Top seeds collide in Chattanooga today for the FCS title. AP Photos edited by Kevin McGuire
Friday, December 18, 2009
Finley Stadium - Chattanooga, Tennessee
8:00 PM - ESPN 2, ESPN360.com
Tonight the Football Championship Subdivision title will be awarded to either the #2 Villanova Wildcats or the #3 Montana Grizzlies in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Montana enters with a championship caliber program that is already sporting a pair of national championship trophies at the FCS level while the Wildcats of Villanova are making their first appearance in the national championship game.
Comparing and contrasting the two programs shows that each team has traveled a different path to Chattanooga. Both teams bring high-scoring offensive power with Montana having scored 516 points this season and Villanova tallying 448 points on the scoreboard in 2009, but Villanova looks to have an edge on defense, having allowed just 190 points to Montana's 262 points this season. But the differences between the programs goes deeper.
Montana is the biggest show in the state. The Grizzlies are the all-time leader in playoff appearances with 20 overall trips to the post season, and a record streak of 17 straight post seasons. Along the journey Montana has captured two national championships (1995 and 2001). They also have finished as the runner-up four times, including last year against Richmond. Montana now looks to finish the season with a victory against another CAA opponent in Villanova.
On the other hand, Villanova plays in the shadows of professional sports in Philadelphia at a school more recognized for their basketball program. When it comes to college football in Pennsylvania Villanova finds it difficult to grab headlines as Penn State takes the lead with Temple getting more coverage than the Wildcats on a normal day. But Villanova knocked off Temple in the season opener and avenged their only loss of the season two weeks ago against New Hampshire. Now head coach Andy Talley hopes to put the cherry on top of his 25 year long rebuilding process.
The Wildcats will have their work cut for them against Montana. Griz quarterback Andrew Selle has thrown for 2,692 yards, 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He has only been sacked 12 times this season. Running back Chase Reynolds has rushed for 1,439 yards and 22 touchdowns. Last week in a semi-final victory over Appalachian State Reynolds exploded for 193 yards on the ground after three straight weeks of sub-100 yard performances. The Griz have been held under 30 points just three times this season (17 against UC Davis and 12 against Idaho State in the regular season and 24 points against Appalachian State last week).
Villanova's offense overcame a tough defense last week against William & Mary but will need to get their offense moving early to succeed against Montana. After giving up 48 points in the first three quarters against South Dakota State, Montana has allowed just 17 points over the last nine quarters, with all of those points coming from Appalachian State.
The game figures to be an entertaining match-up, which is fortunate for college football fans gearing up for bowl mania in the coming weeks. The game will be aired on national television on ESPN 2, which is terrific for these two "small schools" as they get a chance to take football's center stage for one night.
Congratulations to both Montana and Villanova and good luck tonight!
I had a chance to write more about the Villanova side of things in my weekly guest post on Philadelphia sports blog Phinally Philly. Click here to check it out.
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