Bobcat Game Notes vs. K-State
9/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
THE STORYLINE
With a 56-point season-opening win in its hip pocket, Montana State heads to the heartland on Saturday to face powerful Kansas State of the Big 12. The Bobcats face a foe from that league for the fourth straight season, with losses at Oklahoma State (15-10, 2005) and Texas A&M (38-7) sandwiched around a win over Colorado (19-10, 2006).
FOR OPENERS
• Montana State’s only road-opener win in the past 13 seasons came at Colorado in ‘06
• MSU has won eight of its last nine when opening the season in Bobcat Stadium
STADIUM STUFF
• MSU is now 12-2 in season-opening games in Bobcat Stadium
• A capacity crowd in Manhattan on Saturday would be the third-largest ever to see a Montana State football game
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
• MSU’s sid sacks (Dan Ogden had a pair) were the most by a Big Sky team on Saturday
• Demetrius Crawford was one of three Big Sky players to top 100 yards last weekend
GAME FACTS
KICKOFF: 6:05 pm CDT
SITE: Manhattan
STADIUM: Snyder Family Stadium
PRESS BOX: NA
RADIO: Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen)
TELEVISION: Fox College Sports (talent TBA)
HIGHLIGHTS
• Saturday’s 59-3 win over Adams State was the largest margin of victory in a season-opening win in MSU history
• MSU is 1-2 against Big 12 foes since ‘05, with an average score of 21-12
• MSU has started a quarterback from Oregon in seven straight seasons
STREAKS
• Bobby Daly’s string of double-digit tackles in nine straight games ended Saturday
• The Bobcats extended its string of wins in season-opening home games to three with the victory over Adams State
• MSU’s seven straight winning seasons is its longest streak since 1956-64
MILESTONES
• Bobby Daly’s 35 career tackles-for-loss is tied for 10th in MSU history
• MSU has sold out its season tickets for three straight seasons
SHINING
• RB DEMETRIUS CRAWFORD posted his fourth career 100-yd game
• DE DANE FLETCHER posted his 20th career tackle-for-loss Saturday
• TE BRANDON BOSTICK caught three TD passes Saturday, after getting two in his previous three seasons
THE BOBCATS THIS WEEK
Mon Practice: 3:30 pm
Tue Coaches Corner: 10 am (Holiday Inn)
Media Lunch: Noon*
Practice: 3:30 pm
Wed Practice: 3:30 pm
Cat Chat: 7 pm (Pour House, KXLB-FM)
Thu Practice: 3:30 pm
Fri Practice: TBA
*-MSU players available only during Media Lunch
Montana State
BOBCATS
1-0/0-0 Big Sky
MSU in ‘08 1-0
Conf./Record Big Sky/0-0
Home/Road 1-0/0-0
Grass/Turf 0-0/1-0
Day/Night 1-0/0-0
HEAD COACH Rob Ash
Alma Mater Cornell (Ia.)/’73
Overall/Years 183-104-5/28th
At MSU/Years 7-5/2nd
vs KSU 0-0
Home/Road 0-0/0-0
SERIES first meeting
At MSU 0-0
At KSU 0-0
Current Streak none
SID Bill Lamberty
Office 406/994-5133
E-mail blamberty@msubobcats.com
Kansas State
WILDCATS
1-0/0-0 Big 12
KSU in ‘08 1-0
Conf./Record Big 12/0-0
Home/Road 1-0/0-0
Grass/Turf 0-0/1-0
Day/Night 0-0/1-0
HEAD COACH Ron Prince
Alma Mater Appalachian State/’92
Overall/Years 13-13/3rd
At School/Years same
vs MSU 0-0
Home/Road 0-0/0-0
ABOUT KSU The Wildcats
Spirit Colors Purple, white
Location/Enrollment Manhattan, KS/23,352
Stadium Snyder Family Stadium
SID Kenny Lannou
Office 785/532-7977
E-mail klannou@ksu.edu
Notes on the Offense...
• After throwing seven interceptions in the last four games of 2007, the Bobcats were not picked off in the 2008 opener against Adams State
• MSU rushed for 239 yards Saturday, matching its total of 200-yard rushing games last year
Notes on the Defense...
