BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 31 Days Before Kickoff Brings to Mind a Great Play by #31 Chase Gazzerro in 2005
7/30/2018 1:33:00 PM | Football
It's only one month until Bobcat Football is back!
July 30: 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.
#31
Joe McElroy, OL: BBTN's notorious affection for Bobcats who traverse the Great Divide from three hours west of Bozeman to attend Montana State is well known, and this fall one replaces another (see below) in jersey #31. The latest Bobcat from Missoula, Joe McElroy brings good size and athleticism to the MSU offensive line from Loyola Sacred Heart High School. He was a two-time all-state choice for the Rams, and in spite of his jersey number (he is projected to redshirt this year) is considered a strong offensive line prospect.
Spotlight – Chase Gazzero: On that one magical day in November, every normal pattern of life in our state is suspended. Friendships and familial relationships and petty grudges and so on, they're all put aside for Cat-Griz. Except when they're not. So in that one moment on November 19, 2005, in the thin light and on the thinner, muddied grass of Bobcat Stadium, some old Great Falls rivalries took center stage. MSU's Evin Groves had opened the scoring late in the first quarter with a three-yard run, and former Great Falls High star Trevor Bolton teed the ball. His boot was fielded by his former prep teammate and classmate Rob Schulte, who worked his way through the middle of the field into an open lane that led to open ground in front of the Bobcat sideline. While the capacity crowd swelled in anticipation of a potentially game-changing play, Schulte headed toward the end zone. But from behind, one man was unblocked. Great Falls CM Russell alum Chase Gazzerro, like Bolton and Schulte a freshman (although unlike the others he had been playing high school football just 12 months earlier), had a full head of steam. He joked later that he knew based on years of evidence that he would run Schulte down, and he did. He pulled Schulte down at the Bobcat 39, the crowd roared in relief, and moments later the Bobcat defense forced a punt. Read that again. Spotted the enemy 39-yard line, Montana's offense was stuffed – as it would be all day – and while much remained to play out on that glorious afternoon, the game was essentially over at that point. Travis Lulay managed his last game as a Bobcat brilliantly, Jeff Bolton and his mates up front bulldozed the Grizzly defense, the MSU defense mercilessly mauled Montana, and Montana State capped its third win over UM in four years with a dominating 16-6 win. But don't fool yourself – that wonderful moment early in the game on kick teams was enormous. Gazzerro's MSU career was somewhat star-crossed. He started for most of his final four seasons, but always battled injuries. He was brilliant when healthy. In six games as a senior he logged 32 tackles, four for a loss, with an interception and two pass breakups. That season was ended early by injury, as was his third season at MSU. He played fast, and played hard, and although the body never could quite keep up with the motor, that's football, right? Injuries happen, and Gazzerro's career is remembered in a distinctly positive light, an impact player who made many plays over his five years. But none of them, not a single one, was bigger than that moment early in his first Cat-Griz game, when he ran down an old hometown compatriot to set up a wonderful win for Montana State.
Chronology: Wayne Stortz (1931), Joe Krall (1937), Orin Beller (1940), Eli Milodragovich (1941), Adam Marshall (1946), Al Hutchison (1947-49), Fred Wolfe (1950), Bob Pewitt (1953), Lino Ranzi (1954), Russ Yarnall (1955), Al Stowell (1956), Dick Cope (1957), Dick Nawotczynski (1958), Stan Albertson (1961), Joe Nicholson (1963), Dick Haden (1964), Ray Becky (1967-68), Joe Albinger (1969), Eddie Robinson (1970-71), Don Bagley (1972-74), Jim Mickelson (1975-78), Tony Price (1979), Les Kaminski (1981-83), Ken Lang (1984-87), Tim Viegut (1988), Tim Stoppa (1990-92), JR Davis (1994-96), Robert Carter (1997-98), Brandon Vancleeve (1999-01), Josh Black (2002), Bruce Molock (2003), Martin Henderson (2004), Chase Gazzerro (2005-09), Rob Marshall (2010-12), Khari Garcia (2013), Tavon Dodd (2014), Braydon Konkol (2015), Gabe Peppenger (2016-17), Joe McElroy (2018)
Other #31 Notes: Kicker Gabe Peppenger of Missoula left the Bobcat program following his sophomore season, but holds the distinction of scoring points in the Blue and Gold against his hometown team. Peppenger came to MSU from Missoula and scored seven crucial points against UM last year and six the year before.
