Bobcat Game Notes vs. Portland State
10/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Montana State faces a stern conference challenge this weekend, visiting Portland State for a Saturday night contest. Facing their second straight Big Sky road game, the Bobcats square off with a Viking team that nearly upset Division I-A Boise State last week. Viking running back Joe Rubin, Division I-AA’s top ball-carrier at 167.5 yards a game, leads a Viking team that has played four of its first six games on the road. Travis Lulay led his sixth fourth-quarter comeback win last week, as the ‘Cats topped Weber State for their third straight triumph.
GAME FACTS
KICKOFF: 7:05 MDT/6:05 PDT pm
SITE: Portland, OR
STADIUM: PGE Park
MSU PRESS BOX: 406/994-6180
RADIO: State Farm Bobcat Network (Kris Atteberry, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: Mont. Sports Network (Chris Byers, Dean Alexander)
HIGHLIGHTS
• MSU’s non-conference foes -- all Division I schools -- are 16-6 in ‘05 • The ‘Cats have faked three punts this year, extending two of those possessions into scoring drives
STREAKS
• The Bobcats snapped their four-game road losing streak at Weber State on Saturday • Montana State has lost three straight night games played outdoors • Montana State has sold out its first three home games for the first time in school history
MILESTONES
• MSU has converted 10 opponent turnovers into 48 points this year • Travis Lulay has moved into 12th place in I-AA history in total offense, and is 23rd in passing yards
SHINING
• QB Travis Lulay earned Big Sky and I-AA.org Player of the Week honors for his 425-yard total offense performance • PK Jeff Hastings, BSC POW, nailed a walk-off game-winner at Weber State • WR Tramaine Murray registered his third 100-yard game as a Bobcat at Weber State on Saturday
ABOUT THE ‘CATS...
MSU in ‘05 4-2
Conf./Record Big Sky/2-0
Home/Road 3-0/1-2
Grass/Turf 4-1/0-1
Day/Night 4-0/0-2
HEAD COACH Mike Kramer
Alma Mater Idaho/’76
Overall/Years 66-68/12th
At MSU/Years 29-36/6th
vs PSU 5-6
Home/Road 3-3/2-3
SERIES MSU leads 10-8
At MSU MSU leads 6-2
At PSU PSU leads 5-4
At Neutral PSU leads 1-0
Current Streak MSU 3W
ABOUT THE VIKINGS...
PSU in ‘05 3-3
Conf./Record Big Sky/1-1
Home/Road 2-0/1-3
Grass/Turf 2-1/0-2
Day/Night 2-3/0-0
HEAD COACH Tim Walsh
Alma Mater UC Riverside/’77
Overall/Years 107-76/17th
At School/Years 80-62/13th
vs MSU 5-4
Home/Road 3-1/2-3
ABOUT PSU The Vikings
Colors Green, white
Location Portland, OR
Enrollment 23,117
Stadium PGE Park
OPPONENT ‘05 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
S3 at Oregon State L 14-41
S10 at UC Davis W 14-12
S17 Sacramento State W 28-12
S24 Northern Colorado W 41-17
O1 at Eastern Wash. L 24-42
O8 at Boise State L 14-21
O15 Montana State 6:05 pm
O22 Northern Arizona 6:05 pm
O29 at Montana 12:05 pm
N5 at Idaho State 2:05 pm
N12 Weber State 3:05 pm
What to Watch
** Better Than Average... Each of Montana State’s 2005 opponents, with the exception of Cal Poly, has scored fewer points against MSU than it has averaged against the rest of its schedule...
Points vs. MSU Avg Points vs Rest of Schedule
at OSU 15 18.5
SFA 6 44.8
at CP 38 27.8
NDSU 17 33.4
ISU 28 29.6
WSU 24 25.6
** Murray as The Man... Tramaine Murray’s impact on the Bobcat offense has been significant. The senior Washington State transfer leads MSU in catches (30), yards (510), and TD catches (3). Moreover, working in tandem with Rick Gatewood, he gives opposing defenses another element to defend. Or, as Bobcat Offensive Coordinator Don Bailey says, “Teams have to defend both sides of the field.”
