Saturday, October 20
Ogden, UT
4 pm
Montana State University
at
Weber State
Receiver Kevin Kassis
Photo by: Garrett Becker
GAME #7: Bobcats Head to Ogden for Showdown with No. 7 Weber State
10/18/2018 7:35:00 AM | Football
MSU faces Big Sky's top-ranked defense on Saturday at 4 pm
BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State's effectiveness taking care of the football stands as a large factor in its success in 2018. The Bobcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Sky) have turned the ball over only six times, losing just one fumble, and stand 15th in the FCS in turnovers lost.
That characteristic will be under direct attack Saturday, when No. 7 Weber State (4-2, 2-1 Big Sky), the best team in the FCS in takeaways, hosts the Bobcats in Stewart Stadium. Kickoff is 4 pm, and the game is televised regionally on ROOT Sports and nationally on DirecTV's Audience Network and DISH Network's Studio channel.
This year's Wildcats defense is peerless in the Big Sky, leading the league in turnover margin (+1.67) and takeaways (20). The turnovers forced number is the nation's best, and Weber State also leads the league in scoring defense, total defense, and rush defense. The have Montana State coach Jeff Choate's attention.
"Weber State has an elite defense right now – they are big, have great team speed, are very athletic, and have a lot of experience," he said. "They look like a Mountain West defense more than a Big Sky defense. They're fast and physical, and they really get after the quarterback, either by bringing pressure or by winning one-on-one matchups. And as 11 fumbles recovered and nine interceptions indicates they attack the ball. They run to the ball as a unit, there's never just one man around the ball."
The Wildcats have scored 16 touchdowns this season. The majority – 12 – have come from the offense. That leaves two defensive touchdowns and two on returns, and doesn't even include the "number of times a takeaway or return has set up scores for the offense," Choate said. "Their defense and kick teams are an extension of their offense."
Middle linebacker LeGrand Toia averages over one tackle-for-loss per game, "which is remarkable for an inside linebacker," Choate said. He and Landon Stice (five tackles-for-loss) roam behind what Choate calls a "big, physical, long" defensive front. Filipe Sitake, a 6-1, 310 lb senior, anchors the operation in the middle. Cornerbacks Keilan Benjamin (32 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions) and Parker Preator (four pass breakups) create havoc for opponents in the back end.
While Weber State's defense makes headlines – last week it became the first team in years to hold Eastern Washington without a touchdown – running back Josh Davis is the engine behind the Wildcats offense. He averages 120.6 yards a game on the ground, 5.8 yards per carry. "Josh Davis is a very productive running back, a very hard, physical runner," Choate said. "He breaks a lot of tackles."
Choate said Weber State's strong commitment to the run game is rooted in an excellent offensive line. "They're very committed to running the football, with an excellent offensive line," he said. "(Left tackle Iosua Opeta) anchors their offensive line, and people I've talked to say he might be as high as a third- or fourth-round draft pick."
The Wildcats also put to good use the unique talents of receiver Rashid Shaheed. The speedster averages a team-best 15.8 yards per catch with three receiving touchdowns, but also returns kickoffs (averaging 43.4 yards per return, with a 100-yard touchdown) and punts. "Rashid Shaheed is a guy you really have to pay attention to," Choate said. "He is always a threat to break one, not just as a receiver but in the return game."
Shaheed is one of many players with extreme speed, and the depth of that attribute on the Weber State squad leaves an impression on Choate. "Their team speed stands out, and where that really shows is on special teams. They make a lot of big plays in the kicking game, they're really well-coached in that phase, and they're a physical group."
Teams, or at least offenses, often take on the primary characteristic of the quarterback. The Bobcats rely on a bruising ground game geared toward the unique and diverse talents of quarterback Troy Andersen and the emerging dynamism of freshman running back Isaiah Ifanse. Andersen rushes for 112.7 yards a game, 12th in the FCS, and his nine rushing touchdowns is fourth nationally.
Choate said the two young ball-carriers stand to figure prominently on Saturday. "We've got to maximize our possessions," he said. "That doesn't mean we have to score every time we get the ball, but we need to keep our defense fresh. We need to stay away from three-and-outs. We need to maximize our possessions and take our shots when they're there."
Defensively, Bryce Sterk, who plays a hybrid outside linebacker-defensive end spot, leads the Big Sky with 0.83 sacks and 1.6 tackles-for-loss per game. Although the team's defensive statistics remain skewed by the explosive offenses of South Dakota State and Eastern Washington, the Cats have moved into the league's top half in total defense (410.7 yards per game) and scoring defense (28.7 points a game).
Choate understands the magnitude of Saturday's challenge, facing the third top 10 opponent in the team's seven games and the ninth nationally-ranked foe in his team's last 18 outings. But he also understands the opportunity.
