Bobcats Host Eastern Washington
9/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
A pair of struggling teams get together on Saturday, when the Bobcats look to snap a two-game losing streak against 0-3 Eastern Washington in the Big Sky opener for both teams. Montana State’s 45-0 home loss to UC Davis marked the program’s worst loss in six years, and offered few highlights offensively (194 total yards, three turnovers) or defensively (496 yards and 29 first downs allowed, no turnovers forced). Eastern Washington lost at home to Division II Central Washington on Saturday.
GAME FACTS
KICKOFF: 1:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman, MT
STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium
PRESS BOX: 406/994-6810
RADIO: Bobcat Network (Kris Atteberry, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: Max Media (Chris Byers, Ron Heller)
WEB VIDEO: www.BigSkyTV.org
HIGHLIGHTS
* Jeff Hastings is 15-for-15 on field goal attempts inside 40 yards as a Bobcat, but didn’t get on the field last weekend, as MSU was shut out
* The Bobcats have allowed just six punt return yards this year
* MSU allowed 31 first downs in its first two games, but UC Davis rang up 29 first downs on Saturday
STREAKS
* MSU’s string of 15 straight weeks in the top 25 ended this week
* MSU won last week’s coin toss for the first time in six games
* The Cats have lost two straight for the first time since the end of the 2004 season, when MSU lost its last three
MILESTONES
* Jeff Hastings’ six career field goals of 40 yards or longer is tied for third-best in school history
* Hastings’ four straight field goals is two shy of the school record he shares
SHINING
* QB CORY CARPENTER is second in the Big Sky in passing (228.3)
* LB BOBBY DALY has led MSU in tackles in two of the three games
* P JACK ROLOVICH has allowed returns on only four of his 15 punts
ABOUT THE ‘CATS...
MSU in ‘06 1-2
Conf./Record Big Sky/0-0
Home/Road 0-2/1-0
Grass/Turf 1-2/0-0
Day/Night 1-2/0-0
HEAD COACH Mike Kramer
Alma Mater Idaho/’76
Overall/Years 70-72/12th
At MSU/Years 33-39/6th
vs EWU 2-4
Home/Road 1-2/1-2
SERIES 8-21
At MSU 5-11
At EWU 1-7
At Neutral 2-3
Current Streak EWU 3
ABOUT THE EAGLES...
EWU in ‘06 0-3
Conf./Record Big Sky/0-0
Home/Road 0-1/0-2
Grass/Turf 0-1/0-2
Day/Night 0-1/0-2
HEAD COACH Paul Wulff
Alma Mater Washington St./’90
Overall/Years 41-29/7th yr
At School/Years same
vs MSU 4-2
Home/Road 2-1/2-1
ABOUT EWU The Eagles
Colors Red, white
Location Cheney, WA
Enrollment 9,775
Stadium Woodward Stadium
OPPONENT ‘06 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
S2 at Oregon State L 17-56
S9 at West Virginia L 3-56
S16 Central Wash. L 14-21
S23 *at Montana State 1:05 pm
S30 *Sacramento State 3:05 pm
O7 *Montana 3:05 pm
O14 at Northern Colo. 1:35 pm
O21 **at Portland State 6:05 pm
O28 *Northern Arizona 2:05 pm
N4 *at Weber State 1:05 pm
N11 *Idaho State 2:05 pm
A Bobcat Win...
...gives MSU a 1-0 record to start the Big Sky season for the third straight year
...snaps a three-game losing streak to Eastern Washington
An Eastern Win...
