NORTH DAKOTA STATE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2022 MONTANA BISON GAME DAY Presents ► When: 2:30 p.m., Gate City Bank Field, Fargodome ► TV: ESPN+ ► Radio: 1660-AM, 107.9-FM $3.00 (Suggested retail price) Copyright 2022 The Forum
s Lucas Johnson is the veteran but NDSU s Cam Miller has the FCS playoff experience
Montana's No 2 running back, Marcus Knight entered transfer portal before the team's first-round playoff game
Eric Peterson The Forum Record: 10-1
Dom Izzo WDAY-TV
Record: 11-0
28 Montana 14
WDAY-TV Record: 11-0
Logan Campbell
Bison offense firing on all cylinders An efficient Cam Miller will be hard for the Griz defense to slow down
S C H E D U L E
M E D I A B L I T Z
BISON GAME DAY BISON Kubitz RUSHING No Yds Avg Long TD Hunter Luepke TaMerik Williams Kobe Johnson Cam Miller 621 559 508 263 6 3 7 6 6 7 3 7 47 51 47 30 9 7 3 11 PASSING Comp Att Yds Int TD Cam Miller 174 1458 2 10 PROBABLE STARTERS GRIZZLIES RUSHING No Yds Avg Long Nick Ostmo Xavier Harris Lucas Johnson 126 49 56 740 268 265 5 9 5 5 4 7 80 64 37 7 1 7 PASSING Comp Att Yds Int TD Lucas Johnson 161 254 1857 6 19 BISON OFFENSE Pos No Name Ht Wt Yr WR LT LG C RG RT TE WR FB RB QB 0 70 66 77 63 74 82 19 49 22 7 Zach Mathis Cody Mauch Nash Jensen Brandon Westberg Jake Kubas Grey Zabel Joe Stoffel Jake Lippe Hunter Brozio TaMerik Williams Cam Miller 6-6 6-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-6 6-3 6-2 5-11 6-1 6-1 205 303 329 286 304 290 245 203 230 229 208 Sr Sr Sr Jr Sr Jr Jr Jr Jr Sr Jr BISON DEFENSE Pos No Name Ht Wt Yr DE DT NG DE OLB MLB OLB CB SS 99 91 58 90 26 47 20 6 25 Spencer Waege Will Mostaert Javier Derritt Tony Pierce James Kaczor Luke Weerts Julian Wlodarczyk Destin Talbert Michael Tutsie 6-5 6-2 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-3 6-0 5-11 282 260 279 242 215 218 207 187 189 Sr Jr Jr Sr Sr Jr Sr Sr Sr The Grizzlies looked like a team ready to make a run at Frisco in the first month of the season but something s been missing down the stretch NDSU 31 Montana 13 The Bison running game even without Hunter Luepke is enough for NDSU to fend off the Grizzlies NDSU 28, Montana 21 Weerts Johnson Roberts RUNNING BACKS RECEIVERS Departed portal Bison receiver DJ Hart was playing increasing role somebody will have to pick up slack OFFENSIVE LINE M A T C H U P S P R E D I C T I O N S GAME DAY BREAKDOWN DEFENSIVE LINE Montana starting defensive end DeAri Todd announced this week he s done for season with injury LINEBACKERS Alternating NDSU MLBs Luke Weert and Nick Kubitz has looked better as season has progressed SECONDARY Senior safety Robby Hauck is the alltime leader in tackles in Big Sky Conference history with 474 Montana s Malik Flowers is tied for the most career kickoff returns for TDs in FCS history with seven SPECIAL TEAMS RECEIVING Rec Yds Avg Long TD Mitch Roberts Cole Grossman Malik Flowers 48 22 22 552 334 324 11 5 15 2 14 7 35 57 35 5 4 2 98 74 76 71 S T A N D I N G S T E A M S C H E D U L E S Montana s rush defense gave up over 460 yards to Montana State two weeks ago and with NDSU rested off a bye week, I expect you'll see more of Cam Miller running the ball Bison are getting healthier and more experienced on defense too NDSU
120
RECEIVING Rec Yds Avg Long TD Zach Mathis Joe Stoffel Hunter Luepke Braylon Henderson Jake Lippe 23 17 14 12 11 330 170 196 187 118 14 3 10 0 14 0 15 6 10 7 3 0 4 0 0 40 21 31 41 26
NDSU
Games Saturday Delaware at South Dakota State 2 p m (ESPN+) Montana at North Dakota State 2:30 p m (ESPN+) Montana
Opp Date Opponent UM Sept 3 Sept 10 Sept 17 Sept 24 Oct 1 Oct 15 Oct 22 Oct 29 Nov 5 Nov 12 Nov 19 Nov 26 Northwestern State South Dakota at Indiana State Portland State at Idaho State Idaho at Sacramento State at Weber State Cal Poly Eastern Washington at Montana State Southeast Missouri State 0 7 14 16 20 30 (OT)31 24 0 7 55 24 47 24 49 53 28 23 24 21 57 63 21 34
35 Montana 21
MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE Team Conf Overall S o u t h D a k o t a S t a t e N o r t h D a k o t a S t a t e N o r t h D a k o t a Y o u n g s t o w n S t a t e N o r t h e r n I o w a I l l i n o i s S t a t e S o u t h e r n I l l i n o i s M i s s o u r i S t a t e S o u t h D a k o t a I n d i a n a S t a t e W e s t e r n I l l i n o i s 8-0 7-1 5-3 5-3 5-3 4-4 4-4 3-5 2-6 1-7 0-8 10-1 9-2 7-5 7-4 6-5 6-5 5-6 5-6 3-8 2-9 0-11 TD Bison defense will focus on making Griz one-dimensional and make quarterback Lucas Johnson beat them NDSU 27 Montana 17 Mike McFeely The Forum Record: 11-0 Date Opponent NDSU Opp Sept 3 Sept 10 Sept 17 Sept 24 Oct 1 Oct 8 Oct 15 Oct 29 Nov 5 Nov 12 Nov 19 Drake North Carolina A&T at Arizona at South Dakota Youngstown State at Indiana State South Dakota State Illinois State at Western Illinois at Southern Illinois North Dakota 56 43 28 34 27 31 21 24 56 21 42 14 3 31 17 14 26 23 7 17 18 21 10-11 a m : Bison Gameday pregame show with Dom Izzo Kyle Emanuel Logan Campbell and Jeff Kolpack on North Dakota statewide ABC network (WDAY-Fargo WDAZ-Grand Forks KBMY-Bismarck and Dickinson KMCY-Williston and Minot) 2:15 p m : Gate City Bison Social Media Flow on InForum com After game: Gate City Media Blog Postgame Show with Dom Izzo Mike McFeely Jeff Kolpack and Eric Peterson on InForum com Start here.
about a new
Thinking
JOB?
Javier Derritt’s older brother also a mentor, savior
By Jeff Kolpack Fargo
There have been a couple spectacular January days in the North Dakota State football career of Javier Derritt. One came in 2019 when, as a true freshman, he was part of an FCS national championship team.
The other came two years later at the same Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Derritt played in all 15 games that ended with another national title. He gave his first championship ring to his mother, Wanzetta Derritt.
He gave his second to his brother Jacob Derritt. Both raised him in different degrees to the 6-foot-1, 279-man he is now. Mom will always be mom. But Jacob, 16 years older, went extra brother miles.
“Both of us growing up without our biological fathers in our lives, it’s kind of crazy how he stepped into that role in a sense,” Javier said. “He showed me what hard work was, how to be a man and how I get to where I want to be through hard work.”
The relationship evolved over time, with Jacob assuming more of an active role in Javier’s life as both got older.
The coaching angle started when Javier was in second grade. Jacob, a college basketball player at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, had just graduated and began a career in high school coaching in football and basketball. Jacob coached the running backs in football, but seeing his younger brother had the look of a lineman took the extra effort to pay attention to how the offensive and defensive line coaches worked.
It was becoming obvious by the time Javier was in middle school in Warrensburg, Mo., that he had potential. To help, Jacob offered to have Javier come and live with him in Kansas City, with the caveat being playing for one of the state of Kansas’ best high school programs at St. Thomas Aquinas in Overland Park.
Jacob talked to his mother on the idea, saying the visibility and opportunities at a bigger school would benefit Javier. It wasn’t an overnight decision, but all involved eventually said yes.
“She really didn’t want that to happen but she allowed it after me begging her for two years to do it,” Jacob said.
“The story really starts with my mom teaching us about family, what it means to be family.”
Wanzetta Derritt worked two to three jobs to support the family. She had an MVP in Jacob, who routinely dropped Javier and his younger sister off at daycare. Or doing things that his mother needed at home.
Javier said he had his moments of getting into a little trouble, which went into the decision.
“That went into it too, maybe he needs a little more of a male influence
in his life,” Javier said. “And he was someone who I respected and looked up to. I just felt like I needed a fresh start. Everything worked out how it was supposed to.”
