Senior tackle Alex Eekhoff
Bobcat Game Day Notebook #9: MSU Squares off with Southern Utah
11/7/2015 12:45:00 PM | Football
Thunderbirds bring strong defense to Bobcat Stadium
A source of great stability in the Bobcat football program, MSU's offensive line becomes a little less so today. Senior tackle Alex Eekhoff is expected to be unavailable after 24 consecutive starts, as he takes a national engineering certification exam. Dylan Mahoney, who started at guard the last two weeks, moves over one spot to right tackle. Kyle Godecke is expected to return to action and start at right guard. Caleb Gillis, a sophomore, is expected to be the next man in.
"That will be an important matchup," Bobcat coach Rob Ash said Mahoney's ability to handle Southern Utah's outstanding defensive end James Cowser. "It seems like Cowser has been around forever, he's a very talented player and an excellent pass rusher.
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Sophomore nose guard Tucker Yates is doubtful for today. He suffered an ankle injury in last week's game at North Dakota. Connor Thomas, a senior who started at that spot for the season's first four games, returns to the starting lineup.
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Montana State hopes to return to a tried and true formula today, Ash says. "We always go into a game wanting to establish the run," Ash said. "That will be important today. (Safety Miles Killebrew) gets involved in (defending) the run game, but they don't stack the box and dare you to throw like some teams do. It will be interesting to see how that unfolds."
The Bobcats threw 42 passes last week, rushing the ball 36 times. That was the first time in 20 games the Cats had thrown more than it had rushed.
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Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser, an FCS Defensive Player of the Year candidate, has five sacks against Big Sky opponents this season. That is the same total as MSU has logged as a team.
"That will be an important matchup," Bobcat coach Rob Ash said Mahoney's ability to handle Southern Utah's outstanding defensive end James Cowser. "It seems like Cowser has been around forever, he's a very talented player and an excellent pass rusher.
* * * * *
Sophomore nose guard Tucker Yates is doubtful for today. He suffered an ankle injury in last week's game at North Dakota. Connor Thomas, a senior who started at that spot for the season's first four games, returns to the starting lineup.
* * * * *
Montana State hopes to return to a tried and true formula today, Ash says. "We always go into a game wanting to establish the run," Ash said. "That will be important today. (Safety Miles Killebrew) gets involved in (defending) the run game, but they don't stack the box and dare you to throw like some teams do. It will be interesting to see how that unfolds."
The Bobcats threw 42 passes last week, rushing the ball 36 times. That was the first time in 20 games the Cats had thrown more than it had rushed.
* * * * *
Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser, an FCS Defensive Player of the Year candidate, has five sacks against Big Sky opponents this season. That is the same total as MSU has logged as a team.
Players Mentioned
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