...drops Mike Kramer’s MSU record to 2-5 against the team he once coached
...gives the Eagles their first win of the 2006 season
BOBCAT 2006 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
S2 at Colorado W 19-10 Third straight win over Colorado
S9 Chadron State L 24-35 MSU’s fourth loss to DII in 15 years
S16 UC Davis L 0-45 MSU’s first home shutout since 1985
S23 *Eastern Wash. 1:05 pm Two of last year’s tri-champs open league play
S30 *at Northern Ariz. 3:05 pm MSU 2-13 in Skydome
O7 *Portland State 1:35 pm Vikings topped I-A New Mexico on Saturday
O14 *at Sacramento St 7:05 pm Bobcats’ 38-28 ‘04 loss to Hornets still stings
O21 *at Idaho State 3:05 pm MSU has lost three of last four in Holt Arena
O28 *Weber State 12:05 pm Jeff Hastings hit walk-off field goal for win in ‘05
N4 *Northern Colo. 12:05 pm Bobcats dropped 14-10 home game in ‘04
N18 *Montana 12:05 pm The 106th ‘Cat-Griz game
Opening Information
Saturday’s game marks the first time since 2001 the Bobcats open Big Sky play against a school other than Idaho State. * Mike Kramer’s Bobcats are 3-3 in conference openers, including a 1-2 mark at home, but have not faced a team other than Idaho State (2-2) or Weber State (1-1) to begin league play. * Montana State has opened Big Sky play against Eastern Washington three times since the Eagles joined the league in 1987, posting a 2-1 mark in those games, including 1-1 in Bozeman. * Those three games came in Eastern’s first three years as a Big Sky member (1987-89). * While Eastern has served as MSU’s league opener three times, the Bobcats have never been the Eagles’ first conference game. EWU played Nevada (1987 and ‘89) and NAU (‘88) to open conference play in those seasons during which Eastern was the Bobcats’ opener.
Stadium Stuff
Montana State’s 45-0 loss to UC Davis last weekend marked the second-worst home defeat a Bobcat team has suffered since Bobcat Stadium was remodeled in 1997 (UM, 49-3, 1999) * The shutout was the first MSU has suffered in the Bobcat Stadium era, and the first in any home game since losing to Idaho 34-0 in Reno H. Sales Stadium in 1985 * That 1985 shutout was the second in a row by the Vandals in Bozeman, as Idaho also blanked the ‘Cats 23-0 in 1983 * The two Idaho whitewashings and last Saturday’s UC Davis games are the only home shutouts suffered by the Bobcats in the Sales/Bobcat Stadium era. * Saturday’s attendance of 12,087 marked the fifth-largest for a non-conference game in school history * The crowd last weekend extended MSU’s string of consecutive crowds of at least 12,000 to nine games.
Thundered
UC Davis’ 21-point third quarter was the most surrendered by the ‘Cats in a period since Cal Poly matched that total in game three last fall. MSU surrendered just seven second-half points in the first two games of 2006, but gave up 28 last weekend.
TO Turnaround
The ‘Cats stood 7-4 in 2005 in spite of finishing only one game with a positive turnover margin (and -7 on the season), and are following that pattern this fall. MSU is -5 in turnovers through three games. The Bobcats are 1-0 when the turnover number is positive, 0-2 when it’s negative.
The No-Return Policy
On Nov. 22, 2003, Corey Smith returned the opening kickoff of the Cat-Griz game for a touchdown which spurred the Bobcats to a 27-20 win and the Big Sky title. Since then, MSU has not returned a punt or kickoff for a touchdown, a streak that stands at 26 games and is the longest span in Mike Kramer’s coaching career. The Bobcats have not allowed a punt return for a touchdown in 35 straight games (since Cal Poly, 2003) or a kickoff return in 56 straight contests.
Distinctive Debut
Josh Lewis posted the best home debut by a Bobcat receiver against Chadron State, catching six passes for 151 yards. He didn’t have the chance for an encore, as he injured a knee in practice last week.
1. 151 Josh Lewis vs.Chadron State, 2006
2. 141 Tramaine Murray vs. SFA, 2005
3. 118 Junior Adams vs. Cal Poly, 2001
The Rol(ovich) Punt
Jack Rolovich has punted 14 times this season, and Ryan Force once, using the roll-punt style made familiar by Travis Lulay. Bobcat opponents have returned only four of those punts, for six yards.
Sackless
MSU has allowed only six sacks through three games, but have sacked opposing quarterbacks only three times, all vs. Chadron State.
A Good First Impression, Part I
Cory Carpenter threw for 337 yards against Chadron in his first Bobcat Stadium start, the second-best home debut in Reno H. Sales or Bobcat Stadium...
1. 358 Joe Volek NAU 1990
2. 337 Cory Carpenter Chadron State 2006
3. 336 Kelly Sherwin Idaho State 1986
4. 248 Brock Spencer Idaho 1993
A Good First Impression, Part II
MSU’s best home-opening passing days...
