The ASUI Kibbie Dome
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #1: Gunnar Brekke to Miss Opener with Illness
9/1/2016 5:57:00 PM | Football
Even without running back, Helena still stands to impact tonight's game heavily
Montana State opens its 2016 short-handed at Idaho on Thursday. Senior running back Gunnar Brekke came down with an illness this week, and didn't make the trip to Moscow.
"Gunnar's absence impacts the team," said Bobcat coach Jeff Choate, "but mostly my thoughts are with him. I've seen this young man work hard and become a great leader for this team. We look forward to getting him back as soon as he's able."
Senior Chad Newell starts at running back against the Vandals, and Choate said that Brekke's absence means more carries for sophomores Nick LaSane and Noah James, and possibly true freshman Anthony Pegues. Juniors Khari Garcia and Jayshawn Gates stand to do a bulk of the return work.
* * * * *
Even without Gunnar Brekke, his hometown's impact on tonight's game will be felt. Six participants in tonight's contest have strong ties to Helena.
Three teammates of Brekke – a former Helena Capital star – hail from Helena. Freshmen Walker Cozzie (Capital), Chase Benson (Helena) and Nich Van Horssen (Helena) come from Helena, as does Bobcat assistant coaches Matt Miller (Captial) and Brian Armstrong (Helena). Idaho head coach Paul Petrino is from Helena and played college ball at Carroll, and Vandals offensive coordinator Kris Cinkovich also played at Carroll. UI assistant Troy Purcell, a Helena Capital and Carroll College grad, coached four current Bobcats at Bozeman High during his tremendous run of success there.
And of course the biggest name in terms of the Helena connection on the Idaho sideline is former Bobcat All-America Bobby Daly, one of MSU's finest defensive players in recent memory. Daly has coached on the defensive side for the Vandals for the past few seasons.
* * * * *
The contrast between the kicking portion of Idaho's kicking game and that of MSU couldn't be more striking. In senior Austin Rehkow, the Vandals possess a punter who averaged 45.7 yards a boot a year ago, and a kicker who made 23 of his 27 field goal tries. He was 8-for-10 from longer than 40 yards.
"He might be the best player in the game, and no one talks about him," said Bobcat coach Jeff Choate. "He handles all three phases for them, and he's really, really good."
The Bobcats, on the other hand, enter the season with three players who have never played in a game competing for starting honors. Redshirt freshman Devon Tandberg is expected to handle place-kicking duties, with with true freshmen Jered Padmos and Gabe Peppenger competing there and for kickoff and punting duties, as well.
* * * * *
First-year Bobcat coaches are 3-5 against the Vandals since World War II, but it's been since Sonny Lubick's career began with a 57-21 win over the Vandals here in the Kibbie Dome that Montana State has topped Idaho in a coach's first season.
* * * * *
With Idaho wearing all-silver uniforms tonight, the Bobcats wear their traditional blue jerseys, with gold helmets and pants.
"Gunnar's absence impacts the team," said Bobcat coach Jeff Choate, "but mostly my thoughts are with him. I've seen this young man work hard and become a great leader for this team. We look forward to getting him back as soon as he's able."
Senior Chad Newell starts at running back against the Vandals, and Choate said that Brekke's absence means more carries for sophomores Nick LaSane and Noah James, and possibly true freshman Anthony Pegues. Juniors Khari Garcia and Jayshawn Gates stand to do a bulk of the return work.
* * * * *
Even without Gunnar Brekke, his hometown's impact on tonight's game will be felt. Six participants in tonight's contest have strong ties to Helena.
Three teammates of Brekke – a former Helena Capital star – hail from Helena. Freshmen Walker Cozzie (Capital), Chase Benson (Helena) and Nich Van Horssen (Helena) come from Helena, as does Bobcat assistant coaches Matt Miller (Captial) and Brian Armstrong (Helena). Idaho head coach Paul Petrino is from Helena and played college ball at Carroll, and Vandals offensive coordinator Kris Cinkovich also played at Carroll. UI assistant Troy Purcell, a Helena Capital and Carroll College grad, coached four current Bobcats at Bozeman High during his tremendous run of success there.
And of course the biggest name in terms of the Helena connection on the Idaho sideline is former Bobcat All-America Bobby Daly, one of MSU's finest defensive players in recent memory. Daly has coached on the defensive side for the Vandals for the past few seasons.
* * * * *
The contrast between the kicking portion of Idaho's kicking game and that of MSU couldn't be more striking. In senior Austin Rehkow, the Vandals possess a punter who averaged 45.7 yards a boot a year ago, and a kicker who made 23 of his 27 field goal tries. He was 8-for-10 from longer than 40 yards.
"He might be the best player in the game, and no one talks about him," said Bobcat coach Jeff Choate. "He handles all three phases for them, and he's really, really good."
The Bobcats, on the other hand, enter the season with three players who have never played in a game competing for starting honors. Redshirt freshman Devon Tandberg is expected to handle place-kicking duties, with with true freshmen Jered Padmos and Gabe Peppenger competing there and for kickoff and punting duties, as well.
* * * * *
First-year Bobcat coaches are 3-5 against the Vandals since World War II, but it's been since Sonny Lubick's career began with a 57-21 win over the Vandals here in the Kibbie Dome that Montana State has topped Idaho in a coach's first season.
* * * * *
With Idaho wearing all-silver uniforms tonight, the Bobcats wear their traditional blue jerseys, with gold helmets and pants.
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