By Jeff Kolpack The Forum Fargo
The signature position in North Dakota State’s run of national titles has been signed on NFL draft weekend. Carson Wentz took center stage as the second overall pick with commissioner Roger Goodell in 2015.
Easton Stick was a third-day spotlight pick with the San Diego Chargers in 2019 as a fifth round choice. Trey Lance and Goodell shared a third overall pick hug in the draft last spring. All highprofile players at the most highprofile position.
Linebacker at NDSU hasn’t been too shabby, either.
Jackson Hankey won’t hear his name called next spring at the NFL Draft in Las Vegas. He probably won’t have team general managers inquiring into a free agent contract. After NDSU takes on Montana State Saturday in the Division I FCS national championship, the only people who will be asking about Hankey’s work status are those who would like to employ him. And there are sure to be plenty of those. Hankey is another in a long line of poster children in the NCAA’s slogan “going pro in something other than sports.” He was the 2020 winner of the Elite 90 Award last year that goes to the athlete with the highest grade point average in each of the NCAA’s national championships.
“I love football,” Hankey said, “but I don’t think it’s quite in the cards for me and I don’t know how much I would necessarily want to do it either. It’s a very physical game and I’ve been playing it for a long time, so part of me is ready to be done doing that.”
As decorated as the Bison quarterbacks have been in the last decade, the linebackers have had their own line of tradition. Hankey needs one stop to move into the school’s all-time top 10 list in career tackles. He has 319.
He needs eight to surpass Grant Olson, the NDSU linebackers coach. Carlton Littlejohn had 345 from 2011-14 and Nick DeLuca had 329 from 2013-17.
“Really, it’s finding guys that can run sideline to sideline,” said Littlejohn, the linebackers coach at Minnesota State Moorhead. “In this day and age, you don’t need to be that huge, bruising linebacker anymore. You don’t need to be 230 (pounds). And I know NDSU preaches all the time to run to the football. That’s how I made two-thirds of my tackles, just helping a play out.”
Of NDSU’s FCS linebackers, DeLuca was the biggest at 6-3 and 245 pounds. Olson went 228 pounds. Hankey came to NDSU as a 6-1, 217-pound walk-on from Park River, N.D. He’s gained all
of two pounds in five years, but it’s a different physicality that he’s played with the past few years.
If there was ever one snapshot moment of his strength this season, it was against Indiana State when he stood up to hardcharging running back Peterson Kerlegrand on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line and put him to the turf for no gain.
Montana State middle linebacker Troy Andersen could get the most TV attention on Saturday, in part because Andersen is DeLuca size at 6-4 and 235 with NFL Draft potential. Hankey, meanwhile, will just go about his business of being in the right place at the right time.
“There are a lot of guys who can run a 4.4,” Hankey said
of the 40-yard dash. “But if they can’t read a key well and trigger into a run fit or have good footwork, it’s not going to do them much good. Whereas likewise, you can be slower or less athletic or whatever, but if you understand the defense, if you can recognize what type of run game or what type of pass game you’re getting, you can get where you need to be without being overwhelmingly fast.”
Make no mistake, Hankey is athletic. He was a multisport star at Park River and the leader of one of NDSU’s greatest defenses of all time.
NDSU leads the FCS in scoring defense at 11.2 points per game.
“Find someone with character, that’s the first thing,” Littlejohn said. “Someone who is selfless
and wants to play football. If you’re a walk-on, I’m sure he has no ego at all, came in ready to prove himself and was ready to work hard. If you have that mindset, it’s easy to get on the field because you’ll get that opportunity.”
Hankey got his opportunity as a starter as a sophomore in 2019, taking over for Dan Marlette. He’s parlayed that into a top 10 tackling standing.
“If you would have told me that four, five years ago, I don’t think I would have believed you,” Hankey said. “But I’ve been really fortunate to stay healthy and to roll through here at a time when I was able to be a starter for a long period of time. So when I think about that, it’s really hard to believe.”
Hankey will have achieved his career status despite not taking an extra season of eligibility afforded by the pandemic. Olson got his tackles in 55 games. Hankey is playing in his 55th and final game on Saturday.
Then it’s onto something else. Hankey plans to start a twoyear theological training with a career path taking him into the ministry. It’s something he’s been thinking about for almost two years.
“In many ways, it’s done incorrectly and wrong and I think there’s a need for it to be done right and I have a desire to do that,” he said. “I also love to read and write, things like that. Part of it is there is really a need for it and part of it is it’s something I really enjoy.”
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at jkolpack@forumcomm.com.
When Montana State head coach Brent Vigen was the offensive coordinator at North Dakota State, the Bison had their share of talented fullbacks and tight ends.
Hunter Luepke is unlike any fullback
Vigen coached in his final three seasons at NDSU that ended with NCAA Division I FCS national championships to cap the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons.
“I know in our three years, those last three championships, we didn’t have anybody like Hunter Luepke, I know that. So their willingness to play him all over and really stress him is smart,”
Vigen said.
Montana State (12-2) plays NDSU (13-1) at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, for the FCS national championship. A 6-foot-1, 236-pound junior, Luepke is coming off a stellar performance in the semifinals.
He rushed for 110 yards on 19 attempts and added three catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Luepke’s 22-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winner in a 20-14 victory against James Madison at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
Vigen said Luepke’s ability to play fullback, tight end and running back at a high level is what makes him a unique offensive weapon.
“Maybe as unique as has been in that program. His ability to play fullback, the position he’s listed at, I think he’s really talented there. That means he’s blocking on the power play or on the perimeter,” Vigen said. “His ability to line up in the wing position and be a real threat there has been evidenced in both his blocking ability and catching ability. When they throw him back and tailback and give him the ball, that’s such a rare combination. There’s been guys that have maybe been able to do two of those three things pretty well, but to do all three as well as he’s done them.
He may be their best athlete.”
Luepke has rushed for 461 yards and five touchdowns on 73 attempts, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He’s also caught nine passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns, while being limited at certain points of the season due to injury. He’s missed two games.
“He’s a guy who has our complete attention,” Vigen said.
Former North Dakota State cornerback Freddie Banks is the defensive coordinator for Montana State. Banks was on the NDSU team that defeated the Bobcats during the 2010 FCS playoffs.
“I think Coach Banks does an outstanding job on third down being really creative in some of his looks and some of his pressure, especially getting quarterbacks off their spot and making them uncomfortable,” Bison head coach Matt Entz said.
The Bobcats are allowing 13.4 points per game in Banks’ first season as the team’s defensive coordinator. Banks started his coaching career at Minnesota State Moorhead in 2011 and spent two seasons as an assistant for the Dragons.
Entz is impressed with how Banks has led the Bobcats defense.
“Freddie has done a tremendous of getting those guys to understand good, solid gap-control defense,” Entz said.
That started from the opening tip. MSU gave Wyoming all it wanted in the season opener before the Cowboys prevailed 19-16. The Bobcats did have one advantage: MSU knew more about the Cowboys than the Cowboys knew about the Bobcats with Vigen being a former Wyoming assistant.
Banks changed the defensive system from a 3-4 to a 4-3.
“And they did that seamlessly,” said Wyoming offensive coordinator Tim Polasek. “They had tough players.”
Vigen, Bobcats prepare for 2 Bison QBs
Vigen said the Bison using two quarterbacks creates a unique challenge for the Bobcats. While NDSU starter Cam Miller takes the majority of the snaps, backup Quincy Patterson has provided a power running threat from the QB spot, especially during the postseason.
“You’ve got to prepare for each one individually,” Vigen said. “They’re different, they’re quite a bit different not only in stature, but what they do with them.”
Miller has completed 94 of 139 passes (68%) for 1,318 yards and 13 touchdowns with three interceptions. He took over as the starter in the eighth game of the regular season.
“I think he’s continued to play with more confidence, throwing the ball really well,” Vigen said.
The 6-foot-3, 246pound Patterson has
rushed for 562 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 attempts and also passed for 813 yards. He started the first seven games this season and the Bison were 7-0 in his starts.
“He’s really hard to handle in the run game in particular, but more than capable in the passing game,” Vigen said.
Vigen said you also have to prepare for formations with both Miller and Patterson on the field. During the FCS semifinals, Miller threw a pass to Patterson, but Patterson was unable to hold on for the reception.
“You expect that there is going to be more to that,” Vigen said of different wrinkles with
both QBs on the field at the same time.
Team intros will not be at full power
One of the traditions of the FCS title game is to play each team’s home game introduction during the regular season. Both, however, will not be at full power.
NDSU, of course, turns out the lights at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. Toyota Stadium is an outdoor venue, but AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” will still be part of the Bison taking the field.
Montana State has another touch at Bobcat Stadium: members of the school’s rodeo team ride seven horses in front of the team each carrying a flag with a letter of the school’s nickname.
“I get more nervous for that than I do for rodeos,” MSU rodeo team member Paige Rasmussen told SWX Sports’ Chris Byers.
Rasmussen is the defending allaround national rodeo champion, but nobody in Frisco will be able to see that. There will be no horses at Toyota Stadium.
Odds and ends
► Montana State is playing in the national championship game for the first time since 1984. The Bobcats earned a 19-6 victory against Louisiana Tech to win the national title that season. The Bison are set to play in their ninth FCS title game since 2011 and have an 8-0
record in their previous title game appearances.
► Bison offensive lineman Cordell Volson will be playing in his 65th career game, a team record. It will be the 66th career game for defensive tackle Michael Buetow, who played in 43 games at Minnesota State Mankato before transferring to NDSU. Both players benefited from the extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic.
► NDSU has the most FCS titles with eight (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019) with Georgia Southern (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000) in second place with six. Youngstown State is third on that list with four (1991, 1993, 1994, 1997). Counting its Division II days, NDSU has won 16 overall national championships.
► The Bison will surpass Georgia Southern for the most FCS title game appearances this season. GSU, now an FBS program, is 6-2 in title games. NDSU is set to become the first program to play in nine FCS national championship games.
