Saturday, November 24
BOZEMAN
1 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
Incarnate Word (First Round)
Big Sky sacks leader Bryce Sterk
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
GAME #12: Bobcats Host Incarnate Word in FCS Playoffs
11/21/2018 9:36:00 AM | Football
MSU Notes vs. Incarnate Word 11-21-18MSU Bio-Record Updates 11-21-18UIW Notes vs. Montana State 11-21-18
Montana State qualifies for post-season for first time since 2014
BOZEMAN, Montana – Jeff Choate's message to his team to begin Montana State's first week of FCS Playoff preparation since 2014 was simple and direct.
"What a win," he said, referencing Montana State's third straight victory over the Grizzlies in Missoula on Saturday. "What a great game. But this isn't a victory lap. Now it's time to get to work."
And when Choate and his staff got to work shortly after learning of their inclusion in the Playoffs, they found a daunting task. Montana State (7-4, 5-3 Big Sky) hosts the University of Incarnate Word (6-4, 6-2 Southland) on Saturday at 1 pm in Bobcat Stadium, and the Cardinals bring a high-flying aerial attack to Bozeman. UIW stands fourth in the nation in passing offense (323.7 yards per game) and 17th in total offense (493.3).
In spite of the gaudy passing numbers, Choate is impressed with the balanced nature of a Cardinals offense that throws the ball just over half the time. "They're eighth in the country in total offense," Choate said. "(Ra'Quanne Dickens) has 14 touchdowns, 105 yards a game. In an offense that features the passing game as much as they do, I think that says a lot about how committed (UIW) is to being balanced. They've got some good two-back run game that they use, some gap schemes, which is not something you see a lot of in an Air Raid type system."
UIW's offensive architect is first-year head coach Eric Morris, a former Texas Tech receiver who has built a system with Air Raid principles and old-school sensibility. "I can't speak enough about the job that Eric Morris has done there," Choate said. "He's turned this program around in a year. I got to work with Eric for one year at Washington State University. He was our inside receivers coach, which is kind of the right-hand man to Coach Leach in that system. He's a guy that played for Coach Leach at Texas Tech, he's a Texas native, and quite honestly he's a good guy and I enjoyed my time with him. We had a good relationship working together and it will be fun to see him in Bozeman."
Freshman quarterback Jon Copeland throws for 298.4 yards a game, fifth in the FCS, and he has a host of impressive receivers. "Their quarterback operates at a really efficient level," Choate said. "For a freshman he does a really good job… He distributes the ball well, he's got a number of playmakers on the perimeter. (Phillip Baptiste) almost has 1,000 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. (Kody Edwards) and (Kam Williams) both have over 500 yards receiving. It's an offense that's high-powered. They've got good team speed. They're long and athletic on the offensive line."
UIW squares off with a big-play Bobcat defense. Montana State has multiple takeaways in five straight games, and at least one in the last nine. Junior outside linebacker Bryce Sterk leads the Big Sky in tackles-for-loss and sacks.
Choate said UIW's defense reminds him of some opponents closer to home. "On defense they're a multiple front team, they run some four-down as well as some three-down," Choate said. "Not unlike the University of Montana they use a lot of post-snap movement, twists almost every time you see them, especially when they're in four-man (fronts). They're not a heavy blitz team, only about 19 percent of the time, they kind of make you earn it. Their pass defense numbers are a little bit deceptive. They give up a lot of yards in the pass game, but this is a team that jumps out on (its opponents) a lot so teams are playing from behind and choosing to throw the ball rather than run the ball to get back in the game. That skews some of the pass numbers."
The Cardinals allow 307.4 passing yards a game, but surrender only 168.4 yards a game on the ground, fourth in the Southland. Choate likes UIW's defensive personnel. "(West) Lambert, good name for a linebacker, is a good inside linebacker for them, played on the weak side. (Silas Stewart) is an athletic guy, a rangy kid, runs well, good tackler. Justin Alexandre) and (Malik Harris). (Alexandre) has 12.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, and they have big, tall, rangy guys on defense. They do a good job leveraging the edge of the defense. They make you earn it and give you a lot to work on up top."
The UIW defense faces a Montana State ground game that has hit its stride lately. The Cats have rushed for more than 200 yards in four straight games, and Troy Andersen is 12th nationally in rushing yards with 1,199, and his 7.45 yards per carry is fourth in the FCS. Sophomore Isaiah Ifanse and senior Logan Jones bolster MSU's ground game, combining for over 100 yards in each of Jones' four games since returning from injury. Andersen has also improved his passing efficiency over time. In the four games he is 45-for-74 for 418 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
While UIW qualifies for the post-season for the first time in the program's 10-year history, the Cats enter their 14th post-season. This is Montana State's eight FCS Playoff appearance since Mike Kramer led the team to the 2002 tournament to break an 18-year dry spell. The Bobcats claim home wins over Furman (2006), New Hampshire (2011) and Stony Brook (2012) in that span.
