Saturday, September 30
BOZEMAN
1:30 pm
Montana State University
vs
#20 Weber State (Homecoming)
Photo by: Garrett Becker
GAME 4: Bobcats Host #20/18 Weber State for Homecoming
9/28/2017 8:23:00 AM | Football
MSU faces fourth straight ranked opponent to open 2017 season
Media Information for Saturday's Game
TELEVISION: ROOT Sports Northwest, available on cable systems around Montana and the region; DirecTV's Audience Network
VIDEO STREAM: none
AUDIO STREAM: msubobcats.com
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network stations across the state (Billings-KGHL 790 AM; Bozeman-KXLB 100.7 FM; Bozeman-KMMS 1450 AM; Butte-KXTL 1370 AM; Glasgow-KLTZ 1240 AM; Glendive-KDZN 96.5 FM; Great Falls-KINX 102.7 FM; Helena-KIMO 104.5 HD2; Kalispell-KGEZ 600 AM; Lewistown-KLCM 95.9 FM; Miles City-KATL 770 AM; Missoula- KMPT 930 AM; Shelby-KSEN 1150 AM; Sidney-KGCX 93.1 FM)
COACHES CORNER: Friday morning (and every Friday before home football games) at 10:30 am at the Bozeman Holiday Inn.
Montana State vs. Weber State Preview
Jeff Choate remembers Montana State's trip to Weber State last season, a 45-27 Wildcats win that snapped a five-game Bobcat win streak in the series.
"That wasn't a learning moment," Choate said. "That was a behind-the-woodshed moment."
For sure, that game was memorable from an MSU standpoint for its futility. "I don't remember a half of football that I've been involved in as bad as that one," Bobcat defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak said, and that sums it up pretty well. The Wildcats scored three touchdowns in the game's first 11 minutes, led 42-14 at halftime, and dominated in every meaningful way.
So certainly last year's contest plays a role in motivating the Bobcats today, right? "Zero," Choate said, pointing out that every team is different from the one that preceded it and the one that lines up across from it. The 2017 Weber State Wildcats are no exception. Choate calls quarterback Stefan Cantwell "basically a clone physically" of last year's WSU signal caller Jadrian Clark, and says he is a go-to player. "When they need a play in the red zone, third down, short yardage, you're going to see quarterback run game, mostly into the boundary, quarterback power, quarterback stretch."
But Choate also said the Wildcats' offense has evolved. "They were probably a little bit more two-back run team a year ago, now it's more one-back run game, shots down the field to the wide receiver, (Rashid Shaheed) in particular, and they've got that great tight end target. They've got a really balanced offense, quarterback's a run threat, pass threat, they've got tight ends, they've got receivers, they've got running backs, and they've got a big, physical offensive line."
Armed with "the best team speed in the Big Sky" in Choate's estimation, veteran head coach Jay Hill's offense has big-play ability spread throughout the offense. Running back Treshawn Garrett has a long run of 98 yards, and averages 6.8 per carry. Shaheed averages 36.2 yards a catch, and three Weber State pass-catchers have long plays of 45 yards or more. Cantwell runs for 36.2 yards a game and throws for 227.0, but he leads the squad in rushes.
Weber State's defense has been suffocating, holding two opponents without touchdowns and limiting the foe to just 17 first downs and 292.8 yards per game. "They have elite players at each level" of the defense, Choate says. Lineman McKay Murphy has seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage in four games, linebacker LeGrand Toia has 14 tackles in three games, and cornerback Keilan Benjamin has two interceptions and two other passes broken up. Bobcat offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong calls the Wildcats stop unit "big, good, and old. They have a lot of veteran players."
Across the line of scrimmage, Weber State will find a Bobcat offense that Jeff Choate says "has to be able to play multiple styles, and I think you'll continue to see us do that." Quarterback Chris Murray's dual-threat ability factors into that. He has a 300-yard passing game and two 100-yard rushing games to his credit this season, and his explosiveness when the ball is in his hand makes him "very tough to deal with," Choate says.
He also has weapons in all phases of the offense developing around him. Jabarri Johnson joins reliable veterans Mitch Herbert and Kevin Kassis to diversify MSU's pass game, while freshman Troy Andersen and sophomore Edward Vander join Logan Jones in the running back stable to give Murray players that can do everything MSU's offense needs at that position.
The Bobcat defense survived a re-shuffling of the deck at North Dakota. While middle linebacker Josh Hill missed the UND game with an injury, MSU moved Buck end Grant Collins back to Mike linebacker, where he started two seasons ago. "He did a lot of good things," said defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak, and was complemented by excellent productivity from the defensive line, particularly Brandon Hayashi and Zach Wright, inside players who each logged the first solo sacks of their careers. Linebacker Brayden Konkol also picked off a pass for the first time.
Montana State's special teams unit was not immune from personnel moves last week. Kicker Gabe Peppenger and punter Jered Padmos were each activated for varsity duty for the first time, and each responded well. Peppenger nailed all seven extra points and helped pin the Fighting Hawks at or inside the 20 on three of his eight kickoffs, while Padmos averaged 40.7 yards per punt.
In some ways, Choate may see his program's future across the field today. Hill is in his fourth year building the Wildcats program, while Choate is in his second at MSU. Choate credits Hill has done a "really good job building a strong culture there." The Wildcats reached the FCS Playoffs last season, and enter today's game ranked 18th in one FCS poll and 20th in another. The culmination of Hill's work and Weber State's "renewed commitment to football" bring what Choate calls "I think the best team in the Big Sky right now" into Bobcat Stadium today.
