Montana State run the fake-field-goal punt for a touchback play, a breakdown
What Happened
In the opening moments of the FCS Championship Game between the North Dakota State Bison and the Montana State Bobcats, the Bobcats attempt an unconventional fake field goal punt play on 4th down. Montana State's quarterback, Matt Sut, lines up in the shotgun formation, with the kicker and holder also in the backfield. As the play begins, Sut takes the snap and immediately flips the ball to the holder, who begins running towards the sideline. The North Dakota State defense seems momentarily confused by the unusual look, with the linebacker originally assigned to cover the holder now unsure of his assignment. However, the holder simply runs out of bounds, flipping the field position and giving North Dakota State the ball at their own 20-yard line for a touchback. The Bobcats' unusual play call does not fool the Bison, and they take over possession without gaining any yardage. Quarterback Matt Sut impresses on Montana State's next drive, leading the offense down the field. Unfortunately, Sut appears to sustain an injury and has to leave the game. The Bobcats are forced to turn to their backup quarterback on 3rd and 2, but are unable to convert and are forced to attempt a long 45-yard field goal. Faced with the difficult kick, Montana State's coaching staff decides to get creative again, calling for another unusual play. The field goal unit lines up, but instead of attempting the kick, the holder takes the snap and attempts to run for the first down. However, the play is snuffed out by the Bison defense, and North Dakota State takes over at their own 20-yard line once again. The risky play calls by Montana State's coaching staff in the early going do not pay off, as they are unable to convert on either 4th down attempt. North Dakota State capitalizes on the failed trickery, taking a commanding 28-0 lead by halftime on the strength of 268 rushing yards compared to just 70 for the Bobcats. Despite the lopsided score, the unconventional opening plays by Montana State provide an intriguing start to this FCS Championship matchup.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentlet go
bison
wo let's
go
[Applause]
woo woo
woo all right so we got North Dakota
State versus Montana in the FCS
Championship Game we're starting off the
game this is the first play it's brought
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off your first order here's the first
play and I'm going to describe this one
as a nice football play they put him in
motion linebacker follows that
linebacker now is going to be confused
because he runs in they're like nope
we're going to throw it to that guy so
expert football analysis guy that I am I
have highlighted the players so they
slide him over there so now guy on North
Dakota is like hey I'm over here now and
then as soon as the QB gets the ball he
takes a step forward so now the
linebacker's like oh wait maybe they
slid me over to open up that Gap in the
middle and the QB starts running and
he's like yeah they tried to trick me
and the QB says Nah it was a double
trick Punk gotcha first down what a
start for Montana State now that ends my
career as an expert football analysis
analysist and we're going to keep going
and Montana State this QB I forget his
name I think it was Matt Sut but he's
good he's running I think they just
switched to him just for the playoffs
and he's been insane the only problem is
he gets hurt on this first drive I
believe it's this play second and five
not that play dummy that's not the play
where he got the ball anyway he's
limping it was the play before that so
now they're all worried third and two
and they're just going to go for the End
Zone do not get it nice ball I guess
tied up so now they're fourth and two
the 28 yard line and they put out the
field goal team and the I mean it's like
a 48 oh 45 yard attempt FCS kicker it's
probably not you know
guaranteed but what they do is they run
a rather pointless
play which um just flips the field and
that player is like what was that what
the hell was that and the coach is
like yeah okay that's on me so then
Dakota gets the ball at the 20 because
Touchback so I don't know what do you
guys think there's a couple options here
obviously I think this was a fake to get
the first down but 25 drops back in
coverage here so this dude would have
been open but because that dude dropped
back in coverage
he's not open so then the kicker is like
all right abandon the trick play I'll
just punt this they didn't even have
anyone shooting down here to field the
punt in case it's abandoned but I mean
why not just go for
it the odds that this works out aren't
there for you seems like a terrible way
to start off the first
drive why not just go for it that's my
opinion why not just go for it if you're
not comfortable that he's going to make
the field goal then just go for the play
with like a real play with your real
players otherwise you just flip the
field anyway did not work out for them
the coach lost his QB didn't get any
points in that one and the first half of
this game was ugly
268 rushing yards to 70 28 nothing not
good for them but good for this kid
W look
karate let's go let's go woo let's go
let's go let's go woo let's go that kid
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