Montana Grizzlies
Big Sky
Montana needed to beat Montana State on the final day of the regular season to reach the playoffs and they wasted no time showing their rival who was the best on that day. The Grizzlies got off to a great start and never looked back, winning 34-7. As long as the Grizzlies are at home, which will not happen for long in the playoffs, they can beat anybody. This team went 6-0 at home this season and just 2-4 on the road.
2014 Record: 8-4, 6-2
Coach: Mike Delaney
Big Wins: 11/1 Sacramento State (31-13), 11/22 Montana State (34-7)
Bad Losses: 10/25 at Cal Poly (26-36), 11/8 at Eastern Washington (26-36)
Strengths:
But Montana can pick up big wins on the road thanks to their stifling defense. It seems like Zack Wagenmann lives in the opposing backfield. The senior defensive end amassed 13.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles-for-loss on the year. He needs to be double teamed on a regular basis and that is when Tyrone Holmes will get you from the other end spot. With some help from the tackles and the linebackers, Wagenmann and Holmes do not make it easy for anybody to run against Montana. The secondary is more susceptible to big plays, but they also make plenty of big plays of their own. Against Montana State they picked off five passes. But the true strength of the Grizzlies is their ability to take care of the ball. Quarterback Jordan Johnson has thrown just four interceptions this season and the team as a whole has turned the ball over a mere eight times.
Weaknesses:
The defense will keep Montana in most games, but the offense is not nearly as potent as some other Montana teams of recent years. Quarterback Jordan Johnson is a smart passer, but the team ranks tenth in the Big Sky in passing offense. Johnson is not going to lose games for Montana, but he may need to start winning some games in the playoffs. Ideally, the Grizzlies can win games with their defense and running backs. Jordan Canada and Travon Van have turned into a potent 1-2 combination in the backfield. Canada is going to get most of the carries and rushed for 1,011 yards and nine touchdowns on the year. But when the ground game is stifled, Montana has to break out of their game plan and put the game in Johnson’s hands and that has not always gone well.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Jordan Canada, RB, 1,011 yards
Passing: Jordan Johnson, QB, 2,405 yards
Receiving: Jamaal Jones, WR, 940 yards
Tackles: Kendrick Van Ackeren, LB, 110
Sacks: Zack Wagenmann, DE, 13.5
Interceptions: Matt Hermanson, S, 6
2014 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 160.5 (67th in nation, 7th in conference)
Passing Offense: 221.9 (52, 10)
Total Offense: 382.5 (60, 9)
Scoring Offense: 28.1 (56, 6)
Rushing Defense: 149.7 (36, 2)
Pass Defense: 227.2 (76, 4)
Total Defense: 376.9 (55, 2)
Scoring Defense: 21.5 (26, 1)
Turnover Margin: 0.91 (7, 1)
Sacks: 3.09 (9, 1)
Sacks Allowed: 1.18 (20, 2)
Recent Playoff Appearances:
2013 Second Round Lost to Coastal Carolina
2011 Second Round Defeated Central Arkansas
2011 Quarterfinals Defeated Northern Iowa
2011 Semifinals Lost to Sam Houston State
2009 First Round Defeated South Dakota State
2009 Quarterfinals Defeated Stephen F. Austin
2009 Semifinals Defeated Appalachian State
2009 Championship Lost to Villanova
2008 First Round Defeated Texas State
2008 Quarterfinals Defeated Weber State
2008 Semifinals Defeated James Madison
2008 Championship Lost to Richmond
2007 First Round Lost to Wofford
2006 First Round Defeated McNeese State
2006 Quarterfinals Defeated Southern Illinois
2006 Semifinals Lost to Massachusetts
2005 First Round Lost to Cal Poly
2004 First Round Defeated Northwestern State
2004 Quarterfinals Defeated New Hampshire
2004 Semifinals Defeated Sam Houston State
2004 Championship Lost to James Madison
2003 First Round Lost to Western Illinois
2002 First Round Defeated Northwestern State
2002 Quarterfinals Lost to McNeese State
2001 First Round Defeated Northwestern State
2001 Quarterfinals Defeated Sam Houston State
2001 Semifinals Defeated Northern Iowa
2001 Championship Defeated Furman
2000 First Round Defeated Eastern Illinois
2000 Quarterfinals Defeated Richmond
2000 Semifinals Defeated Appalachian State
2000 Championship Lost to Georgia Southern
1999 First Round Lost to Youngstown State
1998 First Round Lost to Western Illinois
1997 First Round Lost to McNeese State
1996 First Round Defeated Nicholls State
1996 Quarterfinals Defeated East Tennessee State
1996 Semifinals Defeated Troy
1996 Championship Lost to Marshall
1995 First Round Defeated Eastern Kentucky
1995 Quarterfinals Defeated Georgia Southern
1995 Semifinals Defeated Stephen F. Austin
1995 Championship Defeated Marshall
1994 First Round Defeated Northern Iowa
1994 Quarterfinals Defeated McNeese State
1994 Semifinals Lost to Youngstown State
1993 First Round Lost to Delaware
1989 First Round Defeated Jackson State
1989 Quarterfinals Defeated Eastern Illinois
1989 Semifinals Lost to Georgia Southern
1988 First Round Lost to Idaho
1982 First Round Lost to Idaho
*all team stats through 11/15