Saturday's game airs on ESPN3. Kickoff is 1 pm in Bobcat Stadium.
#GoCatsGo
"What a win," he said, referencing Montana State's third straight victory over the Grizzlies in Missoula on Saturday. "What a great game. But this isn't a victory lap. Now it's time to get to work."
And when Choate and his staff got to work shortly after learning of their inclusion in the Playoffs, they found a daunting task. Montana State (7-4, 5-3 Big Sky) hosts the University of Incarnate Word (6-4, 6-2 Southland) on Saturday at 1 pm in Bobcat Stadium, and the Cardinals bring a high-flying aerial attack to Bozeman. UIW stands fourth in the nation in passing offense (323.7 yards per game) and 17th in total offense (493.3).
In spite of the gaudy passing numbers, Choate is impressed with the balanced nature of a Cardinals offense that throws the ball just over half the time. "They're eighth in the country in total offense," Choate said. "(Ra'Quanne Dickens) has 14 touchdowns, 105 yards a game. In an offense that features the passing game as much as they do, I think that says a lot about how committed (UIW) is to being balanced. They've got some good two-back run game that they use, some gap schemes, which is not something you see a lot of in an Air Raid type system."
UIW's offensive architect is first-year head coach Eric Morris, a former Texas Tech receiver who has built a system with Air Raid principles and old-school sensibility. "I can't speak enough about the job that Eric Morris has done there," Choate said. "He's turned this program around in a year. I got to work with Eric for one year at Washington State University. He was our inside receivers coach, which is kind of the right-hand man to Coach Leach in that system. He's a guy that played for Coach Leach at Texas Tech, he's a Texas native, and quite honestly he's a good guy and I enjoyed my time with him. We had a good relationship working together and it will be fun to see him in Bozeman."
Freshman quarterback Jon Copeland throws for 298.4 yards a game, fifth in the FCS, and he has a host of impressive receivers. "Their quarterback operates at a really efficient level," Choate said. "For a freshman he does a really good job… He distributes the ball well, he's got a number of playmakers on the perimeter. (Phillip Baptiste) almost has 1,000 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. (Kody Edwards) and (Kam Williams) both have over 500 yards receiving. It's an offense that's high-powered. They've got good team speed. They're long and athletic on the offensive line."
UIW squares off with a big-play Bobcat defense. Montana State has multiple takeaways in five straight games, and at least one in the last nine. Junior outside linebacker Bryce Sterk leads the Big Sky in tackles-for-loss and sacks.
Choate said UIW's defense reminds him of some opponents closer to home. "On defense they're a multiple front team, they run some four-down as well as some three-down," Choate said. "Not unlike the University of Montana they use a lot of post-snap movement, twists almost every time you see them, especially when they're in four-man (fronts). They're not a heavy blitz team, only about 19 percent of the time, they kind of make you earn it. Their pass defense numbers are a little bit deceptive. They give up a lot of yards in the pass game, but this is a team that jumps out on (its opponents) a lot so teams are playing from behind and choosing to throw the ball rather than run the ball to get back in the game. That skews some of the pass numbers."
The Cardinals allow 307.4 passing yards a game, but surrender only 168.4 yards a game on the ground, fourth in the Southland. Choate likes UIW's defensive personnel. "(West) Lambert, good name for a linebacker, is a good inside linebacker for them, played on the weak side. (Silas Stewart) is an athletic guy, a rangy kid, runs well, good tackler. Justin Alexandre) and (Malik Harris). (Alexandre) has 12.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, and they have big, tall, rangy guys on defense. They do a good job leveraging the edge of the defense. They make you earn it and give you a lot to work on up top."
The UIW defense faces a Montana State ground game that has hit its stride lately. The Cats have rushed for more than 200 yards in four straight games, and Troy Andersen is 12th nationally in rushing yards with 1,199, and his 7.45 yards per carry is fourth in the FCS. Sophomore Isaiah Ifanse and senior Logan Jones bolster MSU's ground game, combining for over 100 yards in each of Jones' four games since returning from injury. Andersen has also improved his passing efficiency over time. In the four games he is 45-for-74 for 418 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
While UIW qualifies for the post-season for the first time in the program's 10-year history, the Cats enter their 14th post-season. This is Montana State's eight FCS Playoff appearance since Mike Kramer led the team to the 2002 tournament to break an 18-year dry spell. The Bobcats claim home wins over Furman (2006), New Hampshire (2011) and Stony Brook (2012) in that span.
Saturday's game airs on ESPN3. Kickoff is 1 pm in Bobcat Stadium.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
RB/QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DE
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