FCS Second-Round Playoff
The Matchup – Montana State (8-4) at No. 1 seed North Dakota State (11-0) at the Fargodome (19,000) in Fargo, North Dakota
Kickoff – 3 p.m. ET
Coverage – ESPN3
Series – Montana State leads 21-13 (last meeting: North Dakota State won 42-17 at Montana State in a second-round game on Dec. 4, 2010)
3 Players to Watch – Montana State: QB Troy Anderson (182 carries, 1,283 yards, 20 TDs), RB Isaiah Ifanse (183 carries, 982 yards, 7 TDs), OLB Bryce Sterk (60 tackles, 17 TFL, 8.5 sacks); North Dakota State: QB Easton Stick (129 of 216, 2,094 yards, 22 TDs, 4 INTs; 402 rushing yards, 11 TDs), LB Jabril Cox (68 tackles, 8 TFL, 4 INTs), SS Robbie Grimsley (68 tackles, 5 INTs, 4 PBU)
The Skinny – None of the other second-round playoff opponents have met more than twice, but these two teams have a long history together, although it’s their first showdown in eight years. Both teams want to control game clock with the run as they’ve combined to rush the ball two-thirds of the time. For Montana State, Anderson will often run QB keepers and Ifanse, after going for 139 yards in a 35-14 first-round win over Incarnate Word, is nearing 1,000 yards as a freshman. The Big Sky squad also have taken advantage of Travis Jonsen’s versatile skills (run, pass, catch) in the last month. The strength of the defense is the front seven, including DT Tucker Yates and DE Tyron Fa’anono up front, which must handle a stout North Dakota State O-line (the average starter is 6-foot-5, 306 pounds). The host Bison, who are seeking a record seventh FCS title this postseason, have surrendered fewer than 11 points on average in seven home games this season, and they’re 16-0 at the raucous Fargodome over the last two seasons. Stick, the Missouri Valley offensive player of the year, has a terrific wide receiver in Darrius Shepherd (50 receptions), but the first option, and second, is to pound away with RBs Lance Dunn, Bruce Anderson, Ty Brooks and Adam Cofield. The defense attacks offenses in waves and has helped create a plus-16 turnover margin, which is third-best in the FCS. In following former standout Nick DeLuca into the lineup, MLB Dan Marlette (66 tackles, 7 TFL) has been an unsung hero. PK Cam Pederson (43 field goals and 239 extra points in career) gets a lot of scoring opportunities.
Up Next – The winner will play either James Madison (9-3) or No. 8 seed Colgate (9-1) in the quarterfinals Dec. 7 or 8.
Prediction – NDSU has a .900 winning percentage (117-13) this decade, and it’s .922 (71-6) at home. The Bison will wear down a game opponent in every which way. North Dakota State, 31-10.
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