Bobcat Football Sunday Notebook
9/13/2009 5:55:57 PM | Football
Montana State topped Dixie State 23-20 Saturday, generating 465 yards of total offense and 28 first downs.
INJURY REPORT: Preliminary reports indicate no new injuries from Saturday's game against Dixie State. DE Brad Smith and CB Cory Nicol remain on track to play in MSU's next game, September 26 at Northern Colorado.
TEAM NOTES
• Montana State is now 69-25-3 in home openers since 1908, the time during which home/road data is available.
• After committing no turnovers in the opener at Michigan State, Montana State lost three fumbles and threw two interceptions Saturday against Dixie State.
• Montana State registered nine tackles-for-loss Saturday, including 2.5 by Dane Fletcher.
• The Bobcats rushed for 160 yards on Saturday, 81 in the fourth quarter.
• Mark Iddins threw for 151 yards in the first quarter against Dixie State, just one yard fewer than his previous Bobcat single-game high.
• Iddins' 300-yard game is only the second for a Bobcat quarterback since the end of the 2006 season.
• Saturday's crowd of 13,767 matched last year's opener against Adams State as the third-largest opening day crowd in Bobcat history, and the 10th-largest non-Grizzly crowd.
• Kevin Retoriano's return to the Bobcat lineup – at cornerback rather than safety – put three-quarters of MSU's projected starting secondary on the field against Dixie State. When Cory Nicol returns, possibly against Northern Colorado, it will mark the first time this season that the team's secondary is intact (the season-ending injury to Arnold Briggs notwithstanding).
• Aaron Mason's 112 yards rushing against Dixie State is his third career 100-yard game. Mason rushed for 67 yards in the fourth quarter as MSU iced the win. The effort gives Mason 1,219 career rushing yards, moving him into 20th place in Bobcat history.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES/PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
OFFENSE: QB Mark Iddins – 6-2, 200, Sr, Mukilteo, WA
Senior Mark Iddins logged his best day as a Bobcat, throwing for a career-high 305 yards and two touchdowns against Dixie State. Iddins completed 24 of his 40 passes, throwing an 18-year old touchdown pass to Everett Gilbert and a 32-yard scoring strike to Kyle Begger.
DEFENSE: LB Clay Bignell – 6-2, 236, So, Helena, MT
Clay Bignell led Montana State's defensive effort against Dixie State on Saturday, registering seven tackles, which was tied for the team high, and intercepting two passes. The two interceptions were Bignell's first of the season, and his second and third career picks. The first came early in the second quarter came in the Bobcat end zone and stifled Dixie State's first scoring opportunity of the day. His second pick, which came in the last five minutes of the game, was also in MSU territory. Bignell also registered one tackle for a loss.
SPECIAL TEAMS: P/KO Eric Fisher – 6-1, 198, Sr, Billings, MT
Eric Fisher, who leads the Big Sky in punting and ranks third in the nation, averaged 55.0 yards on three punts Saturday against Dixie State. He nailed a long punt of 77 yards, tied for sixth in school history, and pinned Dixie State inside its own five-yard line once. Fisher produced three touchbacks on his six kickoffs Saturday, as well.
MSU SINGLE-GAME AWARDS - DIXIE STATE
Winner's Circle - Offense: Kyle Begger, Mark Desin, Jeff Hansen, Mark Iddins, Aaron Mason, Mike Person, Joe Schreibeis.
Winner's Circle - Defense: Clay Bignell, Ryan Cerise, Jordan Craney, Jason D'Alba, Dane Fletcher, Chase Gazzerro, John Laidet, Dustin O'Connell, Dan Ogden, Jody Owens, Jeff Price, Michael Rider.
Winner's Circle - Special Teams: Blayde Becksted, Anthony Cosme-Peko, Brad Daly, Mark Desin, Matt Harris, John Laidet, Tanner Ripley, Shane Robison.
Offensive Player of the Week: RB Aaron Mason
Defensive Player of the Week: LB Clay Bignell
Special Teams Player of the Week: Blayde Becksted
Special Teams MVP (Captain): Tanner Ripley
Pay Day Award: Dan Ogden
Scout Special Teams Award: Aleksei Grosulak
Offensive Scout of the Week: Denarius McGhee/Kevin Steiner
Defensive Scout of the Week: Derek DeJong/Mike Wallner