1. 337 Cory Carpenter Chadron State 2006
2. 334 Rob Compson Chadron State 1997
3. 321 Joe Volek UM-Duluth 1991
20 is Terrific
Montana State is 23-3 in Mike Kramer’s seven seasons when holding the opposing offense to 20 points or fewer.
They’re Tight
MSU’s four TEs are in-state players: starter Elliott Barnhart played at Powder River (Broadus), Brandon Bostick at Missoula Big Sky, Joe Schreibeis at BillingsWest, and Ty McDonald at Geyser. Geyser plays six-man football.
Anti-Air Defense
Montana State led the Big Sky in pass defense last season, finishing 31st in I-AA. After allowing just 240 yards in the first two games of ‘06, UC Davis threw for 393 yards last week.
Behind Early and Often
Montana State has not led in the first quarter this season, and has not held a lead since the end of the Colorado game (120 minutes of football.
Bonus Football
MSU is 4-2 all-time in overtime games. Below is a look...
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+
Long Runs
MSU had 14 rushes of 20 yards or more in ‘05 (nine by Travis Lulay), but has yet to post a 20-yard or longer run this season.
MSU When Leading After...
1st Qtr: 0-0/2nd Qtr: 0-0/3rd Qtr: 1-0
MSU When Trailing After...
1st Qtr: 0-2/2nd Qtr: 1-2/3rd Qtr: 0-2
THE QUOTABLE KRAMER
On the Eastern Washington game: “This is a complete coaching staff game. Both coaching staffs will be tested like they’ve never been tested in years previous. I have a pretty solid idea about how we’ll respond, and because I know Paul (Wulff, Eastern Washington’s head coach and a former Kramer assistant) so well I have a solid idea how they’ll respond. It’s not about saving the season, it’s necessarily about being able to feel good about the rest of the season. You need enough feel-good plays in the game to gear up for a very arduous Big Sky title hunt. For us it will be a definition of our character. I hope we’re a great team that bounces back and plays well, like the one we saw at Colorado. Eastern Washington has won the last three of these games because they’ve out-physicaled us and out-wanted us. We need to respond in those areas on Saturday.”
On the Bobcats: “Offensively we will, must, and better run the ball more effectively. We need to take the performance demands off of Cory (Carpenter). Defensively I’ll be happy if we get aligned. I don’t mind getting beat in man coverage, but I don’t like getting beat because we’re not ready to play. We will address that situation this week.”
GAME FACTS
KICKOFF: 1:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman, MT
STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium
PRESS BOX: 406/994-6810
RADIO: Bobcat Network (Kris Atteberry, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: Max Media (Chris Byers, Ron Heller)
WEB VIDEO: www.BigSkyTV.org
HIGHLIGHTS
* Jeff Hastings is 15-for-15 on field goal attempts inside 40 yards as a Bobcat, but didn’t get on the field last weekend, as MSU was shut out
* The Bobcats have allowed just six punt return yards this year
* MSU allowed 31 first downs in its first two games, but UC Davis rang up 29 first downs on Saturday
STREAKS
* MSU’s string of 15 straight weeks in the top 25 ended this week
* MSU won last week’s coin toss for the first time in six games
* The Cats have lost two straight for the first time since the end of the 2004 season, when MSU lost its last three
MILESTONES
* Jeff Hastings’ six career field goals of 40 yards or longer is tied for third-best in school history
* Hastings’ four straight field goals is two shy of the school record he shares
SHINING
* QB CORY CARPENTER is second in the Big Sky in passing (228.3)
* LB BOBBY DALY has led MSU in tackles in two of the three games
* P JACK ROLOVICH has allowed returns on only four of his 15 punts
ABOUT THE ‘CATS...
MSU in ‘06 1-2
Conf./Record Big Sky/0-0
Home/Road 0-2/1-0
Grass/Turf 1-2/0-0
Day/Night 1-2/0-0
HEAD COACH Mike Kramer
Alma Mater Idaho/’76
Overall/Years 70-72/12th
At MSU/Years 33-39/6th
vs EWU 2-4
Home/Road 1-2/1-2
SERIES 8-21
At MSU 5-11
At EWU 1-7
At Neutral 2-3
Current Streak EWU 3
ABOUT THE EAGLES...
