Logan Jones
Photo by: Garrett Becker
BOBCAT FOOTBALL SUNDAY NOTEBOOK #3: Logan Jones Logs Career Day at Western Illinois
9/15/2019 1:26:00 PM | Football
MSU senior running back was at his best when the Bobcats needed him the most
Montana State earned a hard-fought 23-14 win in the wind-swept hills of west-central Illinois on Saturday...
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATIONS
OFFENSE: Logan Jones, RB (5-7, 186, Sr, Kalispell, MT)
Starting for the first time since 2017, Logan Jones posted career highs with 21 rushes, 167 yards and two touchdowns to lead Montana State to a 23-14 win at Western Illinois Saturday. He scored the game's first touchdown, a 14-yard first quarter run, then made the game's big play midway through the third quarter. With the Bobcats leading 10-7 but pinned deep in their own territory, Jones dashed 87 yards for a touchdown. It was the third-longest run from scrimmage in Bobcat history, and Jones' longest. His previous career high for rushes in a season was 25 and he entered 2019 with 267 career rushing yards, but he helped MSU salt away the road win against a Missouri Valley Football Conference foe with 10 carries for 36 yards in the final period. Those fourth quarter numbers alone matched his previous single-game high for rushes and been his second-highest single game rushing total in yards and combined with his 55-yard touchdown run a week ago makes him only the seventh Bobcat this decade with runs and catches of at least 50 yards in the same season. Jones' 87-yard run is tied for the longest in the FCS this year (with Cal Poly's Duy Tran-Sampson).
DEFENSE: Bryce Sterk, DE (6-5, 261, Sr, Lynden, WA)
Senior defensive end Bryce Sterk continued his prolific pass-rushing pace Saturday by registering 2.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack among his seven total tackles in Montana State's 23-14 win against Western Illinois. Sterk helped contribute to Montana State's fast start, getting a solo tackle for no gain and sacking WIU quarterback Connor Sampson on Western Illinois' second drive to kick the Leathernecks out of a second drive, then teaming with Derek Marks on a tackle-for-loss on WIU's third drive, which also resulted in a punt. Montana State's defense limited Western Illinois to 337 yards and 15 first downs. Sterk has five sacks and 6.5 tackles-for-loss this season, all against Division I competition, and he has at least one sack in five straight regular season games and at least one tackle-for-loss in six straight regular season games. In 16 games as a Bobcat, the University of Washington transfer has 23.5 tackles-for-loss and 13.5 sacks.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Tristan Bailey, K (6-1, 210, Sr, Colorado Springs, CO)
Tristan Bailey converted three field goals, two in the final 12 minutes, to provide Montana State's winning margin in a 23-14 Bobcat win at Western Illinois on Saturday. Bailey nailed a 41-yarder with 11:13 to play to push the Bobcat lead to 20-14, then hit a 47-yarder with 2:40 remaining to give the Cats a two-possession lead. The senior kicked both the fourth-quarter field goals into a prevailing wind as strong as 15 mph. He finished the day 3-for-3 on field goals, two-for-two on extra points, and he averaged 62.7 yards on his six kickoffs, with a pair of touchbacks and one other pin inside the 25-yard line. After converting all four of his field goals against Western Illinois a season ago, Bailey finishes his career 7-for-7 on field goals against the Leathernecks, including 4-for-4 from beyond 40 yards. Bailey is currently 2nd in the Big Sky and 11th in the FCS with 1.67 field goals per game.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Mitch Brott, OT (6-6, 300, Sr, Billings, Montana)
Anchoring arguably the best offensive line in the Big Sky Conference, Mitch Brott started his 38th straight game at offensive tackle for the Cats on Saturday, covering every game MSU has played during his varsity career. The Bobcats earned a 23-14 win at Western Illinois by rushing for 194 yards and allowing no sacks. The Bobcats have allowed just two sacks in three games this season, and 13 sacks in the team's last 16 games. Logan Jones ran for a career-high 167 yards against WIU, the 33rd time a Bobcat back has gained at least 100 yards running behind Brott. During his career as a Bobcat tackle, Montana State has allowed just 42 sacks (38 games), and 16 of those came during his freshman campaign.
POST-GAME NEWS & NOTES
Injury Report: Out – WR Willie Patterson, CB Greg Filer III, CB Ty Okada, Jacob Hadley
• Montana State snapped a seven-game losing streak in non-conference road games by winning at Western Illinois Saturday. The Bobcats' last non-conference regular season road win was a 2012 victory at Drake. Four of the losses in that span came against FBS foes. By contrast, Western Illinois' 12-game non-conference home win streak that the Bobcats snapped included wins over Montana and Northern Arizona in the last three seasons.
• In Western Illinois' first dozen offensive plays, Bryce Sterk logged a tackle for no gain, a sack, and another tackle-for-loss.
• Montana State has forced at least one turnover in 14 consecutive games.
• Logan Jones' 87-yard touchdown run was the third-longest rushing play in Bobcat history.
