Here is what the staff writer at the Sports Network has to say on the JMU-Montana game. These are HIS words, not mine.
The Sports Network
By John Hooper, FCS Correspondent
DATE & TIME: Friday, December 12th, 8 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field (15,500) -- Harrisonburg, Virginia. Surface: Field Turf. Television: ESPN 2. Announcers: Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard. Home Record: Montana 9-0; James Madison 8-0. Away Record: Montana 4-1; James Madison 4-1. Current Win Streak: Montana - 9; James Madison 12. Series Record: James Madison (9-7). Last Meeting: December 19, 2004 (James Madison, 31-21 at FCS Championship Game - Chattanooga, TN). Conference: Montana - Big Sky; James Madison - Colonial Athletic Association. Sports Network Ranking: Montana (5); James Madison (1). Nicknames: Montana Grizzlies; James Madison Dukes. Coaches: Montana - Montana - Bobby Hauck (65-15); James Madison - Mickey Matthews (76-45). Playoff Record: Montana (26-15); James Madison (8-7).
GAME NOTES: In 2004, James Madison clinched the school's first national title with a 31-21 win over Montana in the championship game. To reach the grand stage once again, the Dukes will have to go through the Grizzlies in the semifinals at home in Bridgeforth Stadium. JMU was able to complete the season sweep of Villanova, defeating the gritty No. 6-ranked Wildcats 31-27, in one of the most-thrilling quarterfinal match ups last Saturday.
Payton Award finalist quarterback Rodney Landers (1,519 passing yards, 21 TDs, four interceptions, 1,686 rushing yards, 16 TDs) was at his finest, scoring the game-clinching TD with 1:38 remaining to deliver the dramatic win. Landers helped orchestrate an 11-play, 54-yard drive, taking 5:16 off the clock in the process. In total, Landers connected on 14-of-20 passes for 157 yards, three TDs and no interceptions to solidify his nomination as a finalist for sub- classification's most-prestigious honor.
Landers completed passes to eight different receivers, including TD passes to Bosco Williams (16 receptions, 14.3 average, three TDs), tight end Mike Caussin (18 receptions, 12.8, five TDs) and Kerby Long (13 receptions, 14.2 average, two TDs). Landers' top receiver this season has been Rockeed McCarter, who leads the Dukes with 21 receptions (16.5 average, team-high six TD catches).
Landers is not alone in leading the Dukes' offense (400 yards per game). Running back Eugene Holloman (941 yards, eight TDs) has been a key component of the ground game as well and has been returning to the form he showed before injuries began to slow him down in 2007.
Holloman brings speed and a pair of good hands catching the ball out of the backfield for the Dukes, making him a threat on two fronts. With 59 yards rushing against the Grizzlies, Holloman would reach the 1,000-yard plateau, giving the Dukes their first tandem of 1,000-yard rushers in the same season.
The most versatile athlete on the offensive side of the ball is running back Griff Yancey (474 yards rushing, 19 receptions, 11.9 average, 775 total yards, 13 TDs).
With all the success that the JMU offense has garnered this season, the Dukes' defense has at times gone unnoticed. However, like the 2004 team that won it all, the defense has been a cornerstone of JMU's title hopes in the 2008 postseason.
Leading the way is one of the top defensive fronts in FCS, led by Sam Daniels (40 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks) at defensive tackle and Arthur Moats (60 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, team-leading 11 sacks) at defensive end. Moats led JMU's defensive effort in the quarterfinal win over Villanova, registering 11 tackles and three-and-a-half sacks.
Fellow end Hassan Abdul-Wahid (57 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks) and defensive tackle J.D. Skolnitsky (52 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks) round out a talented front four.
The Dukes also have high-profile names in the secondary, led by Buck Buchanan Award candidate safety Marcus Haywood (94 tackles). Haywood, who leads the team with five interceptions, picked off one of those passes last Saturday to help clinch JMU's place in the semifinal round. He also caused and recovered a fumble to set up a touchdown.
Haywood is joined by Pat Williams (54 tackles, three tackles for loss) at strong safety, while senior cornerback Evan McCollough is the team's best cover-corner. McCollough (81 tackles, two interceptions) also gives the team solid run support, ranking second on the team's tackle ledger.
Like JMU, Montana faced a team that had given it fits in its regular-season matchup. The Grizzlies were 45-28 losers to Weber State the first time around.
In the 24-13 playoff win over Big Sky co-champion Weber State, Montana put together probably its finest defensive performance of the season, holding the high-powered Wildcats offense to 386 yards total offense and just 13 points. The Grizzly defense limited the Wildcats to 43 yards under its season average, as well as forcing three Weber State turnovers.
Montana, which has allowed just 26 points in its first two playoff outings, is led defensively by Buchanan Award candidate Colt Anderson (103 tackles, five tackles for loss, three interceptions) at strong safety. Anderson is great in run-support and is one of the more physical performers on the Montana defense. Coming into the 2008 campaign, Anderson was the lone returning starter in the secondary and one of only five returning defensive performers. He teams with Shann Schlillinger (90 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions) at safety.
Up front, the Grizzlies are led by a solid duo of defensive ends, Mike Stadnyk (50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks) and Jace Palmer (38 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks). The Montana linebacking corps is paced by senior Tyler Corwin, who ranks second on the team with 91 tackles, to go with seven tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions.
Overall, the Grizzlies' defense is strongest against the run, allowing 116 yards per game to rank 28th in FCS. Montana is seventh nationally in scoring defense (16.6 points per game) and 37th in total defense (325 yards).
Montana's offense hasn't won any style points like some of the units in years past, but the Grizzlies continue to get the job done under the direction of senior signal-caller Cole Bergquist (2,747 yards, 25 TDs, seven interceptions). He leads a Montana attack that ranks 16th in FCS in total offense (406 yards) and a passing offense that averages 220 yards per contest.
Since mid-season, Chase Reynolds (1,413 yards, 19 TDs) has been the lynch pin of the running game after beginning the campaign as Andrew Schmidt's understudy. The top targets in the Grizzlies' passing game are Marc Mariani (59 receptions, 1,086 yards, 15 TDs, 18.4 average) and Mike Ferriter (47 catches, 17.1 yards per reception, nine TDs).
This rematch needs to be a tight, defensive affair for Montana to return to Chattanooga for the first time since the 2004 season. Montana is not a team that can easily play catch-up, lacking some of the big-play abilities that some former Grizzlies' teams have possessed. Playing at home and with more balance on both sides of the ball, JMU should be the team that returns to the title game. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: James Madison 33, Montana 21.
GL whatever you decide.
Tuff call for me, and I'm pissed that I didn't play it when it was 7:hang:
