A couple statistically strong defenses await the Montana State Bobcats and Montana Grizzlies Saturday, and the old cliche — something has to give — applies times two.

The Bobcats are facing a Tennessee-Martin team that has come up with 19 interceptions while holding opponents under 85 rushing yards a game. The Skyhawks — their logo is top-notch — may not hale from a conference as powerful as the Big Sky, but those are great numbers regardless. 

“Look how they found a way to win that last game against to put themselves in position, against Lindenwood,” MSU coach Brent Vigen said, noting UTM’s 33-26 overtime win on Nov. 23. “To build off that and have that kind of performance (in a 41-10 playoff win at New Hampshire), they seem like they’re hitting their stride.” 

Offensively, there is big, mobile quarterback Kinkead Dent and running back Patrick Smith, who has 1,194 yards and 14 touchdowns. Defensively, the Skyhawks play an odd (3-man) front. This won’t be new to the Bobcats, though every defense has a wrinkle or two. 

“You look at the back half of our conference schedule — Eastern Washington, UC Davis and Montana — I think what Martin presents is kind of a combination of all three of those,” Vigen said. 

Montana State, owner of the top rushing offense in the FCS, beat EWU 42-28, Davis 30-28 and Montana 34-11. Only Davis seemed to solve the Bobcats, but it wasn’t until a frenetic fourth-quarter comeback. 

Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Stout Dakota State 

The Griz are facing a South Dakota State team (kickoff: noon) that has lost key players from last year, certainly, but has kept winning.  

The Jackrabbits haven’t allowed a 200-yard passer since a 45-24 win over Incarnate Word on Sept. 7, and seven opponents have been held under 100 yards rushing. They allow just 90.5 yards a game on the ground. 

Also, as if anyone needs reminding, quarterback Mark Gronowski was at the controls when SDSU beat Montana 23-3 on Jan. 7 for the FCS title. He’ll trigger a potent, run-heavy attack. 

“Their system wasn’t broken,” UM coach Bobby Hauck, who will be making his first visit to Brookings, S.D., said. “They weren’t going to fix it too much.” 

“When he does scramble, he makes sure to keep his eyes downfield,” Griz safety Ryder Meyer said of Gronowski. “He’s accurate. He’s a solid quarterback.” 

Meyer and running back Eli Gillman flanked head coach Bobby Hauck at the Grizzlies’ weekly press conference. Gillman was succinct about the last battle with SDSU. 

“When I think about that game,” said the sophomore with 1,092 rushing yards, “it’s how many times we shot ourselves in the foot.” 

Jackrabbits coach Jimmy Rodgers was complimentary of the Griz this week, noting that Nick Ostmo missed UM’s first-round win over Tennessee State, that Junior Bergen remains a handful and whoever plays QB — Logan Fife or Keali’i Ah Yat — will be a challenge. 

“(Fife) is closing in on 2,000 yards passing,” Rogers noted. “Which I don’t think is easy.” 

Nephews Everywhere 

Myles Sansted wanted to kick for the Bobcats in 2023, but was told there wasn’t space for him to walk-on — and he had a pretty good in: His Uncle Brent is MSU’s head coach. 

This past spring he was allowed to try out and now he’s the top-scoring kicker in the Big Sky Conference with 98 points. 

He’s 62 of 64 on PAT kicks and 12 of 16 on field goals.  

“Myles was a high school soccer player and basketball player who happened to kick a little bit,” Vigen said of the sophomore out of Alexandria, Minn. “We opened the door for him to walk on his first spring. What I know about Myles, being his uncle, is he’s a really competitive guy. I think each semester he got a little bit better to really this fall, he was able to find a different level of consistency. “He’s only mishit a couple balls, all year.” 

The Montana Grizzlies also have the nephew of the head coach on their squad: Ryan Tirrell. The senior linebacker leads the team in tackles with 103. 

QUICK KICKS: A high of 51 degrees is expected in Bozeman Saturday; the game sold out Monday so it might not have mattered. ... Saturday’s expected high in Brookings, S.D. is 47. ... North Dakota State RB CharMar Brown was named the Jerry Rice Award (top freshman in FCS) winner for top freshman on Wednesday. He’s run for 965 yards and 14 TDs for the Bison this season. ... Brown narrowly beat Adam Jones of MSU for the award, 183-178. ... All of Saturday's FCS games, including Idaho's home game with Lehigh and UC Davis' home game with Illinois State, are available only through ESPN+.