BROOKINGS The last time South Dakota State faced Montana, both teams had a different look.
The Jackrabbits had a loaded roster fueled by future NFL draft picks Mason McCormick and Isaiah Davis and Montana was led by quarterback Clifton McDowell. The two teams had many familiar names thanks to the addition of the COVID-19 year and experience ruled the field as SDSU captured its second straight national championship.
Eleven months later, SDSU and Montana will meet again in the second round of the FCS Playoffs. But while a lot has changed between the two teams, theres one similarity with last years matchup in Grizzlies wide receiver Junior Bergen.
Bergen has been a threat no matter when he gets the ball. A top weapon for the Montana offense, Bergen caught 59 passes for 791 yards and five touchdowns while leading the Grizzlies to the national championship game last season and has had a suitable encore with 46 catches for 525 yards and three touchdowns this year.
But its been Bergens knack for returning punts that has made a difference especially in the playoffs.
Bergen has tied an FCS record eight career punt returns for touchdowns but five of them have come in playoff games. While his eight touchdowns are impressive, so are the timing of those scores.
The legend began in a 2021 first-round matchup as Montana trailed 24-3 against Southeast Missouri State but Bergens 58-yard punt return in the third quarter tied the game at 24-24 on the way to a 34-24 win over the Redhawks.
In last years FCS quarterfinal game against Furman, Bergen started the game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. When the Paladins held a 21-20 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Bergen struck again, housing a 59-yard punt return to give Montana a 28-21 lead and an eventual 35-28 victory in overtime.
The following week in the semifinals, the Grizzlies trailed North Dakota State 10-9 in the fourth quarter before Bergen ripped off a 47-yard punt return for a touchdown that gave Montana a 16-10 lead. Bergen later extended the game with a 22-yard touchdown reception in the first overtime and the Grizzlies punched their ticket to the national championship game.
Then there was last weeks first-round matchup against Tennessee State. Up 19-6 in the third quarter, Bergen returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown that gave Montana a 27-6 lead. When the Tigers cut the lead down to 27-20, Bergen swung momentum back to Montana, ripping off a 54-yard punt return that put the Grizzlies up 34-20 with 6:21 to play on the way to an eventual 41-27 victory.
Its a playoff tradition, Montana head coach Bobby Hauck said after Saturdays win. Its become so regular and done so regularly around here that we forget how hard that is to do. And these guys, sometimes they make it look easy. You know, youre talking about doing two in one game [and] three years in a row in the playoffs. Yeah, its pretty special and I think it builds upon itself.
Its a tradition that also has the attention of SDSU as they meet Bergen again on Saturday.
Hes good. Hes pretty much killed everybody that theyve played, SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers said of Bergen. Hes been really special in the last several playoff games, but hes really taken over and was a huge impact in how they ended up at the national championship.
But while Bergen has been a playoff performer and ripped off a 39-yard kickoff return against SDSU in Frisco, the Jackrabbits held him to just one punt return for six yards in their 23-3 victory.
Rogers credited SDSU punter Hunter Dustman for his role in that performance with his angle and hangtime neutralizing Bergens ability to create once he got the ball in his hands. While Dustman added theres a little extra pressure facing an elite returner like Bergen, the emphasis remains on doing his job.
All week we think about him, Dustman said. I know who he is. He knows who I am. We know how good he is and how good that unit is in general. It just adds an extra level to say the least.
From there, its just a matter of the punt team staying in their lanes and giving Bergen nowhere to go. Its something Rogers believes the Jacks have done all season, allowing just six yards on eight returns entering Saturdays game.
I think if you look at us as a punt return defense, weve done a really good job of minimizing explosive plays and were going to need to do it again, Rogers said. Our guys are going to have to get off blocks, hold up, restack and get downfield and stay in coverage lanes and tackle well in space.
Its a challenge that presents itself whenever Bergen gets the ball and SDSU cornerback and punt returner Dalys Beanum believes they have to know where he is at all times.
Hes a great player, Beanum added. Hes been there for a long, long time, so he knows our playbook in and out. Weve seen it on film. Hes a great player after the catch and in the punt game as well. So well have to see where hes at, but well be ready.
Leave a Reply