Special teams can either be like that flat tire on your way to work or your boss not being there yet when you arrive late. Turning good days bad and making bad days good depending on which team you’re on: that’s special teams.
The Bobcats and Grizzlies both know first-hand just how that works and both teams merely have to look back at the last two seasons for a quick reminder. In 2021, Junior Bergen returned three punts that set up Montana field goals and a botched fake field goal attempt by Montana State resulted in a 56-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Justin Ford in a 29-10 UM win.
In 2022, the Grizzlies, trailing 14-0 in the first quarter, launched a snap of their punters head where it was pounced on by MSU special teams ace Jory Choate for a touchdown, putting the Bobcats in full control of a game they went on to win 55-21.
Special teams were also a factor in that game simply because MSU’s offense didn’t give UM’s return star, Bergen, any chances by scoring on every possession before going into victory formation to end the game. MSU went from punting eight times in 2021 to none in 2022.
“There’s three phases of the game and that’s just as important as the other two,” Montana State senior captain Nolan Askelson said. “Big plays can happen in that, and they seem to have happened the last few years, and big plays on special teams can turn the tides either way in this game. We are definitely taking it seriously and we are going to prepare the right way in that aspect as well and hopefully go out and dominate that aspect.”
“It’s going to be a determining factor,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen added. “We’ve been good in our coverage teams, and it goes without saying, a lot of that is Brendan’s (Hall) ability to kick the ball in the end-zone. Based on how the weather looks Saturday, we should have a chance to do that. He’s punted really well and turned the field over.”
The Grizzlies, especially during the years head coach Bobby Hauck has been at the helm, have been one of the best teams in the nation at making plays with their special teams. And Montana State knows it.
“Historically, they are a great special teams squad,” Askelson, a team captain from Billings Senior, said. “I know Coach Hauck puts a ton of emphasis on special teams. I think he has a big hand in how they do things over there on special teams. But we have great special teams too and we take great pride in ours.”
“I think it’s a contributing factor, but it’s hard to predict that in any game,” Hauck said. “You go into it thinking you have to hold up and then if you get a chance to make a play, make a play. That’s what the other side going to try to do too so we will see how it plays out.”
Some of the biggest weapons on the field will be special teamers as still its old reliable in Bergen, who also handles kickoff returns now that longtime returner Malik Flowers is gone. Flowers was the next in a long line of outstanding returners — Tuff Harris, Jefferson Heidelberger, Levander Seagers, Marc Mariani, Rob Schulte, Jabin Sambrano all come to mind — coached by Hauck that are among not only the best returners in Griz history but also in the history of the Big Sky Conference and the entire FCS. Flowers matched Rashid Shaheed (now of the New Orleans Saints) all-time Big Sky record for kick returns in a career for touchdowns with seven and Flowers ended his career with more return yards than any player in FCS history.
Bergen is one of the top punt returners in the nation. He has 19 returns and averages nearly 15 yards per attempt. He also has one punt return touchdown. As is the case everywhere in football, kickoff returns are few and far between. Bergen only has six kickoff returns and is getting over 21 yards per attempt.
“They have one of the best returns in our league (Bergen) and in the country and he was impactful two years ago,” Vigen said. “But last year, we didn’t punt. So, if we can keep it at that, that’s a better way to do it.”
“If we have to punt, Brendan has got to produce hang time and we have to go down and cover.
MSU counters with pair of return men that haven’t broke loose in 2023 in kick returner Marqui Johnson and recently back in action punt returner Taco Dowler. The Bobcats also have a weapon in Hall, their 6-foot-9 punter and kickoff man who leads the Big Sky in punting average and routinely bombs kickoffs out of the end zone.
Johnson was one of the leading kickoff returners in the nation last season with a return for touchdown against Oregon State and two other close calls, but his chances have been limited in 2023. Dowler returned two punts for touchdowns in 2022 but he suffered an injury in the offseason and just returned three weeks ago.
“On the return side, same thing goes,” Vigen said. “We probably aren’t going to get these great opportunities the way it looks. But the punt return game, Taco (Dowler) has really done a good job of stabilizing that for us while not getting a great opportunity. We just have to keep working for that opportunity.”
Coincidentally, Dowler and Bergen are both from Billings. Dowler attended Billings West and Bergen went to Billings Senior.
“They’ve always been good in special teams, and they take great pride in it,” Vigen said. “We do as well. I’m certain that there’s going to be some of that momentum that’s changed one way or the other and we have to do our best to make sure that works in our favor.”
Both teams have struggled in the placekicking department. UM’s Grant Glasgow and MSU’s Hall have both been replaced after Glasgow had made just 7 of 13 and Hall just 5 of 10. Glasgow was lights out in Montana’s 23-21 win over Idaho at the Kibbie Dome, drilling three field goals of more than 40 yards. But he hit the skids as of late, giving way to Nic Ramos, a senior and former Cal transfer who has come on for UM and converted both of his attempts. For MSU, Casey Kautzman, a redshirt freshman from Butte, has made all three of his attempts after replacing Hall and is 5 for 5 on the year.
The Grizzlies have been solid defending punt returns by allowing just 4.3 per attempt. The Bobcats allow 6.5 but Hall’s ample hangtime has only allowed for six returns by opponents this season. The Bobcats have been a terror at putting pressure on punters with several full and partial blocks this season.
“On the other side, we have been able to get our hands on four punts, and I know two the other day, including Julius (Davis) getting a fingertip on it and altering it. You think about having the ability to block punts, I know that’s a real asset, even if you don’t have those abilities in the return side,” Vigen said.
UM punter Travis Benham has been steady for the Grizzlies, averaging 40.1 yards per punt. He’s placed 16 punts inside the 20-yard line this year, which is the third most in the BSC.
Kickoff for the 122nd Cat-Griz game is slated for noon this Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
