The Montana Grizzlies will likely be without their leading tackler for the biggest game of the year Saturday.
Linebacker Kendrick Van Ackeren suffered a broken arm during Montana's 24-17 first-round playoff victory over South Dakota State on Saturday. According to sources with knowledge of the injury, the break requires surgery.
Van Ackeren appeared to be injured near the end of the third quarter during a goal-line stand by Montana's defense. The fifth-year senior ducked into the backfield and tripped up SDSU running back Kyle Paris. Fellow linebacker Jeremiah Kose immediately signaled the UM sideline for training staff help as Van Ackeren sat hunched on the turf cradling his left arm.
Replays showed the Jackrabbits' knee connecting with the tackler's forearm. Paris was down at the 1-yard line on the play, though SDSU quarterback Taryn Christion pounded the ball into the end zone on the next play to make the score 24-10 during the Jacks' frantic comeback effort.
Despite the injury, Van Ackeren returned to play Saturday. He did not make any tackles, but played several of the final defensive series to help Montana (8-4) advance.
Saturday was Van Ackeren's least productive outing because of the injury. The second-team All-Big Sky selection made five tackles.
He now has 130 on the year, one more than is listed as Montana's single-season best, a record shared by Colt Anderson (2008) and Tim Hauck (1989). His 11.8 tackles per game rank fifth in the FCS with KVA having played in just 11 contests.
He missed Montana's victory over Idaho State in early November because of a one-game suspension. Fellow fifth-year senior Connor Lebsock started at outside linebacker in that game and will likely again Saturday vs. North Dakota State (9-2) in the playoff's second round should Van Ackeren not be able to play.
Lebsock also started at linebacker against NDSU the first time the Bison and Grizzlies played this season, but on the other side of the formation. Herbert Gamboa did not play in that Aug. 29 contest, won 38-35 by the Griz in Missoula, because of his own two-game suspension.
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