• Montana State held Adams State to 116 yards is the fewest by a Bobcat opponent since the Cats held Portland State to 112 in 2003
• Montana State’s five sacks marked the most by a Big Sky team last weekend, and after averaging 8.6 tackles-for-loss last year the Bobcats registered 12 on Saturday
• Six payers who have started games as Bobcats return to Montana State’s defensive line this year, including two of the four full-time starters from a year ago
Notes on the Kick Teams...
• Jason Cunningham hit his only field goal, a 40-yarder which was longer than any FG Montana State converted last year
• Punter Eric Fisher’s six punts sailed an average of 43.2 yards, with two of them pinning ASC inside its own 20
Hello, My Name Is...
The Big Sky welcomed four new head coaches last season. MSU’s Rob Ash finished 3-0 against his fellow league newcomers.
Ash Escort
To promote the Montana Hope Project, which aids Treasure State children in need, a Montana State Trooper escorts Rob Ash on the sideline.
Seeing Red
Montana State penetrated the Adams State red zone three times last weekend. The ‘Cats scored touchdowns on all three possessions.
The Best Yet
Adams State’s 116 total yards was the fewest allowed by the Bobcat defense during the Rob Ash era, and was the fewest by a Bobcat opponent since Portland State’s 112 yards in ‘03.
Return Remarks
Kory Austin’s 85-yard punt return against Dixie State last fall marked MSU’s only punt return for a touchdown since Nov. 15, 2003.
Lots of Wins
Montana State head coach Rob Ash’s 183 career wins is 24th among active coaches.
The No-Return Policy
Corey Smith’s 90-yard return of the Cat-Griz opening kickoff in 2003 was MSU’s last kickoff return for a score. That streak stands at 47 games. The Bobcats have not allowed a punt return for a touchdown in 56 straight games (since Cal Poly, 2003) or a kickoff return in 77 straight contests.
Scoopin’ and Scoring
The Bobcat defense has shown an acute knack for turning takeaways into points. MSU is 5-0 in the last two seasons when the defense scores, 2-5 when it does not.
2008
ASC Jeff Brown 10 fumble ret MSU 59-3
2007
PSU Mike Beach 72 int ret MSU 50-36
ISU Kevin Retoriano 83 int ret MSU 40-20
Chase Gazzero safety MSU 40-20
WEB Chase Gazzerro 26 int ret MSU 21-5
Mike Beach 12 int ret MSU 21-5
DIX Team safety MSU 61-7
Dan Ogden 62 int ret MSU 61-7
More of the Turnover Tale
Since the beginning of the 2005 season, MSU is 12-1 when positive in turnover margin, 4-7 when even in turnovers, and 6-6 when giving up more turnovers than it forces. The ‘Cats finished -3 in turnovers in 2007, but stand +4 after one game in 2008.
The O-Line Shuffle
For three straight seasons, and in five of his six seasons as Montana State’s offensive line coach, the unit Jason McEndoo sent out for the first series of the season was different than that with which he closed the preceeding set of spring drills. This year is no different, as the ineligibility of projected starting tackle Jeff Miller led to Lou Saucedo’s move to tackle and the emergence of redshirt freshmen Conrad Burbank in the starting lineup in the opener. With Jim Verlanic’s expected return from a fall camp injury, Hansen moves back to guard, and redshirt freshman Alex Terrien becomes a versatile reserve at guard.
Sudden Changes
Montana State’s defense faced only one sudden change (turnover) on Saturday, and responded by forcing an Adams State fumble.
Pick Party
MSU’s 19 interceptions in 2007 was the ninth-best total in school history. In Jamie Marshall’s 12-game tenure marshalling the Bobcat defense, MSU has 21 interceptions.
Opening Information
Montana State is now 56-45-5 in season openers since the Montana State A&M Aggies began play in 1897. Saturday’s contest at Kansas State marks the fourth straight season that MSU’s first road game of the season comes in a Big 12 stadium, and the Bobcats are 1-2 in those games. MSU lost 15-10 at Oklahoma State in 2005 and 38-7 at Texas A&M last fall, but beat Colorado 19-10 in 2006.
They’re Tight
MSU’s four varsity tight ends are each products of Montana high schools: starter Brandon Bostick (Missoula Big Sky), Joe Schreibeis (Billings West), Kyle Begger (Miles City), and Shane Robison (Billings West). In addition, redshirts Steven Foster (Helena High) and Kevin Steiner (Shelby) also hail from the Treasure State.
