Bobcat Football Sunday Notebook #6: PSU 59, MSU 42

Saturday, October 17

Portland, OR

12:35 pm PT/1:35 pm MT

Montana State University

3-3 , 2-2

Portland State

5-1 , 2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Montana State

Portland State

Mitchell Herbert caught a touchdown pass at PSU Saturday

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

10/18/2015 8:28:00 PM | Football

Box Score

MSU drops first game to Portland State since 2005

By: Bill Lamberty

Portland State scored on its first eight drives and never looked back, rolling to a 59-42 win over the Bobcats. Portland State's league-leading defense slowed the Bobcats just enough to give its power-packed offensive unit separation. Vikings running back David Jones racked up 285 yards, the first 200-yard game against the Cats since Danny Woodhead's epic Bobcat Stadium performance in 2006 (215 yards) and the most yards against MSU since Nevada's Lucius Floyd rambled for 305 yards in 1985. The Bobcats compiled more points and yards (440) than any of Portland State's previous 2015 opponents, and in fact MSU's scoring output eclipsed what Portland State's previous four foes combined – although freshman Logan Jones accounted for seven of those points on a 100-yard kickoff return.

Player of the Week Nominees
Offense – QB Dakota Prukop (6-2, 205, Jr, Austin, TX): Dakota Prukop threw for 211 yards and one touchdown Saturday, rushing for 102 and three scores, in leading MSU to the best offensive performance by any team against the Big Sky's top defense in 2015. Prukop now leads the FCS in total offense and is second in points responsible for per game.
Defense – none
Special Teams – RS Logan Jones (5-7, 180, Fr, Kalispell, MT): Freshman special teams ace Logan Jones returned a second half kickoff 100 yards against Portland State, one of five players in Bobcat history and one of three Big Sky players this season with a 100-yard return. Jones returned four kicks for 179 yards Saturday, the most kick return yards by a player in a Big Sky game this season. He played on all four special teams for MSU Saturday.
Freshman of the Week – RS Logan Jones (5-7, 180, Fr, Kalispell, MT): Freshman special teams ace Logan Jones returned a second half kickoff 100 yards against Portland State, one of five players in Bobcat history and one of three Big Sky players this season with a 100-yard return. Jones returned four kicks for 179 yards Saturday, the most kick return yards by a player in a Big Sky game this season. He played on all four special teams for MSU Saturday.

Statistical Rankings
NCAA Team Rankings – T1st in fewest fumbles lost (0)… 3^rd in total offense (544.0)… 4^th in team passing efficience (171.20)… 5^th in passing yards per completion (16.35) and turnovers lost (4)… 6^th in scoring offense (43.0) and red zone offense (.931)… 7^th in rushing TDs (8)… 8^th in passing offense (316.2)… 9^th in 1^st downs (154). NCAA Individual Rankings – Dakota Prukop: 1^st in total offense (393.7)… 2^nd in points responsible for per game (24.0) and yards per pass attempt (10.31)… 4^th in passing efficiency (171.8) and points responsible for (138). Zach Hutchins: 13^th in forced fumbles (0.40). Chad Newell: 15^th in rushing TDs (7). Mac Bignell: 5^th in solo tackles per game (6.3)… 18^th in forced fumbles (0.33). Mitchell Herbert: 11^th in receiving TDs (6).

Post-Game News and Notes
Injury Report: Out – LB Fletcher Collins, LS Rocky Hogue. Doubtful – RB Gunnar Brekke, OG Kyle Godecke, S Bryson McCabe, DT Joe Naotala. Possible – LS Rocky Hogue, DL Zach Wright. Cleared – WR Manny Kalfell, DL Zach Wright.

Records Watch: On Montana State's career records lists, Dakota Prukop is now: 18^th in rushing (1,492), 5^th in passing yards (4,395), 5^th in total offense (5,887), and 5^th in total touchdowns by QB (54).

• Montana State has not lost a fumble in 2015 – fumbling only three times in five games – and has lost only three turnovers this season.
• In Dakota Prukop's 13 starts against FCS opponents, MSU has turned the ball over only 14 times, never more than two in a game, and has turned the ball over only six times in the last seven such games.
• The fumble linebacker Mac Bignell ripped out in the fourth quarter (recovered by defensive lineman Tucker Yates) was the first turnover forced by the MSU defense since it recovered a fumble against Eastern Washington.
• Eight of Montana State's last 28 opponents have scored at least 40 points, something only seven of its previous 75 foes had accomplished.
• Portland State's 682 total yards Saturday was second-most against Montana State in school history, after the 694 by Sacramento State last year.
• MSU's last eight Division I opponents have produced a ball-carrier that gained at least 100 yards.
• Since 1988, the 285 yards David Jones rolled up Saturday is the most gained in a single game against the Bobcat defense.
• Rob Ash has coached 103 games at Montana State, and his teams have scored at least 30 points in 53 of them
• Dakota Prukop has accounted for at least three touchdowns (rushing and passing combined) in each game this season.
• Justin Paige has four catches in the last three games, all for at least 40 yards.