Montana State clinched its ninth straight winning season Saturday, matching the longest such streak in school history… the Bobcats lost the turnover battle for the first time in 2010 Saturday, finishing -3… MSU has rolled up 3,750 yards of total offense through the first eight games of 2010, which already ranks as the 20th-best season in school history… the team averages 516.6 yards in Bobcat Stadium this year… MSU leads the Big Sky in scoring average, total offense average, and passing average… Denarius McGhee's 400 yards Saturday marked the seventh-best passing game in MSU history, the most ever by a Bobcat freshman, and the first 400-yard game by a Big Sky Conference frosh since 2007… the Bobcats have rolled up more than 500 yards in five of their eight games this season… since moving back inside after a brief stint at defensive end, Dan Ogden has registered two sacks, three tackles-for-loss, one pass breakup, a quarterback hurry, and a forced fumble in the last two games.
PRELIMINARY INJURY REPORT
OUT: DE Dustin O'Connell, shoulder (indefinitely); DE Brad Smith, shoulder (season); OG Ben Tauanuu, leg (season).
DOUBTFUL FOR IDAHO STATE: Dustin O'Connell (shoulder), Clay Bignell (ankle)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
Offense: Denarius McGhee, QB (5-11, 203, Fr) Denarius McGhee posted a career and 2010 Big Sky-best 400 passing yards Saturday, leading Montana State to a 37-35 home win over Northern Colorado. The first Big Sky freshman to throw for 400 yards in a game since 2007, McGhee has the two most productive passing days in the league this season, and also leads the Big Sky in passing average. He finished the day 21-for-33 passing, with four touchdowns and one interception. McGhee connected with eight different receivers, and none caught more than four passes or accounted for more than 77 yards. The day's big play was a fourth-quarter shovel pass to Orenzo Davis that covered 77 yards.
Defense: Jody Owens, LB (6-1, 214, So) Jody Owens led Montana State with nin tackles, including one for a loss Saturday. He also broke up one Northern Colorado pass.
Special Teams: Jason Cunningham, K (6-1, 175, Jr) Jason Cunningham broke Montana State's single-season field goal record on Saturday, connecting three times in three attempts to raise his season total to 17. Cunningham has converted 14 consecutive field goals, and leads the nation in field goals per game. He is 17-for-18 on the season, a 94.4% success rate, and has completed 80% of his field goals in his career. Cunningham's 83 points leads the Big Sky and is the fourth-best season in MSU history.
TEAM AWARDS vs. NORTHERN COLORADO
Winner's Circle - Offense:Julius Lloyd, Leo Davis, Orenzo Davis, Mike Person, Casey Dennehy, Kyle Begger, Tanner Bleskin, Shane Robison, CJ Palmer, Everett Gilbert, Elvis Akpla, Shaun Sampson. Winner's Circle - Defense:Caleb Schreibeis, Jason D'Alba, Preston Gale, Jordan Craney, Zach Minter, Dan Ogden, Jody Owens, Michael Rider. Winner's Circle - Special Teams: Blayde Becksted, Cody Kirk, Kruiz Siewing, Steven Bethley, CJ Palmer, Sean Gords, Tanner Ripley.
