Kevin Thomson
FIRST LOOK: Sacramento State Brings Stout Defense, Explosive Offense to Bobcat Stadium Saturday
10/8/2019 8:07:00 AM | Football
First-year coach Troy Taylor has Sac State playing excellent football
FIRST LOOK – Sacramento State
Summary: Montana State's Big Sky-best ground game runs head-first into a Sacramento State defense allowing the least rushing yards and fewest points in the conference on Saturday in a game that shapes up as an important early-season showdown. Sacramento State often possesses skill talent matching, if not surpassing, many other Big Sky schools, but first-year coach Troy Taylor has pulled things together into a cohesive package that has the Hornets in position to challenge for a Big Sky title. Quarterback Kevin Thomson and running back Elijah Dotson, who leads the team in rushing and receiving, form one of the best offensive duos in the league, and veteran defensive coordinator Andy Thompson's defensive unit leads the Big Sky in scoring defense and is third in yards allowed.
2019 Record: Sacramento State enters weekend play 1-0 in the Big Sky, with the win a dismantling of defending national runner-up Eastern Washington. The Hornets are 3-2 overall, but the losses are at Arizona State and Fresno State.
2018 Record: Injuries derailed Sacramento State's 2018 season, when the Hornets finished 2-8 overall and 0-7 in the Big Sky.
Current Conference Standings: Half of the Big Sky's remaining undefeated teams in league play get together in Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, when the 2-0 Bobcats welcome 1-0 Sacramento State.
Preseason Conference Prediction: Big Sky coaches tabbed the Hornets 11th in the league last summer, while its media members saw Sacramento State finishing 12th. MSU was picked 4th by the media, 5th by the coaches.
Rankings: Sacramento State is one poll point from the STATS FCS Top 25, checking in at No. 26 this week. Montana State is 6th in the STATS FCS poll, 7th in the AFCS FCS Coaches Poll.
MSU vs. Sacramento State
Series: The Bobcats own a 17-7 advantage in the series, including wins in nine out of 10 games in Bozeman. The Hornets at Reno H. Sales Stadium as a Division II opponent in 1991, but the Cats have won the last nine.
Jeff Choate vs. Sacramento State: 0-1 (0-0/0-1)
Jeff Choate vs. Troy Taylor: 0-0 (0-0/0-0)
Troy Taylor vs. MSU: 0-0 (0-0/0-0)
Hornets Leaders
Rushing: Elijah Dotson 46-198-2, Kevin Thomson 37-172-3, Marcus Fulcher 22-118-3
Passing: Kevin Thomson 125-196-3, 1,475, 16
Receiving: Elijah Dotson 33-361-3, P. Williams 24-409-3, Isaiah Gable 17-239-2
Tackles: Allen Perryman 36, Marcus Hawkins 33, Marcus Bruce 26, Miguel Garcia 24
Sacks: George Obinna (4.5, Dariyn Choates 2.5, Marcus Hawkins/Elijah Chambers 2
Interceptions: Allen Perryman 1, Marcus Hawkins 1, Miguel Garcia 1, Dron Bland 1, Marte Mapu 1, Tykee Woods 1
About California State University, Sacramento
Counting actor and producer Tom Hanks and NBC News anchor Lester Holt among its notable alums, Sacramento State was founded in 1947 and is one of 23 schools in the California State University system. The terminal point of the Pony Express line is one of two National Historic Places on the campus, which was founded in part as a response to the demand of higher education by returning World War II veterans. Sacramento State is known for its campus diversity, its gerontology program, and for its performing arts program, particularly in jazz.
What the Pundits Say
Colton Pool, Bozeman Chronicle – "Sacramento State comes in as a well-rounded squad offensively and defensively. The Hornets' passing offense especially stands out, so Montana State's defense will have to be sound in the secondary and pressure quarterback Kevin Thomson in a hurry. That said, the Bobcats should win this game if they can run the ball as effectively as they have and play as physically as they have up front."
Colter Nuanez, Skyline Sports – "It's easy to think of Sacramento State as a non-factor in the Big Sky Conference race considering the Hornets are still in search of their first-ever playoff berth since joining the league in 1996. But this Hornets' team should not be underestimated. Sac State won seven games two years ago behind a core of some of the best talent in the conference, led by quarterback Kevin Thomson, running back Elijah Dotson, defensive end George Obinna and a revamped offensive line coached by former Eastern Washington and Washington State head coach Paul Wulff. Last season, Sac State looked again like a potential Big Sky darkhorse only to see nearly every headlining player on its roster, including Thomson and Obinna, go down with season-ending injuries. Sac State ended the campaign without a league win. With Troy Taylor sitting in the head coach seat, the Hornets have been deadly offensively. Sac gave Arizona State a run in a 19-7 loss and were in the game deep into the fourth quarter of a 34-20 loss at Fresno State. The Hornets hammered Northern Colorado 50-0 and last week took apart Eastern Washington, the defending Big Sky champions and last season's national runner-up. Thomson is a bonafide All-American candidate, Obinna might be the most physically intimidating player in the entire league and the Hornets could finally be that Big Sky dark horse they have always wanted to be. "
Summary: Montana State's Big Sky-best ground game runs head-first into a Sacramento State defense allowing the least rushing yards and fewest points in the conference on Saturday in a game that shapes up as an important early-season showdown. Sacramento State often possesses skill talent matching, if not surpassing, many other Big Sky schools, but first-year coach Troy Taylor has pulled things together into a cohesive package that has the Hornets in position to challenge for a Big Sky title. Quarterback Kevin Thomson and running back Elijah Dotson, who leads the team in rushing and receiving, form one of the best offensive duos in the league, and veteran defensive coordinator Andy Thompson's defensive unit leads the Big Sky in scoring defense and is third in yards allowed.
