BROOKINGS If youre watching the FCS National Championship Game, it might not be a good idea to grab a beverage when the punt team comes on the field.
Considered an afterthought by many football fans, the special teams have been a key component of South Dakota State and Montanas run to Frisco and it could be what decides a battle between two of the top teams in the country on Jan. 7.
It kind of minimizes the game, Montana head coach Bobby Hauck said of both special teams units. You dont get to this game without being a really good football team and being good in all three phases.
The Jackrabbits and Grizzlies have been dominant both offensively and defensively this season, but their special teams have put them over the top.
For the Jacks, that has been fueled by the efforts of special teams coordinator Pat Cashmore. SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers credits Cashmore for not only installing a system that has gotten the best out of his special teams unit but also helping it improve as the season progressed.
I think our special teams have improved drastically not just from last year to this year, but consistently throughout the season, Rogers said. Its a third of the game and in that third of the game, there are only so many opportunities. That group has really bought into maximizing that opportunity and it has shown out lately in the playoffs.
The surge is a key reason why the Jacks are returning to Frisco after winning the national title a year ago as the special teams unit has come up with some big moments including Matthew Durrances block and 55-yard return for a touchdown on a punt against Villanova in the quarterfinals and a 79-yard punt return by Tucker Large in the national semifinals against UAlbany.
You guys see those things and we just look at the fine details and small wins, Rogers said. The explosive plays have been huge as of late, but [the special teams] have been great all season in so many ways. Weve improved and Im really proud of that product, Coach Cashmore [and] really proud of the overall effort and buy in of everybody on the football team that is part of those special teams units.
While the Jacks play on special teams has played a big role during their playoff run, special teams have played an even bigger role in Mizzoula thanks to Junior Bergen.
The Grizzlies leader with 55 receptions, Bergen has carved out a role as one of the top weapons in Montanas offense. But his performance as the Grizzlies punt and kick returner has hit another gear with three touchdown returns over the past two games.
Bergen was a key factor in the Grizzlies win over Furman in the FCS quarterfinals as his 99-yard kickoff return to open the game put Montana on the board early. When Furman came back to take a 21-20 lead in the third quarter Bergen was the answer, ripping off a 59-yard punt return for a touchdown that gave the Grizzlies a 28-21 lead with 9:40 left in the fourth quarter on the way to a 35-28 victory in overtime.
The following week, Bergens explosiveness struck again, ripping off a 47-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that helped the Grizzlies take a 19-6 lead in their 31-29 double-overtime victory against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals.
With Bergen also catching a 22-yard touchdown pass from Clifton McDowell in the first overtime, he poses a threat whenever he has the ball in his hands which made Rogers compare him to a former SDSU great.
He reminds me a lot of Cade Johnson, who we had a couple of years ago and is still in the NFL, Rogers said. Nothing that he has done is shocking with the skill set he has. Hes a great player and hell create challenges. We just need to respond.
Theres an argument to be made that without Bergen, the Grizzlies wouldnt be in a position to challenge the Jacks for a national title. While there are other matchups that will also decide this game, special teams are a big reason why both teams have made it to Frisco and it could be the reason why either team comes away with a national title.
Both teams are good in the special teams area and Juniors production over the last two games has been all-time great, Hauck said. Hes done a great job and we know that he can turn a game, but we also know that South Dakota States guys can do the same. It should be a good battle in special teams.
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