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Photo by: Garrett Becker
FIRST LOOK: Bobcats Head to Northern Colorado to Face Ascending Bears
11/4/2019 2:18:00 PM | Football
Fresh off win, UNC hosts Montana State on Saturday at 12 noon
Summary: Montana State enters its third straight game facing a team fresh off a big win, as Northern Colorado won at Idaho State 26-20, its first win at Holt Arena in a decade. The Bears are balanced offensively, triggered by quarterback Jacob Knipp (220.4 passing yards per game) and powered by running back Milo Hall (76.7 yards per game). Reigning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week has intercepted four passes with seven pass breakups this season, while Joe Golden has three sacks. The Bobcats send the Big Sky's top rushing offense (236.0 yards per game) against UNC's 13th-ranked rush defense (222.3).
2019 Record: Northern Colorado enters Saturday's game 2-7 overall, 2-3 in the Big Sky. Montana State is 6-3 overall, 3-2 in Big Sky play.
2018 Record: The Bears finished the 2018 season 2-9 overall, 2-6 in the league, all alone in 11th place. The Cats finished tied for 4th with a 5-3 conference mark, and finished 8-5 after falling in the second round of the FCS Playoffs to eventual national champion North Dakota State.
Current Conference Standings: Montana State stands 3-2 in the league, tied for 4th place with Eastern Washington. The Bears, are one of four teams with 2-3 records in the Big Sky, and that bunch is tied for 7th.
Preseason Conference Prediction: Big Sky coaches tabbed Northern Colorado 13th in the preseason poll, and MSU 5th. The league's media and SIDs saw UNC finishing 13th, MSU 4th.
Rankings: Montana State is ranked 12th in the STATS FCS Top 25, and 14th in the FCS Coaches Poll. Northern Colorado is unranked.
MSU vs. Northern Colorado
Series: The Bobcats own a 21-10-1 advantage in a series that began in 1923. The Cats are 9-6 in Greeley, 4-1 at Nottingham Field.
Jeff Choate vs. Northern Colorado: 2-0 (1-0/1-0)
Jeff Choate vs. Earnest Collins Jr.: 2-0 (1-0/1-0)
Earnest Collins Jr. vs. MSU: 0-5 (0-3/0-2)
Bears Leaders
Rushing: Milo Hall 210-690-7, Jullen Ison 58-231-1, Jacob Knipp 64-105-0.
Passing: Jacob Knipp 170-285-6, 1,984, 10 TDs
Receiving: Willie Fairman 39-369-4, Jaren Mitchell 29-413-0, Milo Hall 23-177-0
Tackles: Luke Nelson 84, Jerone Jackson 78, Aaron Harris 50, Noel Ried 46
Sacks: Joe Golden 3, six players with 1 each
Interceptions: Michael Walker 4, Jace Bobo 2, four players with 1 each
About the University of Northern Colorado
Known internationally for its music and education programs, Northern Colorado boasts among its notable alums Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist James Michener, who attended Colorado State College of Education in 1936-37. The school's main library is named for him, and it houses the James A. Michener Special Collection. The school was founded in 1889, and currently houses 9,876 undergraduate and 2,916 graduate students. More than one-third of the 12,000-plus are first generation college students. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the Captain who successfully landed U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in 2009 owns a Master of Pulbic Administration from UNC.
What the Pundits Say
Paul Schwedelson, Bozeman Chronicle – "After snapping a two-game losing streak last week with a win over Southern Utah, Montana State enters this matchup hoping to start a new streak. With the mid-season blip behind them, the Bobcats have the pieces in place for another potential November surge. Facing Northern Colorado could be the next step in turning that into reality."
2019 Record: Northern Colorado enters Saturday's game 2-7 overall, 2-3 in the Big Sky. Montana State is 6-3 overall, 3-2 in Big Sky play.
2018 Record: The Bears finished the 2018 season 2-9 overall, 2-6 in the league, all alone in 11th place. The Cats finished tied for 4th with a 5-3 conference mark, and finished 8-5 after falling in the second round of the FCS Playoffs to eventual national champion North Dakota State.
Current Conference Standings: Montana State stands 3-2 in the league, tied for 4th place with Eastern Washington. The Bears, are one of four teams with 2-3 records in the Big Sky, and that bunch is tied for 7th.
Preseason Conference Prediction: Big Sky coaches tabbed Northern Colorado 13th in the preseason poll, and MSU 5th. The league's media and SIDs saw UNC finishing 13th, MSU 4th.
Rankings: Montana State is ranked 12th in the STATS FCS Top 25, and 14th in the FCS Coaches Poll. Northern Colorado is unranked.
MSU vs. Northern Colorado
Series: The Bobcats own a 21-10-1 advantage in a series that began in 1923. The Cats are 9-6 in Greeley, 4-1 at Nottingham Field.
Jeff Choate vs. Northern Colorado: 2-0 (1-0/1-0)
Jeff Choate vs. Earnest Collins Jr.: 2-0 (1-0/1-0)
Earnest Collins Jr. vs. MSU: 0-5 (0-3/0-2)
Bears Leaders
Rushing: Milo Hall 210-690-7, Jullen Ison 58-231-1, Jacob Knipp 64-105-0.
Passing: Jacob Knipp 170-285-6, 1,984, 10 TDs
Receiving: Willie Fairman 39-369-4, Jaren Mitchell 29-413-0, Milo Hall 23-177-0
Tackles: Luke Nelson 84, Jerone Jackson 78, Aaron Harris 50, Noel Ried 46
Sacks: Joe Golden 3, six players with 1 each
Interceptions: Michael Walker 4, Jace Bobo 2, four players with 1 each
About the University of Northern Colorado
Known internationally for its music and education programs, Northern Colorado boasts among its notable alums Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist James Michener, who attended Colorado State College of Education in 1936-37. The school's main library is named for him, and it houses the James A. Michener Special Collection. The school was founded in 1889, and currently houses 9,876 undergraduate and 2,916 graduate students. More than one-third of the 12,000-plus are first generation college students. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the Captain who successfully landed U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in 2009 owns a Master of Pulbic Administration from UNC.
What the Pundits Say
Paul Schwedelson, Bozeman Chronicle – "After snapping a two-game losing streak last week with a win over Southern Utah, Montana State enters this matchup hoping to start a new streak. With the mid-season blip behind them, the Bobcats have the pieces in place for another potential November surge. Facing Northern Colorado could be the next step in turning that into reality."
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