Saturday, November 15
Bozeman, MT
1:40 pm
Montana State University
vs
IDAHO STATE (SENIOR DAY/MILITARY APPRECIATION/FFA DAY)
Bobcat running back Chad Newell
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
MSU Host Idaho State in First-Place Showdown
11/12/2014 4:14:00 PM | Football
Bobcats, Bengals battle in Bozeman with share of Big Sky lead on the line
In what amounts to a Big Sky title elimination game, Montana State hosts Idaho State Saturday in a showdown between ancient rivals with identical 5-1 league records. The winner is a victory away from a share of the league title. Inexplicably-unranked ISU brings the league's leading rusher, passer and receiver to Bobcat Stadium, and that dynamic combination propels the Bengals to the top of the Big Sky's total offense chart. Saturday's quarterback matchup offers plenty of intrigue. ISU's Justin Arias leads the nation with 338.4 passing yards per game, while Dakota Prukop is second nationally in passing efficiency. Xavier Finney is the loop's top ball-carrier, while MSU's Shawn Johnson - perhaps the top all-purpose man in the nation - was injured last week and is questionable for Saturday.
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 1:40 pm
SITE: Bozeman, MT
STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Riley Corcoran, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen)
TELEVISION: ROOT Sports (Tom Glasgow, Jason Stiles, Brad Adam)
VIDEO STREAMING: none due to league restrictions
2014 MSU SCHEDULE
Aug 30 at Arkansas State, L, 10-37
Sept 6 Black Hills State, W, 57-10
Sept 13 Central Arkansas, W, 43-33
Sept 20 Eastern Wash., L, 51-52
Sept 27 *North Dakota (HC, W, 29-18
Oct 4 *at Sacramento St, W, 59-56
Oct 11 *at UC Davis, W, 77-37
Oct 18 *Weber State, W, 23-13
Oct 25 Open
Nov 1 *at Cal Poly, L, 27-35
Nov 8 *Portland State, W, 29-22
Nov 15 *Idaho State, 1:40 pm
Nov 22 *at Montana, 3:10 pm
ON THE RECORD
• Dakota Prukop rushed for 129 yards Saturday, becoming the 15th player in MSU history - and the first quarterback - to pass the 100-yard mark five times in one season
• MSU's 13 consecutive winning seasons is the longest current string in the Big Sky
STADIUM STUFF
• The Cats average 428.3 yards and 33.6 points a game on their seven-year old turf field
• Saturday marks ISU's 21st game at Sales/Bobcat Stadium, matching UM as the building's most frequent guest
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
• Alex Singleton's 14 solo tackles vs. PSU are the most by a Big Sky player this season
• Idaho State features the Big Sky's leading rusher, passer and receiver
HIGHLIGHTS
• These teams' only previous meeting later than Nov. 15 was Nov. 18, 1938
• Alex Singleton leads the FCS with 7.0 solo tackles per game
• Montana State continues to lead the FCS in net punting (41.1)
• PSU's Josh Kraght was the third opposing QB in the last four weeks to make his starting debut vs. MSU
STREAKS
• The Cats have failed to throw a TD pass in three straight games
• MSU has won all 20 games under Rob Ash when the defense scores
• Montana State has rushed for at least 270 yards in five straight
MILESTONES
• Shawn Johnson's 4,477 career all-purpose yards is an MSU record
• Dakota Prukop's 3,211 yards of total offense is MSU's fifth-best season ever, and is 435 from the career top 10
SHINING
• Alex Singleton has five straight games with at least 10 tackles, and two straight seasons with at least 100
• Tia Salanoa, MSU's senior tight end, has at least one catch in each 2014 game
• Dakota Prukop leads the Big Sky in passing efficiency, and is second in completion percentage
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 1:40 pm
SITE: Bozeman, MT
STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Riley Corcoran, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen)
TELEVISION: ROOT Sports (Tom Glasgow, Jason Stiles, Brad Adam)
VIDEO STREAMING: none due to league restrictions
2014 MSU SCHEDULE
Aug 30 at Arkansas State, L, 10-37
Sept 6 Black Hills State, W, 57-10
Sept 13 Central Arkansas, W, 43-33
Sept 20 Eastern Wash., L, 51-52
Sept 27 *North Dakota (HC, W, 29-18
Oct 4 *at Sacramento St, W, 59-56
Oct 11 *at UC Davis, W, 77-37
Oct 18 *Weber State, W, 23-13
Oct 25 Open
Nov 1 *at Cal Poly, L, 27-35
Nov 8 *Portland State, W, 29-22
Nov 15 *Idaho State, 1:40 pm
Nov 22 *at Montana, 3:10 pm
ON THE RECORD
• Dakota Prukop rushed for 129 yards Saturday, becoming the 15th player in MSU history - and the first quarterback - to pass the 100-yard mark five times in one season
• MSU's 13 consecutive winning seasons is the longest current string in the Big Sky
STADIUM STUFF
• The Cats average 428.3 yards and 33.6 points a game on their seven-year old turf field
• Saturday marks ISU's 21st game at Sales/Bobcat Stadium, matching UM as the building's most frequent guest
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
• Alex Singleton's 14 solo tackles vs. PSU are the most by a Big Sky player this season
• Idaho State features the Big Sky's leading rusher, passer and receiver
HIGHLIGHTS
• These teams' only previous meeting later than Nov. 15 was Nov. 18, 1938
• Alex Singleton leads the FCS with 7.0 solo tackles per game
• Montana State continues to lead the FCS in net punting (41.1)
• PSU's Josh Kraght was the third opposing QB in the last four weeks to make his starting debut vs. MSU
STREAKS
• The Cats have failed to throw a TD pass in three straight games
• MSU has won all 20 games under Rob Ash when the defense scores
• Montana State has rushed for at least 270 yards in five straight
MILESTONES
• Shawn Johnson's 4,477 career all-purpose yards is an MSU record
• Dakota Prukop's 3,211 yards of total offense is MSU's fifth-best season ever, and is 435 from the career top 10
SHINING
• Alex Singleton has five straight games with at least 10 tackles, and two straight seasons with at least 100
• Tia Salanoa, MSU's senior tight end, has at least one catch in each 2014 game
• Dakota Prukop leads the Big Sky in passing efficiency, and is second in completion percentage
Players Mentioned
Leon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
