If this season hasn’t already felt like a throw-back to the Montana Grizzlies’ glory days in FCS faculty soccer, then their quarterfinal-round matchup towards Furman is a definite reminder.
The 2 packages’ solely earlier assembly occurred within the 2001 nationwide championship sport, with Montana capturing the second of its two titles. Total, the Grizzlies have made seven appearances within the remaining, which is tied for the third-most general.
Including to the historical past Friday night time: Furman was the 1988 nationwide champion and has made three appearances within the title sport.
Following is a capsule preview of the Furman at Montana matchup:
No. 7 Seed Furman (10-2) at No. 2 Seed Montana (11-1)
Kickoff – 9 p.m. ET Friday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana (ESPN2)
Sequence – Montana leads 1-0 (Grizzlies received 13-6 within the 2001 nationwide championship sport in Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Coaches – Furman: Clay Hendrix (51-28, seventh season); Montana: Bobby Hauck (127-35, thirteenth season; 142-84 general)
3 Gamers to Watch – Furman: QB Tyler Huff (168 of 254, 1,681 yards, 9 TDs, 5 INTs; 520 rush yards, 5 TDs), RB Dominic Roberto (180 carries, 755 yards, 9 TDs), LB Braden Gilby (81 tackles, 7 TFL, 3 sacks, 6 QB hurries, 5 cross breakups); Montana: QB Clifton McDowell (105 of 174, 1,493 yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs; 616 rush yards, 8 TDs), WR Junior Bergen (45 receptions, 663 yards, 4 TDs; 525 kickoff/punt return yards), LB Braxton Hill (96 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 1 fumble restoration)
Notable – Montana is competing in its FCS-high twenty seventh playoff look, and it goes from defeating the workforce with the third-most appearances on this yr’s 24-team subject (Delaware, 19) to internet hosting the one with the second-most (Furman, 20). The matchup options two of the FCS’ stingier defenses, with Montana rating fourth (14.8) in fewest factors allowed per sport and Furman seventh (16.8). McDowell, who’s 8-0 because the Grizzlies’ beginning QB, boasts an assortment of offensive weapons, with the Large Sky champion’s workforce chief in scrimmage yards, redshirt freshman RB Eli Gillman (899 dashing, 103 receiving), simply fourth general in a balanced blowout of Delaware within the snow final Saturday night time. Furman’s plus-17 turnover margin is one of the best within the FCS and the SoCon champion is among the many sacks leaders with a program-record 36 this season. Huff missed two and a half video games with an damage earlier than returning for the beginning of the playoffs. Ian Williams, who kicked 4 subject objectives within the second-round win over Chattanooga, is tied for third within the FCS in subject objectives made (18) and tied for second in makes an attempt (24).
Up Subsequent – The winner will play No. 3 seed South Dakota (10-2) or North Dakota State (10-3) in a nationwide semifinal on Dec. 15 or 16.
Prediction – Montana 27, Furman 19
