Photo by: Montana State University
GAME #2: Bobcats Visit Third-Ranked South Dakota State on Saturday
9/6/2018 1:40:00 PM | Football
Veteran, talented Jackrabbits pose tough test for Montana State
BOZEMAN, Montana – Technically, South Dakota State is a mostly-unknown entity entering Montana State's game against the third-ranked Jackrabbits in Brookings on Saturday. SDSU's season opener at Iowa State last weekend was ended in the first quarter because of severe weather.
"They have a full game on us, we have a whopping 12 plays on them," Jeff Choate said kiddingly of preparing for the matchup. But Choate knows that the reality of the situation is very different.
"If there's an opponent where you can throw (knowledge gleaned from the opening weekend) out the window, other than getting the opportunity to see who some of the new personnel are, it would be this group," Choate said of a Jackrabbits team that returns a dozen starters from a national semifinal team a year ago. "Coach Stiegelmeier has done a great job of developing a true program there."
The focal point of opponent preparation, and of South Dakota State's offense, is fourth-year starting quarterback Taryn Christion. The 6-2 senior broke into the starting lineup as a true freshman and has never left, rolling up a 23-8 record as the Jackrabbits' starting quarterback. Christion owns the school's touchdown pass (72) and total offense (9,697 entering 2018) records, along with seven single-season marks. He is already a two-time Walter Payton Award Finalist.
"On the offensive side of the ball it stops and starts with their quarterback," Choate said. "He's an unbelievably successful player. They can play football for another 100 years there at South Dakota State and they may not have a guy that's won as many games as this guy. He's a special player, not unlike maybe what DeNarius (McGhee) did for this program in terms of putting it on the map. I think Taryn's been that for them. He's a four-year starter, just a prolific player, has all the tools."
Even after losing two of the program's top players ever at their positions, receiver Jake Wieneke and tight end Dallas Goedert, Choate finds an offense loaded with weapons across from his defense. "I think there's so many guys that play for this team, (that rotate) in and out," he said.
South Dakota State's defense offers the same look, and much of the same personnel. Seven starters return, led by linebacker Christian Rozeboom. "Schematically it doesn't really change a lot," Choate says. "Defensively they are who they are, very basic, very sound, very athletic. I think this may be a more athletic defense overall than what they had a year ago.
A returning All-America who is still just a junior, Rozeboom registered 127 tackles a year ago after getting 132 as a freshman. He has 12.5 career tackles-for-loss, three fumbles recovered and two forced. Logan Backhaus is a linebacker that Choate says is "a guy that might get lost in Rozeboom's shadow a little bit, he's a very rangy kid, runs very well." Cornerback Jordan Brown "is an excellent, excellent corner. He didn't play against us a year ago, serving a suspension, but he's a first team all-Missouri Valley type of player," while Iowa transfer Brandon Snyder, a safety, is "a physical kid. It didn't take a lot of plays for him to show up on the game film against Iowa."
It's easy to get lost in the star power on either side of the line of scrimmage, but last year's game may have been decided by kick teams. While Montana State left seven points on the board by missing an extra point and two field goals, South Dakota State's Chase Vinatieri, who returns in 2018, made a 47-yard field and all four of his PATs. For good measure, with 4:26 to play and the Jackrabbits clinging to a 24-21 lead, Vinatieri scampered 31 yards to turn an apparent field goal attempt into a touchdown.
While South Dakota State entered 2018 as a proven, veteran team, the Cats kicked off on Thursday with plenty of questions. Troy Andersen made his debut at quarterback and was flanked by three skill position starters new to the varsity – running back Isaiah Ifanse and receiver Willie Patterson, both frosh, and junior transfer Travis Jonsen. Andersen rushed for 145 yards, and Patterson and Jonsen both caught passes.
The Bobcat defense showed well while featuring five players making either their first start or their first start at a new position. MSU limited Western Illinois to 317 total yards while intercepting two passes. Bryce Sterk effectively snuffed out Leatherneck hopes with sacks that ended WIU's final two drives.
