The Bobcats... the Bison... the playoffs... part II
MSU FB Game Notes vs. NDSU
12/2/2010 7:11:08 PM | Football
Bobcats host Bison in FCS Playoffs on Saturday
Thirty four years to the day after Montana State and North Dakota State met in the Grantland Rice Bowl, a 10-3 Bobcat win boosting MSU to the 1976 NCAA Division II National Championship game, the ancient rivalry resumes Saturday in an NCAA Division I FCS Second Round playoff game. The Bison, an at large tournament entry, reached this point by defeating Robert Morris in the first round last week, while MSU earned a bye and the tournament's fourth seed by winning the Big Sky Conference. The Bobcats put an exclamation point on the season with a 21-16 championship clincher over the Grizzlies.
FOR OPENERS
•Montana State's 5,042 yards is most ever gained by a Bobcat team
•The Cats are 8-15 since the start of '06 when negative in turnovers (29-6 when positive)
•After a three-game -6 TO ratio span, the Bobcats were +4 against Montana
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 regular season 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 267.3 passing yards per game leads the Big Sky
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 12:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman, MT
STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen)
TELEVISION: ESPN on Max Media, Altitude (Trey Bender, Jay Taylor)
HIGHLIGHTS
•Jason Cunningham's 1.73 field goals per game is second the FCS
•Bobcat quarterbacks lead the Big Sky in pass efficiency at 159.54, 3rd-best in the FCS
•MSU's record is 5-1 when leading after three quarters, 4-1 when trailing
STREAKS
•LT Mike Person has started 34 straight game on the Bobcat offensive line
MILESTONES
•Denarius McGhee's 22 TD strikes is tied for MSU's second-best season and ninth-best career total
•MSU's 379 points is the second-highest total in school history
•Tanner Bleskin's 480 receiving yards is second-most by a frosh in MSU history
SHINING
•QB Denarius McGhee earned MSU's first Big Sky Offensive MVP (with Taiwan Jones) honor since '84, becoming first league frosh so honored since '03
•S Jordan Craney & Michael Rider picked off their first passes of the season at Missoula
•RB Orenzo Davis rushed for 140 yards at UM to pass 1,000 yards (1,062)
•Bobcat Fans packed a sold out Bobcat Stadium for all six 2010 games, and tickets for Saturday are nearly gone
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 nine games of season), Conrad Burbank (six games), Casey Dennehy (one game) and Leo Davis (one game), and reserve Andrew Verlanic (last eight 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 the senior is no stranger to the end zone. Begger's four touchdowns this season raises his career total to nine, tied for 10th in MSU 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 8-0.
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, the most in the Big Sky this year, and the most by a Big Sky Conference freshman since 2007
•McGhee is the highest-rated FCS freshman 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 injuries, 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 0.9 passes defended per game and forced a key Weber State fumble.
Back in the Middle of Things
After playing two games at defensive end to help cover for injuries, First Team All-Big Sky choice Dan Ogden has spent the last five games reminding folks why he is considered one of the nation's premiere defensive tackles. In that span, he has 23 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 8.5 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.
Turnover Turnaround
After turning the ball over 11 times in the previous three games, MSU benefited from four takeaways against Montana without a turnover. MSU is +3 on the season.
More on Turnovers
In MSU's late-season three-game turnover slide, the team's seven first half turnovers resulted in four opponent scores, but the four second half TOs started just one scoring drive.
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 80.0 yards (1,681 total) in 21 games and its three non-DI foes 34.0 yards per game (102 total).
Rushing Redux
Montana and Weber State combined to rush for 449 yards against the Bobcats.
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 8.82 points/game through 11 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.
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&
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 TACKLE50 Leo Davis* 6-4 271 Jr&
70 Killian Fitzpatrick 6-8 285 RFr&
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 48 Dustin O'Connell 6-2 245 Sr&
34 Preston Gale 6-2 239 RFr&
TACKLE 90 Dan Ogden*** 6-0 270 Sr
96 Zach Minter* 6-1 265 So
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 44 Aleksei Grosulak (uh-LECK-see GROSS-uh-lack) 5-10 215 RFr&
9 Roger Trammell (truh-MELL) 6-1 230 Jr+
MIKE 42 Clay Bignell** 6-2 236 Jr&
59 Tanner Ripley*** 6-1 214 Sr&
WILL 23 Jody Owens* 6-1 214 So&
41 Na'a Moekiola
BOUNDARY 26 Arnold Briggs ** 5-10 185 Sr&
CORNER 17 Sean Gords 5-10 185 Fr
FREE SAFETY 22 Michael Rider*** 5-11 196 Sr&
5 Joel Fuller* 6-0 200 So
ROVER 7 Jordan Craney*** (CRAY-nee) 6-1 205 Sr
32 Anthony Cosme-Peko* (COZZme-PECK-oh) 5-11 209 Sr+
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
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