#31
Joe McElroy, OL: BBTN's notorious affection for Bobcats who traverse the Great Divide from three hours west of Bozeman to attend Montana State is well known, and this fall one replaces another (see below) in jersey #31. The latest Bobcat from Missoula, Joe McElroy brings good size and athleticism to the MSU offensive line from Loyola Sacred Heart High School. He was a two-time all-state choice for the Rams, and in spite of his jersey number (he is projected to redshirt this year) is considered a strong offensive line prospect.
Spotlight – Chase Gazzero: On that one magical day in November, every normal pattern of life in our state is suspended. Friendships and familial relationships and petty grudges and so on, they're all put aside for Cat-Griz. Except when they're not. So in that one moment on November 19, 2005, in the thin light and on the thinner, muddied grass of Bobcat Stadium, some old Great Falls rivalries took center stage. MSU's Evin Groves had opened the scoring late in the first quarter with a three-yard run, and former Great Falls High star Trevor Bolton teed the ball. His boot was fielded by his former prep teammate and classmate Rob Schulte, who worked his way through the middle of the field into an open lane that led to open ground in front of the Bobcat sideline. While the capacity crowd swelled in anticipation of a potentially game-changing play, Schulte headed toward the end zone. But from behind, one man was unblocked. Great Falls CM Russell alum Chase Gazzerro, like Bolton and Schulte a freshman (although unlike the others he had been playing high school football just 12 months earlier), had a full head of steam. He joked later that he knew based on years of evidence that he would run Schulte down, and he did. He pulled Schulte down at the Bobcat 39, the crowd roared in relief, and moments later the Bobcat defense forced a punt. Read that again. Spotted the enemy 39-yard line, Montana's offense was stuffed – as it would be all day – and while much remained to play out on that glorious afternoon, the game was essentially over at that point. Travis Lulay managed his last game as a Bobcat brilliantly, Jeff Bolton and his mates up front bulldozed the Grizzly defense, the MSU defense mercilessly mauled Montana, and Montana State capped its third win over UM in four years with a dominating 16-6 win. But don't fool yourself – that wonderful moment early in the game on kick teams was enormous. Gazzerro's MSU career was somewhat star-crossed. He started for most of his final four seasons, but always battled injuries. He was brilliant when healthy. In six games as a senior he logged 32 tackles, four for a loss, with an interception and two pass breakups. That season was ended early by injury, as was his third season at MSU. He played fast, and played hard, and although the body never could quite keep up with the motor, that's football, right? Injuries happen, and Gazzerro's career is remembered in a distinctly positive light, an impact player who made many plays over his five years. But none of them, not a single one, was bigger than that moment early in his first Cat-Griz game, when he ran down an old hometown compatriot to set up a wonderful win for Montana State.
Chronology: Wayne Stortz (1931), Joe Krall (1937), Orin Beller (1940), Eli Milodragovich (1941), Adam Marshall (1946), Al Hutchison (1947-49), Fred Wolfe (1950), Bob Pewitt (1953), Lino Ranzi (1954), Russ Yarnall (1955), Al Stowell (1956), Dick Cope (1957), Dick Nawotczynski (1958), Stan Albertson (1961), Joe Nicholson (1963), Dick Haden (1964), Ray Becky (1967-68), Joe Albinger (1969), Eddie Robinson (1970-71), Don Bagley (1972-74), Jim Mickelson (1975-78), Tony Price (1979), Les Kaminski (1981-83), Ken Lang (1984-87), Tim Viegut (1988), Tim Stoppa (1990-92), JR Davis (1994-96), Robert Carter (1997-98), Brandon Vancleeve (1999-01), Josh Black (2002), Bruce Molock (2003), Martin Henderson (2004), Chase Gazzerro (2005-09), Rob Marshall (2010-12), Khari Garcia (2013), Tavon Dodd (2014), Braydon Konkol (2015), Gabe Peppenger (2016-17), Joe McElroy (2018)
Other #31 Notes: Kicker Gabe Peppenger of Missoula left the Bobcat program following his sophomore season, but holds the distinction of scoring points in the Blue and Gold against his hometown team. Peppenger came to MSU from Missoula and scored seven crucial points against UM last year and six the year before.
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