Pinpoint Punting
After becoming Montana State’s punter early in 2003, Travis Lulay used a rugby-like roll punt to average 36.2 yards a punt, and pinned the opponent inside the 20 nine times. In his two seasons as MSU’s full-season, full-time punter, Lulay has been consistent his terms of distance:
1-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-89
2005 2 12 11 0 0 1
2004 6 14 19 6 4 1
Sixty-one percent (43 total) of Lulay’s 70 punts in the past two seasons have traveled at least 40 yards.
Pins
Travis Lulay has become proficient at Punter Pins, or pinning the opponent inside the 20 as the result of a punt. In this year’s six games he has done so eight times in 26 attempts. He has spotted the opponent inside its own 10 four times in the last two games.
3rd Quarter Turnaround
MSU surrendered 34 points in the final three third quarters of 2004, but has given up 27 points in the third this year.
TO Turnaround
MSU was +1 in turnovers against Idaho State, the only time in positive numbers this year. Not So Special Tramaine Murray appears close to a breakout, but MSU has not returned a punt or kick to the paint since the ‘03 Grizzly game, a 17-game stretch that is the longest in Mike Kramer’s career.
Down to the Nub
Montana State’s preseason depth chart at defensive line is so far askew from reality it looks like fiction. Three of the eight active D-linemen from the beginning of the spring are injured (Andy Matakis, Chris Kolone, Ryan Cogley) and two more left the team. JC transfers David Siataga, Joe Rothenberger and Jason Macciola join holdovers Lou Saucedo, Aaron Papich and Daryl Rogers.
The Total Travis
Travis Lulay may impact a game more than any player in I-AA. He averages 54.7 yards a game rushing, 223.7 yards a game passing, and 40.3 yards per punt.
To the Paint
MSU has scored two defensive touchdowns this year, and in Pete Kwiatkowski’s six seasons as Bobcat defensive coordinator has found the paint a dozen times.
Familiar Foes
Tim Walsh is the only opposing coach Mike Kramer has faced in all 11 of his seasons as head coach. Kramer is 5-6.
Picking Up the Picks
When the Bobcats transitioned from a straight man-to-man team to playing zone during the off-season, Mike Kramer said the team needs to intercept three passes a game to be effective. The ‘Cats have krept toward that goal, picking off three opponent passes in the last two games. The team has been opportunistic, though, converting all three of those possessions into touchdowns.
Opportunistic
Montana State’s defense has forced 10 turnovers in 2005. The Bobcat D turned two of those into immediate points (Daryl Rogers’ fumble recovery against Weber and Epikopo King’s interception return against Idaho State). Of the eight offensive possessions after turnovers, MSU has scored six touchdowns and two field goals.
20 is Terrific
Montana State is 19-3 in Mike Kramer’s five-plus seasons when holding the opposing offense to 20 points or fewer. The Bobcats have won six of their last seven games under those circumstances.
Quite A Difference
MSU allowed 38 points and 417 yards against Cal Poly. In the other four games, the ‘Cats allowed 18.0 points, and 319.0 yards per outing.
They’re Tight
All four Bobcat TEs are in-state players, with only Brandon Bostick (Missoula Big Sky) from a large school. Starter Elliott Barnhart played at Powder River in Broadus, Nick Parker at Missoula Loyola, and Ty McDonald at Geyser.
Anti-Air Defense
Montana State’s conversion to a 3-4 defensive alignment relying on zone coverage has had dramatic results. MSU is 12th nationally in pass efficiency defense (94.48), second in the Big Sky, and 10th in I-AA in passing yards a game allowed (144.2), best in the conference. While the ‘Cats have paid the price for this anti-air proficiency in run defense -- 191.2 yards a game allowed, the league’s worst mark -- the net result stands at 21.3 points a game allowed, second-best in the Big Sky.
Bonus Football
When the ‘Cats split a pair of overtime decisions last fall, it marked the first time Mike Kramer’s Bobcats had played extra football. Below is a look at MSU’s all-time overtime encounters...
2004 44-51 Eastern Washington+
2004 31-24 Portland State+
1994 31-34 Eastern Washington++
1990 28-25 Eastern Washington+
1984 44-41 Nevada+
1982 30-27 Idaho State+
Deep Snaps
After MSU forced just seven opponent punts in the previous three games, Weber punted four times Saturday.