• Jered Padmos' 76-yard punt was two-yards from joining the school's top five longest punts, and tied his personal long punt.
• Damien Washington snagged his first career interception Saturday.
• Montana State was flagged for just seven penalties in the team's first two games, but was whistled a dozen times on Saturday. That was the first time in Jeff Choate's 38 games as MSU's head coach that the Cats have been called for double-digits in penalties (the last time was against Southern Utah in 2015, 40 games ago).
• After surrendering just one sack in each of the team's first two games, Montana State didn't allow any vs. Western Illinois. MSU's 0.67 sacks allowed per game leads the Big Sky and is 13th in the FCS. MSU allowed a Big Sky-low 11 sacks (in 13 games) a season ago.
• Montana State has lost just eight fumbles in the last 28 games, and Logan Jones' fumble lost at Western Illinois was the team's first on offense since the Incarnate Word game in the FCS Playoffs last season (the other fumble MSU lost this season was on a punt).
• After 11 of Montana State's 13 opponents scored at least 20 points a season ago, the Cats held both their FCS opponents this season – Western Illinois and nationally-ranked Southeast Missouri – to under 20 points.
• Logan Jones' 87-yard touchdown run Saturday paired with his 55-yard touchdown catch (on a pop pass that traveled less than one foot in the air) pushes him into impressive company. The other Bobcats to have runs and catches of at least 50 yards in the same season this decade: Nick LaSane in 2017, Gunnar Brekke in 2015 and 2014, Cody Kirk in 2011, and Everett Gilbert in 2010.
• The Cats face teams from every different direction in September – Southeast Missouri, Western Illinois, and Northern Arizona.
STAT SNIPPETS
Montana State is 14th in the FCS in sacks, 13th in sacks allowed, one of only four schools (with North Dakota, Sacred Heart, and Youngstown State) ranked among the nation's top 15 in both categories… MSU's two turnovers lost this season is 10th in the FCS and leads the Big Sky, while the Cats are +1.00 in turnover margin, 18th in the FCS and 2nd in the Big Sky… Bryce Sterk's 1.67 sacks per game is 2nd in the FCS and leads the Big Sky… Jered Padmos is 5th in the FCS and leads the Big Sky in punting average (46.4)… Logan Jones jumped up to 13th in the FCS in rushing yards per carry (6.42).
FIRST LOOK: Montana State vs. Norfolk State
Game Details: Date – September 21 Site – Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman Kickoff – 1 pm Special Promotions – Stripe the Stadium Record – 1-2 overall, 0-0 in the MEAC Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network and msubobcats.com Video– ABC Montana, KULR-TV in Billings Streaming – msubobcats.com ($)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATIONS
OFFENSE: Logan Jones, RB (5-7, 186, Sr, Kalispell, MT)
Starting for the first time since 2017, Logan Jones posted career highs with 21 rushes, 167 yards and two touchdowns to lead Montana State to a 23-14 win at Western Illinois Saturday. He scored the game's first touchdown, a 14-yard first quarter run, then made the game's big play midway through the third quarter. With the Bobcats leading 10-7 but pinned deep in their own territory, Jones dashed 87 yards for a touchdown. It was the third-longest run from scrimmage in Bobcat history, and Jones' longest. His previous career high for rushes in a season was 25 and he entered 2019 with 267 career rushing yards, but he helped MSU salt away the road win against a Missouri Valley Football Conference foe with 10 carries for 36 yards in the final period. Those fourth quarter numbers alone matched his previous single-game high for rushes and been his second-highest single game rushing total in yards and combined with his 55-yard touchdown run a week ago makes him only the seventh Bobcat this decade with runs and catches of at least 50 yards in the same season. Jones' 87-yard run is tied for the longest in the FCS this year (with Cal Poly's Duy Tran-Sampson).
