MISSOULA — Jacks vs Griz for the third year in a row. It’s a 3-seed hosting a 14-seed, but if what SDSU displayed in last week’s 41-3 rout of New Hampshire wasn’t a mirage, it’s potentially a second-round game that’s going to send a legit contender to get to Nashville home early.
Here are my keys to the game:
Can the Jacks handle the environment?
As we’ve already covered ad nauseum this week, SDSU has never won at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, which includes playoff losses in 2009 (when they blew a 27-point lead) and 2015 (when they fell behind 24-0 and a comeback bid fell short).
Montana kicks off to North Dakota State during the NCAA FCS semifinals on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana.
David Samson/The Forum
Montana is 36-7 all-time in home playoff games. Their last playoff loss at Washington-Grizzly was to Coastal Carolina in 2013. And after an 11-0 start to the season they lost their regular season finale at home to Montana State in the Brawl of the Wild rivalry game.
A crowd of 20,000+ is expected, and Montana fans can impact the game. If momentum gets on the Griz side, look out. Just ask anyone from the ’09 teams.
That said, SDSU is a good road team. They’re 4-1 away from Brookings this year, which includes wins at Montana State and North Dakota, two places it’s usually pretty tough to win. The win over the Bobcats was way back in September, but it was the Gold Rush game, as tough an environment as there is in FCS, and the Jacks answered the bell. They weathered multiple momentum shifts and won the game in overtime.
They’ll try to capture that same energy in Missoula.
Can the Jacks stop Eli Gillman?
The Jacks have already faced one of the best running backs in the nation when they faced rival USD in the DakotaDome. LJ Phillips pretty much ran over them, going for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.
Overall, the Jacks have been good, not great, against the run this year, allowing 120 rushing yards per game. They held UND to 75 yards rushing, but New Hampshire got them for 144 last week, including 101 by Denzell Gibson. The Jacks had a big lead for most of the game so it’s not like UNH controlled the LOS or anything, but they had success on the ground.
Montana running back Eli Gillman carries the football during an NCAA FCS second-round playoff game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 at Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings.
Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic
Gillman is one of the best in the nation. SDSU shut him down last year, holding Gillman to 12 yards on 10 carries. His longest run of the day was three yards. They likely won’t be that stingy again this year, but they can’t let Gillman run over them the way Phillips did. It’ll be a long day if he does.
Can Montana’s defense slow down Chase Mason?
I was pretty sure Mason was going to play last week. I was not expecting him to look like John Elway.
Mason’s incredible arm strength was on full display and his accuracy was as good as it was at any point during SDSU’s 7-0 start. The Jacks are now 8-0 with Mason under center, averaging 35 points in those games.
South Dakota State’s Chase Mason delivers a pass while being pressured by New Hampshire’s Huck Flanagan in a first-round game of the FCS playoffs Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings.
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
The Montana defense has allowed 255 passing yards per game this year, and Mason will be as good as any quarterback they’ve seen. If he’s as good as he was last week (and the O-line and running game are as well) the Jacks could put up some big numbers.
Who will be back in the lineup for SDSU?
Offensive tackle Sam Hagen looked like a full participant when I was at practice. I assume that means he’ll start. Cullen McShane should be back after missing last week’s game. I wouldn’t count on Chase Van Tol, but I wouldn’t rule him out, either.
It’ll also be interesting to see how Mason looks if/when he has to take off on the run. As great as Mason looked last week he never really had to use his feet. The Griz defense has 29 sacks on the season. They can get to the QB.
Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.
