NAU quarterback Case Cookus
FIRST LOOK: MSU and Northern Arizona Get Together in Bobcat Stadium Saturday to Open Big Sky Play
9/24/2019 5:08:00 PM | Football
Montana State faces an agressive aerial attack this weekend
Summary: Long-time Big Sky rival Northern Arizona visits Bobcat Stadium for only the second time since 2013 on Saturday, as both teams open league play. The Lumberjacks and MSU didn't play in 2018, and this is only Northern Arizona's second trip to Bozeman since 2013.
2019 Record: The Lumberjacks enter Saturday's game 2-2 after last weekend's 40-27 loss at 10th-ranked Illinois State. NAU is 2-0 at home this season, 0-2 on the road. Montana State is 3-1 and ranked No. 7 nationally this week. The Cats beat Norfolk State 56-21 at home last Saturday.
2018 Record: Northern Arizona finished the 2018 season with a 4-6 record overall, 3-4 in the Big Sky, after its game with Sacramento State was canceled. The Cats finished 8-5 overall and 5-3 in the league, losing in the second round of the FCS Playoffs at North Dakota State.
Current Conference Standings: Northern Arizona and the Cats both begin Big Sky play this week.
Preseason Conference Prediction: Northern Arizona was picked 6th in the Big Sky in both preseason polls, one spot behind the Cats in the coaches' poll and two spots back of MSU in the media poll.
Rankings: Northern Arizona is unranked. Montana State is 7th in the STATS FCS poll, 11th in the AFCS FCS Coaches Poll.
MSU vs. Northern Arizona
Series: NAU leads 28-22, while the Cats have won 15 of the 25 meetings in Bozeman
Jeff Choate vs. Northern Arizona: 1-1 (0-1 in Bozeman)
Jeff Choate vs. Chris Ball: 0-0
Chris Ball vs. MSU: 0-0
Lumberjacks Leaders
Rushing: Joe Logan 37-79-2, Georg Robinson 16-77-2
Passing: Case Cookus 90-154-4, 1,377, 12 TDs
Receiving: H. Johnson 24-372-0, Brandon Porter 21-327-4, Joe Logan 12-225-5
Tackles: Jalen Cook 23, H. Beemiller 19, Anthony Sweeney 19
Sacks: Brandon Worthy 2.5, Carson Taylor 2.5
Interceptions: Brandon Worthy 1, Jaden Tauanu'u 1
What the Pundits Say
Greg Rachac, Billings Gazette – "The Bobcats' defense obviously has a difficult task this week against Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus. Bryce Sterk and those guys up front have done a great job getting after quarterbacks through the first four games, and that will be every bit as imperative against Cookus, who is one of the smartest and most accurate quarterbacks you'll find in the Big Sky Conference — especially throwing deep."
2019 Record: The Lumberjacks enter Saturday's game 2-2 after last weekend's 40-27 loss at 10th-ranked Illinois State. NAU is 2-0 at home this season, 0-2 on the road. Montana State is 3-1 and ranked No. 7 nationally this week. The Cats beat Norfolk State 56-21 at home last Saturday.
2018 Record: Northern Arizona finished the 2018 season with a 4-6 record overall, 3-4 in the Big Sky, after its game with Sacramento State was canceled. The Cats finished 8-5 overall and 5-3 in the league, losing in the second round of the FCS Playoffs at North Dakota State.
Current Conference Standings: Northern Arizona and the Cats both begin Big Sky play this week.
Preseason Conference Prediction: Northern Arizona was picked 6th in the Big Sky in both preseason polls, one spot behind the Cats in the coaches' poll and two spots back of MSU in the media poll.
Rankings: Northern Arizona is unranked. Montana State is 7th in the STATS FCS poll, 11th in the AFCS FCS Coaches Poll.
MSU vs. Northern Arizona
Series: NAU leads 28-22, while the Cats have won 15 of the 25 meetings in Bozeman
Jeff Choate vs. Northern Arizona: 1-1 (0-1 in Bozeman)
Jeff Choate vs. Chris Ball: 0-0
Chris Ball vs. MSU: 0-0
Lumberjacks Leaders
Rushing: Joe Logan 37-79-2, Georg Robinson 16-77-2
Passing: Case Cookus 90-154-4, 1,377, 12 TDs
Receiving: H. Johnson 24-372-0, Brandon Porter 21-327-4, Joe Logan 12-225-5
Tackles: Jalen Cook 23, H. Beemiller 19, Anthony Sweeney 19
Sacks: Brandon Worthy 2.5, Carson Taylor 2.5
Interceptions: Brandon Worthy 1, Jaden Tauanu'u 1
What the Pundits Say
Greg Rachac, Billings Gazette – "The Bobcats' defense obviously has a difficult task this week against Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus. Bryce Sterk and those guys up front have done a great job getting after quarterbacks through the first four games, and that will be every bit as imperative against Cookus, who is one of the smartest and most accurate quarterbacks you'll find in the Big Sky Conference — especially throwing deep."
Players Mentioned
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