Kevin Kassis
Photo by: Garrett Becker
BOBCAT FOOTBALL SUNDAY NOTEBOOK #14: MSU Ground Game Continues to Roll
12/9/2019 12:10:00 AM | Football
Kevin Kassis punctuates offensive effort with career-high 11 catches
A look back at Montana State's FCS Playoff win over UAlbany on Saturday...
NOTES
• Montana State has earned playoff berths in consecutive seasons for the third time in school history – 2002-03, 2010-12, and 2018-19.
• The Bobcats raised their post-season record to 12-9-2 with Saturday's win, including 11-8 all-time in NCAA Playoff games, 8-8 in the FCS/I-AA Playoffs, 3-0 in the Division II Playoffs, and 1-1-2 in bowl games.
• Tucker Rovig's 279 passing yards vs. UAlbany was 5th-most in Bobcat playoff history, and his 24 completions is 3rd in MSU's playoff history as well as his career high.
• Tom Kostrba's 306 career playoff rushing yards (three games) is a Bobcat record, but Troy Andersen (213 yards in two games) and Isaiah Ifanse (221 yards in two games) are both within reach this 2019 post-season.
• Montana State played an Ohio Valley Conference-mate of Austin Peay's earlier this season, beating Southeast Missouri – which also competed in the FCS Playoffs – 38-17 in Bobcat Stadium. Austin Peay beat SEMO 28-24 at home.
• During Montana State's current five-game win streak (its second five-game streak this season) the Bobcats have outscored their opponents 209-73. That streak comes on the heels of a 16-12 loss at North Dakota.
• The Cats have topped 130 rushing yards in five of the team's six home playoff games this decade (Sam Houston held MSU to 72 rushing yards in 2012), gaining 203 against UAlbany on Saturday.
• Tucker Rovig joins Troy Andersen (2018) and Jack Rolovich (2006) as the Bobcat quarterbacks to win their first playoff start since Kelly Bradley did so in 1984.
• The Bobcats set the program's single-game playoff scoring record Saturday, scoring 47 against UAlbany. MSU has scored at least 25 points in its last five games this season, topping the 40-point mark in four of them.
• Friday's game marks the latest date the Bobcats have played since the 1984 National Championship game (December 15), and MSU is 8-4-1 all-time in December.
• Montana State's 203 rushing yards against UAlbany raises its season total to 3,444, a program record. The team's 264.9 yards per game to this point of the 2019 season is 4th in program history.
• Bryce Sterk's 20 tackles-for-loss this season is tied for 6th in Bobcat history, and his 15 sacks 4th-most at MSU.
• Kevin Kassis' 131 receiving yards Saturday – the second-best game of his career – raises his career total to 1,897, 5th-most in Bobcat history, and his career-high 11 catches vs. UAlbany gives him 146 as a Bobcat, 4th in school history. His 11 catches vs. UAlbany set an MSU post-season history, and his 131 receiving yards is second-most (behind Kelly Davis' 137 vs. Rhode Island in 1984).
STAT SNIPPETS
Montana State is 8th in the FCS in rushing yards per game (254.9 yards per game), while the Governors stand 7th in rushing defense (91.6)… the Cats have risen to 19th in scoring offense (34.8 points per game), while Austin Peay is 16th in scoring defense (20.4)… APSU quarterback Javaughn Craig is 20th nationally in passing yards (3,035) and passing efficiency (145.8), and has also rushed for 731 yards this season.
NOTES
• Montana State has earned playoff berths in consecutive seasons for the third time in school history – 2002-03, 2010-12, and 2018-19.
• The Bobcats raised their post-season record to 12-9-2 with Saturday's win, including 11-8 all-time in NCAA Playoff games, 8-8 in the FCS/I-AA Playoffs, 3-0 in the Division II Playoffs, and 1-1-2 in bowl games.
• Tucker Rovig's 279 passing yards vs. UAlbany was 5th-most in Bobcat playoff history, and his 24 completions is 3rd in MSU's playoff history as well as his career high.
• Tom Kostrba's 306 career playoff rushing yards (three games) is a Bobcat record, but Troy Andersen (213 yards in two games) and Isaiah Ifanse (221 yards in two games) are both within reach this 2019 post-season.
• Montana State played an Ohio Valley Conference-mate of Austin Peay's earlier this season, beating Southeast Missouri – which also competed in the FCS Playoffs – 38-17 in Bobcat Stadium. Austin Peay beat SEMO 28-24 at home.
• During Montana State's current five-game win streak (its second five-game streak this season) the Bobcats have outscored their opponents 209-73. That streak comes on the heels of a 16-12 loss at North Dakota.
• The Cats have topped 130 rushing yards in five of the team's six home playoff games this decade (Sam Houston held MSU to 72 rushing yards in 2012), gaining 203 against UAlbany on Saturday.
• Tucker Rovig joins Troy Andersen (2018) and Jack Rolovich (2006) as the Bobcat quarterbacks to win their first playoff start since Kelly Bradley did so in 1984.
• The Bobcats set the program's single-game playoff scoring record Saturday, scoring 47 against UAlbany. MSU has scored at least 25 points in its last five games this season, topping the 40-point mark in four of them.
• Friday's game marks the latest date the Bobcats have played since the 1984 National Championship game (December 15), and MSU is 8-4-1 all-time in December.
• Montana State's 203 rushing yards against UAlbany raises its season total to 3,444, a program record. The team's 264.9 yards per game to this point of the 2019 season is 4th in program history.
• Bryce Sterk's 20 tackles-for-loss this season is tied for 6th in Bobcat history, and his 15 sacks 4th-most at MSU.
• Kevin Kassis' 131 receiving yards Saturday – the second-best game of his career – raises his career total to 1,897, 5th-most in Bobcat history, and his career-high 11 catches vs. UAlbany gives him 146 as a Bobcat, 4th in school history. His 11 catches vs. UAlbany set an MSU post-season history, and his 131 receiving yards is second-most (behind Kelly Davis' 137 vs. Rhode Island in 1984).
STAT SNIPPETS
Montana State is 8th in the FCS in rushing yards per game (254.9 yards per game), while the Governors stand 7th in rushing defense (91.6)… the Cats have risen to 19th in scoring offense (34.8 points per game), while Austin Peay is 16th in scoring defense (20.4)… APSU quarterback Javaughn Craig is 20th nationally in passing yards (3,035) and passing efficiency (145.8), and has also rushed for 731 yards this season.
Players Mentioned
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