BOBCAT SUNDAY NOTEBOOK #8: Cats Ride Strong Second Half to .500 Record
10/29/2017 3:16:00 PM | Football
MSU's defense has proven stingy in the fourth quarter
Bobcat Football Sunday Notebook
October 29, 2017 – Montana State 28, Idaho State 14 in Bozeman
Montana State's defense tossed a second-half shutout and pitched in a touchdown for good measure, the offense was efficient, and special teams proved impactful to lead the Cats to a second straight fourth quarter victory. Leading Idaho State 21-14 with nine minutes to play, linebacker Mac Bignell stepped in front of a Tanner Gueller pass and dashed 18 yards for a touchdown that gave MSU its final margin of victory, 28-14. Bryson McCabe added an interception a few minutes later to seal the win, and Jered Padmos' punting pinned the Bengals deep all day. Idaho State moved the ball effectively between the 20-yard lines, but kicking game issues presented MSU the opportunity for key stops. Three Bengal drives ended on downs inside Bobcat territory, including an emotional goal-line stand when Zach Wright forced an incomplete pass that gave MSU the ball at its own four late in the third quarter.
Player of the Week Nominees
Offense – RB Nick LaSane (6-0, 215, Sr, Dallas, TX) – Montana State coach Jeff Choate has talked about Nick LaSane's ability as a closer in Montana State's offense, a back that can gain tough yards late in game's to seal victories, but Saturday he showed big play ability, as well. With Montana State and Idaho State tied at 14 on MSU's first possession of the third quarter, the Cats faced a second-and-nine. After being flushed from the pocket, Chris Murray dumped the ball to running back Nick LaSane on a check-down. LaSane raced down the visitors sideline 77 yards before he was tripped up just before the goal line, but it was his longest play this season and the longest reception and play from scrimmage of his career. LaSane carried 13 times for 83 yards on the afternoon, Including seven rushes for 68 yards in the fourth quarter.
Defense – LB Mac Bignell (6-1, 215, Sr, Drummond, MT) – Mac Bignell intercepted an Idaho State pass in the fourth quarter Saturday and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown to seal Montana State's 28-14 win over Idaho State. Bignell's first career interception and touchdown proved to be the critical play in the Bobcats' second straight win, but he also added a tackle-for-loss to move into a ninth-place tie on MSU's career list. He now has 45.5 as a Bobcat.
Special Teams – P Jered Padmos (6-1, 190, Sa, Boulder, MT) – On a day when wind wasn't a factor but field position was, Bobcat sophomore Jered Padmos averaged 52.0 yards on five punts to help Montana State beat Idaho State 28-14. The Cats shut out ISU in the second half, and Padmos' punting played a large role. The Bengals' average starting field position after Padmos' punts was their own 12-yard line, and four of those pinned ISU inside the 10 (with one moved to the 17 due to a dead ball penalty). Padmos' shortest punt of the day was a 37-yarder downed at the six, but he boomed his two over 50 and one of 70, his career long. Padmos began the year as a redshirt candidate, but Luke Daly's departure from the program forced him (and kicker Gabe Peppenger) into action for game three. After a choppy transition back to active duty he has been marvelous, averaging 44.7 yards on 17 punts in MSU's last four games, pinning the opponent inside the 20-yard line eight times.
Freshman of the Week – RB/LB Troy Andersen (6-3, 220, Fr, Dillon, MT) – Freshman Troy Andersen rushed for 57 yards on seven carries Saturday in Montana State's 28-14 win over Idaho State, and caught a 43-yard pass for a touchdown, giving him 100 yards from scrimmage on the afternoon. He also recorded one tackle as a linebacker, and started on three special teams units.
Post-Game News and Notes
Injury Report: Unlikely to return this season – DE Grant Collins, OG Caleb Gillis, LB Balue Chapman. Indefinitely –S JoJo Henderson (other determinations will be available Monday)
• MSU pushed its record to .500 (4-4) for the first time since September, 2016, with its win Saturday.
• Montana State has allowed just 38 points in the fourth quarter this season, 10 in the last three games, after shutting Idaho State out in the second half Saturday.
• Mac Bignell logged a tackle-for-loss in his 13th consecutive game, and his 45.5 career TFLs is now tied for 9th with Adam Cordeiro in Montana State history.
• Chris Murray rushed for 67 yards against Idaho State Saturday to boost his career total to 1,708, 16th in Bobcat history and 55 yards from Dakota Prukop's school rushing record for quarterbacks (1,763).
• Chris Murray's 17 career rushing touchdowns is three from joining Montana State's career top 10 list.
• Against six FCS opponents this season, four of them nationally-ranked at the time of the game, Montana State averages 439.3 yards and 28.2 points a game, and rushes for 263.4 yards an outing.
• After turning the ball over six times in the last two games, Montana State's lone turnover Saturday was an interception.
• Montana State has forced multiple turnovers twice this season, three at Eastern Washington and two Saturday against ISU.
• Montana State converted its only fourth down attempt Saturday, and is now 15-for-19 on the season, 1st in the Big Sky and 5th in the FCS (78.9%).
• Mitchell Herbert caught four passes for 33 yards and a touchdown against Idaho State, propelling him to 9th in school history with 1,737 career receiving yards, 2nd with 19 career touchdown receptions.
• In 11 of his 19 games as a Bobcat, sophomore Chris Murray has Montana State's long run from scrimmage, and he has led the Bobcats in rushing 11 times.
• Troy Andersen's 425 rushing yards is now 4th all-time among Bobcat freshmen, and he is 12th in FCS rushing among freshmen and first in the Big Sky.
• Montana State's last two opponents have combined for three points, 208 total yards and 14 first downs in the second half.
• Montana State's current two-game win streak is the team's first this season.
• Since Idaho State helped the Cats open Reno H. Sales (now Bobcat) Stadium in 1973, the Bobcats are 18-4 against their nearest out-of-state opponents.
Stat Snippets
Aficionados of running football will want to find their way to Bobcat Stadium Saturday when Kennesaw State, the top-ranked rushing team in the FCS (329.4 yards per game) travels from Georgia to face Montana State's eighth-ranked ground game (244.9)… the Owls are not one-dimensional, throwing for 198.8 yards a game which has the Big South squad ranked 17th in total offense (445.9) and 33rd in scoring (30.4)… quarterback Chandler Burks rushes for 75.8 yards a game, throws for 96.3 yards a game, and is second in the nation with 10 rushing touchdowns… Bryson Armstrong leads the Big South with 0.75 sacks per game… Montana State's Troy Andersen is 12th among FCS freshmen in rushing yards per game at 53.1 yards per game, while Kennesaw State's Shaquil Terry is 16th at 48.9.
First Look: Montana State vs. Kennesaw State
Game Details: Date – Saturday, November 4 Kickoff – 12 noon MT Special Promotion – Military/Ag Appreciation Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network, and msubobcats.com Video – SWX Stations in Montana Streaming – msubobcats.com ($)
At A Glance: Two ground-oriented teams riding hot streaks collide in Bobcat Stadium Saturday in an intersectional matchup when Kennesaw State squares off with Montana State at 12 noon. Hard-running quarterback Chandler Burks leads the top ground game in the FCS, but he is not a one-trick pony. Burks also throws for 96.3 yards a game to lead an Owls offense that is 17th in the FCS in total offense. Kennesaw State added its program in 2015 after moving from NCAA Division II affiliation to Division I and has gained traction fast. KSU currently leads the Big South Conference with a 3-0 league record (a half-game ahead of Monmouth, who the Owls play the final game of the regular season) and are receiving votes in the FCS Top 25 polls.
