MSU enters Bobcat Stadium before last season's playoff game vs. UIW
Saturday's Albany-Central Connecticut Playoff Tilt Launches Game Week for Montana State
11/29/2019 9:00:00 AM | Football
Bobcat coach Jeff Choate looks forward to Saturday's game, preparing for the winner
BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State gets Thanksgiving weekend off from football competition, the result of earning the fifth seed in the FCS Playoffs after last Saturday's 48-14 handling of the Grizzlies, but that doesn't mean Saturday will be football-free for Bobcats head coach Jeff Choate.
Not by a far cry.
The fourth-year head coach spent time last week studying Central Connecticut State and Albany, who meet Saturday at 11 am MT in New York state's capital city for the right to play the Cats one week hence. "I think it will be a really interesting matchup," Choate said.
Albany, ranked 25th in the final STATS FCS Poll of the regular season, enters the game with an 8-4 mark after finishing 6-2 and in 2nd place in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Great Danes lost non-league tilts to FBS Foe Central Michigan and Monmouth, and dropped CAA contests to Richmond and Maine. Balance is the hallmark of Albany's offense, which produces 251 passing yards and 140.0 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Jeff Undercuffler, a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS, throws 247.2 yards a game, throwing 33 touchdown passes. Running back Karl Mofor gains 100.3 yards a game on the ground.
"Albany is very sound in everything they do," Choate said. "The CAA is a very strong league, and they don't beat themselves. It's a balanced team, very solid in every phase."
No. 17 Central Connecticut makes the 125-mile trip with an 11-1 record. Choate says CCSU is "one blocked punt by an FBS team (Eastern Michigan) away from being undefeated." The Blue Devils won their first two games by three points each, but after the loss to EMU in game four won eight straight, seven by double-digits. Quarterback Aaron Winchester throws for 201.8 yards a game and adds 65.2 rushing yards.
Choate, though, says that CCSU makes its main mark on defense. "When you look at Central Connecticut's stats, they are lights out," Choate said. "They lead the country in turnover margin, they're second (in the FCS) in total defense, third in rushing defense, seventh in passing defense. Central Connecticut is very, very athletic on defense." Tre Jones averages nearly one sack per game, and more than a tackle-for-loss per outing.
While the Bobcats rolled through brisk workouts in frigid weather Tuesday and Wednesday, Choate said he's looking forward to time with family on Thursday and Friday. That will be followed, he said, by a football game he's looking forward to watching on Saturday and the opportunity to coach football in December.
"I think it will be a very interesting game," he said of the first round FCS Playoff game that feeds into the fifth-seeded Bobcats' portion of the bracket. "It's a great matchup between a very dynamic team and a team that is very sound. I'll watch the game on ESPN+, and about the time that game gets over we have a team meeting and then we're into game week."
Current season ticket holders have the opportunity to renew tickets on-line through the weekend. Ticket sales open to the general public on Monday at 9 am.
#GoCatsGo
Not by a far cry.
The fourth-year head coach spent time last week studying Central Connecticut State and Albany, who meet Saturday at 11 am MT in New York state's capital city for the right to play the Cats one week hence. "I think it will be a really interesting matchup," Choate said.
Albany, ranked 25th in the final STATS FCS Poll of the regular season, enters the game with an 8-4 mark after finishing 6-2 and in 2nd place in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Great Danes lost non-league tilts to FBS Foe Central Michigan and Monmouth, and dropped CAA contests to Richmond and Maine. Balance is the hallmark of Albany's offense, which produces 251 passing yards and 140.0 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Jeff Undercuffler, a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS, throws 247.2 yards a game, throwing 33 touchdown passes. Running back Karl Mofor gains 100.3 yards a game on the ground.
"Albany is very sound in everything they do," Choate said. "The CAA is a very strong league, and they don't beat themselves. It's a balanced team, very solid in every phase."
No. 17 Central Connecticut makes the 125-mile trip with an 11-1 record. Choate says CCSU is "one blocked punt by an FBS team (Eastern Michigan) away from being undefeated." The Blue Devils won their first two games by three points each, but after the loss to EMU in game four won eight straight, seven by double-digits. Quarterback Aaron Winchester throws for 201.8 yards a game and adds 65.2 rushing yards.
Choate, though, says that CCSU makes its main mark on defense. "When you look at Central Connecticut's stats, they are lights out," Choate said. "They lead the country in turnover margin, they're second (in the FCS) in total defense, third in rushing defense, seventh in passing defense. Central Connecticut is very, very athletic on defense." Tre Jones averages nearly one sack per game, and more than a tackle-for-loss per outing.
While the Bobcats rolled through brisk workouts in frigid weather Tuesday and Wednesday, Choate said he's looking forward to time with family on Thursday and Friday. That will be followed, he said, by a football game he's looking forward to watching on Saturday and the opportunity to coach football in December.
"I think it will be a very interesting game," he said of the first round FCS Playoff game that feeds into the fifth-seeded Bobcats' portion of the bracket. "It's a great matchup between a very dynamic team and a team that is very sound. I'll watch the game on ESPN+, and about the time that game gets over we have a team meeting and then we're into game week."
Current season ticket holders have the opportunity to renew tickets on-line through the weekend. Ticket sales open to the general public on Monday at 9 am.
#GoCatsGo
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