Saturday, October 13
BOZEMAN
2 pm
Montana State University
vs
Idaho (HOMECOMING)
Troy Andersen
Photo by: Garrett Becker
GAME #6: Montana State Hosts Idaho Saturday for First Time Since 1995
10/10/2018 5:29:00 PM | Football
Bobcats Face Program with Strong Treasure State Ties
BOZEMAN, Montana – A native of northern Idaho who spent his college years in the Treasure State, Bobcat coach Jeff Choate has had a pretty good working knowledge of the history between Big Sky Conference charter members Montana State and Idaho, and about the links those programs share even after the Vandals spent more than two decades in other far-flung leagues.
Montana State's third-year head coach grew up travelling from his hometown of Saint Maries, south of Lake Couer d'Alene, to Moscow to watch the Vandals play as a youngster. He recites famous Vandals of yore, and just as easily recites current members of Idaho's coaching staff with connections to the Treasure State or the Bobcats.
But as his team prepares for its first Big Sky game against Idaho since 1995, Choate prefers to focus on current events more than history. "Lessons learned from the bye week," he says of his program's in-the-moment focus, referring to the notable upsets on the Big Sky a week ago. "If you are prepared and you bring your edge competitively, you can beat anybody," he said of the message to his team when it came to work Sunday after its open week in the schedule. "If you are not prepared and do not have your competitive edge you can get beat by anybody."
Choate talks about Idaho's plentiful talent accumulated while at the Division I FBS level (through 2017), even after it dropped a 62-28 decision at Idaho State last week. "They gave up a ton of yards and a lot of explosive plays to a very good outfit," Choate said.
In their first season in the Big Sky since 1995 the Vandals stand 2-3 overall, 1-2 in the league. "I know Coach Petrino and his staff are a veteran group of guys who have coached a lot of football and will have their guys ready," Choate said. "But they have elite players. You go position-by-position, and they have some of the top players in this league at a lot of spots. This is a dangerous outfit, I think they will come in here with a lot of motivation, and they have talent."
Choate said the importance of this game to the Idaho program begins at the top. "Paul Petrino is a Helena, Montana, native, and is a Carroll College grad," he said of UI's head coach, who hails from a legendary Treasure State coaching family. "Kris Cinkovich, Carroll College grad; Troy Purcell, Carroll College grad, Helena native, also a former Bozeman High coach who's got guys on this (Bobcat) team that he coached and won a couple state championships with; (Mike) Breske and (Vernon) Smith, two University of Montana guys; and of course Bobby Daly, an All-America here who will be a Hall of Famer at some point in time. So even though there isn't a lot of recent history with this rivalry, this is a rivalry."
The Vandals' offense operates behind two quarterbacks. "Mason Petrino has done a really nice job of operating their offense, but then you have (Colton) Richardson who has a different skill set and really has a strong arm and maybe can do some things that Mason can't in the passing game." Petrino throws for 155.2 yards a game on 73-for-121 passing (60.3%), with five touchdowns and four interceptions. Richardson averages 101.8 yards in his four games with a 55.1% completion rate. Petrino averages 10.6 yards per completion, Richardson 15.1.
Idaho tilts toward the run on offense, featuring one of the Big Sky's top back. "The guy that makes their offensive go when they get him going is (Isaiah) Saunders, the tailback. He is a big, physical, downhill back, 230 lbs, a good inside zone runner. I think (guard Noah Johnson) might be one of the better offensive linemen in our league." Saunders has rushed for 1,728 yards as a Vandal, tied for 15th in program history, and gains 4.7 yards per rush and 90.2 yards per game this season.
A pair of talented senior linebackers, Kaden Elliss and Ed Hall, lead the Idaho defense. Elliss also lines up at tight end, and became the first FBS player since 2013 to catch a touchdown pass while logging a sack in the same game last season. He is a preseason All-America, and Hall is a preseason All-Big Sky choice. "They get after the quarterback really well," Choate said of the Vandals' defense.
The Bobcats get back into the heat of the Big Sky race after the team's open weekend, jumping back into a fray where Eastern Washington, Idaho State and UC Davis remain undefeated in conference action. Four other teams, including the Cats, enter the weekend with a single defeat.
Choate hopes the bye week boosts his squad. "I don't think you focus a whole lot on the opponent during the bye week," Choate said. "I think we did a 10 minute scout period on Wednesday on Idaho. Hopefully you feel a little bit refreshed. Guys' legs are getting a little heavy toward the middle of the season, you give them a couple days off to get their legs back a little bit. Mentally, just getting away from it can be a real positive. We spent most of our time focusing on eye position and eyes, hand placement, blow delivery, block escape, tackling, things you have to do well down the stretch if you want to have success."
Saturday's game begins a stretch of three straight games for the Bobcats against charter members of the Big Sky Conference. The Cats play at Weber State next week, and Idaho State on October 27. Paired with the traditional finale against Montana, MSU is the only founding member of the Big Sky to play each of the other four charter members this season.
