Saturday, October 15
Bozeman, MT
1:05 PM
Montana State University
vs
NORTHERN ARIZONA (PARENT/FAMILY WEEKEND)
Big Sky Player of the Week DeNarius McGhee
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcats Face League-Leading Offense
10/11/2011 4:53:00 PM | Football
MSU, Lumberjacks square off in matchup of BSC's top offense vs. top defense
After a heart-stopping win at Portland State in a first-place showdown last week, Montana State hosts long-time nemesis Northern Arizona Saturday. The Lumberjacks have beaten the Bobcats in three of the last four meetings between the long-time Big Sky rivals, including their last two visits to Bozeman. NAU brings a potent offensive attack and the league's top rush defense to Bobcat Stadium. Quarterback Cary Grossart and two-headed tailback tandem Zach Bauman (119.4 yards per game) and Giovannie Dixon (10.4 yards per carry) lead NAU. Grossart averages for 252.6 yards passing while leading the league in pass efficiency. NAU is 1-2 in the Big Sky, dropping heartbreakers at Portland State on a blocked game-winning field goal try and to defending champ Eastern Washington at home.
MSU Game Notes vs. NAU
NAU Game Notes vs. MSU
TICKET TALK
• At the end of business on Tuesday, less than 750 tickets remained for Saturday's MSU-Northern Arizona contest
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 1:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman, MT
STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Tyler Wiltgen-SL, Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: Max Media Montana (Chris Byers, Mike Callaghan, AJ Donatoni-SL)
FOR OPENERS
• Rob Ash's Bobcats are 33-4 when scoring at least 20 points, 21-0 when scoring 30+
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• DeNarius McGhee earned Big Sky Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors with Eastern Washington quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, and also earned National Player of the Week honors from College Sporting News
POWER OF THE POLLS
• The Bobcats remain third in both national polls this week, the Fathead.com Sports Network Top 25 and the FCS Coaches Poll
WEEKLY EVENTS
• Rob Ash meets with Bobcat fans over coffee on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 am at the Bozeman Holiday Inn. Coach Ash and a pair of Bobcat players join play-by-play man Jeff Lasky for Cat Chat on Wednesday at 7 pm at the Pour House in downtown Bozeman and on selected Bobcat Radio Network stations.
STADIUM STUFF
• MSU averages 37.3 points and 489.1 yards in its three home games this season
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
• After winning 20 of their first 24 games in 2011, Big Sky home teams were 0-4 last weekend (MSU, Montana, Eastern Washington and Sac State all won on the road)
• Montana State continues to lead the Big Sky in pass defense and total defense
• Saturday's matchup pits the league's best offense (NAU, 449.8 yards a game) and the Big Sky's top defense (MSU, 300.2 yards a game)
2011 MSU SCHEDULE
Sept 1 at Utah, L, 10-27
Sept 10 UC Davis, W, 38-14
Sept 17 Minot State, W, 43-7
Sept 24 *at Eastern Wash., W, 36-21
Oct 1 *Sacramento St, W, 31-21
Oct 8 *at Portland St, W, 38-36
Oct 15 *Northern Arizona, 1:05 pm
Oct 22 *at Northern Colo. , 1:35 pm MT
Oct 29 *Idaho State, 12:05 pm
Nov 5 *at Weber St, 1:35 pm MT
Nov 19 *Montana, 12:05 pm
HIGHLIGHTS
• The Bobcat defense held Portland State to 100 yards below its season rushing average (213)
• MSU possessed the ball for 20:41 of a possible 30 minutes in the last two fourth quarters (11:05 vs. Sac, 9:36 vs. PSU)
• DeNarius McGhee is 14-4 as Montana State's starting quarterback
STREAKS
• WR Elvis Akpla has caught a pass in each of his 28 games at MSU, and a touchdown pass in the last five
• OG Alex Terrien has started 32 consecutive games, including starts at all three O-line positions
• The Bobcat offense has scored at least 30 points in five straight games
MILESTONES
