BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 34 Days Left, and #34 has Gained a lot of Rushing Yards at MSU
7/27/2018 12:19:00 PM | Football
Preston Gale was a good player on some excellent Bobcat teams
July 27: Bobcat by the Numbers takes a look at current and past Bobcats whose jersey numbers correspond to the number of days remaining before Montana State opens the 2018 football season against Western Illinois in Bobcat Stadium's annual Gold Rush game on August 30.
#34
Nolan Askelson, LB: Nolan Askelson helped anchor the defense for Billings Senior's recent dynasty, earning Class AA Defensive MVP honors last fall. He also played running back and quarterback for the Broncs, and arrives as an athletic linebacker.
Spotlight – Preston Gale: Timing is everything in football, as in life, and Preston Gale experienced both good and bad timing during his days as a Bobcat. Gale was both blessed to play on some brilliant Bobcat defenses, a cause to which he contributed. But he was cursed by injuries. After an impressive 4.5 tackles-for-loss as a reserve in 2010, Gale entered 2011 expected to contribute greatly to a really terrific Bobcat defense that included a couple of future Buck Buchanan Award winners, two Big Sky MVPs-to-be, and a smattering of All-Americas. But Gale went down with an injury in fall camp, and missed the entire season. Logging considerable time with Caleb Schreibeis and Brad Daly, two of the greatest Bobcats ever, he managed five tackles-for-loss, and was clearly an exceptional player. His senior season held enormous amounts of promise, but he was again injured in fall camp and missed five of the season's first six games. He still posted a productive season, getting 2.5 sacks with a caused and a recovered fumble. Gale's final numbers remain impressive – 13 tackles for loss and three fumbles caused and recovered in only 28 career games. Football can be a cruel game, and under different circumstances his career may have looked different, but he was an interesting kid who disliked lightning, like the Texas Longhorns, and was still ranks among the all-time favorite Bobcats of at least one local youngster during his career. Flags fly forever, and no one will ever take away Preston Gale's three Big Sky Championship rings or the important role he played.
Chronology: John Travis (1926), Joe Hazen (1930), Marvin Eggert (1931), Delno Gates (1937), Al Ralston (1940), Norman Hansen (1941), Earl Nadeau (1946-47), Ray Gallik (1948-49), Steve Henault (1950), Duane Delger (1953), Del Layman (1954-55), Francis Turley (1956), Jerry Johnson (1959), Jack Cameron (1960), Landy Harrell (1970), Pat Stephenson (1971), Wayne Edwards (1972-74), Tom Weninger (1975-76), Jeff Davis (1977-80), Dale Halgren (1982-83), Brian Williams (1984), Mark D'Agostino (1986-89), Billy Templeton (1990), Bill Thornton (1991), Jaman Brewster (1992-93), Joey McElmurry (1994-95), Rusty Kent (1996), Arie Grey (1997), Ryan Johnson (1999-2002), Nial Saraceni (2003), Morris Milton (2004), Jeff Price (2005-09), Preston Gale (2010-12), Blake Braun (2013-16), Nich Van Horrssen (2017), Nolan Askelson (2018-)
Other #34 Notes: Jersey number 34 produced a lot of rushing yards at Montana State – 7,302 since reliable statistics were recorded beginning in 1956, to be exact, and that's without a player wearing #34 carrying the ball even once since 2004. The all-time leading ball-carrier in #34, of course, is Ryan Johnson, who gained all of his school-record 3,646 yards in that number. Other notables include Wayne Edwards (2,155 from 1972-74), Jack Cameron (284 in 1960) and friend-of-the-show Jeff Davis (387, 1977-79).
#34
Nolan Askelson, LB: Nolan Askelson helped anchor the defense for Billings Senior's recent dynasty, earning Class AA Defensive MVP honors last fall. He also played running back and quarterback for the Broncs, and arrives as an athletic linebacker.
Spotlight – Preston Gale: Timing is everything in football, as in life, and Preston Gale experienced both good and bad timing during his days as a Bobcat. Gale was both blessed to play on some brilliant Bobcat defenses, a cause to which he contributed. But he was cursed by injuries. After an impressive 4.5 tackles-for-loss as a reserve in 2010, Gale entered 2011 expected to contribute greatly to a really terrific Bobcat defense that included a couple of future Buck Buchanan Award winners, two Big Sky MVPs-to-be, and a smattering of All-Americas. But Gale went down with an injury in fall camp, and missed the entire season. Logging considerable time with Caleb Schreibeis and Brad Daly, two of the greatest Bobcats ever, he managed five tackles-for-loss, and was clearly an exceptional player. His senior season held enormous amounts of promise, but he was again injured in fall camp and missed five of the season's first six games. He still posted a productive season, getting 2.5 sacks with a caused and a recovered fumble. Gale's final numbers remain impressive – 13 tackles for loss and three fumbles caused and recovered in only 28 career games. Football can be a cruel game, and under different circumstances his career may have looked different, but he was an interesting kid who disliked lightning, like the Texas Longhorns, and was still ranks among the all-time favorite Bobcats of at least one local youngster during his career. Flags fly forever, and no one will ever take away Preston Gale's three Big Sky Championship rings or the important role he played.
Chronology: John Travis (1926), Joe Hazen (1930), Marvin Eggert (1931), Delno Gates (1937), Al Ralston (1940), Norman Hansen (1941), Earl Nadeau (1946-47), Ray Gallik (1948-49), Steve Henault (1950), Duane Delger (1953), Del Layman (1954-55), Francis Turley (1956), Jerry Johnson (1959), Jack Cameron (1960), Landy Harrell (1970), Pat Stephenson (1971), Wayne Edwards (1972-74), Tom Weninger (1975-76), Jeff Davis (1977-80), Dale Halgren (1982-83), Brian Williams (1984), Mark D'Agostino (1986-89), Billy Templeton (1990), Bill Thornton (1991), Jaman Brewster (1992-93), Joey McElmurry (1994-95), Rusty Kent (1996), Arie Grey (1997), Ryan Johnson (1999-2002), Nial Saraceni (2003), Morris Milton (2004), Jeff Price (2005-09), Preston Gale (2010-12), Blake Braun (2013-16), Nich Van Horrssen (2017), Nolan Askelson (2018-)
Other #34 Notes: Jersey number 34 produced a lot of rushing yards at Montana State – 7,302 since reliable statistics were recorded beginning in 1956, to be exact, and that's without a player wearing #34 carrying the ball even once since 2004. The all-time leading ball-carrier in #34, of course, is Ryan Johnson, who gained all of his school-record 3,646 yards in that number. Other notables include Wayne Edwards (2,155 from 1972-74), Jack Cameron (284 in 1960) and friend-of-the-show Jeff Davis (387, 1977-79).
Players Mentioned
LB
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