Saturday, November 20
Missoula, MT
12:05 pm
Montana State University
at
Montana
Tanner Ripley and the Bobcats face Montana on Saturday in Missoula
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcats Battle Grizzlies for 110th Time in Missoula Saturday
11/18/2010 3:25:07 PM | Football
MSU heads to Washington-Grizzly Stadium with plenty at stake
The Treasure State's biggest gridiron weekend arrives with a bang Saturday, as Montana State travels to Montana with a share of the Big Sky title and an FCS Playoff bert at stake. UM got back on the winning track with a win over North Dakota last weekend, while Montana State enjoyed its bye week. Record-setting running back and reigning BSC Player of the Week Chase Reynolds, who gained 173 yards last week, and prolific passer Justin Roper, who completes 62% of his passes, lead Montana. Denarius McGhee leads the Big Sky's most productive offense against the league's top pass defense.
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 12:05 pm
SITE: Missoula, MT
STADIUM: Washington-Grizzly Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen)
TELEVISION: Montana's News Network (Derek Buerkle, Mike Callaghan, Grady Bennett)
FOR OPENERS
* Montana State's 4,764 yards is third on the school's single season total offense list
* The Cats are 8-15 since the beginning of 2006 when negative in turnovers (28-6 when positive in that span), but have won the last three games in spite of a -6 turnover ratio
STADIUM STUFF
* The Bobcats average 510.2 yards and 40.3 points per game in Bobcat Stadium in 2010
* MSU sold out each of its six 2010 home games, and the Bobcats stand sixth nationally in attendance as a percentage of seating capacity (110%)
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
* MSU's per game averages in points, passing yards, and total yards each lead the Big Sky
* Denarius McGhee's 275.2 passing yards per game leads the Big Sky
HIGHLIGHTS
* Jason Cunningham's 1.90 field goals per game leads the FCS
* Bobcat QBs lead the Big Sky in pass efficiency at 159.34, 3rd-best in the FCS
* MSU's record is the same when trailing after three quarters as when winning (4-1)
STREAKS
* WR Everett Gilbert has multiple catches in each of his 21 career games at MSU
* LT Mike Person has started 33 straight game on the Bobcat offensive line
MILESTONES
* Denarius McGhee's 20 TD passes is the fourth-best season in Bobcat history, and he joins Travis Lulay as tne only back-to-back 400-yard passers in MSU history
* MSU's 358 points is the second-highest total in school history
* Tanner Bleskin's 457 receiving yards is second-most by a frosh in MSU history
SHINING
* QB Denarius McGhee has earned national Freshman of the Week honors from The Sports Network twice
* DT Dan Ogden logged 3.5 tackles-for-loss, including two sacks, vs. Weber
* LB Aleksei Grosulak leads the Bobcats with 78 tackles after a career-high 18 vs. Weber State, and is a two-time Big Sky Player of the Week
Yardage Watch
Montana State has piled up yards at a historic rate through the first 10 games of the 2010 season...
Year Games Yards Yds/Gm
2010 10 4,764 476.4
1984 11* 4,921 447.4
2004 11 4,763 433.0
1973 10 4,030 403.0
1968 10 4,006 400.6
1998 11 4,253 386.6
*-regular season only
Airing it Out
Denarius McGhee's 275.2 passing average through the first 10games of his Bobcat career is on a pace to stand as MSU's third-best season ever. It is also the best passing season ever for a Bobcat frosh.
Passing
Player Year Yards/Game
Kelly Bradley (so.) 1984 318.9
Travis Lulay (jr.) 2004 316.8
Denarius McGhee (fr.) 2010 280.2
Rob Compson (sr.) 1998 251.0
Travis Lulay (sr.) 2005 239.0
Topic: Turnovers
TO Margin TO Margin TO Margin
in BSC Wins in BSC Losses Overall in BSC gms
2010 -1 E -1
2009 +3 -6 -3
2008 +5 -9 -4
2007 +6 -5 +1
The Cats are 7-12 under Rob Ash when turning the ball over more than their foe.
More of the Turnover Tale
Montana State's record when...
Positive in Even in Negative in
TO Margin TO Margin TO Margin
2010 4-0 1-2 3-0
2009 4-0 1-1 2-3
2008 4-0 0-0 3-5
2007 5-0 1-1 0-4
2006 5-1 3-1 0-3
2002-05 11-5 12-6 7-11
Mac The Miracle Worker?
