Bobcat FB Sunday Notebook #5
10/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
INJURY REPORT: The ‘Cats incurred no new serious injuries last week against ISU. WR Jevon Miller and OG Brant Birkeland returned to the lineup. This week, LB Mac Mollohan (hip), LB Clive Lowe (ankle), DL Chris Kolone (leg), and CB Chris Davis (knee) are doubtful.
MIKE KRAMER’S MEDIA AND APPEARANCE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday: 7:15 am – Mike Kramer, KJJR Radio, Kalispell (via phone)
12 noon – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Billings
6 pm – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Bozeman
Tuesday: 10 am – Coach’s Corner, Mike Kramer with Kris Atteberry, Bozeman Holiday Inn
12 noon – Papa John’s Media Lunch, FH Hall of Fame (Kahiam Hunter, Brant Birkeland)
12:35 pm – Sports Nuts, 1090 KBOZ-AM Bozeman
7 pm – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Great Falls
Wednesday: 12 noon – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Butte
6 pm – The Bobcast, Mike Kramer with Nick Marudas and Rick Gatewood, hosted by Kris Atteberry, Old Chicago (100.7 KXLB-FM, and www.sportsjuice.com)
Thursday: 12 noon – Mike Kramer at Butte Quarterback Club
TEAM NOTES
• After losing five straight games to nationally-ranked opponents, Montana State has beaten top 25 squads in two straight games
• MSU has beaten nationally-ranked opponents in consecutive weeks for only the fourth time in school history (2002, 1995, ’78), and Mike Kramer becomes the only coach to do so twice in his Bobcat career
• Montana State has lost four straight road games
• The Bobcats have allowed three defensive scores this year, but picked up their first of the season with Epikopo King’s first-quarter interception return against Idaho State
• Montana State forced two Idaho State turnovers while coughing the ball up only once, the first time this season the ‘Cats have finished a game positive in turnover margin
• Idaho State gained 246 yards in the first half Saturday, but only 88 in the second half
• After allowing North Dakota State just 17 points, the Bobcats are 19-3 when holding the opponent to fewer than 20 points, and have won five of the last six such contests
• Montana State has eight touchbacks through five games this season after recording 17 last year, and has pinned the opponent at or inside the 20 on 12 of the team’s 25 kickoffs
• The Bobcats have forced only seven punts in the past three weeks
• Travis Lulay pinned Idaho State at the two-yard line twice Saturday, and his 77-yard punt was the fifth-longest in school history
• Montana State’s four non-conference opponents are 13-4 combined this year, with two of those three losses (the only losses incurred by NDSU and Stephen F. Austin) to the Bobcats
• Two of MSU’s three non-league I-AA foes are ranked in the top 25
• The Bobcat defense is limiting opponent offenses to 7.4 points and 144.0 yards during the second half in its five outings
• After not allowing or recording a sack in the NDSU game, the Bobcats had two (both by Nick Marudas) and surrendered two (both by Jeff Charleston) against Idaho State
• Montana State is now 7-3 under Mike Kramer in games when the Bobcats score a defensive touchdown
INDIVIDUAL NOTES/PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
OFFENSE: QB Travis Lulay, 6-2, 205, Sr, Aumsville, OR
Montana State’s All-America quarterback threw for 249 yards and rushed for 26 in an outing against Idaho State on Saturday in which he hit several milestones. By leading Montana State to its 30-28 win, Lulay registered his 21st victory as Montana State’s starting quarterback, passing Dennis Erickson into second place in school history. He moved into 15th place in Division I-AA history and 7th place in Big Sky history in career total offense, and into 29th place in I-AA and 10th place in the Big Sky in career passing yards. Lulay made the game’s signature play, a 20-yard scamper on a quarterback draw with the Bobcats facing second-and-goal late in the third quarter. That play gave MSU its winning margin. He also had a couple of important punts (see special teams nomination) OTHER NOTES: A week after catching nine passes in his 2005 debut, Rick Gatewood caught 10 balls for 146 yards and a touchdown on Saturday… Justin Domineck’s 96 rushing yards is his most – and the most by a Bobcat back – this season… Lulay’s rushing touchdown gives him 20 in his career, the sixth-best total in school history
