BOBCAT SUNDAY NOTEBOOK #4: Bobcats Prep for Late-Morning Vikings Invasion
10/1/2017 11:47:00 AM | Football
MSU hosts Portland State looking for second Big Sky win
Bobcat Football Sunday Notebook
October 1, 2017 – Weber State 25, Montana State 17 in Bozeman
For Weber State, Saturday's 25-17 win over Montana State in Bobcat Stadium was an important early-season road test that it passed by simply out-lasting the home team. For Montana State, it lingers as a missed opportunity for a statement win in front of a rabid and raucous sellout crowd of nearly 20,000 on a day that began with the passing of beloved Bobcat Hall of Famer Joe Tiller. But in the big picture, it was a matter of survival and possibly a roadmap. Weber State's experienced and older ball club got enough plays from resourceful quarterback Stefan Cantwell, who threw for 206 yards and rushed for 49 more, and a defense that had just enough answers for Montana State's multi-talented Chris Murray. Murray rushed for 123 yards, but the Wildcats successfully took away many of his targets in both the passing and running games. Fourth-year Wildcats head coach Jay Hill has his team poised to compete for a Big Sky championship this fall, while second-year Bobcat coach Jeff Choate has guided his youthful squad through a brutal season-opening gauntlet of four nationally-ranked opponents with a 1-3 record and a scoring differential of just 15 points.
Player of the Week Nominees
Offense – none
Defense – none
Special Teams – none
Freshman of the Week – none
Offensive Lineman of the Week – none
Post-Game News and Notes
Injury Report: Likely Out for Season – LB Lukas McCarthy.
• Lance McCutcheon has two catches as a Bobcat, a 59-yarder against South Dakota State and Saturday's 64-yard touchdown just before the half.
• Chris Murray caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from receiver Kevin Kassis on Saturday, the first time a Bobcat quarterback has been on the receiving end of a scoring strike since Brock Spencer, who caught two – a 14-yarder against NAU as a senior in 1994 and a three-yarder from running back Fred Moore to trigger MSU's 1993 upset of Boise State which remains the only Bobcat win ever at Bronco Stadium.
• For his part of that play, sophomore receiver Kevin Kassis was credited with his second career touchdown pass, the first a 23-yarder to Cam Sutton in MSU's 27-13 win against UC Davis last November 12.
• Against three nationally-ranked FCS opponents this season the Bobcats average 456 yards of offense with just two turnovers, and Chris Murray rushes for 120.7 yards a game while throwing for 203.0. Montana State is 1-2 in those games, but owns a cumulative scoring advantage of 93-77.
• After converting 12 of their 16 third downs into first downs at North Dakota, Montana State could manage just 4-of-12 against Weber State.
• After converting 11-of-19 4th down conversions a season ago, the Cats are 6-for-7 on fourth down in 2017.
• After turning the ball over exactly once in each of the season's first three contests, Montana State played its first clean turnover game since closing 2016 with two straight turnover-free outings.
• Mitchell Herbert now has 1,579 career receiving yards, 19 yards from 10th on the school's all-time list.
• Chris Murray's 1,277 career rushing yards leaves him 191 yards from MSU's all-time top 20.
• In nine of his 15 games as a Bobcat, sophomore quarterback Chris Murray has Montana State's long run from scrimmage, but yesterday Edward Vander's 43-yard run topped Murray's 41-yard scamper.
• Chris Murray has led the Bobcats in rushing eight times in his career.
Stat Snippets
Montana State is 3rd in the Big Sky in fewest penalty yards per game (46.3), while Portland State is 11th (68.5)… Montana State's three turnovers lost this season is 5th in the FCS, although its three turnovers gained is 117th… Chris Murray's 6.62 rush yards per carry is 13th in the FCS, and his 104.3 rushing yards per game is 14th… MSU is one of nine FCS teams not to yet lose a fumble in 2017.
First Look: Portland State at Montana State
Game Details: Date – Saturday, October 1 Kickoff – 11 am Special Promotion – Parent/Family Weekend Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network and msubobcats.com Video – ROOT Sports Streaming – none
At A Glance: Two teams fresh off disappointing home losses get together for a Bobcat Stadium brunch Saturday when Montana State hosts Portland State at 11 am MT. The Bobcats lost a 25-17 decision to 18th-ranked Weber State Saturday, while Montana defeated PSU 45-33. The Vikings dominated Montana statistically, out-gaining the Grizzlies by 90 yards. But UM finished with three takeaways to Portland State's two and benefited from twice as many friendly flags (the Vikings were penalized 10 times, UM five). Portland State remains a team that in many ways mirrors the Bobcats, riding a strong ground game triggered by versatile and athletic quarterbacks. The Vikings gain 229.5 yards a game on the ground, with quarterbacks Jalani Eason (55.3 yards a game) and Josh Kraght (48.8) leading the way. MSU and the Vikings each enter Saturday's game looking to avoid a second Big Sky loss.