Bobcat offensive line coach Jason McEndoo has earned his keep this fall, starting five different O-line combinations with eight different players earning starts. Starters Ben Tauanuu (last eight games of season), Conrad Burbank (six games), Casey Dennehy (one game) and Leo Davis (one game), and reserve Andrew Verlanic (last seven games of season) have all missed time to injuries this year.
All He Does is Catch Touchdowns
Kyle Begger may be in his first season as a full-time starter, but is no stranger to the end zone. Begger's four touchdowns this season raises his career total to nine, tied for 10th in school history.
The Rush on Rushing
While Montana State's individual productivity in the run game has fluctuated this fall, the Bobcats' team effort has remained highly consistent. Except for the Northern Arizona game, the Bobcats have rushed for at least 110 yards in each 2010 contest. When reaching 125 rushing yards, the Bobcats are 7-0.
Skewing Young
Of the 21 players on MSU's offensive depth chart, only five are seniors. Seven are freshmen or sophomores.
Offensive Notebook...
* The team's 646 total yards at Sac State was third-most in school history and the most since a school-record 683 against EWU in 2004
* MSU's 326 rushing yards against Portland State was its most since gaining 369 at Portland State in 2008, and the most in the Big Sky in 2010
* MSU's 64 points against Sac State was fifth-most in school history, and with the Hornets' 61 points the 125 combined points was the most in school history
* Denarius McGhee's 402 passing yards against Northern Colorado was seventh-most in MSU history, and the most by a Big Sky Conference freshman since 2007
* McGhee is the highest-rated FCS fresman in passing efficiency and total offense
Jonesin' for a Pass Breakup
While Montana State's pass defense came under siege during the litany of mid-season njuries, Darius Jones emerged as a solid cover corner. Jones, a sophomore, has broken up 10 passes this season, more than all but one other Big Sky player. Jones has yet to intercept a pass in 2010, but is tied for fifth in the BSC with 1.1 passes defended per game and forced a key Weber State fumble.
Back in the Middle of Things
After his two games stint at defensive end to help cover for injured starter Dustin O'Connell, Dan Ogden has spent the last four games reminding folks why he is considered one of the nation's premiere defensive tackles. In that span, he has 22 tackles, including 7.0 for a loss, and 4.5 sacks. He has broken up one pass, forced a fumble, and hurried the quarterback twice.
The Ol' Minter Magic
Sophomore end/tackle Zach Minter has shown the ability to wreck any type of opponent play. He has 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and eight pass breakups. He also has four hurries, and has caused and recovered a fumble.
Talkin' Turnovers
Montana State was even or positive in turnover margin in each if the team's first seven games, but after 10 giveaways in the last three games has fallen to -1.
More on Turnovers
In MSU's recent three-game turnover slide, the team gave the ball away seven times in the first half, and four times after halftime. Four of the opponent possessions after first half turnovers resulted in scores, but the Cats held the opponents to just one score after the second-half turnovers.
Rushing Remarks
Since the beginning of 2008, MSU has allowed its three FBS opponents to rush for 161.7 yards per game, but has held FCS foes to 71.1 yards (1,422 total) in 20 games and its three non-DI foes 34.0 yards per game (102 total).
MSU When Leading After...
1st Qtr: 4-1 2nd Qtr: 7-1 3rd Qtr: 4-1
MSU When Trailing After...
1st Qtr: 3-1 2nd Qtr: 1-1 3rd Qtr: 4-1
No Returns
MSU's freshman punter Rory Perez has punted 35 times in Montana State's 10 games, allowing only six to be returned for 11 total return yards. MSU leads the league in net punting (37.3).
Pondering Pins
Rory Perez has 12 pins inside the opponent 20 yard line this season, against only one touchback.
Scoring
Jason Cunningham's 236 career points places him first on MSU's all-time scoring list. His 7.38 points per game is 11th in Big Sky history. His 9.40 points/game through 10 games this year is the fourth-best season rate in school history.
Long Distance Kicking
Jason Cunningham has two field goals of 50+ yards this year. He and Pat Bolton are the only Bobcats with that distinction. He is the first Bobcat with 4 career 50 yarders.