DEFENSE: LB Nick Marudas, 6-2, 218, Sr, Bozeman, MT
Nick Marudas registered his second consecutive 11-tackle game to lead the Bobcats against Idaho State. Marudas also registered two sacks and another half-tackle for loss, forced an Idaho State fumble, and broke up a pass. His efforts helped the Bobcats hold Idaho State to just 88 second-half yards. Marudas’ 11 tackles matches his career high, set last week against North Dakota State. OTHER NOTES: Epikopo King’s interception was the second of his career, and the touchdown was his first, and the first by a Bobcat defense this year… a week after making his starting debut, linebacker Bobby Daly registered his first fumble recovery and had 1.5 tackles-for-loss against ISU
SPECIAL TEAMS: P Travis Lulay, 6-2, 205, Sr, Aumsville, OR
Travis Lulay punted four times in Montana State’s win over Idaho State Saturday, and two of those punts proved pivotal in the game’s outcome. On Montana State’s second drive, with the Bobcats facing a fourth-and-23 from their own 21, Lulay nailed a 77-yard punt that pinned ISU on its own two-yard line. On the second play of the ensuing possession, Epikopo King intercepted a Matt Hagler pass and returned it for a touchdown. On MSU’s first drive of the second half, with the Bobcats facing a fourth-and-15 from the ISU 31, Lulay dropped another punt at the Bengal two-yard line. After a three-and-out on ISU’s next drive gave MSU outstanding field position, Lulay led the ‘Cats on a scoring drive to expand the lead to 30-21 and provide the eventual winning margin. In all, Lulay punted four times for a 42.5 yard-per-punt average and two pins inside the 20. His 77-yarder is the fifth-longest in school history and the second-longest of Lulay’s career. OTHER NOTES: Jeff Hastings had a kick blocked for the second straight week, this time a field goal… MSU failed to convert its first two-point try of the year
MIKE KRAMER’S MEDIA AND APPEARANCE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday: 7:15 am – Mike Kramer, KJJR Radio, Kalispell (via phone)
12 noon – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Billings
6 pm – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Bozeman
Tuesday: 10 am – Coach’s Corner, Mike Kramer with Kris Atteberry, Bozeman Holiday Inn
12 noon – Papa John’s Media Lunch, FH Hall of Fame (Kahiam Hunter, Brant Birkeland)
12:35 pm – Sports Nuts, 1090 KBOZ-AM Bozeman
7 pm – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Great Falls
Wednesday: 12 noon – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Butte
6 pm – The Bobcast, Mike Kramer with Nick Marudas and Rick Gatewood, hosted by Kris Atteberry, Old Chicago (100.7 KXLB-FM, and www.sportsjuice.com)
Thursday: 12 noon – Mike Kramer at Butte Quarterback Club
TEAM NOTES
• After losing five straight games to nationally-ranked opponents, Montana State has beaten top 25 squads in two straight games
• MSU has beaten nationally-ranked opponents in consecutive weeks for only the fourth time in school history (2002, 1995, ’78), and Mike Kramer becomes the only coach to do so twice in his Bobcat career
• Montana State has lost four straight road games
• The Bobcats have allowed three defensive scores this year, but picked up their first of the season with Epikopo King’s first-quarter interception return against Idaho State
• Montana State forced two Idaho State turnovers while coughing the ball up only once, the first time this season the ‘Cats have finished a game positive in turnover margin
• Idaho State gained 246 yards in the first half Saturday, but only 88 in the second half
• After allowing North Dakota State just 17 points, the Bobcats are 19-3 when holding the opponent to fewer than 20 points, and have won five of the last six such contests
