Saturday, September 27
Bozeman, MT
2:05 pm
Montana State University
3-2 , 1-0
29
vs
18
NORTH DAKOTA (HOMECOMING)
2-3 , 0-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
North Dakota
0
7
3
8
18
Montana State
3
23
0
3
29
Justin Paige races for the end zone against North Dakota
Photo by: Kevin Haines
Bobcat Sunday Notebook #5
9/28/2014 9:04:00 PM | Football
Youngsters make a splash in blustery Bobcat Stadium on Saturday
Recruiting analysts will tell you that it is unfair to evaluate a class of new players within the first two or three seasons of signing day.
Except when it isn't.
Montana State's recruiting class of 2014 made a loud proclamation that it will be reckoned with early and often on Saturday, when two true freshman receivers - justin Paige and Mitchell Herbert - combined for seven catches, 121 yards and a touchdown in difficult weather conditions, to lead Montana State to a 29-18 Homecoming win over North Dakota. Two other redshirt freshmen - Jayshawn Gates (three catches, 85 yards) and Luke Daly (three field goals) made heavy contributions, as did true sophomore Gunnar Brekke (20 yards rushing).
The good news from MSU's talented group of young receivers helped offset the tough-to-take announcement that senior Brian Flotkoetter's career is over. He is headed to season-ending shoulder surgery, one week after passing the 1,000-yard career receiving mark. Some of his best moments came when the Cats needed him most - a great breakout game in Tanner Bleskin's absence at Southern Utah in 2012, a career-best outing two weeks ago vs. Central Arkansas. He joins David Dash as senior receivers who lost their final season far too early.
Here is a quick look back at Saturday's win...
INJURY REPORT
OUT - SEASON: WR Brian Flotkoetter, WR David Dash, DB Jaylen Price, LB Blake Braun, DE Robert Wilcox.
OUT – INDEFINITELY: OG Kyle Godecke
DOUBTFUL: DB James Nelson
PROBABLE/POSSIBLE: DT Taylor Dees, DE Tyrone Fa'anono, RB Anthony Knight, WR Tanner Roderick
BOBCAT NOTES
• Bobcat coach Rob Ash announced Sunday that receiver Brian Flokoetter's senior season is over. He is slated for shoulder surgery. Flotkoetter finishes his career with 75 catches for 1,014 yards and six touchdowns. He posted his career-best nine catches for 132 yards against Central Arkansas two weeks ago, then suffered an injury in the Eastern Washington contest last week.
• Montana State's 1984 National Championship team was honored Saturday (along with the 1964 Big Sky Champions), and three sons of 1984 Cats wore the Blue and Gold – Trace Timmer, son of Kirk Timmer (and Kelly, who was a Bobcat basketball player), and Nate and Mac Bignell, sons of legendary tight end Joe Bignell.
• The last time an opponent returned a fumble for touchdown against the Cats before Saturday was Traison Lewis of Sacramento State in 2004.
• The last Bobcat to return an interception for a touchdown was current MSU defensive intern Craig Ashworth against Monmouth in the 2013 season opener.
• In his last four games, Dakota Prukop has averaged 252.0 yards passing while completing 72.0% of his passes.
• Odin Coe registered two sacks against North Dakota Saturday, and has three in the last two games. Saturday's contest was his career high
• Receiver Justin Paige made his first career start Saturday, catching career-bests of four passes for 64 yards. Mitchell Herbert's 57 yards was also a career-best, and he caught his first touchdown.
• Alex Singleton blocked a field goal Saturday, the third blocked kick of his career. He had two last year.
• Luke Daly nailed all three of his field goal tries Saturday – two into 25 mph winds – and has now converted on six straight.
• On a day with 25 mph winds, MSU punter Trevor Bolton booted the ball five times, three of them into the wind, for a 43.8 yards-per-punt average. His long was 57 yards, and he pinned UND inside the 20 once.
• Montana State's offensive starting lineup Saturday featured one freshman, three sophomores, four juniors, and three seniors.
TEAM AWARDS vs. BLACK HILLS STATE
OFFENSIVE SCOUT OF THE WEEK: TE Curtis Amos (Burleson, TX), WR Johnny D'Agostino (Bozeman)
DEFENSIVE SCOUT OF THE WEEK: DT Tucker Yates (Colstrip)
SPECIAL TEAMS SCOUT OF THE WEEK: Zach Wright (New Braunfels, TX)
SPECIAL TEAMS CORE PLAYERS: Gunnar Brekke, Cody Cleveland, Michael Foster, Khari Garcia, Cole Moore, Chad Newell, Trace Timmer, Rhett Young
Except when it isn't.
Montana State's recruiting class of 2014 made a loud proclamation that it will be reckoned with early and often on Saturday, when two true freshman receivers - justin Paige and Mitchell Herbert - combined for seven catches, 121 yards and a touchdown in difficult weather conditions, to lead Montana State to a 29-18 Homecoming win over North Dakota. Two other redshirt freshmen - Jayshawn Gates (three catches, 85 yards) and Luke Daly (three field goals) made heavy contributions, as did true sophomore Gunnar Brekke (20 yards rushing).