Kickoff for Montana State's Homecoming game Saturday is 2 pm, and the game is televised throughout the region on ROOT Sports, and nationally on DirecTV's Audience Network and DISH Network's Studio Channel 102.
#GoCatsGo
Montana State's third-year head coach grew up travelling from his hometown of Saint Maries, south of Lake Couer d'Alene, to Moscow to watch the Vandals play as a youngster. He recites famous Vandals of yore, and just as easily recites current members of Idaho's coaching staff with connections to the Treasure State or the Bobcats.
But as his team prepares for its first Big Sky game against Idaho since 1995, Choate prefers to focus on current events more than history. "Lessons learned from the bye week," he says of his program's in-the-moment focus, referring to the notable upsets on the Big Sky a week ago. "If you are prepared and you bring your edge competitively, you can beat anybody," he said of the message to his team when it came to work Sunday after its open week in the schedule. "If you are not prepared and do not have your competitive edge you can get beat by anybody."
Choate talks about Idaho's plentiful talent accumulated while at the Division I FBS level (through 2017), even after it dropped a 62-28 decision at Idaho State last week. "They gave up a ton of yards and a lot of explosive plays to a very good outfit," Choate said.
In their first season in the Big Sky since 1995 the Vandals stand 2-3 overall, 1-2 in the league. "I know Coach Petrino and his staff are a veteran group of guys who have coached a lot of football and will have their guys ready," Choate said. "But they have elite players. You go position-by-position, and they have some of the top players in this league at a lot of spots. This is a dangerous outfit, I think they will come in here with a lot of motivation, and they have talent."
Choate said the importance of this game to the Idaho program begins at the top. "Paul Petrino is a Helena, Montana, native, and is a Carroll College grad," he said of UI's head coach, who hails from a legendary Treasure State coaching family. "Kris Cinkovich, Carroll College grad; Troy Purcell, Carroll College grad, Helena native, also a former Bozeman High coach who's got guys on this (Bobcat) team that he coached and won a couple state championships with; (Mike) Breske and (Vernon) Smith, two University of Montana guys; and of course Bobby Daly, an All-America here who will be a Hall of Famer at some point in time. So even though there isn't a lot of recent history with this rivalry, this is a rivalry."
The Vandals' offense operates behind two quarterbacks. "Mason Petrino has done a really nice job of operating their offense, but then you have (Colton) Richardson who has a different skill set and really has a strong arm and maybe can do some things that Mason can't in the passing game." Petrino throws for 155.2 yards a game on 73-for-121 passing (60.3%), with five touchdowns and four interceptions. Richardson averages 101.8 yards in his four games with a 55.1% completion rate. Petrino averages 10.6 yards per completion, Richardson 15.1.
Idaho tilts toward the run on offense, featuring one of the Big Sky's top back. "The guy that makes their offensive go when they get him going is (Isaiah) Saunders, the tailback. He is a big, physical, downhill back, 230 lbs, a good inside zone runner. I think (guard Noah Johnson) might be one of the better offensive linemen in our league." Saunders has rushed for 1,728 yards as a Vandal, tied for 15th in program history, and gains 4.7 yards per rush and 90.2 yards per game this season.
A pair of talented senior linebackers, Kaden Elliss and Ed Hall, lead the Idaho defense. Elliss also lines up at tight end, and became the first FBS player since 2013 to catch a touchdown pass while logging a sack in the same game last season. He is a preseason All-America, and Hall is a preseason All-Big Sky choice. "They get after the quarterback really well," Choate said of the Vandals' defense.
The Bobcats get back into the heat of the Big Sky race after the team's open weekend, jumping back into a fray where Eastern Washington, Idaho State and UC Davis remain undefeated in conference action. Four other teams, including the Cats, enter the weekend with a single defeat.
Choate hopes the bye week boosts his squad. "I don't think you focus a whole lot on the opponent during the bye week," Choate said. "I think we did a 10 minute scout period on Wednesday on Idaho. Hopefully you feel a little bit refreshed. Guys' legs are getting a little heavy toward the middle of the season, you give them a couple days off to get their legs back a little bit. Mentally, just getting away from it can be a real positive. We spent most of our time focusing on eye position and eyes, hand placement, blow delivery, block escape, tackling, things you have to do well down the stretch if you want to have success."
Saturday's game begins a stretch of three straight games for the Bobcats against charter members of the Big Sky Conference. The Cats play at Weber State next week, and Idaho State on October 27. Paired with the traditional finale against Montana, MSU is the only founding member of the Big Sky to play each of the other four charter members this season.
Kickoff for Montana State's Homecoming game Saturday is 2 pm, and the game is televised throughout the region on ROOT Sports, and nationally on DirecTV's Audience Network and DISH Network's Studio Channel 102.
#GoCatsGo
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