2019 Record: Sacramento State enters weekend play 1-0 in the Big Sky, with the win a dismantling of defending national runner-up Eastern Washington. The Hornets are 3-2 overall, but the losses are at Arizona State and Fresno State.
2018 Record: Injuries derailed Sacramento State's 2018 season, when the Hornets finished 2-8 overall and 0-7 in the Big Sky.
Current Conference Standings: Half of the Big Sky's remaining undefeated teams in league play get together in Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, when the 2-0 Bobcats welcome 1-0 Sacramento State.
Preseason Conference Prediction: Big Sky coaches tabbed the Hornets 11th in the league last summer, while its media members saw Sacramento State finishing 12th. MSU was picked 4th by the media, 5th by the coaches.
Rankings: Sacramento State is one poll point from the STATS FCS Top 25, checking in at No. 26 this week. Montana State is 6th in the STATS FCS poll, 7th in the AFCS FCS Coaches Poll.
MSU vs. Sacramento State
Series: The Bobcats own a 17-7 advantage in the series, including wins in nine out of 10 games in Bozeman. The Hornets at Reno H. Sales Stadium as a Division II opponent in 1991, but the Cats have won the last nine.
Jeff Choate vs. Sacramento State: 0-1 (0-0/0-1)
Jeff Choate vs. Troy Taylor: 0-0 (0-0/0-0)
Troy Taylor vs. MSU: 0-0 (0-0/0-0)
Hornets Leaders
Rushing: Elijah Dotson 46-198-2, Kevin Thomson 37-172-3, Marcus Fulcher 22-118-3
Passing: Kevin Thomson 125-196-3, 1,475, 16
Receiving: Elijah Dotson 33-361-3, P. Williams 24-409-3, Isaiah Gable 17-239-2
Tackles: Allen Perryman 36, Marcus Hawkins 33, Marcus Bruce 26, Miguel Garcia 24
Sacks: George Obinna (4.5, Dariyn Choates 2.5, Marcus Hawkins/Elijah Chambers 2
Interceptions: Allen Perryman 1, Marcus Hawkins 1, Miguel Garcia 1, Dron Bland 1, Marte Mapu 1, Tykee Woods 1
About California State University, Sacramento
Counting actor and producer Tom Hanks and NBC News anchor Lester Holt among its notable alums, Sacramento State was founded in 1947 and is one of 23 schools in the California State University system. The terminal point of the Pony Express line is one of two National Historic Places on the campus, which was founded in part as a response to the demand of higher education by returning World War II veterans. Sacramento State is known for its campus diversity, its gerontology program, and for its performing arts program, particularly in jazz.
What the Pundits Say
Colton Pool, Bozeman Chronicle – "Sacramento State comes in as a well-rounded squad offensively and defensively. The Hornets' passing offense especially stands out, so Montana State's defense will have to be sound in the secondary and pressure quarterback Kevin Thomson in a hurry. That said, the Bobcats should win this game if they can run the ball as effectively as they have and play as physically as they have up front."
Colter Nuanez, Skyline Sports – "It's easy to think of Sacramento State as a non-factor in the Big Sky Conference race considering the Hornets are still in search of their first-ever playoff berth since joining the league in 1996. But this Hornets' team should not be underestimated. Sac State won seven games two years ago behind a core of some of the best talent in the conference, led by quarterback Kevin Thomson, running back Elijah Dotson, defensive end George Obinna and a revamped offensive line coached by former Eastern Washington and Washington State head coach Paul Wulff. Last season, Sac State looked again like a potential Big Sky darkhorse only to see nearly every headlining player on its roster, including Thomson and Obinna, go down with season-ending injuries. Sac State ended the campaign without a league win. With Troy Taylor sitting in the head coach seat, the Hornets have been deadly offensively. Sac gave Arizona State a run in a 19-7 loss and were in the game deep into the fourth quarter of a 34-20 loss at Fresno State. The Hornets hammered Northern Colorado 50-0 and last week took apart Eastern Washington, the defending Big Sky champions and last season's national runner-up. Thomson is a bonafide All-American candidate, Obinna might be the most physically intimidating player in the entire league and the Hornets could finally be that Big Sky dark horse they have always wanted to be. "
Leon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
