Setting the Stage
As the crowd filtered back into Hornet Stadium amidst a heartstopping duel between Sacramento State and Northern Colorado, President Luke Wood appeared on the television broadcast to speak about the red-hot Hornets’ upcoming matchup with undefeated Montana.
The on-air interview opened with multiple jabs at the Grizzlies, who Wood called “the Pandas.” He said that despite being a great team, Montana hasn’t “played nobody.”
These statements generated significant buzz across social media, with media members and fans alike sharing their thoughts on the president’s comments.
Some fans and media figures questioned the merit of fanning the flames ahead of such a pivotal matchup for Sac State. Others pointed out that Montana had blown out Cal Poly earlier in the season, a team that the Hornets had lost to in their first Big Sky Conference game.
Ultimately, these comments reached the Grizzlies’ locker room, and Montana head coach Bobby Hauck had some choice words for President Wood.
Hauck said that he had seen Wood’s interview and the team will deal with it on Friday.
“I mean, that guy is kind of a clown, right?” Hauck said during a pregame conference interview.
With this public back and forth, Sac State’s lone nationally broadcast game becomes must-watch TV, with both public opinion and FCS rankings hanging in the balance.
Despite picking up four wins over their last five games, Sac State hasn’t retaken their ranked status, which they lost after their defeat at the hands of Cal Poly. A win against Montana would vault them back into the top 25, potentially higher than their high-water mark of No. 15 in the preseason poll.
Montana has maintained a No. 7 ranking all season and has a pair of ranked wins under their belt, beating both North Dakota and Idaho.
Preparing for Battle
The Hornets and Grizzlies football teams have met each other 25 times since 1993. Montana holds the edge with 21 wins in the series, as they won the last matchup 34-7 in 2023.
Sac State played an unforgettable game last week against Northern Colorado, with a late-game showdown that ended with a thrilling goal line stand to secure a 40-35 victory.
The Hornets’ running game was fully on display, adding an impressive 323 yards. Junior running backs Rodney Hammond, Jr. and freshman running back Jaquail Smith both rushed for 100 yards each. The defense played a pivotal role in the win, adding four interceptions to help seal the victory.
RELATED: Fest in in the Nest: Sac State wins big after goal line stop
Montana continued their winning streak last game as they defeated FCS-independent Sacred Heart, 43-21, extending their season record to 7-0. The Grizzlies exploded on offense, adding in six touchdowns and 484 yards total. The offense had five touchdowns in the air and one on the ground. The defense, on the other hand, made an impact by recording four sacks.
Regardless of their opponent, the Hornet defense is prepared for the task.
“They have a lot of different things to worry about, so it’s just props to them and what they do,” defensive coordinator Marcus Patton said. “We believe in our scheme, and we believe in our guys. We’re gonna go out there, and we’ll try to put together a good game plan.”
The Hornet secondary forced four turnovers last week and plan on repeating that on Friday.
“We get a different game plan of how we’re gonna play it and try to get hands on the ball,” sophomore cornerback Ricky Lee III said. “We want to attack the quarterback. We’re gonna come in aggressive this week, so it’s gonna be a hard game.’’
With the secondary of the defense up for the task, the defensive line looks to follow suit and create terror in the trenches.
“They have a good group up front, a great running back and quarterback. We’ve got to create a lot of havoc, play real fast,” redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Dylan Hampsten said. “When it comes to the game, we don’t look at it any differently. It’s a nameless, faceless opponent.”
Keys to the Game
Establishing the run early should be key for the Hornet offense. They lead the Big Sky in rushing, averaging 247.5 yards a game. It’s what the Hornets do the best offensively and should be what they lean on.
On defense, the goal should be letting the defensive line hunt the quarterback to create pressure and set up turnover opportunities for the secondary to make plays. Last week, it was successful as the Hornets took the ball away four times in its recent win against Northern Colorado.
Limiting turnovers in a game in which they are the underdogs is vital. The Hornets are the most penalized team in the Big Sky with over 70 yards lost a game. That must be kept in check if they want to play clean and win this game.
This game is critical for the Hornets. It’s a chance to make a buzz in the FCS landscape with a win against a top-contending team.
“Every week, we’re still just trying to get that W,” Hampsten said. “That’s all that really matters at the end of it all.”
Sac State looks to face the Montana Grizzlies on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Hornet Stadium.
