It's Here: Griz take their shot at SDSU, FCS title

Since a September loss at Northern Arizona, the Montana Grizzlies have literally done just about everything right. 

The Griz finished the regular season without another loss, beat a pair of Top 10 teams on the road, a Top 5 Sacramento State at home and then beat No. 5 and arch rival Montana State on the last day of the regular season, as head coach Bobby Hauck led Montana to its first Big Sky championship since 2009.

That run also led the Griz to earning the No. 2 seed in the 2023 FCS playoffs, and from there, they went on a dramatic run of three heart-stopping wins in December at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, including their dramatic double-overtime win over FCS dynasty North Dakota State in the semifinals.

Again, Montana has had just about everything go its way in what has become a magical season. And yet, the biggest fight of Montana's season is still in front of it. It may seem like the No. 2 Griz (13-1) have already climbed a mountain this season, but the FCS version of Mount Everest is still in front of them as they face No. 1 South Dakota State (14-0) in the FCS championship game Sunday in Frisco, Texas.

"We're excited to be going to Frisco, Texas. It's always good to get to this game and have the opportunity to win a championship," Hauck, who has led UM to five title game appearances said.

And while the Griz have come up short in all of those games, the last coming in 2009, the game against the Jackrabbits might be the toughest one of all.

SDSU has been ranked No. 1 all season, long, hasn't lost now in over two years and is the defending national champion with 30-plus seniors on its roster including three-time All-American quarterback Mark Gronowski. 

So, while Montana has played a whale of a schedule this season, with monumental wins over MSU, Delaware, Furman and NDSU in just its last four games, the Jacks are operating on a whole other level.

Of course, the Griz are no slouches. 

Since that loss to NAU all the way back to begin Big Sky play, Montana, game-by-game, picked up steam.

It started with quarterback Clifton McDowell emerging as the full-time starter for the Griz, and his ability to make big plays while being efficient and careful with the football eventually opened up the Griz running game, where FCS Freshman of the Year Eli Gillman and senior Nick Ostmo started to churn out yards and big plays as the season went on.

Then, as the Griz got the traditional running game going, the playmakers started to thrive, players like Kelan White and Aaron Fontes, and of course, star Junior Bergen, who ultimately has become one of the most dynamic players in the FCS, with his great play as a WR and his electrifying returns, several of which, have sparked the Griz to this point.

Montana also emerged as a defense power. 

While the Griz were looking to replace key defenders this season, ultimately, UM actually got better. Led by Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Alex Gubner and longtime linebackers Braxton Hill and Levi Janacaro, and a trio of veteran safeties, the Griz defense became a stingy unity allowing less than 20 points and 300 yards of offense per game.

The defense got that way too because of the rise of new stars. Transfers Hayden Harris and Riley Wilson, and cornerbacks Corbin Walker and Trevin Gradney, as well as former Havre Blue Pony Kellen Detrick, to name a few, helped turn the Griz defense into one of the best in the country.

Add all that to outstanding special teams play, again led by Bergen, and it's no fluke that Montana is one win away from its first national championship since 2001.

"I think the biggest difference is, we've stayed healthier," Hauck said. "We've been able to stay that way for much of the year. That and we have really good leadership in this program. Our guys are very resilient, they're tough and they respond the right away."

The Griz will need all of that and more to upend the Jacks.

With an offense averaging more than 40 points per game in the playoffs, led by Gronowski, running back Isaiah Davis, WR Jadon Jenks and TE Zach Heinz, not to mention one of the biggest offensive lines in FCS history, the Jacks have been nearly impossible to slow down.

On the other side of the ball, linebacker Jason Freeman leads a stout defense that yields just 16 points per outing and is +10 in turnover margin, meaning SDSU has one of the very elite defenses in the country, and that's under a first-year head coach.

"Our opponent is really good," Hauck said. "You don't win that many games in a row without being a dominant, dominant football team. We have our hands full. These guys are really good and we have to be great to have a chance."

Make no mistake, the Grizzlies have a chance. SDSU may be a 10-point favorite, but Montana didn't get this far by accident. The Griz beat a ton of really good teams along the way, plus the Griz have a veteran team, and a veteran coaching staff, so their first trip to Frisco (Montana has played in championship games in Huntingon, West Virginia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee) won't be one that will overwhelm them.

On the other hand, the opponent is one of the best the Griz have seen in a long time. And while it's been a magical season up to this point, the Grizzlies are hoping it all ends on an even higher note - with the program's third national championship.

No. 2 Montana and No. 1 SDSU meet Sunday in the FCS Championship game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. The game will kick off at noon M.D.T. and will be televised nationally on ABC, as well as steamed live on ESPN+.