Live Updates: South Dakota State vs. Montana In The FCS Football National Championship
Stay tuned for all live updates and analysis as South Dakota State takes on Montana in the FCS National Championship game.
As always, there will be live game notes, analysis, and breakdown of the game as it happens. Keep the refresh button going as updates will be coming in quickly and consistently.
1st Quarter Updates
- The stadium is sold out with close to equal representation between SDSU and Montana fans. Great atmosphere for the FCS Championship game.
- Montana wins the toss and chooses to defer. The championship game will get started with the Griz kicking off to the Jackrabbits!
- Jaxon Janke takes a screen 27 yards and forces several missed tackles by Montana. SDSU is already in Montana territory.
- Zach Heins gets a 7-yard gain on 1st and 15. The Griz seem content to give up the underneath.
- Big third down pickup by Jaxon Janke on a short pass from Mark Gronowski.
- SDSU reaches the red zone on their first possession. Montana really needs to hold them to a field goal to stay in this game.
- Another big 3rd down pickup for the Jackrabbits with a Gronowski scramble. 1st and Goal SDSU from the 6-yard line.
- Touchdown Isaiah Davis! Davis presses the line and then walks into the end zone to give South Dakota State a 7-0 lead with 8:08 left in the first quarter.
-Junior Bergen with another huge return to start Montana's first possession.
- McDowell hits Keelan White for the first Griz 1st down of the game.
- Eli Gillman picks up a huge third-down conversion for Montana! Nice first drive for the Grizzlies.
- Really physical game so far. Both teams are up for this game
- Another big conversion for the Grizzlies! This time on 4th down. McDowell bootlegs and hits running back Nick Ostmo in the flat for the first down.
- SDSU responds by bringing pressure off the edge and McDowell makes them pay. First and Goal Montana.
- Griz have to get 6 here to keep pace in this game.
- McDowell scrambles on third and goal and gets close to the goal line. The play is under review.
2nd Quarter Updates
- Huge 4th down goal line stand by the Jackrabbits! Montana tries a fly sweep to Eli Gillman and he falls short. SDSU takes over on the Montana 1-yard line.
- SDSU instantly responds with back-to-back first down plays.
- A potentially game-changing interception by Corbin Walker as Gronowski tries to force a ball to Jadon Janke. Momentum is back on Montana's side as they take over on SDSU's 33-yard line. Not sure what Gronowski saw there.
- After a couple of nice runs by Xavier Harris and Nick Ostmo, the Grizzlies stall out and have to settle for a 30-yard field goal. South Dakota State leads 7-3 with 10:51 left in the 2nd quarter.
- While Montana is containing running back Isaiah Davis, Mark Gronowski makes another big play with his legs on a 33-yard run.
- On a huge 3rd down and 7, South Dakota State goes back to Gronowski on the ground and Montana's defense stuffs him. The Jacks are going to punt from their own 37-yard line.
- A great punt by Hunter Dustman forces Montana to start their drive on their own 4-yard line.
- Montana continues last week's trend of picking up big third down plays. They'll need to see that continue to win this game.
- The Jackrabbits quickly reverse that trend and get a sack on the next third down play. Quinton Hicks and Cade Terveer get in on the play.
- Montana gets yet another momentum play! SDSU muffs the punt and the Griz recover. First down from the 44.
- A penalty results in a third and 20 for Montana from SDSU's 49-yard line. It will be interesting to see how aggressive Montana's playcalling will be out of a timeout.
- McDowell scrambles out of bounds on the third down play and the proceeding punt will start the Jackrabbits on their own 13-yard line with 1:52 left in the first half.
- A sloppy first half continues as an Intentional Grounding penalty on Mark Gronowski wipes out a big play on first down by South Dakota State.
- Montana forces SDSU into a punt with 45 seconds left in the half after the grounding penalty.
- Dalys Beanum intercepts a desperation heave by Clifton McDowell to finish the half. South Dakota State takes a 7-3 lead to the half. Montana will receive the ball to start the 3rd quarter.
Halftime Thoughts:
- The first half was pretty sloppy by both teams. SDSU outplayed pretty significantly Montana on a yards-per-play basis (7.6 to 4). However, two turnovers and some head-scratching plays by Mark Gronowski have kept Montana in the game. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have failed to capitalize on the Jackrabbit errors and still trail 7-3. You have to wonder if Montana has blown the chance they had to take control of this game.
- Montana will need to continue to make timely plays on defense and find an explosive play or two to win this game. Points on the opening drive is likely necessary.
- South Dakota State just needs to clean up their mistakes and they will feel great about scoring a couple more touchdowns in the second half and grinding the clock. The Jacks also need to keep limiting Montana's ability to make big plays.
