Montana State faces #17 Portland State on Saturday
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcats Visit Nationally-Ranked Portland State Saturday
10/16/2015 10:15:00 AM | Football
Explosive Bobcat offense takes on staunch Vikings defense
Tim Cramsey will spend much of this week trying to out-wit Portland State's defense, but Montana State's third-year offensive coordinator knows the key to Saturday's game is likely simpler than that.
"We need to match their effort," Montana State's third-year offensive coordinator says of a Vikings defense that allows the fewest yards and points in the Big Sky Conference. "I've seen a team (on video) that plays really, really hard on defense. They've got good players, (Sadat Sulleyman) up front specifically and (Jeremy Lutali) their Mike 'backer, and they play really, really hard, that's what jumps out at me."
Montana State enters Saturday's game with a 3-2 overall record, 2-1 in Big Sky play, while the Vikings are 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the league.The Bobcat offense averages 43.2 points and 564.8 yards per game in 2015, both marks the best in the Big Sky Conference. Portland State's defense allows 11.4 points and 294.2 yards per game, also marks that lead the league.
"I expect a great, competitive game Saturday," said Bobcat coach Rob Ash, "and a lot of great individual matchups. Portland State is a very well-coached team that plays extremely hard."
The Vikings are riding a wave of unprecedented success at the mid-point of the 2015 season, with wins over two FBS programs in the same season for the first time in school history. The last time any FCS team accomplished that feat was 2007, and PSU has already surpassed last season's win total.
Lutali's 44 tackles and two forced fumbles pace the Viks' stop unit, while cornerback Xavier Coleman and safety Patrick Onwuasor each have three interceptions this season. "They're really good at making plays on the ball," Cramsey says.
Quarterback Alex Kuresa, a former BYU quarterback to transferred to the Park Blocks from Snow Junior College, operates what Ash calls "a very balanced offense" efficiently. He throws for 141 yards a game, but is the team's second-leading rusher at 57.4 yards an outing. Running back David Jones gains 7.5 yards a carry, while Paris Penn (eight catches for 125 yards, 25 carries for 119 yards) is one of the Big Sky's most versatile offensive weapons.
The Cats counter with an explosive, dynamic offense led by quarterback Dakota Prukop. The junior averages 409.8 yards a game, and has accounted for 19 touchdowns (rushing and passing combined) this season. Chad Newell offers an option in the power run game, chipping in 80.4 yards a game with seven touchdowns.
Montana State enters unfamiliar environs Saturday at Providence Park – no current Bobcat played in MSU's 38-36 win over the Vikings in Portland in 2011 – but it carries plenty of significance. It is the only matchup between ranked Big Sky schools this week, and marks the first time the two teams have played with each ranked nationally. Kickoff is 1:40 pm MT, and the game is televised on ROOT Sports throughout the Northwest and DirecTV's Audience Network.
"We need to match their effort," Montana State's third-year offensive coordinator says of a Vikings defense that allows the fewest yards and points in the Big Sky Conference. "I've seen a team (on video) that plays really, really hard on defense. They've got good players, (Sadat Sulleyman) up front specifically and (Jeremy Lutali) their Mike 'backer, and they play really, really hard, that's what jumps out at me."
Montana State enters Saturday's game with a 3-2 overall record, 2-1 in Big Sky play, while the Vikings are 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the league.The Bobcat offense averages 43.2 points and 564.8 yards per game in 2015, both marks the best in the Big Sky Conference. Portland State's defense allows 11.4 points and 294.2 yards per game, also marks that lead the league.
"I expect a great, competitive game Saturday," said Bobcat coach Rob Ash, "and a lot of great individual matchups. Portland State is a very well-coached team that plays extremely hard."
The Vikings are riding a wave of unprecedented success at the mid-point of the 2015 season, with wins over two FBS programs in the same season for the first time in school history. The last time any FCS team accomplished that feat was 2007, and PSU has already surpassed last season's win total.
Lutali's 44 tackles and two forced fumbles pace the Viks' stop unit, while cornerback Xavier Coleman and safety Patrick Onwuasor each have three interceptions this season. "They're really good at making plays on the ball," Cramsey says.
Quarterback Alex Kuresa, a former BYU quarterback to transferred to the Park Blocks from Snow Junior College, operates what Ash calls "a very balanced offense" efficiently. He throws for 141 yards a game, but is the team's second-leading rusher at 57.4 yards an outing. Running back David Jones gains 7.5 yards a carry, while Paris Penn (eight catches for 125 yards, 25 carries for 119 yards) is one of the Big Sky's most versatile offensive weapons.
The Cats counter with an explosive, dynamic offense led by quarterback Dakota Prukop. The junior averages 409.8 yards a game, and has accounted for 19 touchdowns (rushing and passing combined) this season. Chad Newell offers an option in the power run game, chipping in 80.4 yards a game with seven touchdowns.
Montana State enters unfamiliar environs Saturday at Providence Park – no current Bobcat played in MSU's 38-36 win over the Vikings in Portland in 2011 – but it carries plenty of significance. It is the only matchup between ranked Big Sky schools this week, and marks the first time the two teams have played with each ranked nationally. Kickoff is 1:40 pm MT, and the game is televised on ROOT Sports throughout the Northwest and DirecTV's Audience Network.
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