Bobcat FB Sunday Notebook, 9/23/07
9/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
INJURY REPORT: The Bobcats appeared to incur no new injuries Saturday. WR Josh Lewis (hamstring) and RB Isaiah Taito (foot) each missed Saturday’s game and enter the week day-to-day. Defensive tackle Brandon Hoffenbacker (knee) remains out.
ROB ASH’S TENTATIVE MEDIA AND APPEARANCE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday: 12 noon – Bobcat Quarterback Club, Billings
5:30 pm – Bobcat Quarterback Club, Bozeman (with teleconference to Great Falls and Butte)
Tuesday: 10 am – Coaches Corner, Holiday Inn
12 noon – Bobcat Media Lunch
7 pm –Bobcat Quarterback Club, Helena
Wednesday: 10:54 am – Big Sky Conference Media Call
7 pm – Cat Chat, hosted by Jeff Lasky, Old Chicago (1450 KMMS-AM)
Friday: 12 noon – President’s Advisory Council luncheon
Practice is 3:30 pm Tuesday through Thursday, 4 pm in Bobcat Stadium on Friday.
TEAM NOTES
• Montana State has won seven straight and nine of the last 11 against Weber State, a drastic turn in this series. The Wildcats dominated MSU for a decade, winning 10 of the 12 meetings from 1985-96. Montana State is now 12-11 all-time in Stewart Stadium.
• The Bobcats are now 23-22 all-time in Big Sky openers, 10-12 when opening conference play on the road. MSU also raised its record to 4-5 in league openers against Weber State, 3-3 in league openers at Stewart Stadium.
• After rushing for 210 yards against Division II Dixie State last weekend, Montana State gained only 283 total yards Saturday at Weber State.
• The Bobcats have scored six defensive touchdowns against Weber State in the last six seasons
• Montana State averages 379.7 yards or total offense, 50th in the FCS.
• After forcing four Weber State turnovers without a takeaway on Saturday, the Bobcats are +5 on the season, 11th-best in the FCS
• Montana State’s 2-1 start on the season is its first since the 2002 season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES/PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
OFFENSE: none
OTHER NOTES: Tight end Elliott Barnhart’s four catches Saturday matched a career high, and marked the first time a Bobcat tight end led MSU in receiving since Blake Wolf’s 11 catches against South Dakota State in 2004… Jamelle Banks followed his two-catch performance last week with three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown on Saturday… Demetrius Crawford rushed for 95 yards, narrowly missing his second straight 100-yard game… Crawford now stands second in the Big Sky in rushing.
DEFENSE: CB Michael Beach – 6-0, 194, Sr, San Pedro, CA
For the second straight season, Michael Beach delivered a crushing blow to Weber State by returning an interception for a touchdown. Beach also registered six tackles, one for a loss, against the Wildcats. With 33 seconds to play and the Bobcats clinging to a 14-3 lead, Beach stepped in front of a Jimmy Barnes pass and galloped 12 yards for a touchdown. The pick was Beach’s third in the last two games, and marked the second straight season he returned a Wildcat pas for a touchdown, last year providing the winning margin in MSU’s 24-18 triumph.
OTHER NOTES: Bobby Daly led the Bobcats in tackles for the second straight game, registering 12, including four solos and 2.5 for a loss… Kevin Retoriano’s nine tackles marked a career high, and he chipped in with a forced fumble and a pass breakup… Chase Gazzero’s interception for a touchdown marked his first career pick and his first score.
SPECIAL TEAMS: P Eric Fisher – 6-1, 191, So, Billings, MT
In a game dominated by field position and turnovers, Eric Fisher proved a steadying force in Montana State’s 21-5 win at Weber State on Saturday. Fisher punted nine times, averaging 42.3 yards a punt. He pinned Weber State inside the 20 twice, including one punt that forced Weber State to start a drive at its own two yard-line. Of Fisher’s nine punts, he allowed only five returns by Bryant Etuati, Weber State’s spectacular return specialist, and Etuati averaged just 9.2 yards a return.
OTHER NOTES: Michael Sweeney missed both his field goal attempts, one of which was blocked, in MSU’s win over Weber State on Saturday… Kory Austin returned four punts for 33 yards on Saturday, and his 17.3 yards-per-return average stands tied for first in the Big Sky with Idaho State’s Kenyon Blue.