MSU When Leading After...
1st Qtr: 3-0/2nd Qtr: 3-1/3rd Qtr: 3-0
MSU When Trailing After...
1st Qtr: 1-2/2nd Qtr: 1-1/3rd Qtr: 1-2
By the Numbers
0
The number of interceptions by MSU in its two losses this season
7
The number of interceptions in the the team’s four 2005 victories
601
Travis Lulay’s amount of aggregate yardage, including passes, rushes and punts, on Saturday
86%
The amount of MSU’s rushing yards (165) accounted for by Travis Lulay (142) Saturday
KRAMER’S QUOTES
On the Weber State game: “This team has a belief in preparing as well as possible, and it took us every weight we lifted, every minute of film we watched, every bit of focus from meetings and practice last week, in the game Saturday. This team really has a belief in doing things as well as possible in preparaing for a game, and this year, in this conference, that is so important. In the fourth quarter we saw the offense take care of business and the defense get stops, and when you’re getting stops you’re giving yourself a chance. Our top priority this year on defense was to prevent big plays, and we have not given up many big plays. Our down linemen and our linebackers struggle a little bit versus the run, but we continue to make plays, and even during the course of each individual game you can see the improvement in that area.”
On Portland State: “I am very impressed with the way Portland State played at Boise State on Saturday. They played very well in that game, and actually played well against Eastern Washington, but lost field position a little bit in the kicking game. Outside of the one win (in 2003), Portland State is a team the Bobcats have struggled against. They really fit the mold of every game we’ve played this year, in that they want to use their power running game to keep Travis off the field and allow their own quarterback to control the game rather than getting in a rifle fight. Joe Rubin is an outstanding running back, and Portland State is a very, very solid, well-coached football team.”
On the Bobcats: “I see a team with a tremendous conviction, one that is absolutely committed to hanging in there and giving itself a chance to finish strong. It’s frustrating, but we are going to make mistakes. Our quarterback and receivers are old enough, mature enough, that they know there will be dropped balls, that we’ll not execute perfectly on every snap, but we also know that we can play well enough on days we struggle to be around at the end of the game. I’ve said it all season, but the best thing we do in our organization right now is pass protect, even taking the running back out of that equation last week by using four and five receivers. That is our strength.”
GAME FACTS
KICKOFF: 7:05 MDT/6:05 PDT pm
SITE: Portland, OR
STADIUM: PGE Park
MSU PRESS BOX: 406/994-6180
RADIO: State Farm Bobcat Network (Kris Atteberry, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: Mont. Sports Network (Chris Byers, Dean Alexander)
HIGHLIGHTS
• MSU’s non-conference foes -- all Division I schools -- are 16-6 in ‘05 • The ‘Cats have faked three punts this year, extending two of those possessions into scoring drives
STREAKS
• The Bobcats snapped their four-game road losing streak at Weber State on Saturday • Montana State has lost three straight night games played outdoors • Montana State has sold out its first three home games for the first time in school history
MILESTONES
• MSU has converted 10 opponent turnovers into 48 points this year • Travis Lulay has moved into 12th place in I-AA history in total offense, and is 23rd in passing yards
SHINING
• QB Travis Lulay earned Big Sky and I-AA.org Player of the Week honors for his 425-yard total offense performance • PK Jeff Hastings, BSC POW, nailed a walk-off game-winner at Weber State • WR Tramaine Murray registered his third 100-yard game as a Bobcat at Weber State on Saturday
ABOUT THE ‘CATS...
MSU in ‘05 4-2
Conf./Record Big Sky/2-0
Home/Road 3-0/1-2
Grass/Turf 4-1/0-1
Day/Night 4-0/0-2
HEAD COACH Mike Kramer
Alma Mater Idaho/’76
Overall/Years 66-68/12th
At MSU/Years 29-36/6th
vs PSU 5-6
Home/Road 3-3/2-3
SERIES MSU leads 10-8
At MSU MSU leads 6-2
At PSU PSU leads 5-4
At Neutral PSU leads 1-0
Current Streak MSU 3W
ABOUT THE VIKINGS...
