Saturday, October 28
BOZEMAN
1:30 pm
Montana State University
vs
Idaho State (Cap on Cancer)
Tyrone Fa'anono and the MSU defense faces a challenge Saturday
Photo by: Garrett Becker
GAME #8: Montana State hosts explosive ISU After Thrilling Walkoff Win
10/27/2017 12:16:00 PM | Football
Bobcats finish with three home games in final four contests
Montana State's 27-24 walkoff win at Northern Colorado Saturday was just one win, one step in the right direction, one building block in the process of rebuilding a fiercely proud Bobcat football program.
But to second-year coach Jeff Choate, it was a big one.
"We know how to get ourselves in position to win games," Choate said of his young team's growing pains during a 3-4 season that had his Bobcats either leading or possessing the ball with the chance to grab a lead in the fourth quarter of three of the four losses. "Saturday we figured out how to win one. It was a big day in terms of some of our young guys growing up."
The Bobcats look for continued growth entering a two-game homestand that begins with Saturday's tilt against long-time rival Idaho State. The Bengals ride some momentum of their own, exploding for a 59-30 win over Portland State last Saturday in Holt Arena. "Idaho State is a really good team," Choate said. "They're really explosive on offense. Portland State didn't offer a lot of resistance defensively. Idaho State was able to do about what they wanted to do. Defensively it starts up front for them, but (Mario) Jenkins is back to playing a spot he's comfortable with, and he's a really good player."
Under first-year head coach Rob Phenicie, a long-time Big Sky Conference assistant, ISU has surged. The Bengals stand 4-4 overall, having compiled as many wins already this season as the past two years combined. Included in that total is a victory at Nevada of the Mountain West. "Coach Phenicie and his staff have done an awesome job of bringing excitement back to Idaho State football," Choate said. "When you consider where they were just a year or 18 months ago, they've really gotten it going."
Idaho State's offense has spurred the revival, starting with a quarterback-receiver tandem familiar to each other. Signal caller Tanner Gueller has thrown for 2,275, eighth-most in the FCS. He owes at least some of his success to his brother Mitch, a former minor league baseball player whose 733 yards receiving is 11th in the nation.
"Rob is a very good offensive coach," said MSU defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak. The two worked together at Montana from 2003-09. "I think the quarterback is a real dude. He can make all the throws, and he manages the game real well."
The Gueller-centric passing attack is supplemented by scat-back Michael Dean, who has rushed for 78 yards and caught 644 yards worth, and a productive ground game. James Madison averages 103.7 yards a game and 5.6 per carry, while Ty Flanagan has gained 417 yards and found the end zone nine times. "Idaho State is very explosive on offense," Choate said, "but very balanced."
National defensive player of the year candidate Mario Jenkins anchors the Bengals defense. Jenkins has 87 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, with a pass breakup and two forced fumbles. "He's big, long," said Bobcats offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong. "A big fella. It will be a challenge to get a body on him and keep a body on him. He plays in the box, so it's not like you can scheme around him."
The Bobcats send one of the nation's most productive ground games against Idaho State's defense. The Bobcats gain a Big Sky-best 252.6 yards a game rushing, seventh in the FCS, and that helped the Bobcats possess the ball for a few ticks less than 40 minutes in the win at Northern Colorado on Saturday. That aids a defense that stands third in the Big Sky in total defense (384.3 yards a game) and second in scoring defense (26.4 points).
Saturday's game, which kicks off at 1:30 pm, pits a pair of ancient rivals. This cat fight began in 1923, extended through the time they spent together in the Rocky Mountain Conference, and intensified when the two were among the charter members of the Big Sky. While the Bobcats and ISU have met only twice in the last five years, that snapped a string of consecutive meetings that spanned the time from the end of World War II through 2011. The game is televised regionally on ROOT Sports and nationally in DirecTV's Audience Network.
But to second-year coach Jeff Choate, it was a big one.
"We know how to get ourselves in position to win games," Choate said of his young team's growing pains during a 3-4 season that had his Bobcats either leading or possessing the ball with the chance to grab a lead in the fourth quarter of three of the four losses. "Saturday we figured out how to win one. It was a big day in terms of some of our young guys growing up."
The Bobcats look for continued growth entering a two-game homestand that begins with Saturday's tilt against long-time rival Idaho State. The Bengals ride some momentum of their own, exploding for a 59-30 win over Portland State last Saturday in Holt Arena. "Idaho State is a really good team," Choate said. "They're really explosive on offense. Portland State didn't offer a lot of resistance defensively. Idaho State was able to do about what they wanted to do. Defensively it starts up front for them, but (Mario) Jenkins is back to playing a spot he's comfortable with, and he's a really good player."
Under first-year head coach Rob Phenicie, a long-time Big Sky Conference assistant, ISU has surged. The Bengals stand 4-4 overall, having compiled as many wins already this season as the past two years combined. Included in that total is a victory at Nevada of the Mountain West. "Coach Phenicie and his staff have done an awesome job of bringing excitement back to Idaho State football," Choate said. "When you consider where they were just a year or 18 months ago, they've really gotten it going."
Idaho State's offense has spurred the revival, starting with a quarterback-receiver tandem familiar to each other. Signal caller Tanner Gueller has thrown for 2,275, eighth-most in the FCS. He owes at least some of his success to his brother Mitch, a former minor league baseball player whose 733 yards receiving is 11th in the nation.
"Rob is a very good offensive coach," said MSU defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak. The two worked together at Montana from 2003-09. "I think the quarterback is a real dude. He can make all the throws, and he manages the game real well."
The Gueller-centric passing attack is supplemented by scat-back Michael Dean, who has rushed for 78 yards and caught 644 yards worth, and a productive ground game. James Madison averages 103.7 yards a game and 5.6 per carry, while Ty Flanagan has gained 417 yards and found the end zone nine times. "Idaho State is very explosive on offense," Choate said, "but very balanced."
National defensive player of the year candidate Mario Jenkins anchors the Bengals defense. Jenkins has 87 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, with a pass breakup and two forced fumbles. "He's big, long," said Bobcats offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong. "A big fella. It will be a challenge to get a body on him and keep a body on him. He plays in the box, so it's not like you can scheme around him."
The Bobcats send one of the nation's most productive ground games against Idaho State's defense. The Bobcats gain a Big Sky-best 252.6 yards a game rushing, seventh in the FCS, and that helped the Bobcats possess the ball for a few ticks less than 40 minutes in the win at Northern Colorado on Saturday. That aids a defense that stands third in the Big Sky in total defense (384.3 yards a game) and second in scoring defense (26.4 points).
Saturday's game, which kicks off at 1:30 pm, pits a pair of ancient rivals. This cat fight began in 1923, extended through the time they spent together in the Rocky Mountain Conference, and intensified when the two were among the charter members of the Big Sky. While the Bobcats and ISU have met only twice in the last five years, that snapped a string of consecutive meetings that spanned the time from the end of World War II through 2011. The game is televised regionally on ROOT Sports and nationally in DirecTV's Audience Network.
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