Block Party
From 1999-2006, Montana State blocked a total of eight kicks, and in MSU's recorded history has topped four blocks in a season only twice (six in 1990, and nine in 1984). Here is a look at the block-party-on-wheels that has been the Rob Ash Era:
Blocked Blocked Blocked Total
Punt FG PAT Blocks
2010 1 0 0 1
2009 3 2 1 6
2008 4 1 1 6
2007 1 3 0 4
Total 9 5 2 17
More on Blocks
MSU has allowed six blocked kicks since the beginning of 2008, five by FBS schools. Sac State is the only FCS foe to block a Bobcat kick in the past four seasons.
2010 Montana State Depth Chart
Offense
LEFT TACKLE 72 Mike Person*** 6-5 295 Sr&
70 Killian Fitzpatrick 6-8 285 RFr&
LEFT GUARD 68 Conrad Burbank** 6-4 280 Jr&
OR 57 Casey Dennehy** 6-1 273 So&
CENTER 56 Shaun Sampson 6-0 249 So&
61 Alex Terrien** (TARE-ee-unh) 6-4 291 Jr&
RIGHT GUARD 61 Alex Terrien** (TARE-ee-unh) 6-4 291 Jr&
71 Jesse Hoffmann** 6-4 286 Sr&
RIGHT TACKLE 50 Leo Davis* 6-4 271 Jr&
70 Killian Fitzpatrick 6-8 285 RFr&
QUARTERBACK 9 Denarius McGhee (duh-NAIR-ee-us) 6-0 197 RFr&
12 Cody Kempt* 6-2 220 Sr+
12 Cody Kempt* 6-2 220 Sr+
RUNNING BACK 8 Orenzo Davis (ore-ENN-zoe) 5-9 185 Jr+
20 CJ Palmer* 6-0 235 Jr
W RECEIVER 14 Everett Gilbert* 5-9 177 So
27 DeSean Thomas** (duh-SHAWN) 6-1 180 Jr
X RECEIVER 1 Elvis Akpla (ACK-pluh) 6-1 185 Jr&+
86 Tanner Bleskin 6-3 210 RFr&
Z RECEIVER 82 Julius Lloyd 6-0 184 Sr+
10 Kruizz Siewing* (Cruise See-wing) 5-10 182 So&
TIGHT END 81 Kyle Begger** 6-2 245 Sr&
88 Shane Robison* (ROB-isson) 6-5 245 Jr&
Defense
BANDIT 96 Zach Minter* 6-1 265 So
34 Preston Gale 6-2 239 RFr&
48 Dustin O'Connell 6-2 245 Sr&
TACKLE 90 Dan Ogden*** 6-0 270 Sr
63 Zach Logan 6-3 295 Fr
NOSE 45 Jason D'Alba* (dee-AL-buh) 6-2 277 Sr&+
98 Christian Keli'i* (kuh-LEE-ee) 6-0 282 So
END 11 John Laidet** (luh-DETT) 6-5 250 Jr&+
49 Caleb Schreibeis* (SHRY-bice) 6-3 245 So&
SAM 22 Michael Rider*** 5-11 196 Sr&
9 Roger Trammell (truh-MELL) 6-1 230 Jr+
MIKE 44 Aleksei Grosulak (uh-LECK-see GROSS-uh-lack) 5-10 215 RFr&
OR 42 Clay Bignell** 6-2 236 Jr&
WILL 23 Jody Owens* 6-1 214 So&
59 Tanner Ripley*** 6-1 214 Sr&
BOUNDARY 26 Arnold Briggs ** 5-10 185 Sr&
CORNER 17 Sean Gords 5-10 185 Fr
FREE SAFETY 5 Joel Fuller* 6-0 200 So
32 Anthony Cosme-Peko*(COZZme-PECK-oh) 5-11 209 Sr+
ROVER 7 Jordan Craney*** (CRAY-nee) 6-1 205 Sr
28 Steven Bethley 5-11 220 Fr
FIELD 13 Darius Jones* (DARE-ee-us) 5-10 167 So
CORNER 24 James Andrews 6-1 187 Jr
*-number of letters earned &-player used redshirt year, +-transferred to MSU
KICKS 15 Jason Cunningham** 6-1 162 Jr
PUNTS 18 Rory Perez 6-2 180 Fr
RETURNS 1-Elvis Akpla, 14-Everett Gilbert, 8-Orenzo Davis
SNAPS: 65-Tim Garcia HOLDER: 19 Rick Haluszka
Leon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
