Good morning from Montana
It’s 8 degrees in Missoula, Montana, this morning.
But the forecast for today’s Appalachian-Montana FCS semifinal game is for highs in the low-to-mid 20s, actually warmer than it’s been this week in Missoula. Snow is expected to begin late this afternoon, although no significant accumulation is expected until tonight.
The winner of today’s game will face Villanova, a 14-13 winner over William & Mary last night, in Friday’s title game in Chattanooga, Tenn. Villanova is in the final for the first time.
The Mountaineers will be without defensive end Lanston Tanyi, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in practice Wednesday before the team left for Missoula.
Tanyi tore a ligament in his left knee in a punt-return drill and is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday.
Tanyi, a 6-2, 250-pound junior, led the Mountaineers with 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss this season. He is tied for third on the team in tackles and is second in quarterback hurries to fellow end Jabari Fletcher.
Either junior Tony Robertson or sophomore Demery Brewer will start at left end today in place of Tanyi.
One streak will end for ASU today.
The Mountaineers are 15-0 in games televised by ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU (today’s game will be on ESPN at 4 p.m. ET). They’re also 0-9 in games played west of the Mississippi River.
Expected starting lineup today for the Mountaineers:
Offense*
LT – Mario Acitelli, Sr.
LG – Pat Mills, Jr.
C – Brett Irvin, Jr.
RG – Matt Ruff, So.
RT – Orry Frye, So.
TE – Ben Jorden, So.
WR – Blake Elder, Jr.
WR – Travaris Cadet, So.
WR – Brian Quick, So.
WR – Matt Cline, Jr.
RB – Devon Moore, Jr.
QB – Armanti Edwards, Sr.
*Both four-wide and tight-end sets are reflected
Defense
LE – Demery Brewer, So., or Tony Robertson, Jr.
LT – Malcolm Bennett, Sr.
RT – Anthony Williams, Sr.
RE – Jabari Fletcher, Jr.
WLB – D.J. Smith, Jr.
MLB – Jacque Roman, Sr.
BAN – Justin Lloyd, Jr.
NICK – Dominique McDuffie, Fr.
S – Mark LeGree, Jr.
LCB – Cortez Gilbert, Sr.
RCB – Ed Gainey, So.