Montana State University
at NORTHERN COLORADO
Bobcats Visit Northern Colorado
10/20/2011 1:05:00 PM | Football
MSU takes Big Sky's top-ranked defense to Nottingham Field
Regardless of how the journey of Saturday's 41-24 win over NAU unfolded, the destination was the same as in MSU's first three league games of the season - the offense scored more than 30 points, the defense held an explosive offense to well below its average season production, and the kick teams survived some inconsistency. That formula has produced a 4-0 start in Big Sky play and six straight wins overall, a third-place national ranking, and a spot alone atop the league. While Northern Colorado may not lead the Big Sky in offense as MSU's previous two foes did, the youthful Bears show signs of offensive explosiveness. The team scored 28 points on the Grizzlies in Missoula, and 27 last week at Eastern Washington. The team also has a pair of stars on defense in Clarence Bumpas and Marcel Gibbons.
MSU Game Notes vs. Northern Colorado
NC Game Notes vs. Montana State
FOR OPENERS
• Montana State clinched its 10th straight winning season Saturday, the longest such streak in school history and the fourth-earliest the program has done so
STADIUM STUFF
• MSU averages 38.3 points and 502.8 yards in its three home games this season
• The Bobcats' 2007 loss at Nottingham Field marked NC's first Big Sky victory
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
• Big Sky home teams are 24-8 in conference games this year
• MSU leads the BSC in rush defense, pass defense, total defense, and scoring defense
• Northern Colorado linebacker Clarence Bumpas leads the Big Sky in tackles, while teammate Marcel Gibbons leads the league in tackles-for-loss
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 1:35 pm
SITE: Greeley, CO
STADIUM: Nottingham Field
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Tyler Wiltgen-SL, Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: Altitude (Chris Marlowe, Scott Hastings, Maya Starks-SL)
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, W, 41-24
Oct 22-*at Northern Colo., 1:35 pm
Oct 29-*Idaho State, 12:05 pm
Nov 5-*at Weber St, 1:35 pm MT
Nov 19-*Montana, 12:05 pm
HIGHLIGHTS
• For the second straight week, MSU held the Big Sky's top offense to at least 100 yards below its season average
• Rob Ash's Bobcats are 34-4 when scoring at least 20 points, 22-0 when scoring over 30
• MSU has gained at least 500 yards nine times over the past two seasons, the same total as from 1992-2009 combined
STREAKS
• WR Elvis Akpla has caught a pass in each of his 29 games at MSU, and a touchdown pass in the last six
• OG Alex Terrien has started 33 consecutive games, including starts at all three O-line positions
• The Bobcat offense has scored at least 30 points in six straight games
MILESTONES
• DeNarius McGhee's 38 career TD passes is 4th in Bobcat history, and his 15 in 2011 is tied for MSU's 8th-best year
• Elvis Akpla is now 7th in MSU history in receiving yards (1,680)
SHINING
• The Bobcat O-Line paved the way for a season-high 296 rushing yards vs. NAU without allowing a sack
• RB Cody Kirk gained 142 yards rushing and 43 receiving on Saturday
• DE Brad Daly logged six tackles with a game-high three sacks vs. NAU, taking over the Big Sky lead with six sacks this season