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+
No Close Calls
Only two of MSU’s last 14 games were decided by less than double-digits.
MSU When Leading After...
1st Qtr: 1-0/2nd Qtr: 1-0/3rd Qtr: 1-0
MSU When Trailing After...
1st Qtr: 0-0/2nd Qtr: 0-0/3rd Qtr: 0-0
ROB ASH, ON...
...the Adams State game: “The defense played as well as we thought they did (after evaluating the game), very fast, aggressive, inspired play, ball-hawking, taking the ball away. We do have some issues with containment that we have to fix. We lost containment of the pocket a few times, and that’s a priority given the athleticism of the quarterback we’re playing this week. That’s just a technique thing we need to fix, but overall I was real happy with the defense. Offensively we have to eliminate a few missed assignments and the penalties, but I thought our execution was good, I thought our ball security was OK, I’m disappointed with the one fumble but I thought for the first game it wasn’t bad.”
...personnel evaluation: “I was very happy with our (true) freshmen. I thought Jason Cunningham did an excellent job, DeSean Thomas looked comfortable out there, and CJ Palmer obviously came through with some big plays. I thought those guys were able to walk on the field and play, and that was a positive thing. I liked our depth on defense. Cory Nicol came off the bench and got two picks, Jeff Brown played extremely well for (Kevin) Retoriano, Dustin O’Connell came in and made some big plays, I thought our backup linebackers played well. On offense I thought the two redshirt freshman guards played their way into the game after a shaky start. (Conrad) Burbank and (Alex) Terrien playing well is not a surprise, necessarily, but it’s a good feeling.”
...Kansas State: “The difference between last week and this week is night and day for us. Kansas State has a very sophisticated offensive scheme, they are much more assignment-sound. We had some gift-wrapped opportunities Saturday with unblocked players and so forth, and that won’t happen Saturday. We’ve looked at some tapes from last year, but it’s always good to get this year’s view. I thoughty they looked fabulous against North Texas. They played well in every phase of the game. They completely smothered the spread offense with their defense, and were very efficient on offense. (Quarterback Josh) Freeman is a very difficult player to stop because he is such a multiple threat. I thought they looked really well-prepared and ready for the season.”
With a 56-point season-opening win in its hip pocket, Montana State heads to the heartland on Saturday to face powerful Kansas State of the Big 12. The Bobcats face a foe from that league for the fourth straight season, with losses at Oklahoma State (15-10, 2005) and Texas A&M (38-7) sandwiched around a win over Colorado (19-10, 2006).
FOR OPENERS
• Montana State’s only road-opener win in the past 13 seasons came at Colorado in ‘06
• MSU has won eight of its last nine when opening the season in Bobcat Stadium
STADIUM STUFF
• MSU is now 12-2 in season-opening games in Bobcat Stadium
• A capacity crowd in Manhattan on Saturday would be the third-largest ever to see a Montana State football game
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
• MSU’s sid sacks (Dan Ogden had a pair) were the most by a Big Sky team on Saturday
• Demetrius Crawford was one of three Big Sky players to top 100 yards last weekend
GAME FACTS
KICKOFF: 6:05 pm CDT
SITE: Manhattan
STADIUM: Snyder Family Stadium
PRESS BOX: NA
RADIO: Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen)
TELEVISION: Fox College Sports (talent TBA)
HIGHLIGHTS
• Saturday’s 59-3 win over Adams State was the largest margin of victory in a season-opening win in MSU history
• MSU is 1-2 against Big 12 foes since ‘05, with an average score of 21-12
• MSU has started a quarterback from Oregon in seven straight seasons
STREAKS
• Bobby Daly’s string of double-digit tackles in nine straight games ended Saturday