Plus, Jacob through a Nike program was coaching future NBA players like Michael Porter Jr. at the time, meaning Javier got to hang around them and see first hand what elite level of coaching was like.
“Just seeing the work that they were putting in,” Javier said.
“It showed me what I needed to do to get to the next level and keep on improving my craft.”
St. Thomas Aquinas was led by a Kansas coaching legend in Randy Dreiling, who won multiple state championships at another school and knew former NDSU head coach Chris Klieman well as
well as current Bison defensive line coach Nick Goeser. Javier started when he was a freshman and led his team to the school’s first Class 5A state championship when he was a senior co-captain.
He was named Kansas’ Class 5A defensive player of the year. At the same time, Jacob took on more responsibility in being a father figure to his younger brother. He drove him to college prospect camps like NDSU’s annual summer camp.
“We had never really heard of it until we got into the recruiting process,” Jacob said.
The number of college offers Javier had by the time he got to the Bison camp was in the double digits.
“But this is the one we really wanted because it’s North Dakota State,” Jacob said. “I’ve always taught him about legacy and (NDSU) has a rich tradition and legacy up there. He really wanted that scholarship from North Dakota State.”
Goeser remembers talking with Jacob just as much as he did with Javier in the recruiting process. When he made a home visit, he did so with both Derritt brothers.
Jacob had been through the recruiting rigmarole as a former basketball prospect.
“He was showing me what coaches are looking for and the things you should be looking for in schools,” Javier said. “He brought me all around the country, and he did most of the driving. It was a really nice experience just to get to hang out with him.”
These days, Jacob is leading JP Morgan Chase & Co.’s business banking expansion efforts, which in his central region includes North Dakota and South Dakota.
“For me it was not just trying to mentor him on getting to the highest level of football,” Jacob said, “but also to get him to think, what do you want to do with your life? Everybody eventually has to walk away from the game and we have countless examples of that.”
On Saturday, Javier and his Bison teammates play the University of
Montana in an FCS second-round game at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
Derritt has started every game for a young but improving interior defensive line. He’s had 20 tackles and 1.5 quarterback sacks.
“I see a man who is focused, I see one who is determined,” Jacob said.
“He understands the sacrifices he has to make in order to pursue his goals.”
Conversely, Javier is well aware of the sacrifices his brother made in him reaching
a college career. He’s a junior on the roster but technically because of the pandemic has two years of eligibility remaining after this season.
“I think it’s a pretty special relationship,” Goeser said. “Obviously Javier relies a lot on what Jacob says. I certainly know Jacob is a big part of Javier’s life. I think it shows you what kind of person Jacob is and the support he gives Javier and how Javier trusts what Jacob has to say.”
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at jkolpack@ forumcomm.com. Twitter@ KolpackInForum BISON GAME DAY MONTANA AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE inforum.com the forum | Saturday, december 3, 2022 | SPORTS | AA3 BISON GAME DAY
Submitted photo
Jacob Derritt, right, took his younger brother of 16 years in during Javier Derritt’s high school years in hopes of getting him to a Division I level of football.
Submitted photo
Javier Derritt (58) celebrates with his family after the 2021 FCS national title game in Frisco, Texas with his older brother Jacob, his son Jacob Jr. and his mother Wanzetta.
Michael Vosburg / The Forum North Dakota State’s Javier Derritt pressures Southern Illinois’ Nic Baker during their football game on Nov. 12 in Carbondale, Illinois.
Bison receiver Green scratching the surface of his versatility
By Jeff Kolpack and Eric Peterson The Forum
Fargo
North Dakota State redshirt freshman
Eli Green had four receptions during the regular season, but the receiver could be asked to play an elevated role as the Bison enter the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs.
The Bison are down a receiver after junior DJ Hart recently entered the transfer portable following the end of the regular season. On the flipside, Green has been targeted on deep balls in NDSU’s most recent stretch of games.
“I think he’s been playing an elevated role lately,” said Bison head coach Matt Entz. “He’s a pretty talented young man. ... We’ll see where his ceiling is, but he’s only scratching the surface of how we can use him.”
The No. 3-seeded Bison (9-2) host Montana (8-4) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. NDSU had a first-round bye.
The 5-foot-11, 186pound Green, from Farmington, Minn., has four catches for 38 yards this season and nine rushing yards on one attempt. He had two catches for 19 yards in a 42-21 victory against the University of North Dakota two weeks ago to end the regular season.
Green nearly hauled in a deep ball, that was out of his reach, at
Southern Illinois in the second to last game of the regular season.