The good news from MSU's talented group of young receivers helped offset the tough-to-take announcement that senior Brian Flotkoetter's career is over. He is headed to season-ending shoulder surgery, one week after passing the 1,000-yard career receiving mark. Some of his best moments came when the Cats needed him most - a great breakout game in Tanner Bleskin's absence at Southern Utah in 2012, a career-best outing two weeks ago vs. Central Arkansas. He joins David Dash as senior receivers who lost their final season far too early.
Here is a quick look back at Saturday's win...
INJURY REPORT
OUT - SEASON: WR Brian Flotkoetter, WR David Dash, DB Jaylen Price, LB Blake Braun, DE Robert Wilcox.
OUT – INDEFINITELY: OG Kyle Godecke
DOUBTFUL: DB James Nelson
PROBABLE/POSSIBLE: DT Taylor Dees, DE Tyrone Fa'anono, RB Anthony Knight, WR Tanner Roderick
BOBCAT NOTES
• Bobcat coach Rob Ash announced Sunday that receiver Brian Flokoetter's senior season is over. He is slated for shoulder surgery. Flotkoetter finishes his career with 75 catches for 1,014 yards and six touchdowns. He posted his career-best nine catches for 132 yards against Central Arkansas two weeks ago, then suffered an injury in the Eastern Washington contest last week.
• Montana State's 1984 National Championship team was honored Saturday (along with the 1964 Big Sky Champions), and three sons of 1984 Cats wore the Blue and Gold – Trace Timmer, son of Kirk Timmer (and Kelly, who was a Bobcat basketball player), and Nate and Mac Bignell, sons of legendary tight end Joe Bignell.
• The last time an opponent returned a fumble for touchdown against the Cats before Saturday was Traison Lewis of Sacramento State in 2004.
• The last Bobcat to return an interception for a touchdown was current MSU defensive intern Craig Ashworth against Monmouth in the 2013 season opener.
• In his last four games, Dakota Prukop has averaged 252.0 yards passing while completing 72.0% of his passes.
• Odin Coe registered two sacks against North Dakota Saturday, and has three in the last two games. Saturday's contest was his career high
• Receiver Justin Paige made his first career start Saturday, catching career-bests of four passes for 64 yards. Mitchell Herbert's 57 yards was also a career-best, and he caught his first touchdown.
• Alex Singleton blocked a field goal Saturday, the third blocked kick of his career. He had two last year.
• Luke Daly nailed all three of his field goal tries Saturday – two into 25 mph winds – and has now converted on six straight.
• On a day with 25 mph winds, MSU punter Trevor Bolton booted the ball five times, three of them into the wind, for a 43.8 yards-per-punt average. His long was 57 yards, and he pinned UND inside the 20 once.
• Montana State's offensive starting lineup Saturday featured one freshman, three sophomores, four juniors, and three seniors.
TEAM AWARDS vs. BLACK HILLS STATE
OFFENSIVE SCOUT OF THE WEEK: TE Curtis Amos (Burleson, TX), WR Johnny D'Agostino (Bozeman)
DEFENSIVE SCOUT OF THE WEEK: DT Tucker Yates (Colstrip)
SPECIAL TEAMS SCOUT OF THE WEEK: Zach Wright (New Braunfels, TX)
SPECIAL TEAMS CORE PLAYERS: Gunnar Brekke, Cody Cleveland, Michael Foster, Khari Garcia, Cole Moore, Chad Newell, Trace Timmer, Rhett Young
Team Stats
UND
MSU
Total Yards
293
329
Pass Yards
222
267
Rushing Yards
71
62
Penalty Yards
15
70
1st Downs
17
16
3rd Downs
8
3
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
33:47
26:13
1st Quarter
UND 0, MSU 3
MSU - Luke Daly 34 yd field goal 12 plays, 56 yards, TOP 5:27
2nd Quarter
UND 0, MSU 10
MSU - Khari Garcia 45 yd interception (Luke Daly kick)
UND 0, MSU 16
MSU - Shawn Johnson 16 yd run (Mitch Griebel rushfailed), 4 plays, 49 yards, TOP 1:27
UND 7, MSU 16
UND - Will Ratelle 21 yd fumble recovery (Reid Taubenheim kick)
UND 7, MSU 23
MSU - M. Herbert 26 yd pass from Dakota Prukop (Luke Daly kick) 10 plays, 73 yards, TOP 4:41
UND 7, MSU 26
MSU - Luke Daly 38 yd field goal 7 plays, 33 yards, TOP 0:42
3rd Quarter
UND 10, MSU 26
UND - Reid Taubenheim 33 yd field goal 10 plays, 49 yards, TOP 4:44
4th Quarter
UND 10, MSU 29
MSU - Luke Daly 32 yd field goal 5 plays, 59 yards, TOP 1:43
UND 18, MSU 29
UND - R.J. McGill 8 yd pass from Joe Mollberg (Zach Adler pass) 9 plays, 51 yards, TOP 3:24
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
17
TD
1
YDS
269
INT
0
CMP
1
TD
0
YDS
-2
INT
0
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