Game Notes: MSU vs, NAU
10/9/2009 12:20:34 PM | Football
Bobcat linebacker Jeff Price, a senior from Billings, won't play in Saturday's Homecoming game against Northern Arizona.
With Price out, Jody Owens steps into the Bobcat starting lineup at linebacker. Owens has battled a shoulder injury this week, but is expected to play today. Senior Matt Harris also moves into the rotation.
"We're thin at linebacker right now," said MSU coach Rob Ash. "It's a concern. The stepping into the lineup need to step up and play, and I have confidence they will play well."
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Mason vs. Henderson: Montana State beat Northern Arizona 39-32 in 2006 at Flagstaff's Walkup Skydome in a game that served as a showcase event for a pair of talented freshman running backs. The more heralded of the two, NAU's Alex Henderson, would eventually win Big Sky Conference Top Newcomer honors. Aaron Mason rushed for only 60 yards in MSU's first four games, but he broke out for 192 yards in the Walkup Skydome and went on to set an MSU freshman rushing record with 645 yards. For two years, however, Mason and Henderson struggled. After rushing for 645 yards as a freshman, Mason gained just 552 the next two years combined. Thus far in 2009, Mason has a pair of 100-yard games and 340 rushing yards. Henderson has also responded in a huge way as a senior, rushing for 431 yards through four games. He also has a pair of 100-yard games. Mason has now rushed for 1,437 yards in his career, while Henderson has 2,732.
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Sack stats: Most football games are won at the line of scrimmage, and that may be especially true in today's Montana State-Northern Arizona game. The Bobcats have registered either quarterback sacks this season, but have 30 tackles-for-loss. NAU's offensive line, on the other hand, has allowed just three sacks on the season, and just 19 tackles-for-loss.
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Long Way Home: Montana State has waited exactly four weeks since its last home game. The Bobcats had the exact same length of time between its first and second home games a year ago. After beating Adams State on August 30, MSU returned home on September 27 to beat South Dakota, 37-18.