• Montana State has eight touchbacks through five games this season after recording 17 last year, and has pinned the opponent at or inside the 20 on 12 of the team’s 25 kickoffs
• The Bobcats have forced only seven punts in the past three weeks
• Travis Lulay pinned Idaho State at the two-yard line twice Saturday, and his 77-yard punt was the fifth-longest in school history
• Montana State’s four non-conference opponents are 13-4 combined this year, with two of those three losses (the only losses incurred by NDSU and Stephen F. Austin) to the Bobcats
• Two of MSU’s three non-league I-AA foes are ranked in the top 25
• The Bobcat defense is limiting opponent offenses to 7.4 points and 144.0 yards during the second half in its five outings
• After not allowing or recording a sack in the NDSU game, the Bobcats had two (both by Nick Marudas) and surrendered two (both by Jeff Charleston) against Idaho State
• Montana State is now 7-3 under Mike Kramer in games when the Bobcats score a defensive touchdown
INDIVIDUAL NOTES/PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
OFFENSE: QB Travis Lulay, 6-2, 205, Sr, Aumsville, OR
Montana State’s All-America quarterback threw for 249 yards and rushed for 26 in an outing against Idaho State on Saturday in which he hit several milestones. By leading Montana State to its 30-28 win, Lulay registered his 21st victory as Montana State’s starting quarterback, passing Dennis Erickson into second place in school history. He moved into 15th place in Division I-AA history and 7th place in Big Sky history in career total offense, and into 29th place in I-AA and 10th place in the Big Sky in career passing yards. Lulay made the game’s signature play, a 20-yard scamper on a quarterback draw with the Bobcats facing second-and-goal late in the third quarter. That play gave MSU its winning margin. He also had a couple of important punts (see special teams nomination) OTHER NOTES: A week after catching nine passes in his 2005 debut, Rick Gatewood caught 10 balls for 146 yards and a touchdown on Saturday… Justin Domineck’s 96 rushing yards is his most – and the most by a Bobcat back – this season… Lulay’s rushing touchdown gives him 20 in his career, the sixth-best total in school history
DEFENSE: LB Nick Marudas, 6-2, 218, Sr, Bozeman, MT
Nick Marudas registered his second consecutive 11-tackle game to lead the Bobcats against Idaho State. Marudas also registered two sacks and another half-tackle for loss, forced an Idaho State fumble, and broke up a pass. His efforts helped the Bobcats hold Idaho State to just 88 second-half yards. Marudas’ 11 tackles matches his career high, set last week against North Dakota State. OTHER NOTES: Epikopo King’s interception was the second of his career, and the touchdown was his first, and the first by a Bobcat defense this year… a week after making his starting debut, linebacker Bobby Daly registered his first fumble recovery and had 1.5 tackles-for-loss against ISU
SPECIAL TEAMS: P Travis Lulay, 6-2, 205, Sr, Aumsville, OR
Travis Lulay punted four times in Montana State’s win over Idaho State Saturday, and two of those punts proved pivotal in the game’s outcome. On Montana State’s second drive, with the Bobcats facing a fourth-and-23 from their own 21, Lulay nailed a 77-yard punt that pinned ISU on its own two-yard line. On the second play of the ensuing possession, Epikopo King intercepted a Matt Hagler pass and returned it for a touchdown. On MSU’s first drive of the second half, with the Bobcats facing a fourth-and-15 from the ISU 31, Lulay dropped another punt at the Bengal two-yard line. After a three-and-out on ISU’s next drive gave MSU outstanding field position, Lulay led the ‘Cats on a scoring drive to expand the lead to 30-21 and provide the eventual winning margin. In all, Lulay punted four times for a 42.5 yard-per-punt average and two pins inside the 20. His 77-yarder is the fifth-longest in school history and the second-longest of Lulay’s career. OTHER NOTES: Jeff Hastings had a kick blocked for the second straight week, this time a field goal… MSU failed to convert its first two-point try of the year
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
