Montana State University
at Arkansas State
Bobcat Game Day Notebook: MSU at Arkansas State
8/30/2014 2:12:00 PM | Football
Bobcats face Red Wolves for first time in 30 years
Montana State squares off with Arkansas State for the first time since 1984 on Saturday evening, but it's been much longer since the Cats have visited the Natural State.
That came in 1960, when the Bobcats earned a 26-7 win in Kays Stadium. Today the Bobcat and A-State square off in Centennial Bank Stadium, a facility built just shy of 40 years ago. The Red Wolves have an impressive run of success at home in recent times, rolling up a 41-9 mark since 2005, including 16 of their last 18.
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Montana State enters its season opener with only one question mark in terms of health. Freshman defensive end is slated to play, but was hampered all week with an ankle injury. His status will be monitored.
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Junior Jake Bleskin earned the nod at punter. He will wear #6 on Saturday.
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Juniior running back Shawn Johnson has been on the field to start games before, but he has not entered a game - much less a season - as Montana State's starting running back. That changes tonight, when Johnson takes over as the starting Bobcat tailback from graduated Cody Kirk. Johnson will also retain his role as the team's return specialist.
Bobcat coach Rob Ash said he is excited to watch Johnson perform in his expanded role. "Shawn has worked hard and he has earned this," Ash said. "It means a lot to him to be the starting tailback, and I'm excited for him."
Ash said Johnson and junior college transfer Anthony Knight will form an inside-out tandem. "Shawn is explosive, he's fast, he's a guy we want to get vertical. Anthony is a power back. I think they complement each other well."
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Another player moving into an expanded role is Dakota Prukop, the sophomore who takes over at quarterback. Prukop took a couple of snaps late in MSU's blowout win at North Dakota last year, but Saturday night's contest marks his first meaningful college experience.
"I don't sense any nervousness at all," Ash said, "just excitement. I think he's excited to play, to get out on the field. But he's focused. He's commented that one of the things he learned from DeNarius (McGhee) is to maintain a calm demeanor and to take responsibility for how the offense performs. I have seen both those things from him."
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Of the many stars on Montana State's famed 1984 defense, one in particular shone in the home playoff win over Arkansas State. Clete Linebarger recovered three fumbles, caused one, and picked off a pass in the MSU's win, in which the then-Indians' (the nickname has since changed) offense failed to score.