► The Missouri Valley Football Conference has had at least one participant in the FCS national title game since the 2011 season. North Dakota State, Illinois State, Youngstown State and South Dakota State have all played a role in that streak that stands at 11 consecutive title games.
NDSU has saved some of its best defensive performances for Frisco and I expect another coming today Look for the defensive line to get to Tommy Mellott, while Christian Watson will find the end zone in his final game as a Bison NDSU 27 MSU 17
At least Montana State can say its first-year head coach Brent Vigen was an assistant at North Dakota State for the first
eight seasons of the Bison’s amazing streak of 36 straight wins since 2006 when they’re coming off an open week in the schedule.
Otherwise, that statistic looms large over Saturday’s NCAA Division I FCS
championship game in Frisco, Texas, where NDSU will have had three weeks of preparation since the semifinal round as it tries to beat Montana State and increase its record total of eight FCS national titles — all
since 2011.
Vigen was the offensive coordinator on NDSU’s first three FCS title teams (201113) before he followed former Bison coach Craig Bohl to Wyoming, and now he has the Bobcats feeling ready to
No. 8 Seed Montana State (12-2, 7-1 Big Sky) vs. No. 2 Seed North Dakota State (13-1, 7-1 MVFC)
Kickoff — 11 a.m. Saturday at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas (ESPN2)
Series — Montana State leads 21-15 (last meeting: North Dakota State won 42-14 in an FCS semifinal on Dec. 21, 2019 in Fargo) Point Spread — North Dakota State -7.5 Coaches — Montana State: Brent Vigen (12-2, one season); North Dakota State: Matt Entz (37-4, three seasons)
5 Players to Watch Montana State: QB Tommy Mellott (26 of 50, 461 yards, 4 TDs, 110 carries, 705 yards, 10 TDs); RB Isaiah Ifanse (262 carries, 1,539 yards, 10 TDs); LT Lewis Kidd (All-Big Sky first team, 47 consecutive starts); DE Daniel Hardy (71 tackles, 23 TFLs, 16 sacks, 2 forced fumbles); MLB Troy Andersen (137 tackles, 14 TFLs, 3 takeaways, 7 pass breakups). North Dakota State: QB Cam Miller (94 of 139, 1,318 yards, 13 TDs, 3 INTs, 60 carries, 239 yards, 4 TDs); FB Hunter Luepke (73 carries, 461 yards, 5 TDs, 3 TD receptions); RT Cordell Volson (three-time All-MVFC first team, 64 career games, 40 starts); LB Jackson Hankey (93 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries); S Michael Tutsie (79 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 3 pass breakups).
5 Key Factors
No. 1 — Which defense will be stingier? North Dakota State (11.2) and Montana State (13.4) rank 1 and 2, respectively, in the 128-member FCS in fewest points allowed per game. NDSU is outstanding against the run, allowing just 82.7 yards per game (No. 3 in FCS), while MSU’s 4-2-5 defensive base is strong against the pass (15 sacks and seven INTs in last four games), likely aligned to match Luepke, TE Josh Babicz and the potential return of WR Christian Watson (39 receptions, 740 yards, seven TDs) from a hamstring injury.
No. 2 — With that said, the Bobcats must first contain NDSU’s diverse run attack, which ranks No. 3 in the FCS in rushing yards per game (273.6). The ‘Cats are enjoying their best four-game stretch of the season, allowing just 313 net rushing yards and two TDs, and that includes against three playoff opponents that had a 1,000-yard rusher. Since the beginning of their first FCS championship season in 2011, the Bison are 129-1 when they have 162 or
more rushing yards and 19-11 when below that mark.
No. 3 — While Mellott has accounted for 11 touchdowns in his first three starts — all in the playoffs after he replaced Matthew McKay — NDSU has benefitted from the extra time to prepare for him, so an effective return of Ifanse from a knee injury is vital for the Bobcats. No. 4 — The Bison’s general mind-set is they won’t get beat by field goals, but both teams are in the top 11 of the FCS in red zone defense, so if drives bog down, making field
goals could prove huge. MSU’s Blake Glessner (19 of 24, 53 long) has displayed deeper range than NDSU’s Jake Reinholz (15 of 20, 46 long). No. 5 — In a close game, both teams will need to make winning plays in the fourth quarter. NDSU has the FCS’ best point differential in the fourth (plus-91) and allowed just 2.1 points on average (also No. 1 in the FCS), giving up zero in three playoff wins. Montana State has allowed only seven fourth-quarter points in three playoff wins and is plus-63 for the season (fourth-best nationally).
topple the dynasty. His squad has dispatched the two spring national finalists, champion Sam Houston and runner-up South Dakota State, along the Road to Frisco.
Plus, the X-Factor — COVID-19 is a concern for the championship teams. Throughout the recent national surge of positive cases, five bowls were canceled and several others changed a team on the FBS level.
Prediction
With both teams outstanding along the line of scrimmage — offensively and defensively — it will be fun to watch the play calling. Will there be a new wrinkle or two? North Dakota State 24, Montana State 13.