“He’s got speed, he’s got a willingness to run across the middle,” Entz said. “He’s got good hands, in and out of breaks full speed.
... He’s picked up our offense at a high rate.”
Senior receiver Zach Mathis has 23 catches for 330 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bison. Braylon Henderson, Jake Lippe and RaJa Nelson have also been reliable
targets for quarterback Cam Miller. Hart ranked fourth on the team with 183 receiving yards on 13 catches before he entered the portal.
“I feel we put a good game plan every week with every position getting their opportunities and then us making plays based on what we’re seeing,” Green said. “I’m ready to take as many as I need and make some plays where they need to be made.”
Green redshirted last
season, but said that was valuable in that it gave him time to learn the playbook and adjust to the college game. It also gave him an opportunity to watch senior wide receiver Christian Watson, who now plays for the Green Bay Packers. “I learned a ton from Christian and it was insane to be here my first year and have a guy like that, be someone that I could watch and learn from,” Green said. “That’s
someone we all want to be like. ... It was awesome being able to watch him and learn from him.”
Green said this time of year is why he chose NDSU, which is the defending FCS national champions.
“I came here because I wanted to play for a team that went deep into the playoffs and got opportunities at national championships,” Green said.
Bison wary of Montana’s Flowers exploding on kickoff returns
The Montana offense has the ability to present the Bison defense with some issues, particularly if quarterback Lucas Johnson gets hot. The Grizzlies had games in which they piled up points, like 63 against Eastern Washington, 57 vs. Cal Poly and 53 against Portland State.
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North Dakota State receiver Eli Green (86) could see more opportunities for the Bison after D.J. Hart entered the transfer portal prior to the start of the Division I FCS playoffs.
NOTEBOOK
From Page AA4
But don’t sleep on Montana’s special teams, either. Kickoff returner Malik Flowers is one of the best in FCS history, tying a subdivision record with seven career returns for touchdowns. He did it last week and sparked a comefrom-behind win over Southeast Missouri State.
“I think he’s very talented,” Entz said.
How does NDSU address Flowers on kickoffs? In a perfect world the Bison would kick it through the end zone on every kickoff.
“I wish it was because if that were the case we would do it every time,” Entz said. “If we could do something like that it would be great, but we just have to hit our lanes. We treat our kickoff coverage similar to a defensive snap, there’s a fit to it. We have to do a great job of getting off blocks, avoiding blocks and stacking blockers and hopefully that ultimately comes down to tackling people. They do a really good job from a schematic standpoint.”
Montana head coach Bobby Hauck was a former special teams coach at UCLA, Colorado, Washington and San Diego State. Entz figures that experience puts more of an emphasis on it with the Grizzlies.
Not only does NDSU have to be wary of Flowers, but Montana’s Junior Bergen returned a punt 58 yards last week against SEMO for a touchdown. He has a long punt return this season of 72 yards.
“Same thing, they utilize their personnel really well,” Entz said. “Special teams are a critical role and their returns teams are really good.”
Etc. etc. etc.
► NDSU defensive tackle Jaxon Duttenhefer, linebacker Logan Kopp and defensive end Kole Menz were named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference AllNewcomer team this week. Duttenhefer was the third-leading tackler on the Bison defensive line with 24 stops. Kopp had 31 tackles and two interceptions and Menz had seven tackles. All three redshirt freshman played in all 11 games.
► NDSU has a 5-4 lead in the all-time series against Montana that dates back 1914. The Bison earned a 37-6 victory in the last meeting, which came in the second round of the 2015 FCS playoffs at the Fargodome.
► The Bison have made 13 consecutive FCS playoffs appearances (2010-2022) to rank third all-time for the longest streak. Montana is first with 17 (1993-2009) and New Hampshire is second with 14 (2004-2017). SDSU is fourth on the list with 11 in a row, from 20122022.
► NDSU has a .932 winning percentage (41-3) in FCS playoffs games for the highest all-time playoff winning percentage in the subdivision. Marshall, which is now in the FBS, is second with at .793 (236) and Youngstown State is third at .777 (28-8).
► Since 1985, a Missouri Valley team has been a top four seed 30 times but only twice previously have two Valley teams been in the top four: Northern Iowa (1) and Southern Illinois (4) in 2007 and Illinois State (2) and NDSU (3) in 2015. South Dakota State is the top seed and the Bison No. 3 this year.
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BISON GAME DAY
Michael Vosburg / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Eli Green reaches for a pass against Southern Illinois during their football game on Nov. 12 in Carbondale, Illinois.
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