSU’s offensive line) vs. Montana’s defensive front

This is the most intriguing matchup of the game because you can count on these two units refusing to back down.

This Jackrabbits offensive line has been together for two years. It features two All-Americans and future NFL players in left tackle Garrett Greenfield and guard Mason McCormick, who anchor a massive, athletic and tenacious front five. They have paved the way for the most punishing and demoralizing rushing attack in the FCS.

They will line up against one of the best run defenses in the nation. Montana’s front is anchored by Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Alex Gubner, who is looking to put an exclamation point on a stellar career for the Griz. He is backed up by the linebacker quartet of Levi Janacaro, Braxton Hill, Ryan Tirrell and Tyler Flink. They are a tenacious group of second-level defenders and will certainly make plays on the Jacks’ ball carriers. The Griz allow only 103 yards per game on the ground and 3.4 yards per carry.

The Co-Main: Junior Bergen vs. Everybody

From the moment the Jackrabbits touched down in North Texas, they were looking for Junior Bergen. He has been public enemy No. 1 for Griz opponents over the past three seasons and has been reminding everyone of his greatness throughout the FCS playoffs. His unique combination of running back and receiver skills make him a threat from anywhere on the field at any time. He’s a dynamic return specialist, and the entire return unit feeds off his talent: Every other Montana player on the field knows that if they do their job, Bergen can take it to the end zone. There is no moment too big for him.

As good as South Dakota State’s defense and special teams have been this season, they can not slack for a moment against Bergen. They key to their success has been their ability to swarm; rarely do you see only one Jackrabbit defender around a ball carrier. They will need to take great pursuit angles when attacking Bergen and make sure there are always multiple defenders nearby. The kickoff and punt units must keep great lane integrity and make Bergen go east/west and not north/south. The ultimate question: Will they kick the ball to Bergen?

The Main Card Opener: Mark Gronowski vs. Montana’s secondary

The overwhelming expectation is that the Montana defense will stack the box against and force Jacks quarterback Mark Gronowski to beat them through the air. It remains to be seen whether they will be able to execute that game plan against a team that will not abandon the run, but if the Griz are successful it will be on Gronowski to get the ball to the Janke twins, Zach Heins and his backs in order to loosen up the box. Montana will have confidence in its ability to match up against the Jackrabbits’ receivers. Look for the Griz to send a fair amount of pressure and play man coverage behind it. If Gronowski can be a consistently effective passer, there may not be a path to victory for the Griz, but if they are able to make the Jacks one-dimensional, then things could get interesting.

The Featured Prelim: Clifton McDowell vs. Adam Bock

Since becoming the Grizzlies’ full-time starting quarterback, McDowell has been a steadying force this season. He has stayed cool and consistently made big play whenever his team has needed them. He has thrown and rushed for clutch touchdowns, picked up critical first downs and protected the ball in moments where it seemed like it might go the other way. He is slippery in the pocket, and when he breaks out, he can be very dangerous.

That is where Bock comes in. If not for two consecutive seasons where the linebacker has suffered injuries that cost him significant time, he would be the Jackrabbits’ all-time leader in tackles. Combine his explosiveness, relentless pursuit and high football IQ, and you get a player who plays much bigger than Bock’s safety-esque stature might suggest. He will undoubtedly be keeping an eye on how McDowell is moving in the pocket on passing downs and manipulating the mesh points on run plays. If Bock can neutralize McDowell’s effectiveness, it will go a long way toward the Jacks bringing home another title.

This matchup is dripping with intrigue, and the storylines are endless. It’s enough to make even the most devout NFL fan hit the split screen on Sunday afternoon and enjoy the game at its purest form.