Montana State University
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Bobcats Host New Hampshire Saturday in NCAA Division I Playoffs
12/1/2011 9:49:00 AM | Football
MSU braces for battle in rematch of 1976 post-season squeaker
THE STORYLINE
Montana State marks its second consecutive trip to the FCS Playoffs this weekend in difficult fashion, hosting road-tested New Hampshire of the deep and balanced Colonial Athletic Association Football League. The Wildcats enter their eighth consecutive playoff run, having won their last three openers, all on the road. The Wildcats boast a wide range of weapons, beginning with CAA Offensive Player of the Year Kevin Decker, the team's versatile and talented quarterback, who threw for 3,072 yards. UNH won four of its last five games to seal the playoff bid.
MSU Game Notes vs. New Hampshire
UNH Game Notes vs. Montana State
FOR OPENERS
• Rob Ash's 38 MSU win places him fourth on MSU's career victories list, two behind Mike Kramer and three behind Cliff Hysell
• MSU rushed for just 237 yards against Montana and Weber State combined, which comes on the heels of a three-game stretch in which MSU rushed for 1,019 yards
STADIUM STUFF
• MSU averages 36.2 points and 461.8 yards in its six home games this season
• Cody Kirk has rushed for 723 yards in six games in Bobcat Stadium this year
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
• Bobcat cornerbacks Darius Jones and Deonte Flowers (eight each) combined for the most pass breakups by a Big Sky tandem this year
• MSU leads the Big Sky in scoring offense, its second straight year on top in that category
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 1:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman, MT
STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen-SL)
TELEVISION: ESPN3 (Trey Bender, Jay Taylor)
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., W, 31-21
Oct 29 *Idaho State, W, 54-13
Nov 5 *at Weber St, W, 44-24
Nov 19 *Montana, L, 10-36
Dec. 3 $New Hampshire, 1:05 pm
HIGHLIGHTS
• Montana State's 2,450 rushing yards is the eighth-best season in school history, and the team's 440.4 total yards per game is third in school history (behind 1984 and 2010)
• MSU has gained at least 500 yards 10 times over the past two seasons, one more than from 1992-2009 combined
STREAKS
• WR Elvis Akpla has caught a pass in each of his 34 games at MSU, and has a TD catch in nine different games this year
• Alex Terrien's 37 straight starts include games at all three O-line positions
• MSU's streak of nine straight 30+ point games ended against Montana
• Montana State now owns back-to-back 9-win seasons for the first time
MILESTONES
• DeNarius McGhee's 44 career TD passes is 4th in Bobcat history, and his 22 in 2011 is tied for second
• Elvis Akpla's 2,002 career receiving yards is 68 from the MSU record
SHINING
• The MSU O-Line produced two First Team All-Big Sky selections (Alex Terrien and Conrad Burbank) and the FCS Assistant Coach of the Year (Jason McEndoo)
• WR Elvis Akpla registered his third 100-yard receiving day of 2011 vs. UM
• CB Deonte Flowers has five pass breakups and two TFL in last four games