PSU in ‘05 3-3
Conf./Record Big Sky/1-1
Home/Road 2-0/1-3
Grass/Turf 2-1/0-2
Day/Night 2-3/0-0
HEAD COACH Tim Walsh
Alma Mater UC Riverside/’77
Overall/Years 107-76/17th
At School/Years 80-62/13th
vs MSU 5-4
Home/Road 3-1/2-3
ABOUT PSU The Vikings
Colors Green, white
Location Portland, OR
Enrollment 23,117
Stadium PGE Park
OPPONENT ‘05 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
S3 at Oregon State L 14-41
S10 at UC Davis W 14-12
S17 Sacramento State W 28-12
S24 Northern Colorado W 41-17
O1 at Eastern Wash. L 24-42
O8 at Boise State L 14-21
O15 Montana State 6:05 pm
O22 Northern Arizona 6:05 pm
O29 at Montana 12:05 pm
N5 at Idaho State 2:05 pm
N12 Weber State 3:05 pm
What to Watch
** Better Than Average... Each of Montana State’s 2005 opponents, with the exception of Cal Poly, has scored fewer points against MSU than it has averaged against the rest of its schedule...
Points vs. MSU Avg Points vs Rest of Schedule
at OSU 15 18.5
SFA 6 44.8
at CP 38 27.8
NDSU 17 33.4
ISU 28 29.6
WSU 24 25.6
** Murray as The Man... Tramaine Murray’s impact on the Bobcat offense has been significant. The senior Washington State transfer leads MSU in catches (30), yards (510), and TD catches (3). Moreover, working in tandem with Rick Gatewood, he gives opposing defenses another element to defend. Or, as Bobcat Offensive Coordinator Don Bailey says, “Teams have to defend both sides of the field.”
Pinpoint Punting
After becoming Montana State’s punter early in 2003, Travis Lulay used a rugby-like roll punt to average 36.2 yards a punt, and pinned the opponent inside the 20 nine times. In his two seasons as MSU’s full-season, full-time punter, Lulay has been consistent his terms of distance:
1-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-89
2005 2 12 11 0 0 1
2004 6 14 19 6 4 1
Sixty-one percent (43 total) of Lulay’s 70 punts in the past two seasons have traveled at least 40 yards.
Pins
Travis Lulay has become proficient at Punter Pins, or pinning the opponent inside the 20 as the result of a punt. In this year’s six games he has done so eight times in 26 attempts. He has spotted the opponent inside its own 10 four times in the last two games.
3rd Quarter Turnaround
MSU surrendered 34 points in the final three third quarters of 2004, but has given up 27 points in the third this year.
TO Turnaround
MSU was +1 in turnovers against Idaho State, the only time in positive numbers this year. Not So Special Tramaine Murray appears close to a breakout, but MSU has not returned a punt or kick to the paint since the ‘03 Grizzly game, a 17-game stretch that is the longest in Mike Kramer’s career.
Down to the Nub
Montana State’s preseason depth chart at defensive line is so far askew from reality it looks like fiction. Three of the eight active D-linemen from the beginning of the spring are injured (Andy Matakis, Chris Kolone, Ryan Cogley) and two more left the team. JC transfers David Siataga, Joe Rothenberger and Jason Macciola join holdovers Lou Saucedo, Aaron Papich and Daryl Rogers.
The Total Travis
Travis Lulay may impact a game more than any player in I-AA. He averages 54.7 yards a game rushing, 223.7 yards a game passing, and 40.3 yards per punt.
To the Paint
MSU has scored two defensive touchdowns this year, and in Pete Kwiatkowski’s six seasons as Bobcat defensive coordinator has found the paint a dozen times.
Familiar Foes
Tim Walsh is the only opposing coach Mike Kramer has faced in all 11 of his seasons as head coach. Kramer is 5-6.
Picking Up the Picks
When the Bobcats transitioned from a straight man-to-man team to playing zone during the off-season, Mike Kramer said the team needs to intercept three passes a game to be effective. The ‘Cats have krept toward that goal, picking off three opponent passes in the last two games. The team has been opportunistic, though, converting all three of those possessions into touchdowns.
