Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #4: UND Provides Major Test for Bobcat D
9/24/2016 1:00:00 PM | Football
Montana State's defense faces a big-time challenge today
Montana State's defense is off to a very good start in 2016. The Cats lead the FCS in turnover margin and are among the Big Sky's top defensive squads in most defensive categories at the outset of conference play this weekend.
The bottom line, of course, is points allowed. Compared to recent Bobcat teams, this year's defense is playing exceptional football. The Cats have allowed 44 points through three games. Not since 1998 – when MSU's first three foes (Fort Lewis, Wyoming and Western Washington) combined for 38 points – have the Bobcats allowed fewer. Since 1990, only three Bobcat teams have allowed fewer, and another also allowed 44 points. All four of those previous successful defensive squads were engineered by the late Cliff Hysell and his defensive coordinator Greg Salo.
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The Bobcat defense has takeaways in each of the first three games of 2016, and in five straight overall. The hot takeaway start is MSU's best since the 2013 Bobcats forced turnovers in the season's first nine games.
For true turnover dominance in Bobcat history, however, you have to turn the record books back to Hysell's good teams of the mid-1990s. From the mid-point of 1994 to September of 1998, the Bobcat defense forced turnovers in 41 consecutive games.
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Montana State's defense will be severely tested today by the Fighting Hawks. Everyone in the Big Sky Conference knows about North Dakota's spectacular running back John Santiago, an FCS Player of the Year candidate as a sophomore. Bobcat coach Jeff Choate says he may be the most dominant player in the conference "because he impacts a game in so many different ways – running the ball, catching it, returns."
Santiago, in fact, has three runs from scrimmage of 25 yards or longer this season. Two game in UND's dramatic come-from-behind win over South Dakota. He also returned a one kickoff 49 yards and another 34.
Santiago has does have one link to the Bobcat football program, more even than gashing the Cats for 230 yards on the ground a season ago. He played high school ball for Brent Swaggert, an All-America offensive lineman at MSU and one of the program's all-time greats.
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Bobcat defensive end Tyrone Fa'anono will miss the remainder of his junior season, Montana State coach Jeff Choate confirmed this week.
A second-year starter, Fa'anono got in for one play of the Bryant game before re-aggravating an injury. He started most of his sophomore season at defensive end for the Cats. Redshirt freshman Marcus Ferriter has started all three games in 2016 in Fa'anono's stead, and is slated to start again today.
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Speaking of freshmen, Ferriter is one of three frosh slated to start for the Cats today. Five more are primary backups, and none of that includes the kicking game. Montana State's place kicker, kickoff specialist, punter, and return man are all freshmen.
On the other sideline, one freshman – receiver Travis Toivonen – starts for the Fighting Hawks. Seven freshmen are primary backups, but UND relies on no freshmen specialists.
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As if worrying about Santiago and North Dakota's score-from-anywhere-on-the-field offense isn't enough, the Fighting Hawks add another wrinkle. UND has scored a defense touchdown in each game this season – Cole Reyes recorded a safety against Stony Brook, and Deion Harris returned an interception 61 yards for a score against Bowling Green and one for 33 yards against South Dakota.
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Happy Homecoming to all alums of Montana State, the Treasure State's biggest (the school cracks the 16,000 enrollment mark this fall) and best University. The Cats are 51-20-3 in known Homecoming games (information from a few pre-World War II seasons is missing), and has won six straight.
The bottom line, of course, is points allowed. Compared to recent Bobcat teams, this year's defense is playing exceptional football. The Cats have allowed 44 points through three games. Not since 1998 – when MSU's first three foes (Fort Lewis, Wyoming and Western Washington) combined for 38 points – have the Bobcats allowed fewer. Since 1990, only three Bobcat teams have allowed fewer, and another also allowed 44 points. All four of those previous successful defensive squads were engineered by the late Cliff Hysell and his defensive coordinator Greg Salo.
* * * * *
The Bobcat defense has takeaways in each of the first three games of 2016, and in five straight overall. The hot takeaway start is MSU's best since the 2013 Bobcats forced turnovers in the season's first nine games.
For true turnover dominance in Bobcat history, however, you have to turn the record books back to Hysell's good teams of the mid-1990s. From the mid-point of 1994 to September of 1998, the Bobcat defense forced turnovers in 41 consecutive games.
* * * * *
Montana State's defense will be severely tested today by the Fighting Hawks. Everyone in the Big Sky Conference knows about North Dakota's spectacular running back John Santiago, an FCS Player of the Year candidate as a sophomore. Bobcat coach Jeff Choate says he may be the most dominant player in the conference "because he impacts a game in so many different ways – running the ball, catching it, returns."
Santiago, in fact, has three runs from scrimmage of 25 yards or longer this season. Two game in UND's dramatic come-from-behind win over South Dakota. He also returned a one kickoff 49 yards and another 34.
Santiago has does have one link to the Bobcat football program, more even than gashing the Cats for 230 yards on the ground a season ago. He played high school ball for Brent Swaggert, an All-America offensive lineman at MSU and one of the program's all-time greats.
* * * * *
Bobcat defensive end Tyrone Fa'anono will miss the remainder of his junior season, Montana State coach Jeff Choate confirmed this week.
A second-year starter, Fa'anono got in for one play of the Bryant game before re-aggravating an injury. He started most of his sophomore season at defensive end for the Cats. Redshirt freshman Marcus Ferriter has started all three games in 2016 in Fa'anono's stead, and is slated to start again today.
* * * * *
Speaking of freshmen, Ferriter is one of three frosh slated to start for the Cats today. Five more are primary backups, and none of that includes the kicking game. Montana State's place kicker, kickoff specialist, punter, and return man are all freshmen.
On the other sideline, one freshman – receiver Travis Toivonen – starts for the Fighting Hawks. Seven freshmen are primary backups, but UND relies on no freshmen specialists.
* * * * *
As if worrying about Santiago and North Dakota's score-from-anywhere-on-the-field offense isn't enough, the Fighting Hawks add another wrinkle. UND has scored a defense touchdown in each game this season – Cole Reyes recorded a safety against Stony Brook, and Deion Harris returned an interception 61 yards for a score against Bowling Green and one for 33 yards against South Dakota.
* * * * *
Happy Homecoming to all alums of Montana State, the Treasure State's biggest (the school cracks the 16,000 enrollment mark this fall) and best University. The Cats are 51-20-3 in known Homecoming games (information from a few pre-World War II seasons is missing), and has won six straight.
Players Mentioned
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