After roughing up New Hampshire, MSU's defense tries to find a way to slow down Sam Houston State's high-octane offense
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcats, Bearkats Tangle in Texas
12/7/2011 10:19:00 AM | Football
MSU's Texas two-step features Bobcats and top-seeded Sam Houston State
Montana State comes face-to-face with the old adage that you have to beat the best to be the best on Saturday, squaring off against first-ranked and top-seeded Sam Houston State in the 2011 NCAA Division I Football Playoff Quarterfinals. Fresh off their first Southland Conference title, the Bearkats extended their winning streak to 14 games with a last-minute 34-27 win over Stony Brook on Saturday. RB Tim Flanders (1,235 rushing yards, 102 vs. Stony Brook) and QB Brian Bell (1,768 passing yards) pace a balanced Bearkat offense, while SHSU's staunch defense allows just 269 yards a game, 66.6 on the ground.
MSU Game Notes vs. Sam Houston State
SHSU Game Notes vs. Montana State
FOR OPENERS
• Montana State beat New Hampshire 26-25 when Steven Bethley deflected a Wildcats PAT with four seconds left at the same end zone UNH missed a potential game-tying extra point in the fourth quarter of a 17-16 MSU playoff win between the same teams
• After rushing for just 237 yards against Montana and Weber State combined, the Bobcats gained 232 on the ground against New Hampshire
STADIUM STUFF
• The Bobcats are 1-1 all-time at Sam Houston State's Bowers Stadium
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: 10:05 am MT/11:05 am CT
SITE: Huntsville, TX
STADIUM: Bowers Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen-SL)
TELEVISION: ESPN (Dave Neal, Andre Ware), Cara Capuano)
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, W, 26-25
Dec. 10 $at Sam Houston St , 10:05 am MT
HIGHLIGHTS
• The team's 402 points is the most scored by a Bobcat team in 12 games, although the 1984 National Champions scored 437 points (including playoff games)
• Montana State's 2,682 rushing yards is the eighth-best season in school history, and the team's 436.9 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 35 games at MSU, and has a TD catch in nine different games this year
• Alex Terrien's 38 straight starts include games at all three O-line positions
• Montana State's 10 wins is the most by a Bobcat team outside of the 1976 and 1984 national championship teams
MILESTONES
• DeNarius McGhee's 45 career TD passes is 4th in Bobcat history, and his 23 in 2011 is second
• Elvis Akpla's 2,107 career receiving yards is a Bobcat 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 became MSU's career receiving yards leader (2,107) with his 105 against New Hampshire
• CB Darius Jones recorded his first interception as a Bobcat in the fourth quarter Saturday
MSU Game Notes vs. Sam Houston State
SHSU Game Notes vs. Montana State
FOR OPENERS
• Montana State beat New Hampshire 26-25 when Steven Bethley deflected a Wildcats PAT with four seconds left at the same end zone UNH missed a potential game-tying extra point in the fourth quarter of a 17-16 MSU playoff win between the same teams
• After rushing for just 237 yards against Montana and Weber State combined, the Bobcats gained 232 on the ground against New Hampshire
STADIUM STUFF
• The Bobcats are 1-1 all-time at Sam Houston State's Bowers Stadium
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: 10:05 am MT/11:05 am CT
SITE: Huntsville, TX
STADIUM: Bowers Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen-SL)
TELEVISION: ESPN (Dave Neal, Andre Ware), Cara Capuano)
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, W, 26-25
Dec. 10 $at Sam Houston St , 10:05 am MT
HIGHLIGHTS
• The team's 402 points is the most scored by a Bobcat team in 12 games, although the 1984 National Champions scored 437 points (including playoff games)
• Montana State's 2,682 rushing yards is the eighth-best season in school history, and the team's 436.9 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 35 games at MSU, and has a TD catch in nine different games this year
• Alex Terrien's 38 straight starts include games at all three O-line positions
• Montana State's 10 wins is the most by a Bobcat team outside of the 1976 and 1984 national championship teams
MILESTONES
• DeNarius McGhee's 45 career TD passes is 4th in Bobcat history, and his 23 in 2011 is second
• Elvis Akpla's 2,107 career receiving yards is a Bobcat 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 became MSU's career receiving yards leader (2,107) with his 105 against New Hampshire
• CB Darius Jones recorded his first interception as a Bobcat in the fourth quarter Saturday
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