EWU in ‘06 0-3
Conf./Record Big Sky/0-0
Home/Road 0-1/0-2
Grass/Turf 0-1/0-2
Day/Night 0-1/0-2
HEAD COACH Paul Wulff
Alma Mater Washington St./’90
Overall/Years 41-29/7th yr
At School/Years same
vs MSU 4-2
Home/Road 2-1/2-1
ABOUT EWU The Eagles
Colors Red, white
Location Cheney, WA
Enrollment 9,775
Stadium Woodward Stadium
OPPONENT ‘06 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
S2 at Oregon State L 17-56
S9 at West Virginia L 3-56
S16 Central Wash. L 14-21
S23 *at Montana State 1:05 pm
S30 *Sacramento State 3:05 pm
O7 *Montana 3:05 pm
O14 at Northern Colo. 1:35 pm
O21 **at Portland State 6:05 pm
O28 *Northern Arizona 2:05 pm
N4 *at Weber State 1:05 pm
N11 *Idaho State 2:05 pm
A Bobcat Win...
...gives MSU a 1-0 record to start the Big Sky season for the third straight year
...snaps a three-game losing streak to Eastern Washington
An Eastern Win...
...drops Mike Kramer’s MSU record to 2-5 against the team he once coached
...gives the Eagles their first win of the 2006 season
BOBCAT 2006 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
S2 at Colorado W 19-10 Third straight win over Colorado
S9 Chadron State L 24-35 MSU’s fourth loss to DII in 15 years
S16 UC Davis L 0-45 MSU’s first home shutout since 1985
S23 *Eastern Wash. 1:05 pm Two of last year’s tri-champs open league play
S30 *at Northern Ariz. 3:05 pm MSU 2-13 in Skydome
O7 *Portland State 1:35 pm Vikings topped I-A New Mexico on Saturday
O14 *at Sacramento St 7:05 pm Bobcats’ 38-28 ‘04 loss to Hornets still stings
O21 *at Idaho State 3:05 pm MSU has lost three of last four in Holt Arena
O28 *Weber State 12:05 pm Jeff Hastings hit walk-off field goal for win in ‘05
N4 *Northern Colo. 12:05 pm Bobcats dropped 14-10 home game in ‘04
N18 *Montana 12:05 pm The 106th ‘Cat-Griz game
Opening Information
Saturday’s game marks the first time since 2001 the Bobcats open Big Sky play against a school other than Idaho State. * Mike Kramer’s Bobcats are 3-3 in conference openers, including a 1-2 mark at home, but have not faced a team other than Idaho State (2-2) or Weber State (1-1) to begin league play. * Montana State has opened Big Sky play against Eastern Washington three times since the Eagles joined the league in 1987, posting a 2-1 mark in those games, including 1-1 in Bozeman. * Those three games came in Eastern’s first three years as a Big Sky member (1987-89). * While Eastern has served as MSU’s league opener three times, the Bobcats have never been the Eagles’ first conference game. EWU played Nevada (1987 and ‘89) and NAU (‘88) to open conference play in those seasons during which Eastern was the Bobcats’ opener.
Stadium Stuff
Montana State’s 45-0 loss to UC Davis last weekend marked the second-worst home defeat a Bobcat team has suffered since Bobcat Stadium was remodeled in 1997 (UM, 49-3, 1999) * The shutout was the first MSU has suffered in the Bobcat Stadium era, and the first in any home game since losing to Idaho 34-0 in Reno H. Sales Stadium in 1985 * That 1985 shutout was the second in a row by the Vandals in Bozeman, as Idaho also blanked the ‘Cats 23-0 in 1983 * The two Idaho whitewashings and last Saturday’s UC Davis games are the only home shutouts suffered by the Bobcats in the Sales/Bobcat Stadium era. * Saturday’s attendance of 12,087 marked the fifth-largest for a non-conference game in school history * The crowd last weekend extended MSU’s string of consecutive crowds of at least 12,000 to nine games.
Thundered
UC Davis’ 21-point third quarter was the most surrendered by the ‘Cats in a period since Cal Poly matched that total in game three last fall. MSU surrendered just seven second-half points in the first two games of 2006, but gave up 28 last weekend.
