Saturday, October 8
Portland, OR
1:05 PM PT/2:05 PM MT
Montana State University
38
at
36
at PORTLAND STATE
Zach Minter's two-point conversion stop helped MSU hold off Portland State on Saturday
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Football Sunday Notebook #6
10/9/2011 8:36:00 PM | Football
MSU topples Portland State, hosts nemesis NAU on Saturday
After Saturday's hard-won victory at Portland State, third-ranked Montana State returns home to face old nemesis Northern Arizona on Saturday. The Lumberjacks own wins on their last two trips to Bozeman, and bring a balanced, explosive offense to Bobcat Stadium. NAU leads the Big Sky in total offense, while the Bobcats top the loop in fewest yards allowed.
INJURY REPORT
OUT - SEASON: DE Preston Gale (knee), RB Kerry Sloan (knee), LB Roger Trammell (knee).
DOUBTFUL: Cole Moore (shoulder), Kruiz Siewing (hip).
QUESTIONABLE: Leo Davis (knee), Rob Marshall (ankle).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
Offense – QB DeNarius McGhee (6-0, 195, So, Euless, TX)
DeNarius McGhee led Montana State to a 38-36 win in a first-place showdown at Portland State on Saturday. Montana State's sophomore raised his career record to 14-4 as the Bobcats' starting quarterback, throwing for four touchdowns and running for another to account for 30 of the team's 38 points. McGhee threw for 255 yards and rushed for 12. He completed passes of 69, 52, 35 and 24 yards. McGhee was instrumental in keeping the Bobcats in the game early. After Portland State jumped out to a 10-0 lead by blocking a pair of MSU kicks, McGhee completed a 52-yard pass to Elvis Akpla to set up the team's first touchdown, and on MSU's next drive completed a 24-yard to Tray Robinson for a touchdown that gave MSU a lead it would never relinquish. On MSU's first drive of the second half, after PSU had closed to 21-19, McGhee led MSU on a 61-yard scoring drive keyed by his 35-yard completion to Tanner Bleskin.
Defense – SS Joel Fuller (6-0, 200, Jr, Libby, MT)
Joel Fuller registered seven tackles and forced a fumble in Montana State's win over Portland State on Saturday. Fuller was instrumental in MSU's defensive effort which held Portland State to 100 yards fewer than its season rushing average and 120 yards below its season total offense average.
Special Teams – none
MSU WEEKLY AWARDS
Offensive MVP: DeNarius McGhee
Defensive MVP: Joel Fuller
Special Teams MVP: Brian Flotkoetter
Special Teams Captain: Na'a Moeakiola
Top Scout – Offense: Te'Shon Burton
Top Scout – Defense: Taylor Sheridan
Top Scout – Special Teams: Jarmarcus Darden
BOBCAT NOTES
• Montana State is off to its second straight 5-1 start, but prior to 2010 the previous Bobcat team to win five of its first six games was the 1978 edition, which won its seven
• Elvis Akpla has caught passes in each of his 28 games at MSU, and has at least one touchdown catch in the last five games
• In spite of playing without starting right tackle Leo Davis, Montana State allowed just one sack at Portland State
• Montana State has turned the ball over only once in the last four games
• One week after PSU running back Cory McCaffrey and quarterback Konnor Cavanaugh each gained 200 yards on the ground against Idaho State, the Bobcat defense held the two to just 194 yards combined
• Although Portland State's 213 rushing yards dropped MSU to fourth in the Big Sky, the Bobcats continue to lead the league in total defense and passing defense
• Cody Kirk rushed for 42 yards on five carries in MSU's game-sealing final drive Saturday
• Montana State hosts a Northern Arizona team on Saturday which has won its last two games in Bobcat Stadium
INJURY REPORT
OUT - SEASON: DE Preston Gale (knee), RB Kerry Sloan (knee), LB Roger Trammell (knee).
DOUBTFUL: Cole Moore (shoulder), Kruiz Siewing (hip).
QUESTIONABLE: Leo Davis (knee), Rob Marshall (ankle).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
Offense – QB DeNarius McGhee (6-0, 195, So, Euless, TX)
DeNarius McGhee led Montana State to a 38-36 win in a first-place showdown at Portland State on Saturday. Montana State's sophomore raised his career record to 14-4 as the Bobcats' starting quarterback, throwing for four touchdowns and running for another to account for 30 of the team's 38 points. McGhee threw for 255 yards and rushed for 12. He completed passes of 69, 52, 35 and 24 yards. McGhee was instrumental in keeping the Bobcats in the game early. After Portland State jumped out to a 10-0 lead by blocking a pair of MSU kicks, McGhee completed a 52-yard pass to Elvis Akpla to set up the team's first touchdown, and on MSU's next drive completed a 24-yard to Tray Robinson for a touchdown that gave MSU a lead it would never relinquish. On MSU's first drive of the second half, after PSU had closed to 21-19, McGhee led MSU on a 61-yard scoring drive keyed by his 35-yard completion to Tanner Bleskin.
Defense – SS Joel Fuller (6-0, 200, Jr, Libby, MT)
Joel Fuller registered seven tackles and forced a fumble in Montana State's win over Portland State on Saturday. Fuller was instrumental in MSU's defensive effort which held Portland State to 100 yards fewer than its season rushing average and 120 yards below its season total offense average.
Special Teams – none
MSU WEEKLY AWARDS
Offensive MVP: DeNarius McGhee
Defensive MVP: Joel Fuller
Special Teams MVP: Brian Flotkoetter
Special Teams Captain: Na'a Moeakiola
Top Scout – Offense: Te'Shon Burton
Top Scout – Defense: Taylor Sheridan
Top Scout – Special Teams: Jarmarcus Darden
BOBCAT NOTES
• Montana State is off to its second straight 5-1 start, but prior to 2010 the previous Bobcat team to win five of its first six games was the 1978 edition, which won its seven
• Elvis Akpla has caught passes in each of his 28 games at MSU, and has at least one touchdown catch in the last five games
• In spite of playing without starting right tackle Leo Davis, Montana State allowed just one sack at Portland State
• Montana State has turned the ball over only once in the last four games
• One week after PSU running back Cory McCaffrey and quarterback Konnor Cavanaugh each gained 200 yards on the ground against Idaho State, the Bobcat defense held the two to just 194 yards combined
• Although Portland State's 213 rushing yards dropped MSU to fourth in the Big Sky, the Bobcats continue to lead the league in total defense and passing defense
• Cody Kirk rushed for 42 yards on five carries in MSU's game-sealing final drive Saturday
• Montana State hosts a Northern Arizona team on Saturday which has won its last two games in Bobcat Stadium
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