Bobcat FB Sunday Notebook
10/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
INJURY REPORT: Quarterback Cory Carpenter missed Saturday’s game with a high ankle sprain, and enters this week doubtful. RB Evin Groves (knee) enters the week probable. DE Paul Bartsch (shoulder) is the only other Bobcat out or doubtful.
MIKE KRAMER’S TENTATIVE MEDIA AND APPEARANCE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday: 7:15 am – Mike Kramer, KJJR Radio, Kalispell (via phone)
12 noon – Billings Quarterback Club
6 pm – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Bozeman
Tuesday: 10 am – Coaches Corner, Holiday Inn
12 noon – Papa John’s Media Lunch
7 pm – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Great Falls
Wednesday: 12 noon – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Helena
6 pm – Cat Chat, Mike Kramer, hosted by Kris Atteberry, Old Chicago (100.7 KXLB-FM)
Thursday: 12 noon – Mike Kramer at Butte Quarterback Club
Practice is 3:30 pm Tuesday through Thursday, 4:30 pm in Holt Arena on Friday
TEAM NOTES
• Montana State is 3-0 on the road for the first time since 1978, when the Bobcats lost their fourth road game of the year, at Montana
• The Bobcats 3-0 road record in 2006 stands in contrast to the team’s marks in 2005 (1-4), 2004 (1-4), 2003 (2-4), and 2002 (2-5).
• The Bobcats’ win snapped a four-game losing streak in night games, which began with the 38-28 loss at Sacramento State in 2004
• Montana State has won its first two road games of a season for the first time since 1978
• MSU’s game Saturday is its second this year on turf, where the Bobcats had lost three straight before beating NAU in the Walkup Skydome in September
• In the last two games, Montana State has allowed just 249 total yards
• The ‘Cats have surrendered just 12 first downs combined in the past two games
• The 117 yards Sacramento State gained on the Bobcats is the third-lowest total allowed by MSU during the Mike Kramer era, and the 132 yards allowed against Sacramento State is the fifth-lowest opponent total (the lowest was 112 yards amassed by Portland State in 2003)
• The 117 and 132 yards allowed by the Bobcats in the last two games are the best efforts by a Big Sky Conference defense this year
• In spite of the team’s turnover troubles on Saturday (three interceptions), MSU finished positive in turnover margin (+1) for only the second time this season
• In spite of playing without its starting quarterback (Cory Carpenter) and starting running back (Evin Groves), MSU gained 414 yards and 22 first downs
• Cory Carpenter became the seventh Bobcat starter to miss at least one game this year when he was shelved by an ankle injury on Saturday, joining TE Elliott Barnhart, RB Evin Groves, WR Josh Lewis, DE Aaron Papich, LB Epikopo King, and SS Ryan Force. All but Carpenter and Lewis are returning starters, which forced players with little or no experience into key lineup spots.
• Sacramento State’s three scoring drives covered just eight total yards
• The Bobcats averaged 8.4 yards per play Saturday, to Sac State’s 4.2 yards
• After scoring five touchdowns in the team’s first four games, MSU has 10 in the last three
• Marcel Marquez’s 29-yard pass to Billy White Saturday was Sacramento State’s only play over nine yards
• The Bobcat defense has held three straight opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing
• Chadron State and UC Davis combined to rush for 332 yards against the Bobcats in games two and three, while the ‘Cats have limited the last four foes to just 320 yards
INDIVIDUAL NOTES/PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
OFFENSE: WR Mike Jefferson – 6-2, 205, Sr, El Paso, TX
Mike Jefferson caught seven passes for 111 yards and one touchdown Saturday against Sacramento State. His touchdown came midway through the second quarter, a 39-yard laser from Jack Rolovich that gave MSU a 21-0 lead. Four of Jefferson’s seven catches went for Bobcat first downs.
OTHER NOTES: RB Isaiah Taito rushed for a career-high 82 yards Saturday in spite of carrying only once in the first half (for three yards)… Jack Rolovich threw for 302 yards at Sac State in his first start since high school… With Rolovich’s 300-yard game in the books, Bobcat quarterbacks have now registered three 300-yard passing games in 2006… Donell Wheaton and Michael Jefferson each eclipsed the 100-yard mark on Saturday, Jefferson’s second such game of the season, and Wheaton’s first… Wheaton’s 132 yards came on three catches.
DEFENSE: LB Bobby Daly -, 6-1, 218, So, Helena, MT
Bobby Daly led Montana State’s dominant defensive performance Saturday, as the Bobcats limited Sacramento State to just 117 total yards and five first downs. Daly registered 10 total tackles, including three solos, and had 1.5 tackles for loss. Daly has led the Bobcats in tackles in four of the team’s seven contests this season.
OTHER NOTES: Defensive end Aaron Papich was credited Montana State’s only sack on Saturday, but the Bobcats registered seven other tackles for losses… After picking off four passes in its first three games, MSU intercepted three against Sacramento State… Marcosus LeBlanc nabbed his third of the year, while Ryan Force and Kory Austin picked off their first passes of the season… Bobby Daly led the Bobcats in tackles for the fourth time this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS: RS Josh Lewis – 5-11, 165, Jr, Pittsburg, CA
Josh Lewis returned five punts for 49 yards, with a long return of 29 yards.
OTHER NOTES: Jeff Hastings missed his first field goal attempt of the season Saturday, a 45-yarder, but remains perfect as a Bobcat inside 40 yards… MSU used two punters on Saturday. Sac State tipped on Tyler Bolton punt and blocked another, which set up a touchdown. Ryan Force punted three times for an average of 41.0 yards a punt.