• The Bobcats extended its string of wins in season-opening home games to three with the victory over Adams State
• MSU’s seven straight winning seasons is its longest streak since 1956-64
MILESTONES
• Bobby Daly’s 35 career tackles-for-loss is tied for 10th in MSU history
• MSU has sold out its season tickets for three straight seasons
SHINING
• RB DEMETRIUS CRAWFORD posted his fourth career 100-yd game
• DE DANE FLETCHER posted his 20th career tackle-for-loss Saturday
• TE BRANDON BOSTICK caught three TD passes Saturday, after getting two in his previous three seasons
THE BOBCATS THIS WEEK
Mon Practice: 3:30 pm
Tue Coaches Corner: 10 am (Holiday Inn)
Media Lunch: Noon*
Practice: 3:30 pm
Wed Practice: 3:30 pm
Cat Chat: 7 pm (Pour House, KXLB-FM)
Thu Practice: 3:30 pm
Fri Practice: TBA
*-MSU players available only during Media Lunch
Montana State
BOBCATS
1-0/0-0 Big Sky
MSU in ‘08 1-0
Conf./Record Big Sky/0-0
Home/Road 1-0/0-0
Grass/Turf 0-0/1-0
Day/Night 1-0/0-0
HEAD COACH Rob Ash
Alma Mater Cornell (Ia.)/’73
Overall/Years 183-104-5/28th
At MSU/Years 7-5/2nd
vs KSU 0-0
Home/Road 0-0/0-0
SERIES first meeting
At MSU 0-0
At KSU 0-0
Current Streak none
SID Bill Lamberty
Office 406/994-5133
E-mail blamberty@msubobcats.com
Kansas State
WILDCATS
1-0/0-0 Big 12
KSU in ‘08 1-0
Conf./Record Big 12/0-0
Home/Road 1-0/0-0
Grass/Turf 0-0/1-0
Day/Night 0-0/1-0
HEAD COACH Ron Prince
Alma Mater Appalachian State/’92
Overall/Years 13-13/3rd
At School/Years same
vs MSU 0-0
Home/Road 0-0/0-0
ABOUT KSU The Wildcats
Spirit Colors Purple, white
Location/Enrollment Manhattan, KS/23,352
Stadium Snyder Family Stadium
SID Kenny Lannou
Office 785/532-7977
E-mail klannou@ksu.edu
Notes on the Offense...
• After throwing seven interceptions in the last four games of 2007, the Bobcats were not picked off in the 2008 opener against Adams State
• MSU rushed for 239 yards Saturday, matching its total of 200-yard rushing games last year
Notes on the Defense...
• Montana State held Adams State to 116 yards is the fewest by a Bobcat opponent since the Cats held Portland State to 112 in 2003
• Montana State’s five sacks marked the most by a Big Sky team last weekend, and after averaging 8.6 tackles-for-loss last year the Bobcats registered 12 on Saturday
• Six payers who have started games as Bobcats return to Montana State’s defensive line this year, including two of the four full-time starters from a year ago
Notes on the Kick Teams...
• Jason Cunningham hit his only field goal, a 40-yarder which was longer than any FG Montana State converted last year
• Punter Eric Fisher’s six punts sailed an average of 43.2 yards, with two of them pinning ASC inside its own 20
Hello, My Name Is...
The Big Sky welcomed four new head coaches last season. MSU’s Rob Ash finished 3-0 against his fellow league newcomers.
Ash Escort
To promote the Montana Hope Project, which aids Treasure State children in need, a Montana State Trooper escorts Rob Ash on the sideline.
Seeing Red
Montana State penetrated the Adams State red zone three times last weekend. The ‘Cats scored touchdowns on all three possessions.
The Best Yet
Adams State’s 116 total yards was the fewest allowed by the Bobcat defense during the Rob Ash era, and was the fewest by a Bobcat opponent since Portland State’s 112 yards in ‘03.
Return Remarks
Kory Austin’s 85-yard punt return against Dixie State last fall marked MSU’s only punt return for a touchdown since Nov. 15, 2003.
Lots of Wins
Montana State head coach Rob Ash’s 183 career wins is 24th among active coaches.
The No-Return Policy
Corey Smith’s 90-yard return of the Cat-Griz opening kickoff in 2003 was MSU’s last kickoff return for a score. That streak stands at 47 games. The Bobcats have not allowed a punt return for a touchdown in 56 straight games (since Cal Poly, 2003) or a kickoff return in 77 straight contests.
Scoopin’ and Scoring
The Bobcat defense has shown an acute knack for turning takeaways into points. MSU is 5-0 in the last two seasons when the defense scores, 2-5 when it does not.
