Logan Jones
Photo by: Garrett Becker
BOBCAT SUNDAY NOTEBOOK #3: MSU Offense Shifts into High Gear at UND
9/24/2017 12:49:00 PM | Football
Chris Murray leads explosive Bobcats to road win
Bobcat Football Sunday Notebook
September 24, 2017 – Montana State 49, North Dakota 21 in Grand Forks
After declaring Saturday's game at 17th-ranked North Dakota one that would be won in the trenches, Jeff Choate's team did just that in a dominating 49-21 victory Saturday. The Bobcats out-gained UND 515-to-255 in total yards, possessed the ball just a few ticks shy of two-to-one, and achieved the line-to-gain on 35 percent of its scrimmage plays. Sophomore quarterback Chris Murray gained 132 yards rushing and 174 passing, and coupled with freshman running back Troy Andersen's 131 yards rushing helped the Cats convert 12 of their 16 third downs into first downs. Murray threw for three touchdowns (rushing for another), giving him seven TD passes on the season.
Player of the Week Nominees
Offense – QB Chris Murray (6-2, 185, So, Inglewood, California): Montana State sophomore quarterback Chris Murray rushed for 132 yards and threw for 174, leading Montana State to a 49-21 win over #17 North Dakota in Grand Forks on Saturday. Murray threw three touchdowns passes and rushed for another. His ground rushing game gave him back-to-back 100 yard games for the first time in his career, and he now has seven touchdown passes in the last two games after throwing just six in his first 12. Spanning roughly the last six quarters of football Murray has completed 29 of his last 42 passes for 398 yards, with seven touchdowns and one interception.
Defense – LB Mac Bignell (6-1, 215, Sr, Drummond, MT): Mac Bignell logged six tackles, four solo, and one for a loss, in Montana State's 49-21 road win over #17 North Dakota on Saturday. Bignell tied for the team high in tackles, and his tackle-for-loss was the
Special Teams – none
Freshman of the Week – RB Troy Andersen (6-3, 220, Fr, Dillon, MT): In his third college game running back Troy Andersen became the quickest Bobcat freshman on record to gain 100 yards in a game, pounding the North Dakota defense for 131 yards on 22 carries in Montana State's 49-21 win over #17 North Dakota on Saturday. Andersen scored a pair of touchdowns, one on a two-yard plunge and the other on a career-long 27 yarder. Nine of his carries ended in either a first down, a touchdown, or both.
Offensive Lineman of the Week – RT Mitch Brott (6-6, 290, So, Billings, MT): A 2016 Freshman All-America, Mitch Brott's start to the 2017 season shows that he's elevated his play to a level befitting the elimination of class qualifiers in front of the honor. Helping anchor an offensive line that's averaged 503 yards in two games against nationally-ranked FCS opponents, Brott showed flair as a decoy receiver – not to mention as a younger brother – in Saturday's win at #17 North Dakota. With the Bobcats leading 14-0 midway through the second quarter, the Cats broke into a formation called 'Explode' featuring Mitch Brott as a slot receiver. His brother Wilson, a junior tight end, lined up at right tackle, slipped into the secondary, and took his first career catch into the end zone for a touchdown. "It was pretty cool" watching his brother score, Mitch Brott said, while acknowledging that his primary worry while lined up in the slot was "not to wiggle or anything, because I didn't want to get a false start" penalty. In his day job as a power-blocking tackle, Brott paved the way for 341 team yards rushing, including 132 yards by quarterback Chris Murray and freshman running back Troy Andersen. In the team's two games against FCS opponents, both nationally-ranked squads, the Cats 5.5 yards per rush attempt without allowing a sack.
Post-Game News and Notes
Injury Report: Likely Out for Season – LB Lukas McCarthy.
• Troy Andersen rushed for 131 yards at North Dakota Saturday, becoming the seventh Bobcat freshman, and fourth true freshman, to surpass the century mark in a game since such records became available in 1966. In his third game at MSU, he is the quickest freshman on record (covering the last 52 seasons) to gain at least 100 yards in a game.
• Troy Andersen and Chris Murray, both just 18 years old, each rushed for at least 130 yards against North Daktoa.
