Nick LaSane and the MSU offense looks for traction against Montana next Saturday
Photo by: Colter Peterson
BOBCAT SUNDAY NOTEBOOK #10: Bobcats Host Grizzlies for 117th Time
11/12/2017 8:22:00 PM | Football
Chris Murray, Bryson McCabe, Nick LaSane hit milestones Saturday at NAU
Bobcat Football Sunday Notebook
November 12, 2017 – Northern Arizona 37, Montana State 36 in Flagstaff
Montana State came up just short against emotional Northern Arizona playing a crucial game with championship implications, failing to take the lead on a two-point conversion with 32 seconds remaining then narrowly missing recovery of the on-side kick in a 37-36 loss to the #24 Lumberjacks. Sensational quarterback Case Cookus (314 passing yards) and running back Joe Logan (142 rushing yards) starred for NAU, but Montana State's resilience allowed the Bobcats to remain in the game. Chris Murray, who finished with 85 yards rushing and 155 passing, executed a brilliant four-minute drive to give Montana State a chance. The Cats marched 75 yards in 4:17, and scored the touchdown with 32 seconds left that drew MSU within 37-36. Eschewing the potential tying PAT the Cats attempted to snare the lead, but a Chris Murray pass was just off the mark and when NAU was awarded the on-side kick because a Bobcat defender touched the ball early the Lumberjacks had the victory.
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: Out for the season – DE Grant Collins, OG Caleb Gillis, LB Balue Chapman. Indefinitely –Determinations will be available Monday
• The defensive conversion that Bryson McCabe returned 98 yards Saturday was the first by a Bobcat since Steven "Big Play Beth" Bethley raced the length of the field against Weber State in 2013.
• Chris Murray's 85 rushing yards against Northern Arizona raises his season total to 1,025, the most ever by a Bobcat quarterback, the 20th time an MSU back has passed the 1,000-yard mark for a season, and through 10 games the 14th-highest total in school history.
• Murray became the third Big Sky quarterback (joining Cal Poly's Chris Brown, 1,084 in 2015 and 1,265 in 2014, and Portland State's Connor Kavanaugh, 1,060 in 2011) to gain 1,000 rushing yards in a season.
• Murray's 1,885 career rushing yards is 12th in MSU history, his 21 rushing touchdowns is tied for 9th all-time at Montana State, and his 21 passing touchdowns are three from joining MSU's career top 10.
• Mitch Herbert's 1,819 career receiving yards is 7th in Bobcat history, and his 20 career touchdown catches remains one from Kelly Davis' school record.
• Senior running back Nick LaSane rushed for 187 yards at Northern Arizona, which represents 20% of his career total (923 yards).
• Montana State's 300 rushing yards Saturday was third-most for the team this season, and Northern Arizona's 235 is second-most by a Bobcat opponent. MSU's 455 total yards was fourth-most by the team this season, but NAU's 549 yards was the most since Eastern Washington gained 596 in 2016.
• Jered Padmos pinned NAU inside the 20 twice Saturday, and now has nine in the last three games.
• Montana State has allowed just 48 points in the fourth quarter this season, 20 in the last five games, and Northern Arizona's final period touchdown Saturday was the first time an opponent has crossed the goal line in the game's final 15 minutes since Eastern Washington in game six.
• Each of Montana State's six losses have been to nationally-ranked opponents, five of them from the FCS (Washington State was also ranked at the time of the MSU-WSU contest). The Cats have dropped those five tilts against ranked FCS opponents by a combined by 27 points (an average deficit of 5.4 points per game), and when figuring in the team's win over 17th-ranked North Dakota back in September MSU still owns a +1 scoring differential against nationally-ranked FCS opponents (the record is 1-5).
• Montana State finished Saturday with the game's only takeaway, the second time in the last three games that MSU has won the turnover battle but also just the second time this season. The Bobcats turned the ball over four times at Eastern Washington, just eight times in the other nine games combined.
• Nick LaSane's 74-yard run at NAU Saturday was Montana State's longest this season, the longest of his career, and the longest by a Bobcat since Shawn Johnson's 90-yard dash in the 2013 season opener against Monmouth.
• Montana State converted its only fourth down attempt Saturday, and is now 16-for-21 on the season, 1st in the Big Sky and 5th in the FCS (76.0%).