ROB ASH’S TENTATIVE MEDIA AND APPEARANCE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday: 12 noon – Bobcat Quarterback Club, Billings
5:30 pm – Bobcat Quarterback Club, Bozeman (with teleconference to Great Falls and Butte)
Tuesday: 10 am – Coaches Corner, Holiday Inn
12 noon – Bobcat Media Lunch
7 pm –Bobcat Quarterback Club, Helena
Wednesday: 10:54 am – Big Sky Conference Media Call
7 pm – Cat Chat, hosted by Jeff Lasky, Old Chicago (1450 KMMS-AM)
Friday: 12 noon – President’s Advisory Council luncheon
Practice is 3:30 pm Tuesday through Thursday, 4 pm in Bobcat Stadium on Friday.
TEAM NOTES
• Montana State has won seven straight and nine of the last 11 against Weber State, a drastic turn in this series. The Wildcats dominated MSU for a decade, winning 10 of the 12 meetings from 1985-96. Montana State is now 12-11 all-time in Stewart Stadium.
• The Bobcats are now 23-22 all-time in Big Sky openers, 10-12 when opening conference play on the road. MSU also raised its record to 4-5 in league openers against Weber State, 3-3 in league openers at Stewart Stadium.
• After rushing for 210 yards against Division II Dixie State last weekend, Montana State gained only 283 total yards Saturday at Weber State.
• The Bobcats have scored six defensive touchdowns against Weber State in the last six seasons
• Montana State averages 379.7 yards or total offense, 50th in the FCS.
• After forcing four Weber State turnovers without a takeaway on Saturday, the Bobcats are +5 on the season, 11th-best in the FCS
• Montana State’s 2-1 start on the season is its first since the 2002 season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES/PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
OFFENSE: none
OTHER NOTES: Tight end Elliott Barnhart’s four catches Saturday matched a career high, and marked the first time a Bobcat tight end led MSU in receiving since Blake Wolf’s 11 catches against South Dakota State in 2004… Jamelle Banks followed his two-catch performance last week with three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown on Saturday… Demetrius Crawford rushed for 95 yards, narrowly missing his second straight 100-yard game… Crawford now stands second in the Big Sky in rushing.
DEFENSE: CB Michael Beach – 6-0, 194, Sr, San Pedro, CA
For the second straight season, Michael Beach delivered a crushing blow to Weber State by returning an interception for a touchdown. Beach also registered six tackles, one for a loss, against the Wildcats. With 33 seconds to play and the Bobcats clinging to a 14-3 lead, Beach stepped in front of a Jimmy Barnes pass and galloped 12 yards for a touchdown. The pick was Beach’s third in the last two games, and marked the second straight season he returned a Wildcat pas for a touchdown, last year providing the winning margin in MSU’s 24-18 triumph.
OTHER NOTES: Bobby Daly led the Bobcats in tackles for the second straight game, registering 12, including four solos and 2.5 for a loss… Kevin Retoriano’s nine tackles marked a career high, and he chipped in with a forced fumble and a pass breakup… Chase Gazzero’s interception for a touchdown marked his first career pick and his first score.
SPECIAL TEAMS: P Eric Fisher – 6-1, 191, So, Billings, MT
In a game dominated by field position and turnovers, Eric Fisher proved a steadying force in Montana State’s 21-5 win at Weber State on Saturday. Fisher punted nine times, averaging 42.3 yards a punt. He pinned Weber State inside the 20 twice, including one punt that forced Weber State to start a drive at its own two yard-line. Of Fisher’s nine punts, he allowed only five returns by Bryant Etuati, Weber State’s spectacular return specialist, and Etuati averaged just 9.2 yards a return.
OTHER NOTES: Michael Sweeney missed both his field goal attempts, one of which was blocked, in MSU’s win over Weber State on Saturday… Kory Austin returned four punts for 33 yards on Saturday, and his 17.3 yards-per-return average stands tied for first in the Big Sky with Idaho State’s Kenyon Blue.
Wednesday, August 19
Wednesday, June 10
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
