BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 87 Days To Kickoff
6/5/2019 2:00:00 PM | Football
Today we look at a pretty big catch by a recent #87
June 5: In addition to a quick look at players wearing the jersey number corresponding to the number of days remaining until Montana State's season opener at Texas Tech on August 31, Bobcats by the Numbers brings you another tidbit or two aligning with that number.
#87
Ryan Lonergan, TE: A product of Bozeman High's outstanding football program, Ryan Lonergan earned First Team All-State honors twice for the Hawks, and was a second team selection at defensive end. He caught 64 passes for 1,121 yards as a senior, scoring a dozen touchdowns, and is seen as an athletic every-down tight end for the Bobcats.
87 – One of the great moments in the history of jersey number 87 at Montana State – taking nothing away from the great catches three-plus decades earlier by Butch Damberger – came on November 19, 2016, in Missoula. Specifically, it came at 3:26 pm. That's when freshman quarterback Chris Murray, facing a fourth-and-one at the Grizzlies 29-yard line, dropped to pass. And he almost literally dropped, stumbling briefly (some say that was part of the ultimate deception) before shocking nearly everyone by lofting a pass toward the goal line. And awaiting the pass, mostly along, was Connor Sullivan in jersey number 87. Given that moment's importance, it was anything but a no-brainer catch, but Sullivan made it, tackled by UM's Justin Strong at the three-yard line. One time out and three kneel-downs later the Bobcats had an amazing win.
Chronology: Bob Black (1956), John Kinker (1957), Bob Surdam (1958-59), Gary Decolati (1963-64), Bob Stephan (1965-66), Bill Fieldstead (1967-68), Gary Beller (1969), Lynn Schenk (1970-72), Bob Grabb (1973), Bob Lubig (1974), Dennis Mizelle (1975), Butch Damberger (1976-79), Bill Bishop (1980), Tod Kasten (1982), Jame Todd (1983-86), Shawn Sulff (1987), Lee Carter (1990-91), Brian Pepper (1992-95), Jake Headlee (1996), Frank Green (1997-2000), Justin Reber (2001), Kolby Drube (2002), Sean Kelley (2003), Toby Rundle (2004-05), Deon Toliver (2006), Daniel Malison (2008), Gregory Oswood (2010-11), Shadeed Crockett (2012-13), Connor Sullivan (2014-18), Ryan Lonergan (2019-)
Other 87 Notes: Some uniform numbers just have a little more cache' than others, and at Montana State 87 is one of those numbers. Three BBTN favorites – Lee Carter, Brian Pepper and Frank Green – did #87 proud. Carter transferred from Wyoming, where his father played before helping build the Helena Capital football program into the powerhouse it was for many years, and had two fine seasons for the Bobcats. He now teaches and coaches at Capital. Pepper was a local product who came to MSU without a true position, eventually becoming an All-Big Sky linebacker. Frank Green came to MSU from Butte and was a tremendous tight end in the Blue and Gold. You can also add Butch Damberger to that mix, as well, an underappreciated All-America tight end who caught tremendously important touchdown passes for the Bobcats when that was barely part of a tight end's job description.
#87
Ryan Lonergan, TE: A product of Bozeman High's outstanding football program, Ryan Lonergan earned First Team All-State honors twice for the Hawks, and was a second team selection at defensive end. He caught 64 passes for 1,121 yards as a senior, scoring a dozen touchdowns, and is seen as an athletic every-down tight end for the Bobcats.
87 – One of the great moments in the history of jersey number 87 at Montana State – taking nothing away from the great catches three-plus decades earlier by Butch Damberger – came on November 19, 2016, in Missoula. Specifically, it came at 3:26 pm. That's when freshman quarterback Chris Murray, facing a fourth-and-one at the Grizzlies 29-yard line, dropped to pass. And he almost literally dropped, stumbling briefly (some say that was part of the ultimate deception) before shocking nearly everyone by lofting a pass toward the goal line. And awaiting the pass, mostly along, was Connor Sullivan in jersey number 87. Given that moment's importance, it was anything but a no-brainer catch, but Sullivan made it, tackled by UM's Justin Strong at the three-yard line. One time out and three kneel-downs later the Bobcats had an amazing win.
Chronology: Bob Black (1956), John Kinker (1957), Bob Surdam (1958-59), Gary Decolati (1963-64), Bob Stephan (1965-66), Bill Fieldstead (1967-68), Gary Beller (1969), Lynn Schenk (1970-72), Bob Grabb (1973), Bob Lubig (1974), Dennis Mizelle (1975), Butch Damberger (1976-79), Bill Bishop (1980), Tod Kasten (1982), Jame Todd (1983-86), Shawn Sulff (1987), Lee Carter (1990-91), Brian Pepper (1992-95), Jake Headlee (1996), Frank Green (1997-2000), Justin Reber (2001), Kolby Drube (2002), Sean Kelley (2003), Toby Rundle (2004-05), Deon Toliver (2006), Daniel Malison (2008), Gregory Oswood (2010-11), Shadeed Crockett (2012-13), Connor Sullivan (2014-18), Ryan Lonergan (2019-)
Other 87 Notes: Some uniform numbers just have a little more cache' than others, and at Montana State 87 is one of those numbers. Three BBTN favorites – Lee Carter, Brian Pepper and Frank Green – did #87 proud. Carter transferred from Wyoming, where his father played before helping build the Helena Capital football program into the powerhouse it was for many years, and had two fine seasons for the Bobcats. He now teaches and coaches at Capital. Pepper was a local product who came to MSU without a true position, eventually becoming an All-Big Sky linebacker. Frank Green came to MSU from Butte and was a tremendous tight end in the Blue and Gold. You can also add Butch Damberger to that mix, as well, an underappreciated All-America tight end who caught tremendously important touchdown passes for the Bobcats when that was barely part of a tight end's job description.
Players Mentioned
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