MIKE KRAMER’S TENTATIVE MEDIA AND APPEARANCE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday: 7:15 am – Mike Kramer, KJJR Radio, Kalispell (via phone)
12 noon – Billings Quarterback Club
6 pm – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Bozeman
Tuesday: 10 am – Coaches Corner, Holiday Inn
12 noon – Papa John’s Media Lunch
7 pm – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Great Falls
Wednesday: 12 noon – Mike Kramer, Bobcat Quarterback Club, Helena
6 pm – Cat Chat, Mike Kramer, hosted by Kris Atteberry, Old Chicago (100.7 KXLB-FM)
Thursday: 12 noon – Mike Kramer at Butte Quarterback Club
Practice is 3:30 pm Tuesday through Thursday, 4:30 pm in Holt Arena on Friday
TEAM NOTES
• Montana State is 3-0 on the road for the first time since 1978, when the Bobcats lost their fourth road game of the year, at Montana
• The Bobcats 3-0 road record in 2006 stands in contrast to the team’s marks in 2005 (1-4), 2004 (1-4), 2003 (2-4), and 2002 (2-5).
• The Bobcats’ win snapped a four-game losing streak in night games, which began with the 38-28 loss at Sacramento State in 2004
• Montana State has won its first two road games of a season for the first time since 1978
• MSU’s game Saturday is its second this year on turf, where the Bobcats had lost three straight before beating NAU in the Walkup Skydome in September
• In the last two games, Montana State has allowed just 249 total yards
• The ‘Cats have surrendered just 12 first downs combined in the past two games
• The 117 yards Sacramento State gained on the Bobcats is the third-lowest total allowed by MSU during the Mike Kramer era, and the 132 yards allowed against Sacramento State is the fifth-lowest opponent total (the lowest was 112 yards amassed by Portland State in 2003)
• The 117 and 132 yards allowed by the Bobcats in the last two games are the best efforts by a Big Sky Conference defense this year
• In spite of the team’s turnover troubles on Saturday (three interceptions), MSU finished positive in turnover margin (+1) for only the second time this season
• In spite of playing without its starting quarterback (Cory Carpenter) and starting running back (Evin Groves), MSU gained 414 yards and 22 first downs
• Cory Carpenter became the seventh Bobcat starter to miss at least one game this year when he was shelved by an ankle injury on Saturday, joining TE Elliott Barnhart, RB Evin Groves, WR Josh Lewis, DE Aaron Papich, LB Epikopo King, and SS Ryan Force. All but Carpenter and Lewis are returning starters, which forced players with little or no experience into key lineup spots.
• Sacramento State’s three scoring drives covered just eight total yards
• The Bobcats averaged 8.4 yards per play Saturday, to Sac State’s 4.2 yards
• After scoring five touchdowns in the team’s first four games, MSU has 10 in the last three
• Marcel Marquez’s 29-yard pass to Billy White Saturday was Sacramento State’s only play over nine yards
• The Bobcat defense has held three straight opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing
• Chadron State and UC Davis combined to rush for 332 yards against the Bobcats in games two and three, while the ‘Cats have limited the last four foes to just 320 yards
INDIVIDUAL NOTES/PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
OFFENSE: WR Mike Jefferson – 6-2, 205, Sr, El Paso, TX
Mike Jefferson caught seven passes for 111 yards and one touchdown Saturday against Sacramento State. His touchdown came midway through the second quarter, a 39-yard laser from Jack Rolovich that gave MSU a 21-0 lead. Four of Jefferson’s seven catches went for Bobcat first downs.
OTHER NOTES: RB Isaiah Taito rushed for a career-high 82 yards Saturday in spite of carrying only once in the first half (for three yards)… Jack Rolovich threw for 302 yards at Sac State in his first start since high school… With Rolovich’s 300-yard game in the books, Bobcat quarterbacks have now registered three 300-yard passing games in 2006… Donell Wheaton and Michael Jefferson each eclipsed the 100-yard mark on Saturday, Jefferson’s second such game of the season, and Wheaton’s first… Wheaton’s 132 yards came on three catches.
DEFENSE: LB Bobby Daly -, 6-1, 218, So, Helena, MT
Bobby Daly led Montana State’s dominant defensive performance Saturday, as the Bobcats limited Sacramento State to just 117 total yards and five first downs. Daly registered 10 total tackles, including three solos, and had 1.5 tackles for loss. Daly has led the Bobcats in tackles in four of the team’s seven contests this season.
OTHER NOTES: Defensive end Aaron Papich was credited Montana State’s only sack on Saturday, but the Bobcats registered seven other tackles for losses… After picking off four passes in its first three games, MSU intercepted three against Sacramento State… Marcosus LeBlanc nabbed his third of the year, while Ryan Force and Kory Austin picked off their first passes of the season… Bobby Daly led the Bobcats in tackles for the fourth time this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS: RS Josh Lewis – 5-11, 165, Jr, Pittsburg, CA
Josh Lewis returned five punts for 49 yards, with a long return of 29 yards.
OTHER NOTES: Jeff Hastings missed his first field goal attempt of the season Saturday, a 45-yarder, but remains perfect as a Bobcat inside 40 yards… MSU used two punters on Saturday. Sac State tipped on Tyler Bolton punt and blocked another, which set up a touchdown. Ryan Force punted three times for an average of 41.0 yards a punt.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
