8 Montana State’s defense shut out South Dakota State’s offense in the second half of Saturday’s FCS semifinal as the Bobcats ran past the Jackrabbits 31-17 to advance to the 2021-22 FCS Playoffs national championship game, where Montana State will face No.
The Bison will be gunning for their ninth national championship in 11 years and the Bobcats will be looking for their second ever.
With about three and half minutes left in Saturday’s semifinal, South Dakota State faced 4th-and-Goal at Montana State’s 26-yard line due to a pair of false start penalties and a strip sack on 3rd-and-13, and the Jackrabbits were unable to reach the end zone, which effectively ended their comeback bid.
Montana State reclaimed the lead as it struck first in the second half with a 12-play, 68-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard keeper from Tommy Mellott.
Thanks to South Dakota State kicker Cole Frahm’s 51-yard field goal at the end of the first half, the second FCS semifinal is tied at 17 at halftime.
Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott has completed 4-of-8 attempts for 149 yards and a touchdown, while South Dakota State’s Chris Oladokun is 9-for-12 passing for 130 yards and a score.
No.
South Dakota State quarterback Chris Oladokun found Jadon Janke for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 9:59 to play in the second semifinal of the FCS Playoffs as the Jackrabbits took their first lead of the game, 14-10, against the eighth-seeded Bobcats.
South Dakota State had 1st-and-10 at Montana State’s 16-yard line after Pierre Strong rushed for a 13-yard gain, but the Jackrabbits ran for just one yard on first down and quarterback Chris Oladokun rushed for six on second down, setting up 3rd-and-3.
8 Montana State to punt on its opening drive as the Bobcats picked up two first downs on the game’s opening drive before they stalled out at South Dakota State’s 44-yard line after quarterback Tommy Mellott only picked up eight yards on 3rd-and-13.
Montana State has won one FCS national championship in 1984, while South Dakota State is coming off of its first-ever appearance in the title game.
North Dakota State clinched the first spot in the 2021 FCS championship game behind fullback Hunter Luepke’s two touchdowns to defeat James Madison 20-14.