DEFENSE: Bryce Sterk, DE (6-5, 261, Sr, Lynden, WA)
Senior defensive end Bryce Sterk continued his prolific pass-rushing pace Saturday by registering 2.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack among his seven total tackles in Montana State's 23-14 win against Western Illinois. Sterk helped contribute to Montana State's fast start, getting a solo tackle for no gain and sacking WIU quarterback Connor Sampson on Western Illinois' second drive to kick the Leathernecks out of a second drive, then teaming with Derek Marks on a tackle-for-loss on WIU's third drive, which also resulted in a punt. Montana State's defense limited Western Illinois to 337 yards and 15 first downs. Sterk has five sacks and 6.5 tackles-for-loss this season, all against Division I competition, and he has at least one sack in five straight regular season games and at least one tackle-for-loss in six straight regular season games. In 16 games as a Bobcat, the University of Washington transfer has 23.5 tackles-for-loss and 13.5 sacks.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Tristan Bailey, K (6-1, 210, Sr, Colorado Springs, CO)
Tristan Bailey converted three field goals, two in the final 12 minutes, to provide Montana State's winning margin in a 23-14 Bobcat win at Western Illinois on Saturday. Bailey nailed a 41-yarder with 11:13 to play to push the Bobcat lead to 20-14, then hit a 47-yarder with 2:40 remaining to give the Cats a two-possession lead. The senior kicked both the fourth-quarter field goals into a prevailing wind as strong as 15 mph. He finished the day 3-for-3 on field goals, two-for-two on extra points, and he averaged 62.7 yards on his six kickoffs, with a pair of touchbacks and one other pin inside the 25-yard line. After converting all four of his field goals against Western Illinois a season ago, Bailey finishes his career 7-for-7 on field goals against the Leathernecks, including 4-for-4 from beyond 40 yards. Bailey is currently 2nd in the Big Sky and 11th in the FCS with 1.67 field goals per game.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Mitch Brott, OT (6-6, 300, Sr, Billings, Montana)
Anchoring arguably the best offensive line in the Big Sky Conference, Mitch Brott started his 38th straight game at offensive tackle for the Cats on Saturday, covering every game MSU has played during his varsity career. The Bobcats earned a 23-14 win at Western Illinois by rushing for 194 yards and allowing no sacks. The Bobcats have allowed just two sacks in three games this season, and 13 sacks in the team's last 16 games. Logan Jones ran for a career-high 167 yards against WIU, the 33rd time a Bobcat back has gained at least 100 yards running behind Brott. During his career as a Bobcat tackle, Montana State has allowed just 42 sacks (38 games), and 16 of those came during his freshman campaign.
POST-GAME NEWS & NOTES
Injury Report: Out – WR Willie Patterson, CB Greg Filer III, CB Ty Okada, Jacob Hadley
• Montana State snapped a seven-game losing streak in non-conference road games by winning at Western Illinois Saturday. The Bobcats' last non-conference regular season road win was a 2012 victory at Drake. Four of the losses in that span came against FBS foes. By contrast, Western Illinois' 12-game non-conference home win streak that the Bobcats snapped included wins over Montana and Northern Arizona in the last three seasons.
• In Western Illinois' first dozen offensive plays, Bryce Sterk logged a tackle for no gain, a sack, and another tackle-for-loss.
• Montana State has forced at least one turnover in 14 consecutive games.
• Logan Jones' 87-yard touchdown run was the third-longest rushing play in Bobcat history.
• Jered Padmos' 76-yard punt was two-yards from joining the school's top five longest punts, and tied his personal long punt.
• Damien Washington snagged his first career interception Saturday.
• Montana State was flagged for just seven penalties in the team's first two games, but was whistled a dozen times on Saturday. That was the first time in Jeff Choate's 38 games as MSU's head coach that the Cats have been called for double-digits in penalties (the last time was against Southern Utah in 2015, 40 games ago).
• After surrendering just one sack in each of the team's first two games, Montana State didn't allow any vs. Western Illinois. MSU's 0.67 sacks allowed per game leads the Big Sky and is 13th in the FCS. MSU allowed a Big Sky-low 11 sacks (in 13 games) a season ago.
• Montana State has lost just eight fumbles in the last 28 games, and Logan Jones' fumble lost at Western Illinois was the team's first on offense since the Incarnate Word game in the FCS Playoffs last season (the other fumble MSU lost this season was on a punt).
• After 11 of Montana State's 13 opponents scored at least 20 points a season ago, the Cats held both their FCS opponents this season – Western Illinois and nationally-ranked Southeast Missouri – to under 20 points.
• Logan Jones' 87-yard touchdown run Saturday paired with his 55-yard touchdown catch (on a pop pass that traveled less than one foot in the air) pushes him into impressive company. The other Bobcats to have runs and catches of at least 50 yards in the same season this decade: Nick LaSane in 2017, Gunnar Brekke in 2015 and 2014, Cody Kirk in 2011, and Everett Gilbert in 2010.
• The Cats face teams from every different direction in September – Southeast Missouri, Western Illinois, and Northern Arizona.
STAT SNIPPETS
Montana State is 14th in the FCS in sacks, 13th in sacks allowed, one of only four schools (with North Dakota, Sacred Heart, and Youngstown State) ranked among the nation's top 15 in both categories… MSU's two turnovers lost this season is 10th in the FCS and leads the Big Sky, while the Cats are +1.00 in turnover margin, 18th in the FCS and 2nd in the Big Sky… Bryce Sterk's 1.67 sacks per game is 2nd in the FCS and leads the Big Sky… Jered Padmos is 5th in the FCS and leads the Big Sky in punting average (46.4)… Logan Jones jumped up to 13th in the FCS in rushing yards per carry (6.42).
FIRST LOOK: Montana State vs. Norfolk State
Game Details: Date – September 21 Site – Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman Kickoff – 1 pm Special Promotions – Stripe the Stadium Record – 1-2 overall, 0-0 in the MEAC Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network and msubobcats.com Video– ABC Montana, KULR-TV in Billings Streaming – msubobcats.com ($)
Players Mentioned
K
/ Football
OT
/ Football
CB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DE
/ Football
CB
/ FootballThursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
