Saturday, November 11
Flagstaff, AZ
5 pm
Montana State University
at
#24 Northern Arizona
Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez
GAME 10: Bobcats Visit #24 Northern Arizona for Road Finale
11/8/2017 2:14:00 PM | Football
MSU enters a crucible of emotions at the Walkup Skydome on Saturday
BOZEMAN, Mont. – The play of Northern Arizona's star quarterback Case Cookus was always going to be a focal point of Montana State's game at 24th-ranked Northern Arizona Saturday, but squaring off against one of FCS football's elite players gained an extra wrinkle last week.
The National FCS Freshman of the Year in 2015, Cookus is a leading candidate for national player of the year honors this year. But he was ejected early in Northern Arizona's loss last week at Montana for targeting. "I'm sure Case Cookus is going to have a little bit extra in his tank after having to sit and watch last Saturday in Missoula," Bobcat coach Jeff Choate said.
Any emotional steam Cookus' return adds to the Lumberjack cause will likely be trumped – or enhanced by – playing the final scheduled home game for NAU's seniors, and for head coach Jerome Souers.
"That's going to be a raucous crowd," Choate said of the factors converging to greet the Bobcats. "There will be a lot of emotion, and that's good, we'll have a great environment to play in down there against a ranked opponent, a very good team."
The loss in Missoula pushed the Lumberjacks into a knot of teams with one conference loss entering the season's final two weeks. NAU, Southern Utah and Weber State share the catbird seat with a 5-1 mark in Big Sky play, while the Bobcats are among four teams with a 4-2 record, which leaves "plenty to be decided here in the last couple weeks" of the 2017 season, according to Choate.
Choate's team faces a Northern Arizona program bidding farewell to Souers, whose 20 years in Flagstaff have produced more wins than any coach in Big Sky Conference history. Since the announcement that this will be his final season, the team's only loss was the controversial setback in Missoula. Choate calls the Lumberjacks "a very good football team galvanized by (the departure) of a long-time coach. He's entrenched in that community and that university and the state of Arizona. I think it says a lot about the type of coach he is and the job that his staff has done."
Cookus and the running back tandem of Cory Young and Joe Logan lead the Lumberjacks on offense. The attack is punctuated by a talented group of receivers, even with the injured Emmanuel Butler. NAU presents a challenge markedly different from what the Cats saw in Kennesaw State last week. "What's challenging about Northern Arizona is the variety of things they do," Choate said. "In the unique way that playing a triple option team is so peculiar in modern football, Northern Arizona does a little bit of everything. And on top of that, they have a quarterback that can make every throw."
While lauding the weapons around him, Bobcats defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak said Cookus is NAU's central offensive figure. "Everything goes through Case Cookus," he said. "He's a fantastic player, he's smart, has a really strong arm, and what impresses me is how well he throws the ball moving. He can be running full speed and throw it 30 yards down the field on a dime. He's one of the top quarterbacks for sure in the Big Sky and also at the FCS level, but they're committed to running the football. They have a couple of good running backs, nice-looking players."
NAU is equally potent on defense. "They're very fast, physical, opportunistic," Choate said. "I think they have 15 interceptions, four of which have been returned for touchdowns. Their front seven does a good job of harassing and hitting the quarterback, creating some confusion, and that leads to a lot of those takeaways."
MSU offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong said big plays remain his unit's focus. "We need to continue to figure out a way to get some chunk plays," he said. "It's tough to drive the ball against any defense at three, four, five yards a clip. You have to be very seasoned, very disciplined, to do that, and we're not quite there yet."
This weekend's game kicks off at 5 pm, and is televised on Eleven Sports, which is included in DirecTV packages, and PlutoTV.com. http://elevensportsusa.com/where-to-watch/
The National FCS Freshman of the Year in 2015, Cookus is a leading candidate for national player of the year honors this year. But he was ejected early in Northern Arizona's loss last week at Montana for targeting. "I'm sure Case Cookus is going to have a little bit extra in his tank after having to sit and watch last Saturday in Missoula," Bobcat coach Jeff Choate said.
Any emotional steam Cookus' return adds to the Lumberjack cause will likely be trumped – or enhanced by – playing the final scheduled home game for NAU's seniors, and for head coach Jerome Souers.
"That's going to be a raucous crowd," Choate said of the factors converging to greet the Bobcats. "There will be a lot of emotion, and that's good, we'll have a great environment to play in down there against a ranked opponent, a very good team."
The loss in Missoula pushed the Lumberjacks into a knot of teams with one conference loss entering the season's final two weeks. NAU, Southern Utah and Weber State share the catbird seat with a 5-1 mark in Big Sky play, while the Bobcats are among four teams with a 4-2 record, which leaves "plenty to be decided here in the last couple weeks" of the 2017 season, according to Choate.
Choate's team faces a Northern Arizona program bidding farewell to Souers, whose 20 years in Flagstaff have produced more wins than any coach in Big Sky Conference history. Since the announcement that this will be his final season, the team's only loss was the controversial setback in Missoula. Choate calls the Lumberjacks "a very good football team galvanized by (the departure) of a long-time coach. He's entrenched in that community and that university and the state of Arizona. I think it says a lot about the type of coach he is and the job that his staff has done."
Cookus and the running back tandem of Cory Young and Joe Logan lead the Lumberjacks on offense. The attack is punctuated by a talented group of receivers, even with the injured Emmanuel Butler. NAU presents a challenge markedly different from what the Cats saw in Kennesaw State last week. "What's challenging about Northern Arizona is the variety of things they do," Choate said. "In the unique way that playing a triple option team is so peculiar in modern football, Northern Arizona does a little bit of everything. And on top of that, they have a quarterback that can make every throw."
While lauding the weapons around him, Bobcats defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak said Cookus is NAU's central offensive figure. "Everything goes through Case Cookus," he said. "He's a fantastic player, he's smart, has a really strong arm, and what impresses me is how well he throws the ball moving. He can be running full speed and throw it 30 yards down the field on a dime. He's one of the top quarterbacks for sure in the Big Sky and also at the FCS level, but they're committed to running the football. They have a couple of good running backs, nice-looking players."
NAU is equally potent on defense. "They're very fast, physical, opportunistic," Choate said. "I think they have 15 interceptions, four of which have been returned for touchdowns. Their front seven does a good job of harassing and hitting the quarterback, creating some confusion, and that leads to a lot of those takeaways."
MSU offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong said big plays remain his unit's focus. "We need to continue to figure out a way to get some chunk plays," he said. "It's tough to drive the ball against any defense at three, four, five yards a clip. You have to be very seasoned, very disciplined, to do that, and we're not quite there yet."
This weekend's game kicks off at 5 pm, and is televised on Eleven Sports, which is included in DirecTV packages, and PlutoTV.com. http://elevensportsusa.com/where-to-watch/
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