Saturday, October 8
Portland, OR
1:05 PM PT/2:05 PM MT
Montana State University
at
at PORTLAND STATE
Portland product Elvis Akpla runs headlong into his hometown school on Saturday
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcats Visit Portland for First-Place Showdown
10/5/2011 6:14:00 AM | Football
Big Sky unbeatens meet in Rose City Saturday afternoon
If there's any curiosity among Big Sky football followers how Portland State has raced out to a 3-1 record, including a 2-0 league mark heading into Saturday's first-place showdown with MSU, the numbers jump off the page at you - 312.8 rushing yards a game, including an FCS-leading 169.7 per game from Cory McCaffrey. For good measure, spark-plug quarterback Connor Kavanaugh chips in with 111 rushing yards per game. Complementing the Vikings' league-leading scoring offense (34.5 points per game), PSU's stifling defense leads the Big Sky in stopping the run (104.3) and is second in total defense. While MSU enjoyed its Homecoming win over Sacramento State Saturday, Portland State's fourth quarter comeback 42-35 at Idaho State set up this week's matchup of Big Sky unbeatens.
MSU Game Notes vs. Portland State
PSU Game Notes vs. Montana State
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 2:05 pm MT/1:05 pm PT
SITE: Portland, OR
STADIUM: Jeld-Wen Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen)
TELEVISION: Max Media Montana (Chris Byers, Mike Callaghan, AJ Donatoni-SL)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For the second straight week, a Bobcat defensive lineman has earned Big Sky Player of the Week honors. Junior Zach Minter was tabbed this week for a four-tackle effort that included a tackle for loss. He also made one of the game's crucial plays, recovering a fumble at the MSU five-yard line to stop a potential fourth-quarter scoring drive by Sacramento State.
POWER OF THE POLLS
Montana State climbed one spot to third in each national poll this week, the Sports Network Fathead.com and FCS Coaches polls. It is MSU's highest ranking since the 1984 National Championship season.
FOR OPENERS
• Rob Ash's Bobcats are 32-4 when scoring at least 20 points, 20-0 when scoring 30+
STADIUM STUFF
• Two weeks after visiting Eastern Washington's red turf for the first time, MSU makes its initial visit to the renovated Jeld-Wen Stadium
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
• Big Sky home teams are 9-3 in conference contests this season
• This week's MSU-PSU game features the league's top two rushing teams and top two rush defenses
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, 1:05 PT/2:05 MT
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 Bobcats own wins over ranked teams in back-to-back weeks for the first time since topping NAU in Flagstaff and Portland State in Bozeman in 2006
• MSU possessed the ball for 21:10 in the second half against Sac State
• Rob Ash's Bobcats are now 6-6 against nationally-ranked opponents
• Rory Perez's last 11 punts have been either fair caught or downed
STREAKS
• WR Elvis Akpla has caught a pass in his last 26 straight games, and a touchdown pass in four straight
• OG Alex Terrien has started 31 consecutive games
• The Bobcat offense has scored at least 30 points in four straight games
MILESTONES
• Denarius McGhee's 31 career TD passes is fourth in Bobcat history
SHINING
• WR Elvis Akpla logged his third 100-yard receiving game in the last four on Saturday, and his 95-yard catch is the longest pass play in MSU history
• RB Cody Kirk has three 100-yard rushing games in last four outings
• DE Zach Minter recovered a fumble to give MSU a fourth-quarter stop inside the Bobcat five-yard line Saturday
MSU Game Notes vs. Portland State
PSU Game Notes vs. Montana State
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 2:05 pm MT/1:05 pm PT
SITE: Portland, OR
STADIUM: Jeld-Wen Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen)
TELEVISION: Max Media Montana (Chris Byers, Mike Callaghan, AJ Donatoni-SL)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For the second straight week, a Bobcat defensive lineman has earned Big Sky Player of the Week honors. Junior Zach Minter was tabbed this week for a four-tackle effort that included a tackle for loss. He also made one of the game's crucial plays, recovering a fumble at the MSU five-yard line to stop a potential fourth-quarter scoring drive by Sacramento State.
POWER OF THE POLLS
Montana State climbed one spot to third in each national poll this week, the Sports Network Fathead.com and FCS Coaches polls. It is MSU's highest ranking since the 1984 National Championship season.
FOR OPENERS
• Rob Ash's Bobcats are 32-4 when scoring at least 20 points, 20-0 when scoring 30+
STADIUM STUFF
• Two weeks after visiting Eastern Washington's red turf for the first time, MSU makes its initial visit to the renovated Jeld-Wen Stadium
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
• Big Sky home teams are 9-3 in conference contests this season
• This week's MSU-PSU game features the league's top two rushing teams and top two rush defenses
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, 1:05 PT/2:05 MT
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 Bobcats own wins over ranked teams in back-to-back weeks for the first time since topping NAU in Flagstaff and Portland State in Bozeman in 2006
• MSU possessed the ball for 21:10 in the second half against Sac State
• Rob Ash's Bobcats are now 6-6 against nationally-ranked opponents
• Rory Perez's last 11 punts have been either fair caught or downed
STREAKS
• WR Elvis Akpla has caught a pass in his last 26 straight games, and a touchdown pass in four straight
• OG Alex Terrien has started 31 consecutive games
• The Bobcat offense has scored at least 30 points in four straight games
MILESTONES
• Denarius McGhee's 31 career TD passes is fourth in Bobcat history
SHINING
• WR Elvis Akpla logged his third 100-yard receiving game in the last four on Saturday, and his 95-yard catch is the longest pass play in MSU history
• RB Cody Kirk has three 100-yard rushing games in last four outings
• DE Zach Minter recovered a fumble to give MSU a fourth-quarter stop inside the Bobcat five-yard line Saturday
This week's game preview is brought to you by Montana Disaster and Emergency Services.
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