But Choate likes his squad. "They keep working and keep fighting," he says, "and I like that. We have a lot of room for improvement and a lot of work ahead, but I like the direction" his team is going.
TELEVISION: ROOT Sports Northwest, available on cable systems around Montana and the region; DirecTV's Audience Network
VIDEO STREAM: none
AUDIO STREAM: msubobcats.com
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network stations across the state (Billings-KGHL 790 AM; Bozeman-KXLB 100.7 FM; Bozeman-KMMS 1450 AM; Butte-KXTL 1370 AM; Glasgow-KLTZ 1240 AM; Glendive-KDZN 96.5 FM; Great Falls-KINX 102.7 FM; Helena-KIMO 104.5 HD2; Kalispell-KGEZ 600 AM; Lewistown-KLCM 95.9 FM; Miles City-KATL 770 AM; Missoula- KMPT 930 AM; Shelby-KSEN 1150 AM; Sidney-KGCX 93.1 FM)
COACHES CORNER: Friday morning (and every Friday before home football games) at 10:30 am at the Bozeman Holiday Inn.
Montana State vs. Weber State Preview
Jeff Choate remembers Montana State's trip to Weber State last season, a 45-27 Wildcats win that snapped a five-game Bobcat win streak in the series.
"That wasn't a learning moment," Choate said. "That was a behind-the-woodshed moment."
For sure, that game was memorable from an MSU standpoint for its futility. "I don't remember a half of football that I've been involved in as bad as that one," Bobcat defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak said, and that sums it up pretty well. The Wildcats scored three touchdowns in the game's first 11 minutes, led 42-14 at halftime, and dominated in every meaningful way.
So certainly last year's contest plays a role in motivating the Bobcats today, right? "Zero," Choate said, pointing out that every team is different from the one that preceded it and the one that lines up across from it. The 2017 Weber State Wildcats are no exception. Choate calls quarterback Stefan Cantwell "basically a clone physically" of last year's WSU signal caller Jadrian Clark, and says he is a go-to player. "When they need a play in the red zone, third down, short yardage, you're going to see quarterback run game, mostly into the boundary, quarterback power, quarterback stretch."
But Choate also said the Wildcats' offense has evolved. "They were probably a little bit more two-back run team a year ago, now it's more one-back run game, shots down the field to the wide receiver, (Rashid Shaheed) in particular, and they've got that great tight end target. They've got a really balanced offense, quarterback's a run threat, pass threat, they've got tight ends, they've got receivers, they've got running backs, and they've got a big, physical offensive line."
Armed with "the best team speed in the Big Sky" in Choate's estimation, veteran head coach Jay Hill's offense has big-play ability spread throughout the offense. Running back Treshawn Garrett has a long run of 98 yards, and averages 6.8 per carry. Shaheed averages 36.2 yards a catch, and three Weber State pass-catchers have long plays of 45 yards or more. Cantwell runs for 36.2 yards a game and throws for 227.0, but he leads the squad in rushes.
Weber State's defense has been suffocating, holding two opponents without touchdowns and limiting the foe to just 17 first downs and 292.8 yards per game. "They have elite players at each level" of the defense, Choate says. Lineman McKay Murphy has seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage in four games, linebacker LeGrand Toia has 14 tackles in three games, and cornerback Keilan Benjamin has two interceptions and two other passes broken up. Bobcat offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong calls the Wildcats stop unit "big, good, and old. They have a lot of veteran players."
Across the line of scrimmage, Weber State will find a Bobcat offense that Jeff Choate says "has to be able to play multiple styles, and I think you'll continue to see us do that." Quarterback Chris Murray's dual-threat ability factors into that. He has a 300-yard passing game and two 100-yard rushing games to his credit this season, and his explosiveness when the ball is in his hand makes him "very tough to deal with," Choate says.
He also has weapons in all phases of the offense developing around him. Jabarri Johnson joins reliable veterans Mitch Herbert and Kevin Kassis to diversify MSU's pass game, while freshman Troy Andersen and sophomore Edward Vander join Logan Jones in the running back stable to give Murray players that can do everything MSU's offense needs at that position.
The Bobcat defense survived a re-shuffling of the deck at North Dakota. While middle linebacker Josh Hill missed the UND game with an injury, MSU moved Buck end Grant Collins back to Mike linebacker, where he started two seasons ago. "He did a lot of good things," said defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak, and was complemented by excellent productivity from the defensive line, particularly Brandon Hayashi and Zach Wright, inside players who each logged the first solo sacks of their careers. Linebacker Brayden Konkol also picked off a pass for the first time.
Montana State's special teams unit was not immune from personnel moves last week. Kicker Gabe Peppenger and punter Jered Padmos were each activated for varsity duty for the first time, and each responded well. Peppenger nailed all seven extra points and helped pin the Fighting Hawks at or inside the 20 on three of his eight kickoffs, while Padmos averaged 40.7 yards per punt.
In some ways, Choate may see his program's future across the field today. Hill is in his fourth year building the Wildcats program, while Choate is in his second at MSU. Choate credits Hill has done a "really good job building a strong culture there." The Wildcats reached the FCS Playoffs last season, and enter today's game ranked 18th in one FCS poll and 20th in another. The culmination of Hill's work and Weber State's "renewed commitment to football" bring what Choate calls "I think the best team in the Big Sky right now" into Bobcat Stadium today.
But Choate likes his squad. "They keep working and keep fighting," he says, "and I like that. We have a lot of room for improvement and a lot of work ahead, but I like the direction" his team is going.
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
S
/ Football
QB
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DL
/ FootballLeon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