2008
ASC Jeff Brown 10 fumble ret MSU 59-3
2007
PSU Mike Beach 72 int ret MSU 50-36
ISU Kevin Retoriano 83 int ret MSU 40-20
Chase Gazzero safety MSU 40-20
WEB Chase Gazzerro 26 int ret MSU 21-5
Mike Beach 12 int ret MSU 21-5
DIX Team safety MSU 61-7
Dan Ogden 62 int ret MSU 61-7
More of the Turnover Tale
Since the beginning of the 2005 season, MSU is 12-1 when positive in turnover margin, 4-7 when even in turnovers, and 6-6 when giving up more turnovers than it forces. The ‘Cats finished -3 in turnovers in 2007, but stand +4 after one game in 2008.
The O-Line Shuffle
For three straight seasons, and in five of his six seasons as Montana State’s offensive line coach, the unit Jason McEndoo sent out for the first series of the season was different than that with which he closed the preceeding set of spring drills. This year is no different, as the ineligibility of projected starting tackle Jeff Miller led to Lou Saucedo’s move to tackle and the emergence of redshirt freshmen Conrad Burbank in the starting lineup in the opener. With Jim Verlanic’s expected return from a fall camp injury, Hansen moves back to guard, and redshirt freshman Alex Terrien becomes a versatile reserve at guard.
Sudden Changes
Montana State’s defense faced only one sudden change (turnover) on Saturday, and responded by forcing an Adams State fumble.
Pick Party
MSU’s 19 interceptions in 2007 was the ninth-best total in school history. In Jamie Marshall’s 12-game tenure marshalling the Bobcat defense, MSU has 21 interceptions.
Opening Information
Montana State is now 56-45-5 in season openers since the Montana State A&M Aggies began play in 1897. Saturday’s contest at Kansas State marks the fourth straight season that MSU’s first road game of the season comes in a Big 12 stadium, and the Bobcats are 1-2 in those games. MSU lost 15-10 at Oklahoma State in 2005 and 38-7 at Texas A&M last fall, but beat Colorado 19-10 in 2006.
They’re Tight
MSU’s four varsity tight ends are each products of Montana high schools: starter Brandon Bostick (Missoula Big Sky), Joe Schreibeis (Billings West), Kyle Begger (Miles City), and Shane Robison (Billings West). In addition, redshirts Steven Foster (Helena High) and Kevin Steiner (Shelby) also hail from the Treasure State.
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+
No Close Calls
Only two of MSU’s last 14 games were decided by less than double-digits.
MSU When Leading After...
1st Qtr: 1-0/2nd Qtr: 1-0/3rd Qtr: 1-0
MSU When Trailing After...
1st Qtr: 0-0/2nd Qtr: 0-0/3rd Qtr: 0-0
ROB ASH, ON...
...the Adams State game: “The defense played as well as we thought they did (after evaluating the game), very fast, aggressive, inspired play, ball-hawking, taking the ball away. We do have some issues with containment that we have to fix. We lost containment of the pocket a few times, and that’s a priority given the athleticism of the quarterback we’re playing this week. That’s just a technique thing we need to fix, but overall I was real happy with the defense. Offensively we have to eliminate a few missed assignments and the penalties, but I thought our execution was good, I thought our ball security was OK, I’m disappointed with the one fumble but I thought for the first game it wasn’t bad.”
...personnel evaluation: “I was very happy with our (true) freshmen. I thought Jason Cunningham did an excellent job, DeSean Thomas looked comfortable out there, and CJ Palmer obviously came through with some big plays. I thought those guys were able to walk on the field and play, and that was a positive thing. I liked our depth on defense. Cory Nicol came off the bench and got two picks, Jeff Brown played extremely well for (Kevin) Retoriano, Dustin O’Connell came in and made some big plays, I thought our backup linebackers played well. On offense I thought the two redshirt freshman guards played their way into the game after a shaky start. (Conrad) Burbank and (Alex) Terrien playing well is not a surprise, necessarily, but it’s a good feeling.”
...Kansas State: “The difference between last week and this week is night and day for us. Kansas State has a very sophisticated offensive scheme, they are much more assignment-sound. We had some gift-wrapped opportunities Saturday with unblocked players and so forth, and that won’t happen Saturday. We’ve looked at some tapes from last year, but it’s always good to get this year’s view. I thoughty they looked fabulous against North Texas. They played well in every phase of the game. They completely smothered the spread offense with their defense, and were very efficient on offense. (Quarterback Josh) Freeman is a very difficult player to stop because he is such a multiple threat. I thought they looked really well-prepared and ready for the season.”
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