Halftime Statistics
NCAA
3rd Quarter Updates
- Montana will get the 3rd Quarter started with the ball. 1st and 10 from their 24-yard line.
-South Dakota State continues to give Montana underneath plays. The Grizzlies need to stay patient to get the ball down the field, but more importantly, will have to convert in the red zone if they get there.
- At the end of a nice play by Aaron Fontes, the Jackrabbit defense knocks the ball out and recovers the fumble! Brian Williams knocked the ball loose and DyShawn Gales got the recovery.
- Huge third and short stop by the Montana defense!! Tyler Flink and Henry Nuce stop Isaiah Davis for no gain on 3rd and two.
- South Dakota State's Tucker Large breaks up a Clifton McDowell pass attempt to Junior Bergen. The Grizzlies are forced to punt.
- On 2nd and 4 Mark Gronowski tries to go deep and overthows Jadon Janke in the end zone. Big third down play coming up.
- Mark Gronowski escapes Montana's pressure in the pocket and completes a sideline throw to tight end Zach Heins. Heins broke some tackles to gain 34 yards and set up first and goal for the Jackrabbits.
- Touchdown South Dakota State! Mark Grownoski breaks the pocket yet again and scrambles up the middle for a 10-yard touchdown run. SDSU leads 14-3 with 7:11 left in the 3rd quarter.
- It's now or never for Montana's offense. The Grizzlies need points on this drive.
- Outstanding rush by SDSU linebacker Isaiah Stalbird. Stalbird corraled Clifton McDowell and forced him into an intentional grounding penalty.
- Montana is forced to punt after the intentional grounding penalty.
- South Dakota State has a nice drive going after a 13-yard reception by Jaxon Janke and an 18-yard run by Isaiah Davis. 3rd and 5 coming up.
- Jadon Janke elevates to grab a great throw by Mark Gronowski in the end zone! Touchdown Jackrabbits!!
- SDSU has the extra point blocked but the Jackrabbits still lead 20-3 with 2:31 to go in the 3rd quarter.
- And now it is snowballing on the Grizzlies. Cade Terveer got pressure on Clifton McDowell, sacked him, and forced a fumble. Ryan Van Marel recovered the fumble and returned it 12 yards to the Montana 21. The great defensive play likely puts the game out of reach.
- The Griz force an incompletion on third down but the Jackrabbits still get three points. SDSU leads 23-3 2ith 1 minute to go in the 3rd quarter.
- South Dakota State is the better football team. Montana was going to need to cash in on every opportunity they got and they just haven't done that today. The Griz wasted a lot of chances to keep themselves in this game.
4th Quarter Updates
- A facemask penalty advances the Montana drive to the SDSU 37-yard line. Montana needs to get points soon.
- More sloppy play puts Montana in a 4th and 13. The Grizzlies convert with a 21-yard catch and run by Nick Ostmo.
- 12:44 to go and Montana has the ball at SDSU's 24-yard line. The Griz need big plays in a hurry.
-Trick play blows up in Montana's face. The Grizzlies lose 7 yards. 3rd and 17 for Montana.
- A sack on 3rd down leads to a turnover on downs on 4th down. South Dakota State's ball on their own 21-yard line with 11;15 to go in the game. Jackrabbits lead 23-3.
- Isaiah Davis picks up his longest run of the day on a 21-yard run. 10 minutes to go.
- Montana brings some pressure on Gronowski on third down and forces an incomplete pass. South Dakota State will punt on 4th and 4 with 9:11 left in the game up 23-3.
- The Jackrabbits 2nd half dominance has taken some of the air out of the stadium.
- McDowell scrambles for a first down on 3rd and 10. 8:25 left to play.
- An incomplete pass on 3rd down forces Montana to punt for the 5th time today. SDSU will take over on their own 31-yard line with 8:07 to play. Jackrabbits still lead 23-3.
- After a first down the South Dakota State drive stalls and they are forced to punt. Montana takes over with 5:14 left in the game.
- Montana just looks lifeless on offense at this point. Three pass plays that don't travel farther than 3 yards and the Grizzlies punt again.
- South Dakota States look as if they will extend their winning streak to 29 games and win their second consecutive FCS National Championship. The Jacks have been dominant despite some sloppy play early, averaging 7.2 yards-per-play to Montana's 3.5.
- Jackrabbit fans are starting to celebrate in the stands, as Mark Gronowski pooch kicks the ball on 4th down. Montana will take over with 1:32 left in the game for likely the last possession of the game.
- Final in Frisco! The Jackrabbits defeat Montana 23-3 and repeat as FCS National Champions! Thank you for joining us on today's live thread of the FCS National Championship!
Final Statistics
NCAA