• The Bobcats gained 491 yards against South Dakota State, then the second-highest total in Jeff Choate's one-plus seasons as the team's head coach, and the 515 yards at North Dakota on Saturday is the most by a Jeff Choate-coached squad.
• Against two nationally-ranked opponents, MSU averages 503 total yards and 27.5 first downs in the last two games
• The Bobcats converted 12 of their 16 third downs into first downs on Saturday.
• After converting 11- of-19 4th down conversions a season ago, the Cats are 6-for-6 on fourth down in 2017.
• The Bobcats have turned the ball over just once in each of the season's first three games and are even in turnover margin this season, but MSU has forced four fumbles this season without losing one (MSU has fumbled just once).
• Mitchell Herbert now has 1,544 career receiving yards, 54 yards from 10th on the school's all-time list.
• The last time two Bobcats rushed for at least 100 yards in one game was against Sacramento State last year (Chris Murray and Gunnar Brekke)
• In nine of his 14 games as a Bobcat, sophomore quarterback Chris Murray has Montana State's long run from scrimmage.
• Chris Murray has led the Bobcats in rushing seven times in his career.
• After Brady Oliveira battered the Bobcats for nearly 175 rushing yards in his first two games against Montana State, the Cats held him to just 39 yards on Saturday.
• MSU's 49 points Saturday was the most for the Cats under Jeff Choate.
• The Bobcats have scored exactly 150 points in three games at UND's Alerus Center.
First Look: Weber State at Montana State
Game Details: Date – Saturday, September 30 Kickoff – 1:30 pm Special Promotion – HOMECOMING Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network and msubobcats.com Video – ROOT Sports Streaming – none
At A Glance: Montana State faces a nationally-ranked opponent for the fourth time in four 2017 games Saturday when 3-1 Weber State, ranked no. 23 last week, visits Bobcat Stadium for Homecoming. The Wildcats, who smashed upstart UC Davis 41-3 on Saturday, are led by the efficient passing of Stefan Cantwell, who throws for 227 yards a game while completing 61% of his passes. Treshaun Garrett rushes for 71.8 yards a game, while Keilan Benjamin (17 tackles, two for a loss) and McKay Murphy (15 tackles, seven for a loss) lead a stingy defense that allows just 15 points and 293 yards a game.
September 24, 2017 – Montana State 49, North Dakota 21 in Grand Forks
After declaring Saturday's game at 17th-ranked North Dakota one that would be won in the trenches, Jeff Choate's team did just that in a dominating 49-21 victory Saturday. The Bobcats out-gained UND 515-to-255 in total yards, possessed the ball just a few ticks shy of two-to-one, and achieved the line-to-gain on 35 percent of its scrimmage plays. Sophomore quarterback Chris Murray gained 132 yards rushing and 174 passing, and coupled with freshman running back Troy Andersen's 131 yards rushing helped the Cats convert 12 of their 16 third downs into first downs. Murray threw for three touchdowns (rushing for another), giving him seven TD passes on the season.
Player of the Week Nominees
Offense – QB Chris Murray (6-2, 185, So, Inglewood, California): Montana State sophomore quarterback Chris Murray rushed for 132 yards and threw for 174, leading Montana State to a 49-21 win over #17 North Dakota in Grand Forks on Saturday. Murray threw three touchdowns passes and rushed for another. His ground rushing game gave him back-to-back 100 yard games for the first time in his career, and he now has seven touchdown passes in the last two games after throwing just six in his first 12. Spanning roughly the last six quarters of football Murray has completed 29 of his last 42 passes for 398 yards, with seven touchdowns and one interception.
Defense – LB Mac Bignell (6-1, 215, Sr, Drummond, MT): Mac Bignell logged six tackles, four solo, and one for a loss, in Montana State's 49-21 road win over #17 North Dakota on Saturday. Bignell tied for the team high in tackles, and his tackle-for-loss was the
Special Teams – none
Freshman of the Week – RB Troy Andersen (6-3, 220, Fr, Dillon, MT): In his third college game running back Troy Andersen became the quickest Bobcat freshman on record to gain 100 yards in a game, pounding the North Dakota defense for 131 yards on 22 carries in Montana State's 49-21 win over #17 North Dakota on Saturday. Andersen scored a pair of touchdowns, one on a two-yard plunge and the other on a career-long 27 yarder. Nine of his carries ended in either a first down, a touchdown, or both.
