Cody Kirk recorded rambled for 134 yards against Sac State
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Football Sunday Notebook #5
10/2/2011 8:28:00 PM | Football
Bobcats ride Kirk's legs, Akpla's hands to win over ranked rival
After Saturday's 31-21 win over #25 Sacramento State, the Bobcats visit Portland State in what the Vikings are calling PSU's “biggest home game in years.” The Big Sky co-leaders (both are 2-0 in league play) meet Saturday at newly-renovated Jeld-Wen Stadium at 1:05 pm PT/2:05 pm MT.
INJURY REPORT
OUT - SEASON: DE Preston Gale (knee), RB Kerry Sloan (knee), LB Roger Trammell (knee). DOUBTFUL: Cole Moore (shoulder), Kruiz Siewing (hip).
QUESTIONABLE: CJ Palmer (migraine headaches), Rob Marshall (ankle).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
Offense – WR Elvis Akpla (6-1, 190, Sr, Portland, OR)
The Bobcat senior caught six passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He has caught at least one touchdown in four straight games. His five touchdown catches is tied for second in the Big Sky, and his 93.4 receiving yards per game is third in the league. Akpla hooked up with DeNarius McGhee on a 95-yard touchdown pass against Sacramento State, the longest pass play and second-longest play from scrimmage in MSU history. He also caught a 41-yard touchdown pass, and a four-yard pass from punter Rory Perez on a fourth-and-one play from the MSU 29.
Defense – DT Zach Minter (6-1, 285, Jr, Phoenix, AZ)
Zach Minter was part of a Bobcat defensive effort that held Sacramento State's offense to just 14 points. The junior from Phoenix registered four total tackles, one for a loss, and recovered a key fumble at the MSU five-yard line that thwarted a Sacramento State drive late in MSU's 31-17 win.
Special Teams – none
MSU WEEKLY AWARDS
Offensive MVP: Cody Kirk, Elvis Akpla
Defensive MVP: Darius Jones, Zach Minter
Special Teams MVP: Chase Young
Special Teams Captain: Brad Daly
Top Scout – Offense: Joel Horn
Top Scout – Defense: Alex Singleton, Brad Nordahl
Top Scout – Special Teams: Odin Coe
BOBCAT NOTES
• Saturday's crowd of 18,847 was the largest in school history
• MSU's win over Sacramento State gave the Bobcats their second straight win over a nationally-ranked opponent for the first time since 2006
• Elvis Akpla's 95-yard touchdown catch from DeNarius McGhee was the longest pass play and second-longest play from scrimmage in MSU history
• After not recording an interception in the first two games, MSU now has at least one in three straight games
• Bobcat sophomore Cody Kirk is fourth in the Big Sky and 19th in the FCS in rushing (103.4)
• Senior Jason Cunningham leads the Big Sky and is tied for second nationally in field goals per game (2.0), and is second in the Big Sky and tied for 12th nationally in scoring (9.6)
• Next week's Bobcat game matches Portland State's Big Sky-leading rushing offense (312.8, also no. one in FCS) against the Big Sky's second-ranked rushing defense, and MSU's second-ranked rushing offense (206.4) against the league's top rushing defense (104.8)
• Cody Kirk has rushed for over 100 yards in back-to-back games, and three times this season
• Kirk averages 133.7 rushing yards against FCS opponents, 55.0 yards a game against non-FCS opponents
• Rory Perez's last 11 punts have been either downed or fair caught
INJURY REPORT
OUT - SEASON: DE Preston Gale (knee), RB Kerry Sloan (knee), LB Roger Trammell (knee). DOUBTFUL: Cole Moore (shoulder), Kruiz Siewing (hip).
QUESTIONABLE: CJ Palmer (migraine headaches), Rob Marshall (ankle).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
Offense – WR Elvis Akpla (6-1, 190, Sr, Portland, OR)
The Bobcat senior caught six passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He has caught at least one touchdown in four straight games. His five touchdown catches is tied for second in the Big Sky, and his 93.4 receiving yards per game is third in the league. Akpla hooked up with DeNarius McGhee on a 95-yard touchdown pass against Sacramento State, the longest pass play and second-longest play from scrimmage in MSU history. He also caught a 41-yard touchdown pass, and a four-yard pass from punter Rory Perez on a fourth-and-one play from the MSU 29.
Defense – DT Zach Minter (6-1, 285, Jr, Phoenix, AZ)
Zach Minter was part of a Bobcat defensive effort that held Sacramento State's offense to just 14 points. The junior from Phoenix registered four total tackles, one for a loss, and recovered a key fumble at the MSU five-yard line that thwarted a Sacramento State drive late in MSU's 31-17 win.
Special Teams – none
MSU WEEKLY AWARDS
Offensive MVP: Cody Kirk, Elvis Akpla
Defensive MVP: Darius Jones, Zach Minter
Special Teams MVP: Chase Young
Special Teams Captain: Brad Daly
Top Scout – Offense: Joel Horn
Top Scout – Defense: Alex Singleton, Brad Nordahl
Top Scout – Special Teams: Odin Coe
BOBCAT NOTES
• Saturday's crowd of 18,847 was the largest in school history
• MSU's win over Sacramento State gave the Bobcats their second straight win over a nationally-ranked opponent for the first time since 2006
• Elvis Akpla's 95-yard touchdown catch from DeNarius McGhee was the longest pass play and second-longest play from scrimmage in MSU history
• After not recording an interception in the first two games, MSU now has at least one in three straight games
• Bobcat sophomore Cody Kirk is fourth in the Big Sky and 19th in the FCS in rushing (103.4)
• Senior Jason Cunningham leads the Big Sky and is tied for second nationally in field goals per game (2.0), and is second in the Big Sky and tied for 12th nationally in scoring (9.6)
• Next week's Bobcat game matches Portland State's Big Sky-leading rushing offense (312.8, also no. one in FCS) against the Big Sky's second-ranked rushing defense, and MSU's second-ranked rushing offense (206.4) against the league's top rushing defense (104.8)
• Cody Kirk has rushed for over 100 yards in back-to-back games, and three times this season
• Kirk averages 133.7 rushing yards against FCS opponents, 55.0 yards a game against non-FCS opponents
• Rory Perez's last 11 punts have been either downed or fair caught
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