• In 11 of his 21 games as a Bobcat, sophomore Chris Murray has Montana State's long run from scrimmage, and he has led the Bobcats in rushing 12 times.
• Freshman Troy Andersen made his first start at linebacker against NAU Saturday, also logging his first career sack. His 451 rushing yards remains 4th all-time among Bobcat freshmen, and he is 13th in FCS and 1st in the Big Sky in rushing among freshmen.
Stat Snippets
Montana sends its explosive, Big Sky-leading offense (36.2 points a game) against a Bobcat team whose 25.2 points a game surrendered is second in the Big Sky… the Grizzlies have intercepted 16 passes, most in the Big Sky, while the nine picks Montana State has thrown is fifth in the league… Montana State, which completes passes at a .498 team completion percentage rate which is 12th in the Big Sky, faces a Grizzlies defense which is third in the Big Sky in team passing efficiency defense.
First Look: Montana State vs. Montana
Game Details: Date – Saturday, November 18 Kickoff – 12 noon MT Special Promotion – Senior Day Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network, and msubobcats.com Video – ROOT Sports, DirecTV's Audience Network Streaming – none
At A Glance: Montana State closes the 2017 campaign in traditional fashion Saturday, hosting Montana for the 117th Cat-Griz showdown at noon. The Grizzlies enter the ancient rivalry with a full head of steam, winning two straight and five of six and dominating opponents in that stretch to the tune of a +62 point differential. The Bobcats have lost two straight, and stand 4-6 against a schedule pocked with nationally-ranked foes – seven MSU opponents were ranked at the time of the game, including all three non-league opponents. The nine Bobcat opponents to this point have compiled a 55-46 record. Montana has played four opponents ranked at the time of the meeting, and UM's first nine opponents hold a 45-55 cumulative record. Montana hopes to solidify its already strong FCS Playoff case Saturday while keeping its Big Sky title hopes alive. Montana State looks to improve its 2017 win total from last year and continue the program's positive momentum heading into the off-season. The Grizzlies own a 75-38-5 advantage in the series, with Montana State winning last season in Missoula.
Cat-Griz Media Procedures
Head Coach Jeff Choate and Montana State captains Mitch Herbert, Dylan Mahoney, Mac Bignell and Bryson McCabe will be Montana State's only representatives available to the media this week. They will be available at the normal times.
November 12, 2017 – Northern Arizona 37, Montana State 36 in Flagstaff
Montana State came up just short against emotional Northern Arizona playing a crucial game with championship implications, failing to take the lead on a two-point conversion with 32 seconds remaining then narrowly missing recovery of the on-side kick in a 37-36 loss to the #24 Lumberjacks. Sensational quarterback Case Cookus (314 passing yards) and running back Joe Logan (142 rushing yards) starred for NAU, but Montana State's resilience allowed the Bobcats to remain in the game. Chris Murray, who finished with 85 yards rushing and 155 passing, executed a brilliant four-minute drive to give Montana State a chance. The Cats marched 75 yards in 4:17, and scored the touchdown with 32 seconds left that drew MSU within 37-36. Eschewing the potential tying PAT the Cats attempted to snare the lead, but a Chris Murray pass was just off the mark and when NAU was awarded the on-side kick because a Bobcat defender touched the ball early the Lumberjacks had the victory.
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: Out for the season – DE Grant Collins, OG Caleb Gillis, LB Balue Chapman. Indefinitely –Determinations will be available Monday
• The defensive conversion that Bryson McCabe returned 98 yards Saturday was the first by a Bobcat since Steven "Big Play Beth" Bethley raced the length of the field against Weber State in 2013.
• Chris Murray's 85 rushing yards against Northern Arizona raises his season total to 1,025, the most ever by a Bobcat quarterback, the 20th time an MSU back has passed the 1,000-yard mark for a season, and through 10 games the 14th-highest total in school history.
• Murray became the third Big Sky quarterback (joining Cal Poly's Chris Brown, 1,084 in 2015 and 1,265 in 2014, and Portland State's Connor Kavanaugh, 1,060 in 2011) to gain 1,000 rushing yards in a season.
• Murray's 1,885 career rushing yards is 12th in MSU history, his 21 rushing touchdowns is tied for 9th all-time at Montana State, and his 21 passing touchdowns are three from joining MSU's career top 10.
