Alex Singleton and the Cat defense faces a physical Midwestern squad in SDSU
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Without Pasadena's Warmth, MSU-SDSU Contest has Big 10-Pac 12 Flair
11/29/2014 11:16:00 AM | Football
Cats, Jackrabbits bring regional distinctions into first round playoff game
Rob Ash knows that Saturday's FCS Playoff game between his Montana State squad and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits isn't the Rose Bowl. But, the comparison is a little tempting.
"They are a lot like a Big 10 team," Ash said in analyzing the matchup between his squad and a school MSU hasn't faced in football in a decade. "They are a big, physical Midwestern team, and being from Iowa I know about that style of football. They play on bad fields, in bad weather, so nothing they see (Saturday) will bother them. The Missouri Valley is a lot like the Big 10 of the FCS."
That begs the question, of course, of what role the Bobcats and the Big Sky pay in this scenario. "I guess you'd have to say we're like the Pac 12," Ash said. "We're in the West geographically, teams in our league tend to throw it around more and play wide open football. That's probably an apt comparison."
The analogy works in large part because of Zach Zenner and the Jackrabbits' bruising ground game. While coming short of Melvin Gordon-like numbers, Zenner's work has been astonishing for both its quality and consistency. He is 18 carries away from three consecutive 300-carry seasons, and 366 yards from three straight 2,000-yard rushing campaigns. The native of Minnesota, certainly Big 10 territory, has gained over 100 yards in 30 different games.
"He's a fabulous runner," says Bobcat coach Rob Ash. "He gets squared up to the line of scrimmage and doesn't shy away from contact. He has great balance and burst through the hole. He's a lot like (former Bobcat) Cody Kirk, but he's probably faster."
Montana State's status as a subscriber to the West Coast's high-flying offensive ways is unquestioned, even if its architects – native Iowan Ash and offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey, originally from Pennsylvania but weaned at New Hampshire – hail from points east. The Bobcats used the fleet feet and accurate arm of Dakota Prukop to ride as on the of the most prolific offenses in the FCS for much of the season, but injuries to the sophomore quarterback and explosive running back and return man Shawn Johnson has slowed MSU down to a degree.
Both are questionable today, with a decision on each looming close to kickoff.
Regardless, Ash expects a game whose intensity would match the Rose Bowl. "I expect a good, old-fashioned, well-played football game."
"They are a lot like a Big 10 team," Ash said in analyzing the matchup between his squad and a school MSU hasn't faced in football in a decade. "They are a big, physical Midwestern team, and being from Iowa I know about that style of football. They play on bad fields, in bad weather, so nothing they see (Saturday) will bother them. The Missouri Valley is a lot like the Big 10 of the FCS."
That begs the question, of course, of what role the Bobcats and the Big Sky pay in this scenario. "I guess you'd have to say we're like the Pac 12," Ash said. "We're in the West geographically, teams in our league tend to throw it around more and play wide open football. That's probably an apt comparison."
The analogy works in large part because of Zach Zenner and the Jackrabbits' bruising ground game. While coming short of Melvin Gordon-like numbers, Zenner's work has been astonishing for both its quality and consistency. He is 18 carries away from three consecutive 300-carry seasons, and 366 yards from three straight 2,000-yard rushing campaigns. The native of Minnesota, certainly Big 10 territory, has gained over 100 yards in 30 different games.
"He's a fabulous runner," says Bobcat coach Rob Ash. "He gets squared up to the line of scrimmage and doesn't shy away from contact. He has great balance and burst through the hole. He's a lot like (former Bobcat) Cody Kirk, but he's probably faster."
Montana State's status as a subscriber to the West Coast's high-flying offensive ways is unquestioned, even if its architects – native Iowan Ash and offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey, originally from Pennsylvania but weaned at New Hampshire – hail from points east. The Bobcats used the fleet feet and accurate arm of Dakota Prukop to ride as on the of the most prolific offenses in the FCS for much of the season, but injuries to the sophomore quarterback and explosive running back and return man Shawn Johnson has slowed MSU down to a degree.
Both are questionable today, with a decision on each looming close to kickoff.
Regardless, Ash expects a game whose intensity would match the Rose Bowl. "I expect a good, old-fashioned, well-played football game."
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
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