Defense Dominates, 'Cats Survive
9/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
We had fun, Montana State's Preseason All-America said on behalf of the Bobcat defense after the team's19-0 whitewashing of Division II Adams State on a sunsplashed afternoon in Bozeman.
Indeed, it was a raucous afternoon to be a Bobcat defender. MSU held the Grizzlies to 218 total yards in registerng a season-opening shutout for the first time in 39 years. The 'Cats had a pair of sacks, seven pass deflections, returned an interception for a touchdown, and blocked two kicks.
"All in all it was a fantastic job by our defense," said MSU coach Mike Kramer. "We made some adjustments in how we play against option teams, and that helped us."
Kramer tagged his 'new' starters as a point of focus through the past two weeks of MSU's fall camp, and he said that didn't change on Saturday afternoon. "We used five boxes of Pampers at halftime on those young guys," Kramer said with a laugh. "I said those young skill guys would give me gray hair."
Several of those players shone on the afternoon. Transfer running back Justin Domineck gained 78 yards rushing, and transfer receiver Chaz Guinn had six catches for 57 yards. Running backs Morris Milton and Jason Gathing and receiver Rick Gatewood all made contributions.
"The bright, shining part of our game offensively for us was in the third quarter when we drove the ball," Kramer said. "Justin carried the ball, Morris handled the ball well, we moved the ball."
Montana State scored in uconventional manner on the first possession of the game. Adams State's Scott Coxon was intercepted by Ryan Force, who rambled 57 yards for a touchdown. Lulay connected with Brandon Roosevelt on a 20-yard scoring strike in the second quarter, and Domineck scored on a 15-yard run in the fourth quarter.
The Bobcats have struggled all fall to pinpoint who would handle place-kicking duties, and the picture didn't get any clearer Saturday. "That job will remain open for a long time," Kramer said after Travis Doroski missed a PAT and a field goal and Tyler Bolton missed a field goal.
While place-kicking continues to plague the Bobcats, other elements of the kicking game seemed in mid-season form. Lulay averaged 48.3 yards on six punts, pinned Adams State inside the 20 once, and allowed just seven return yards. Doroski had two touchbacks on kickoffs, more than the 'Cats had all of last season, and Mike Williams returned a punt 59 yards to set up the team's final touchdown of the day.
Lulay struggled throwin the ball all afternoon, finishing 14-for-39 for 176 yards and one touchdown. He avoided turnovers, though, other than the MSU offense's initial center-quarterback exchange of the day.
Indeed, it was a raucous afternoon to be a Bobcat defender. MSU held the Grizzlies to 218 total yards in registerng a season-opening shutout for the first time in 39 years. The 'Cats had a pair of sacks, seven pass deflections, returned an interception for a touchdown, and blocked two kicks.
"All in all it was a fantastic job by our defense," said MSU coach Mike Kramer. "We made some adjustments in how we play against option teams, and that helped us."
Kramer tagged his 'new' starters as a point of focus through the past two weeks of MSU's fall camp, and he said that didn't change on Saturday afternoon. "We used five boxes of Pampers at halftime on those young guys," Kramer said with a laugh. "I said those young skill guys would give me gray hair."
Several of those players shone on the afternoon. Transfer running back Justin Domineck gained 78 yards rushing, and transfer receiver Chaz Guinn had six catches for 57 yards. Running backs Morris Milton and Jason Gathing and receiver Rick Gatewood all made contributions.
"The bright, shining part of our game offensively for us was in the third quarter when we drove the ball," Kramer said. "Justin carried the ball, Morris handled the ball well, we moved the ball."
Montana State scored in uconventional manner on the first possession of the game. Adams State's Scott Coxon was intercepted by Ryan Force, who rambled 57 yards for a touchdown. Lulay connected with Brandon Roosevelt on a 20-yard scoring strike in the second quarter, and Domineck scored on a 15-yard run in the fourth quarter.
The Bobcats have struggled all fall to pinpoint who would handle place-kicking duties, and the picture didn't get any clearer Saturday. "That job will remain open for a long time," Kramer said after Travis Doroski missed a PAT and a field goal and Tyler Bolton missed a field goal.
While place-kicking continues to plague the Bobcats, other elements of the kicking game seemed in mid-season form. Lulay averaged 48.3 yards on six punts, pinned Adams State inside the 20 once, and allowed just seven return yards. Doroski had two touchbacks on kickoffs, more than the 'Cats had all of last season, and Mike Williams returned a punt 59 yards to set up the team's final touchdown of the day.
Lulay struggled throwin the ball all afternoon, finishing 14-for-39 for 176 yards and one touchdown. He avoided turnovers, though, other than the MSU offense's initial center-quarterback exchange of the day.
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