FCS Playoff Preview and Prediction: Furman at Montana

If this season hasn’t already felt like a throw-back to the Montana Grizzlies’ glory days in FCS college football, then their quarterfinal-round matchup against Furman is a distinct reminder.

The two programs’ only previous meeting occurred in the 2001 national championship game, with Montana capturing the second of its two titles. Overall, the Grizzlies have made seven appearances in the final, which is tied for the third-most overall.

Adding to the history Friday night: Furman was the 1988 national champion and has made three appearances in the title game.

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)

Series – Montana leads 1-0 (Grizzlies won 13-6 in the 2001 national championship game in Chattanooga, Tennessee)

Coaches – Furman: Clay Hendrix (51-28, seventh season); Montana: Bobby Hauck (127-35, 13th season; 142-84 overall)

3 Players 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 pass 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 recovery)

Notable – Montana is competing in its FCS-high 27th playoff appearance, and it goes from defeating the team with the third-most appearances in this year’s 24-team field (Delaware, 19) to hosting the one with the second-most (Furman, 20). The matchup features two of the FCS’ stingier defenses, with Montana ranking fourth (14.8) in fewest points allowed per game and Furman seventh (16.8). McDowell, who’s 8-0 as the Grizzlies’ starting QB, boasts an assortment of offensive weapons, with the Big Sky champion’s team leader in scrimmage yards, redshirt freshman RB Eli Gillman (899 rushing, 103 receiving), just fourth overall in a balanced blowout of Delaware in the snow last Saturday night. Furman’s plus-17 turnover margin is the best in the FCS and the SoCon champion is among the sacks leaders with a program-record 36 this season. Huff missed two and a half games with an injury before returning for the start of the playoffs. Ian Williams, who kicked four field goals in the second-round win over Chattanooga, is tied for third in the FCS in field goals made (18) and tied for second in attempts (24).

Up Next – The winner will play No. 3 seed South Dakota (10-2) or North Dakota State (10-3) in a national semifinal on Dec. 15 or 16.

Prediction – Montana 27, Furman 19