TO Turnaround
The ‘Cats stood 7-4 in 2005 in spite of finishing only one game with a positive turnover margin (and -7 on the season), and are following that pattern this fall. MSU is -5 in turnovers through three games. The Bobcats are 1-0 when the turnover number is positive, 0-2 when it’s negative.
The No-Return Policy
On Nov. 22, 2003, Corey Smith returned the opening kickoff of the Cat-Griz game for a touchdown which spurred the Bobcats to a 27-20 win and the Big Sky title. Since then, MSU has not returned a punt or kickoff for a touchdown, a streak that stands at 26 games and is the longest span in Mike Kramer’s coaching career. The Bobcats have not allowed a punt return for a touchdown in 35 straight games (since Cal Poly, 2003) or a kickoff return in 56 straight contests.
Distinctive Debut
Josh Lewis posted the best home debut by a Bobcat receiver against Chadron State, catching six passes for 151 yards. He didn’t have the chance for an encore, as he injured a knee in practice last week.
1. 151 Josh Lewis vs.Chadron State, 2006
2. 141 Tramaine Murray vs. SFA, 2005
3. 118 Junior Adams vs. Cal Poly, 2001
The Rol(ovich) Punt
Jack Rolovich has punted 14 times this season, and Ryan Force once, using the roll-punt style made familiar by Travis Lulay. Bobcat opponents have returned only four of those punts, for six yards.
Sackless
MSU has allowed only six sacks through three games, but have sacked opposing quarterbacks only three times, all vs. Chadron State.
A Good First Impression, Part I
Cory Carpenter threw for 337 yards against Chadron in his first Bobcat Stadium start, the second-best home debut in Reno H. Sales or Bobcat Stadium...
1. 358 Joe Volek NAU 1990
2. 337 Cory Carpenter Chadron State 2006
3. 336 Kelly Sherwin Idaho State 1986
4. 248 Brock Spencer Idaho 1993
A Good First Impression, Part II
MSU’s best home-opening passing days...
1. 337 Cory Carpenter Chadron State 2006
2. 334 Rob Compson Chadron State 1997
3. 321 Joe Volek UM-Duluth 1991
20 is Terrific
Montana State is 23-3 in Mike Kramer’s seven seasons when holding the opposing offense to 20 points or fewer.
They’re Tight
MSU’s four TEs are in-state players: starter Elliott Barnhart played at Powder River (Broadus), Brandon Bostick at Missoula Big Sky, Joe Schreibeis at BillingsWest, and Ty McDonald at Geyser. Geyser plays six-man football.
Anti-Air Defense
Montana State led the Big Sky in pass defense last season, finishing 31st in I-AA. After allowing just 240 yards in the first two games of ‘06, UC Davis threw for 393 yards last week.
Behind Early and Often
Montana State has not led in the first quarter this season, and has not held a lead since the end of the Colorado game (120 minutes of football.
Bonus Football
MSU is 4-2 all-time in overtime games. Below is a look...
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+
Long Runs
MSU had 14 rushes of 20 yards or more in ‘05 (nine by Travis Lulay), but has yet to post a 20-yard or longer run this season.
MSU When Leading After...
1st Qtr: 0-0/2nd Qtr: 0-0/3rd Qtr: 1-0
MSU When Trailing After...
1st Qtr: 0-2/2nd Qtr: 1-2/3rd Qtr: 0-2
THE QUOTABLE KRAMER
On the Eastern Washington game: “This is a complete coaching staff game. Both coaching staffs will be tested like they’ve never been tested in years previous. I have a pretty solid idea about how we’ll respond, and because I know Paul (Wulff, Eastern Washington’s head coach and a former Kramer assistant) so well I have a solid idea how they’ll respond. It’s not about saving the season, it’s necessarily about being able to feel good about the rest of the season. You need enough feel-good plays in the game to gear up for a very arduous Big Sky title hunt. For us it will be a definition of our character. I hope we’re a great team that bounces back and plays well, like the one we saw at Colorado. Eastern Washington has won the last three of these games because they’ve out-physicaled us and out-wanted us. We need to respond in those areas on Saturday.”
On the Bobcats: “Offensively we will, must, and better run the ball more effectively. We need to take the performance demands off of Cory (Carpenter). Defensively I’ll be happy if we get aligned. I don’t mind getting beat in man coverage, but I don’t like getting beat because we’re not ready to play. We will address that situation this week.”
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