Offensive Lineman of the Week – RT Mitch Brott (6-6, 290, So, Billings, MT): A 2016 Freshman All-America, Mitch Brott's start to the 2017 season shows that he's elevated his play to a level befitting the elimination of class qualifiers in front of the honor. Helping anchor an offensive line that's averaged 503 yards in two games against nationally-ranked FCS opponents, Brott showed flair as a decoy receiver – not to mention as a younger brother – in Saturday's win at #17 North Dakota. With the Bobcats leading 14-0 midway through the second quarter, the Cats broke into a formation called 'Explode' featuring Mitch Brott as a slot receiver. His brother Wilson, a junior tight end, lined up at right tackle, slipped into the secondary, and took his first career catch into the end zone for a touchdown. "It was pretty cool" watching his brother score, Mitch Brott said, while acknowledging that his primary worry while lined up in the slot was "not to wiggle or anything, because I didn't want to get a false start" penalty. In his day job as a power-blocking tackle, Brott paved the way for 341 team yards rushing, including 132 yards by quarterback Chris Murray and freshman running back Troy Andersen. In the team's two games against FCS opponents, both nationally-ranked squads, the Cats 5.5 yards per rush attempt without allowing a sack.
Post-Game News and Notes
Injury Report: Likely Out for Season – LB Lukas McCarthy.
• Troy Andersen rushed for 131 yards at North Dakota Saturday, becoming the seventh Bobcat freshman, and fourth true freshman, to surpass the century mark in a game since such records became available in 1966. In his third game at MSU, he is the quickest freshman on record (covering the last 52 seasons) to gain at least 100 yards in a game.
• Troy Andersen and Chris Murray, both just 18 years old, each rushed for at least 130 yards against North Daktoa.
• The Bobcats gained 491 yards against South Dakota State, then the second-highest total in Jeff Choate's one-plus seasons as the team's head coach, and the 515 yards at North Dakota on Saturday is the most by a Jeff Choate-coached squad.
• Against two nationally-ranked opponents, MSU averages 503 total yards and 27.5 first downs in the last two games
• The Bobcats converted 12 of their 16 third downs into first downs on Saturday.
• After converting 11- of-19 4th down conversions a season ago, the Cats are 6-for-6 on fourth down in 2017.
• The Bobcats have turned the ball over just once in each of the season's first three games and are even in turnover margin this season, but MSU has forced four fumbles this season without losing one (MSU has fumbled just once).
• Mitchell Herbert now has 1,544 career receiving yards, 54 yards from 10th on the school's all-time list.
• The last time two Bobcats rushed for at least 100 yards in one game was against Sacramento State last year (Chris Murray and Gunnar Brekke)
• In nine of his 14 games as a Bobcat, sophomore quarterback Chris Murray has Montana State's long run from scrimmage.
• Chris Murray has led the Bobcats in rushing seven times in his career.
• After Brady Oliveira battered the Bobcats for nearly 175 rushing yards in his first two games against Montana State, the Cats held him to just 39 yards on Saturday.
• MSU's 49 points Saturday was the most for the Cats under Jeff Choate.
• The Bobcats have scored exactly 150 points in three games at UND's Alerus Center.
First Look: Weber State at Montana State
Game Details: Date – Saturday, September 30 Kickoff – 1:30 pm Special Promotion – HOMECOMING Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network and msubobcats.com Video – ROOT Sports Streaming – none
At A Glance: Montana State faces a nationally-ranked opponent for the fourth time in four 2017 games Saturday when 3-1 Weber State, ranked no. 23 last week, visits Bobcat Stadium for Homecoming. The Wildcats, who smashed upstart UC Davis 41-3 on Saturday, are led by the efficient passing of Stefan Cantwell, who throws for 227 yards a game while completing 61% of his passes. Treshaun Garrett rushes for 71.8 yards a game, while Keilan Benjamin (17 tackles, two for a loss) and McKay Murphy (15 tackles, seven for a loss) lead a stingy defense that allows just 15 points and 293 yards a game.
Players Mentioned
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