• DeNarius McGhee's 35 career TD passes is fourth in Bobcat history, and his 12 this season is two from MSU's single season top 10
• Elvis Akpla is now 8th in MSU history in receiving yards (1,607)
SHINING
• QB DeNarius McGhee's earned Big Sky Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors for throwing four TD passes and rushing for one on Saturday
• RB Cody Kirk rushed for 42 yards on five carries in MSU's game-clinching final drive at PSU
• LB Jody Owens logged eight tackles, 2.5 for a loss with one sack, Saturday
MSU Game Notes vs. NAU
NAU Game Notes vs. MSU
TICKET TALK
• At the end of business on Tuesday, less than 750 tickets remained for Saturday's MSU-Northern Arizona contest
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 1:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman, MT
STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Tyler Wiltgen-SL, Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: Max Media Montana (Chris Byers, Mike Callaghan, AJ Donatoni-SL)
FOR OPENERS
• Rob Ash's Bobcats are 33-4 when scoring at least 20 points, 21-0 when scoring 30+
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• DeNarius McGhee earned Big Sky Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors with Eastern Washington quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, and also earned National Player of the Week honors from College Sporting News
POWER OF THE POLLS
• The Bobcats remain third in both national polls this week, the Fathead.com Sports Network Top 25 and the FCS Coaches Poll
WEEKLY EVENTS
• Rob Ash meets with Bobcat fans over coffee on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 am at the Bozeman Holiday Inn. Coach Ash and a pair of Bobcat players join play-by-play man Jeff Lasky for Cat Chat on Wednesday at 7 pm at the Pour House in downtown Bozeman and on selected Bobcat Radio Network stations.
STADIUM STUFF
• MSU averages 37.3 points and 489.1 yards in its three home games this season
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
• After winning 20 of their first 24 games in 2011, Big Sky home teams were 0-4 last weekend (MSU, Montana, Eastern Washington and Sac State all won on the road)
• Montana State continues to lead the Big Sky in pass defense and total defense
• Saturday's matchup pits the league's best offense (NAU, 449.8 yards a game) and the Big Sky's top defense (MSU, 300.2 yards a game)
2011 MSU SCHEDULE
Sept 1 at Utah, L, 10-27
Sept 10 UC Davis, W, 38-14
Sept 17 Minot State, W, 43-7
Sept 24 *at Eastern Wash., W, 36-21
Oct 1 *Sacramento St, W, 31-21
Oct 8 *at Portland St, W, 38-36
Oct 15 *Northern Arizona, 1:05 pm
Oct 22 *at Northern Colo. , 1:35 pm MT
Oct 29 *Idaho State, 12:05 pm
Nov 5 *at Weber St, 1:35 pm MT
Nov 19 *Montana, 12:05 pm
HIGHLIGHTS
• The Bobcat defense held Portland State to 100 yards below its season rushing average (213)
• MSU possessed the ball for 20:41 of a possible 30 minutes in the last two fourth quarters (11:05 vs. Sac, 9:36 vs. PSU)
• DeNarius McGhee is 14-4 as Montana State's starting quarterback
STREAKS
• WR Elvis Akpla has caught a pass in each of his 28 games at MSU, and a touchdown pass in the last five
• OG Alex Terrien has started 32 consecutive games, including starts at all three O-line positions
• The Bobcat offense has scored at least 30 points in five straight games
MILESTONES
• DeNarius McGhee's 35 career TD passes is fourth in Bobcat history, and his 12 this season is two from MSU's single season top 10
• Elvis Akpla is now 8th in MSU history in receiving yards (1,607)
SHINING
• QB DeNarius McGhee's earned Big Sky Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors for throwing four TD passes and rushing for one on Saturday
• RB Cody Kirk rushed for 42 yards on five carries in MSU's game-clinching final drive at PSU
• LB Jody Owens logged eight tackles, 2.5 for a loss with one sack, Saturday
This week's game preview is brought to you by Montana Disaster and Emergency Services.
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