BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 19 Days Before Kickoff, and a Look at Two Promising Young Players
8/12/2019 9:40:00 AM | Football
Neal Smith posted a crazy sack total in 1997
August 12: 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.
#19
John Knight, QB: Freshman quarterback John Knight brings an impressive, diverse resume to Montana State. He led Colville (Washington) high to its first state football championship last fall, earning Cascade Presp State Offensive MVP honors. He also won a pair of state wrestling championships. Knight's athleticism has been on display during fall camp, and he's expected to spend 2019 in a developmental role.
Jaharie Martin, LB: The MVP of a state championship team and Polk County Defensive Player of the Year last fall, Jaharie Martin arrives at MSU as one of the most decorated members of the 2019 recruiting class. He is a stocky, strong middle linebacker who has turned heads even as he's learning MSU's defensive scheme. Montana State's inside linebacker position is a logjam, but Martin could contribute as the fall goes along, possibly on kick teams.
19 – Sacks by Neal Smith in 1997
It seems outrageous that it was 22 years ago, but Neal Smith's 1997 season was, in and of itself, outrageous. An angular force of nature as a pass rusher who hails from Polson, Smith put the Big Sky on notice in 1996 with nine sacks. His senior season got off to a good start with a pair of sacks against Chadron State, then he notched two more at Southwest Texas State, then upped the ante with three at Idaho State. The calendar hadn't flipped to October, and Smith already had tallied seven sacks. He rang up three more against Eastern Washington, giving him 10 in his first four games. Smith logged 'only' nine sacks in the last seven games – which would only miss MSU's single-season top 10 by a half-sack – including two in his heartbreaking career finale against UM. Bobcat pass rushers have compiled some sensational seasons since Smith's amazing 1997 season, but that total of 19 sacks remains second-most in Bobcat history (behind Mark Fellows' 23). Corey Widmer's 17 sacks in 1990 is the only other mark over 15 by a Bobcat.
Chronology: James Gennary (1930), William Greer (1931), Bill Penttila (1934), Floyd Roth (1937), Robert Olson (1940), James O'Loughlin (1946-47), John Gardiner (1948), Bob Weast (1949), Kurt Ueland (1950), Joe Liesses (1953), Bernie Ellingson (1955), James Cowan (1983), Jeff Mayfield (1984-85), Scott Surby (1986), Robert LaPlant (1987), Quinn Falk (1988), Steve Fried (1989-92), Kalonji Watts (1994), Kasey Harte (1995), Marc Lubick (1996), Ken Amato (1998), JB Kellogg (1999-00), Nate Cook (2001-03), Chaz Guinn (2004-05), Jamelle Banks (2006-07), Rick Haluszka (2008-12), Jayshawn Gates (2013-16), Callahan O'Reilly (2017), Ty Okada (2017-18), John Knight (2019-), Jaharie Martin (2019-)
Other #19 Notes: A bomber in both the literal and football sense, Johnny Gardiner followed quite a path to get to Montana State and an even more interesting one in the years after his season in Bozeman. The Minneapolis native played left halfback for the Golden Gophers in 1941 and '42, but enlisted in the air corps and flew bomber missions over Europe with distinction, receiving two Distinguished Flying Crosses. Following the war Gardiner first traveled east, playing one season at Purdue, then headed west to finish his career at Montana State. After his season with the Cats he signed as an import with Winnipeg of the CFL, called a "fine passer, fast, nifty and has a fighting heart" by a teammate, but after enduring a season of injuries and on-field misfortune Gardiner retired from football and began putting to use his commercial sciences degree. Gardiner accepted a position with the Parker Pen Company in Janesville, Wisconsin, before beginning his own business services company in California a short time later. He spent the rest of his days as a successful businessman in California, passing away in 2015 at the age of 92… Nate Cook was a fine punter and kicker for the Bobcats from 2001-03, but he will long be remembered for one glorious moment in his MSU career – with Montana State's season literally hanging in the balance and the most miraculous comeback in recent memory in his grasp, Cook nailed a 36-yard field goal with no time on the clock (courtesy of a defensive penalty on the game's final play) to boost the Cats to a stunning 31-30 win at Sacramento State.