"Clearly (people outside the program) don't think we're ready to compete for a conference championship, that's been played out over and over again," he said. "I think we're a work in progress. Do I think we've arrived? No. But I think we're a better football team than some people thought. It doesn't matter what I think, though. We have to go prove it on Saturday."
#GoCatsGo
That characteristic will be under direct attack Saturday, when No. 7 Weber State (4-2, 2-1 Big Sky), the best team in the FCS in takeaways, hosts the Bobcats in Stewart Stadium. Kickoff is 4 pm, and the game is televised regionally on ROOT Sports and nationally on DirecTV's Audience Network and DISH Network's Studio channel.
This year's Wildcats defense is peerless in the Big Sky, leading the league in turnover margin (+1.67) and takeaways (20). The turnovers forced number is the nation's best, and Weber State also leads the league in scoring defense, total defense, and rush defense. The have Montana State coach Jeff Choate's attention.
"Weber State has an elite defense right now – they are big, have great team speed, are very athletic, and have a lot of experience," he said. "They look like a Mountain West defense more than a Big Sky defense. They're fast and physical, and they really get after the quarterback, either by bringing pressure or by winning one-on-one matchups. And as 11 fumbles recovered and nine interceptions indicates they attack the ball. They run to the ball as a unit, there's never just one man around the ball."
The Wildcats have scored 16 touchdowns this season. The majority – 12 – have come from the offense. That leaves two defensive touchdowns and two on returns, and doesn't even include the "number of times a takeaway or return has set up scores for the offense," Choate said. "Their defense and kick teams are an extension of their offense."
Middle linebacker LeGrand Toia averages over one tackle-for-loss per game, "which is remarkable for an inside linebacker," Choate said. He and Landon Stice (five tackles-for-loss) roam behind what Choate calls a "big, physical, long" defensive front. Filipe Sitake, a 6-1, 310 lb senior, anchors the operation in the middle. Cornerbacks Keilan Benjamin (32 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions) and Parker Preator (four pass breakups) create havoc for opponents in the back end.
While Weber State's defense makes headlines – last week it became the first team in years to hold Eastern Washington without a touchdown – running back Josh Davis is the engine behind the Wildcats offense. He averages 120.6 yards a game on the ground, 5.8 yards per carry. "Josh Davis is a very productive running back, a very hard, physical runner," Choate said. "He breaks a lot of tackles."
Choate said Weber State's strong commitment to the run game is rooted in an excellent offensive line. "They're very committed to running the football, with an excellent offensive line," he said. "(Left tackle Iosua Opeta) anchors their offensive line, and people I've talked to say he might be as high as a third- or fourth-round draft pick."
The Wildcats also put to good use the unique talents of receiver Rashid Shaheed. The speedster averages a team-best 15.8 yards per catch with three receiving touchdowns, but also returns kickoffs (averaging 43.4 yards per return, with a 100-yard touchdown) and punts. "Rashid Shaheed is a guy you really have to pay attention to," Choate said. "He is always a threat to break one, not just as a receiver but in the return game."
Shaheed is one of many players with extreme speed, and the depth of that attribute on the Weber State squad leaves an impression on Choate. "Their team speed stands out, and where that really shows is on special teams. They make a lot of big plays in the kicking game, they're really well-coached in that phase, and they're a physical group."
Teams, or at least offenses, often take on the primary characteristic of the quarterback. The Bobcats rely on a bruising ground game geared toward the unique and diverse talents of quarterback Troy Andersen and the emerging dynamism of freshman running back Isaiah Ifanse. Andersen rushes for 112.7 yards a game, 12th in the FCS, and his nine rushing touchdowns is fourth nationally.
Choate said the two young ball-carriers stand to figure prominently on Saturday. "We've got to maximize our possessions," he said. "That doesn't mean we have to score every time we get the ball, but we need to keep our defense fresh. We need to stay away from three-and-outs. We need to maximize our possessions and take our shots when they're there."
Defensively, Bryce Sterk, who plays a hybrid outside linebacker-defensive end spot, leads the Big Sky with 0.83 sacks and 1.6 tackles-for-loss per game. Although the team's defensive statistics remain skewed by the explosive offenses of South Dakota State and Eastern Washington, the Cats have moved into the league's top half in total defense (410.7 yards per game) and scoring defense (28.7 points a game).
Choate understands the magnitude of Saturday's challenge, facing the third top 10 opponent in the team's seven games and the ninth nationally-ranked foe in his team's last 18 outings. But he also understands the opportunity.
"Clearly (people outside the program) don't think we're ready to compete for a conference championship, that's been played out over and over again," he said. "I think we're a work in progress. Do I think we've arrived? No. But I think we're a better football team than some people thought. It doesn't matter what I think, though. We have to go prove it on Saturday."
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
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Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
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Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
