Champion Jackrabbits negated Griz special teams

FRISCO, Texas — Montana rightly has a reputation for strong special teams play, and South Dakota State was able to keep a handle on that threat, too, in Sunday’s FCS title game.

OK, the Jackrabbits did fumble away a Griz punt, and they botched an extra point, and it seems miraculous that their double-clutch field goal in the third quarter wasn’t blocked.

But Hunter Dustman put all five of his punts inside the Grizzlies’ 20-yard line, with a long of 54.

After SDSU scored on its first drive, Montana’s Junior Bergen returned the ensuing kickoff 39 yards. At that point it seems Jackrabbits’ coach Jimmy Rogers said that’s enough of that.

“He got one on us. … but at the end of the day, it comes down to tackling and doing the basic things extremely well,” Rogers said. “But I was really proud of Hunter. Overall, team win. Special teams were a part of this."

Bergen had one more kick return, of 20 yards; Garrett Graves had two for a total of 40 yards and Eli Gillman got one for 15 yards after Graves, a senior out of Eureka, was shaken up.

Bergen’s only real shot at a punt return was on Dustman’s 54-yarder, which chased him inside the 10. He returned it 6 yards.

Montana was pinned deep most of the third quarter, when SDSU’s 7-3 lead grew to 23-3.

“It was really because we had to keep the base defense in most of the time,” Montana coach Bobby Hauck said. “When they pinned us, our base defense was in because it was short yardage around midfield, so we were playing “punt safe.” Those were obviously good punts. 

“When you've got to go 95 against the top defense in the country, it's harder, certainly.”

Once a Griz...

Senior captains Braxton Hill and AJ Forbes attended the postgame press conference. Forbes, who transferred in from Nebraska, plays center and had his 42nd start as a Griz on Sunday.

“This place is really special to me,” said the 300-pounder, barely holding in his tears. “I get emotional talking about it because this place gave me the opportunity that I knew that I wanted, and I'm so grateful for Coach Hauck and the rest of the coaches and my teammates for letting me live out my dream. I'm forever grateful for that.”

Hill, a linebacker and former walk-on out of Anaconda, was named Montana’s most outstanding player for the game. He has 12 tackles and the Grizzlies’ lone sack of the day.

“It's meant the world to me. Montana was my dream school,” Hill, whose sister Torry played for the Lady Griz, said. “I love representing this state. I've made my best friends along the way. So many great relationships with these coaches, and Montana is just a special place. We have special fans. They come out, and they support us every single Saturday, as you saw today.

“I really wish I could be a Grizzly forever.”

“When I came here, I didn't know what my future would look like as a college football player,” Forbes added later. “I'm just super grateful for Coach Hauck and the rest of the coaches, my teammates for bringing me in and treating me like I belonged. Super grateful for the community in Missoula and the entire state of Montana, frankly. 

“For a kid that didn't grow up in Montana, I felt like it was home, and it will forever be a home to me from now on.”

Awards Magnet

Jackrabbits’ quarterback Mark Gronowski was the FCS Championship’s most outstanding player for the second straight year, becoming the third back-to-back winner in the game’s history.

North Dakota State’s Brock Jensen (2013-14) and Carson Wentz (2015-16) are the others.

“I didn't know. I was told that walking over here,” said the 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior, who also took home the Walter Payton Award Saturday night. “It's a huge honor just being in the relationships with them. I don't know. The ceiling is just as high as we want it to be, as a team too, and we kind of just keep working, and the ceiling is the sky really. Keep it going.”

QUICK KICKS: Safety Ryder made seven tackles for the Griz Sunday, and defensive tackle Alex Gubner was next with six. … Adam Bock, the peerless SDSU linebacker, had 11 stops. …  Glacier High product Drew Deck had two catches for 15 yards on UM’s clock drive to end the first half. The drive ended with an intercepted Hail Mary pass. It was Clifton McDowell’s fourth interception all season. … Glacier High product Henry Nuce had one tackle from his defensive end spot. … Tennessee State’s Terrell Allen is the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award winner, for the top defensive player in the FCS.