#19
John Knight, QB: Freshman quarterback John Knight brings an impressive, diverse resume to Montana State. He led Colville (Washington) high to its first state football championship last fall, earning Cascade Presp State Offensive MVP honors. He also won a pair of state wrestling championships. Knight's athleticism has been on display during fall camp, and he's expected to spend 2019 in a developmental role.
Jaharie Martin, LB: The MVP of a state championship team and Polk County Defensive Player of the Year last fall, Jaharie Martin arrives at MSU as one of the most decorated members of the 2019 recruiting class. He is a stocky, strong middle linebacker who has turned heads even as he's learning MSU's defensive scheme. Montana State's inside linebacker position is a logjam, but Martin could contribute as the fall goes along, possibly on kick teams.
19 – Sacks by Neal Smith in 1997
It seems outrageous that it was 22 years ago, but Neal Smith's 1997 season was, in and of itself, outrageous. An angular force of nature as a pass rusher who hails from Polson, Smith put the Big Sky on notice in 1996 with nine sacks. His senior season got off to a good start with a pair of sacks against Chadron State, then he notched two more at Southwest Texas State, then upped the ante with three at Idaho State. The calendar hadn't flipped to October, and Smith already had tallied seven sacks. He rang up three more against Eastern Washington, giving him 10 in his first four games. Smith logged 'only' nine sacks in the last seven games – which would only miss MSU's single-season top 10 by a half-sack – including two in his heartbreaking career finale against UM. Bobcat pass rushers have compiled some sensational seasons since Smith's amazing 1997 season, but that total of 19 sacks remains second-most in Bobcat history (behind Mark Fellows' 23). Corey Widmer's 17 sacks in 1990 is the only other mark over 15 by a Bobcat.
Chronology: James Gennary (1930), William Greer (1931), Bill Penttila (1934), Floyd Roth (1937), Robert Olson (1940), James O'Loughlin (1946-47), John Gardiner (1948), Bob Weast (1949), Kurt Ueland (1950), Joe Liesses (1953), Bernie Ellingson (1955), James Cowan (1983), Jeff Mayfield (1984-85), Scott Surby (1986), Robert LaPlant (1987), Quinn Falk (1988), Steve Fried (1989-92), Kalonji Watts (1994), Kasey Harte (1995), Marc Lubick (1996), Ken Amato (1998), JB Kellogg (1999-00), Nate Cook (2001-03), Chaz Guinn (2004-05), Jamelle Banks (2006-07), Rick Haluszka (2008-12), Jayshawn Gates (2013-16), Callahan O'Reilly (2017), Ty Okada (2017-18), John Knight (2019-), Jaharie Martin (2019-)
Other #19 Notes: A bomber in both the literal and football sense, Johnny Gardiner followed quite a path to get to Montana State and an even more interesting one in the years after his season in Bozeman. The Minneapolis native played left halfback for the Golden Gophers in 1941 and '42, but enlisted in the air corps and flew bomber missions over Europe with distinction, receiving two Distinguished Flying Crosses. Following the war Gardiner first traveled east, playing one season at Purdue, then headed west to finish his career at Montana State. After his season with the Cats he signed as an import with Winnipeg of the CFL, called a "fine passer, fast, nifty and has a fighting heart" by a teammate, but after enduring a season of injuries and on-field misfortune Gardiner retired from football and began putting to use his commercial sciences degree. Gardiner accepted a position with the Parker Pen Company in Janesville, Wisconsin, before beginning his own business services company in California a short time later. He spent the rest of his days as a successful businessman in California, passing away in 2015 at the age of 92… Nate Cook was a fine punter and kicker for the Bobcats from 2001-03, but he will long be remembered for one glorious moment in his MSU career – with Montana State's season literally hanging in the balance and the most miraculous comeback in recent memory in his grasp, Cook nailed a 36-yard field goal with no time on the clock (courtesy of a defensive penalty on the game's final play) to boost the Cats to a stunning 31-30 win at Sacramento State.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