Opportunistic
Montana State’s defense has forced 10 turnovers in 2005. The Bobcat D turned two of those into immediate points (Daryl Rogers’ fumble recovery against Weber and Epikopo King’s interception return against Idaho State). Of the eight offensive possessions after turnovers, MSU has scored six touchdowns and two field goals.
20 is Terrific
Montana State is 19-3 in Mike Kramer’s five-plus seasons when holding the opposing offense to 20 points or fewer. The Bobcats have won six of their last seven games under those circumstances.
Quite A Difference
MSU allowed 38 points and 417 yards against Cal Poly. In the other four games, the ‘Cats allowed 18.0 points, and 319.0 yards per outing.
They’re Tight
All four Bobcat TEs are in-state players, with only Brandon Bostick (Missoula Big Sky) from a large school. Starter Elliott Barnhart played at Powder River in Broadus, Nick Parker at Missoula Loyola, and Ty McDonald at Geyser.
Anti-Air Defense
Montana State’s conversion to a 3-4 defensive alignment relying on zone coverage has had dramatic results. MSU is 12th nationally in pass efficiency defense (94.48), second in the Big Sky, and 10th in I-AA in passing yards a game allowed (144.2), best in the conference. While the ‘Cats have paid the price for this anti-air proficiency in run defense -- 191.2 yards a game allowed, the league’s worst mark -- the net result stands at 21.3 points a game allowed, second-best in the Big Sky.
Bonus Football
When the ‘Cats split a pair of overtime decisions last fall, it marked the first time Mike Kramer’s Bobcats had played extra football. Below is a look at MSU’s all-time overtime encounters...
2004 44-51 Eastern Washington+
2004 31-24 Portland State+
1994 31-34 Eastern Washington++
1990 28-25 Eastern Washington+
1984 44-41 Nevada+
1982 30-27 Idaho State+
Deep Snaps
After MSU forced just seven opponent punts in the previous three games, Weber punted four times Saturday.
MSU When Leading After...
1st Qtr: 3-0/2nd Qtr: 3-1/3rd Qtr: 3-0
MSU When Trailing After...
1st Qtr: 1-2/2nd Qtr: 1-1/3rd Qtr: 1-2
By the Numbers
0
The number of interceptions by MSU in its two losses this season
7
The number of interceptions in the the team’s four 2005 victories
601
Travis Lulay’s amount of aggregate yardage, including passes, rushes and punts, on Saturday
86%
The amount of MSU’s rushing yards (165) accounted for by Travis Lulay (142) Saturday
KRAMER’S QUOTES
On the Weber State game: “This team has a belief in preparing as well as possible, and it took us every weight we lifted, every minute of film we watched, every bit of focus from meetings and practice last week, in the game Saturday. This team really has a belief in doing things as well as possible in preparaing for a game, and this year, in this conference, that is so important. In the fourth quarter we saw the offense take care of business and the defense get stops, and when you’re getting stops you’re giving yourself a chance. Our top priority this year on defense was to prevent big plays, and we have not given up many big plays. Our down linemen and our linebackers struggle a little bit versus the run, but we continue to make plays, and even during the course of each individual game you can see the improvement in that area.”
On Portland State: “I am very impressed with the way Portland State played at Boise State on Saturday. They played very well in that game, and actually played well against Eastern Washington, but lost field position a little bit in the kicking game. Outside of the one win (in 2003), Portland State is a team the Bobcats have struggled against. They really fit the mold of every game we’ve played this year, in that they want to use their power running game to keep Travis off the field and allow their own quarterback to control the game rather than getting in a rifle fight. Joe Rubin is an outstanding running back, and Portland State is a very, very solid, well-coached football team.”
On the Bobcats: “I see a team with a tremendous conviction, one that is absolutely committed to hanging in there and giving itself a chance to finish strong. It’s frustrating, but we are going to make mistakes. Our quarterback and receivers are old enough, mature enough, that they know there will be dropped balls, that we’ll not execute perfectly on every snap, but we also know that we can play well enough on days we struggle to be around at the end of the game. I’ve said it all season, but the best thing we do in our organization right now is pass protect, even taking the running back out of that equation last week by using four and five receivers. That is our strength.”
Wednesday, June 10
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