• Mitch Herbert's 1,819 career receiving yards is 7th in Bobcat history, and his 20 career touchdown catches remains one from Kelly Davis' school record.
• Senior running back Nick LaSane rushed for 187 yards at Northern Arizona, which represents 20% of his career total (923 yards).
• Montana State's 300 rushing yards Saturday was third-most for the team this season, and Northern Arizona's 235 is second-most by a Bobcat opponent. MSU's 455 total yards was fourth-most by the team this season, but NAU's 549 yards was the most since Eastern Washington gained 596 in 2016.
• Jered Padmos pinned NAU inside the 20 twice Saturday, and now has nine in the last three games.
• Montana State has allowed just 48 points in the fourth quarter this season, 20 in the last five games, and Northern Arizona's final period touchdown Saturday was the first time an opponent has crossed the goal line in the game's final 15 minutes since Eastern Washington in game six.
• Each of Montana State's six losses have been to nationally-ranked opponents, five of them from the FCS (Washington State was also ranked at the time of the MSU-WSU contest). The Cats have dropped those five tilts against ranked FCS opponents by a combined by 27 points (an average deficit of 5.4 points per game), and when figuring in the team's win over 17th-ranked North Dakota back in September MSU still owns a +1 scoring differential against nationally-ranked FCS opponents (the record is 1-5).
• Montana State finished Saturday with the game's only takeaway, the second time in the last three games that MSU has won the turnover battle but also just the second time this season. The Bobcats turned the ball over four times at Eastern Washington, just eight times in the other nine games combined.
• Nick LaSane's 74-yard run at NAU Saturday was Montana State's longest this season, the longest of his career, and the longest by a Bobcat since Shawn Johnson's 90-yard dash in the 2013 season opener against Monmouth.
• Montana State converted its only fourth down attempt Saturday, and is now 16-for-21 on the season, 1st in the Big Sky and 5th in the FCS (76.0%).
• In 11 of his 21 games as a Bobcat, sophomore Chris Murray has Montana State's long run from scrimmage, and he has led the Bobcats in rushing 12 times.
• Freshman Troy Andersen made his first start at linebacker against NAU Saturday, also logging his first career sack. His 451 rushing yards remains 4th all-time among Bobcat freshmen, and he is 13th in FCS and 1st in the Big Sky in rushing among freshmen.
Stat Snippets
Montana sends its explosive, Big Sky-leading offense (36.2 points a game) against a Bobcat team whose 25.2 points a game surrendered is second in the Big Sky… the Grizzlies have intercepted 16 passes, most in the Big Sky, while the nine picks Montana State has thrown is fifth in the league… Montana State, which completes passes at a .498 team completion percentage rate which is 12th in the Big Sky, faces a Grizzlies defense which is third in the Big Sky in team passing efficiency defense.
First Look: Montana State vs. Montana
Game Details: Date – Saturday, November 18 Kickoff – 12 noon MT Special Promotion – Senior Day Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network, and msubobcats.com Video – ROOT Sports, DirecTV's Audience Network Streaming – none
At A Glance: Montana State closes the 2017 campaign in traditional fashion Saturday, hosting Montana for the 117th Cat-Griz showdown at noon. The Grizzlies enter the ancient rivalry with a full head of steam, winning two straight and five of six and dominating opponents in that stretch to the tune of a +62 point differential. The Bobcats have lost two straight, and stand 4-6 against a schedule pocked with nationally-ranked foes – seven MSU opponents were ranked at the time of the game, including all three non-league opponents. The nine Bobcat opponents to this point have compiled a 55-46 record. Montana has played four opponents ranked at the time of the meeting, and UM's first nine opponents hold a 45-55 cumulative record. Montana hopes to solidify its already strong FCS Playoff case Saturday while keeping its Big Sky title hopes alive. Montana State looks to improve its 2017 win total from last year and continue the program's positive momentum heading into the off-season. The Grizzlies own a 75-38-5 advantage in the series, with Montana State winning last season in Missoula.
Cat-Griz Media Procedures
Head Coach Jeff Choate and Montana State captains Mitch Herbert, Dylan Mahoney, Mac Bignell and Bryson McCabe will be Montana State's only representatives available to the media this week. They will be available at the normal times.
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
P/K
/ FootballThursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