While pleased with his team's season-opening effort, Choate summarizes the next task at hand clearly. "We'll have our hands full."
#GoCatsGo
"They have a full game on us, we have a whopping 12 plays on them," Jeff Choate said kiddingly of preparing for the matchup. But Choate knows that the reality of the situation is very different.
"If there's an opponent where you can throw (knowledge gleaned from the opening weekend) out the window, other than getting the opportunity to see who some of the new personnel are, it would be this group," Choate said of a Jackrabbits team that returns a dozen starters from a national semifinal team a year ago. "Coach Stiegelmeier has done a great job of developing a true program there."
The focal point of opponent preparation, and of South Dakota State's offense, is fourth-year starting quarterback Taryn Christion. The 6-2 senior broke into the starting lineup as a true freshman and has never left, rolling up a 23-8 record as the Jackrabbits' starting quarterback. Christion owns the school's touchdown pass (72) and total offense (9,697 entering 2018) records, along with seven single-season marks. He is already a two-time Walter Payton Award Finalist.
"On the offensive side of the ball it stops and starts with their quarterback," Choate said. "He's an unbelievably successful player. They can play football for another 100 years there at South Dakota State and they may not have a guy that's won as many games as this guy. He's a special player, not unlike maybe what DeNarius (McGhee) did for this program in terms of putting it on the map. I think Taryn's been that for them. He's a four-year starter, just a prolific player, has all the tools."
Even after losing two of the program's top players ever at their positions, receiver Jake Wieneke and tight end Dallas Goedert, Choate finds an offense loaded with weapons across from his defense. "I think there's so many guys that play for this team, (that rotate) in and out," he said.
South Dakota State's defense offers the same look, and much of the same personnel. Seven starters return, led by linebacker Christian Rozeboom. "Schematically it doesn't really change a lot," Choate says. "Defensively they are who they are, very basic, very sound, very athletic. I think this may be a more athletic defense overall than what they had a year ago.
A returning All-America who is still just a junior, Rozeboom registered 127 tackles a year ago after getting 132 as a freshman. He has 12.5 career tackles-for-loss, three fumbles recovered and two forced. Logan Backhaus is a linebacker that Choate says is "a guy that might get lost in Rozeboom's shadow a little bit, he's a very rangy kid, runs very well." Cornerback Jordan Brown "is an excellent, excellent corner. He didn't play against us a year ago, serving a suspension, but he's a first team all-Missouri Valley type of player," while Iowa transfer Brandon Snyder, a safety, is "a physical kid. It didn't take a lot of plays for him to show up on the game film against Iowa."
It's easy to get lost in the star power on either side of the line of scrimmage, but last year's game may have been decided by kick teams. While Montana State left seven points on the board by missing an extra point and two field goals, South Dakota State's Chase Vinatieri, who returns in 2018, made a 47-yard field and all four of his PATs. For good measure, with 4:26 to play and the Jackrabbits clinging to a 24-21 lead, Vinatieri scampered 31 yards to turn an apparent field goal attempt into a touchdown.
While South Dakota State entered 2018 as a proven, veteran team, the Cats kicked off on Thursday with plenty of questions. Troy Andersen made his debut at quarterback and was flanked by three skill position starters new to the varsity – running back Isaiah Ifanse and receiver Willie Patterson, both frosh, and junior transfer Travis Jonsen. Andersen rushed for 145 yards, and Patterson and Jonsen both caught passes.
The Bobcat defense showed well while featuring five players making either their first start or their first start at a new position. MSU limited Western Illinois to 317 total yards while intercepting two passes. Bryce Sterk effectively snuffed out Leatherneck hopes with sacks that ended WIU's final two drives.
While pleased with his team's season-opening effort, Choate summarizes the next task at hand clearly. "We'll have our hands full."
#GoCatsGo
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