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BOBCAT FOOTBALL SUNDAY NOTEBOOK #5: Cats Control NAU by Controlling the Ground
9/29/2019 12:34:00 PM | Football
Montana State remains one of the top rushing teams in the FCS
Here's a quick look back at Montana State's win over Northern Arizona, and a glance ahead at next week's game at Cal Poly...
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATIONS
OFFENSE: Travis Jonsen, WR (6-4, 211, Sr, Fullerton, CA)
Senior all-purpose player Travis Jonsen became the sixth Bobcat in the team's first five games to surpass the 100-yard rushing mark, gaining 105 on the ground and 36 receiving in Montana State's 49-31 win over Northern Arizona on Saturday. He gained 34 rushing yards in the fourth quarter from the quarterback position to help Montana State seal the victory. Jonsen also had a special teams tackle.
DEFENSE: Brayden Konkol, S (6-2, 215, Sr, Belgrade, MT)
Senior safety Brayden Konkol logged seven tackles, all solos, and broke up a pass in Montana State's win Saturday. He also had the hit on NAU quarterback Case Cookus that led to Amandre Williams' game-clinching interception in the fourth quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS: none
FRESHMAN: none
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Mitch Brott, OT (6-6, 300, Sr, Billings, Montana)
Montana State's offensive line, led by senior tackle Mitch Brott, again flipped the game in Montana State's favor on Saturday when the Bobcats rushed for 244 yards on 36 carries after halftime. The Cats continue to lead the Big Sky in rushing, and have allowed just two sacks this season. Brott has started all 40 of his varsity games at tackle for MSU.
POST-GAME NEWS & NOTES
Injury Report: Questionable/Doubtful/Out – WR Willie Patterson, CB Greg Filer III, CB Ty Okada, TE Jacob Hadley, WR Coy Steel
• Montana State owns a modest six-game home winning streak, matching its longest since the 2012-13 seasons
• The Bobcats hadn't won at least four of the first five games, or four games in September, since 2012, until this year's team dropped its season opener on August 31 at Texas Tech then strung together four straight wins before the calendar flipped to October
• Travis Jonsen became the sixth different Bobcat – in the team's first five games – to rush for over 100 yards in a contest. His first career 100-yard game came Saturday, when he gained 105 yards on 13 carries, and scored twice. He also completed one of his two pass attempts (-3 yards) and caught five passes for 36 yards.
• Montana State has forced at least one turnover in 16 consecutive games, although Saturday's game was the Cats' first in almost exactly a year (September 29, 2018, vs. Eastern Washington) finishing negative in turnover margin.
• A week after popping a 58-yard run against Norfolk State, Lane Sumner's 34-yarder against Northern Arizona was MSU's longest rush of the day.
• The pick-six by Tucker Rovig was the first surrendered by MSU since the Sacramento State game in 2014, and it was the first thrown by the Bobcats this season.
• Montana State rushed for 340 yards on Saturday, and in the last two games has gained 789 yards on the ground (110 carries) without the services of starting running back Isaiah Ifanse. The Bobcats rushed for 244 yards after halftime vs. NAU, 153 yards in the fourth quarter, throwing 11 passes in the second half, one in the fourth quarter.
• Montana State has run 76 plays in the fourth quarter against FCS opponents this season, with 63 of them running plays. MSU's play breakdown by quarter vs. NAU: 1st Quarter – 14 rushes/4 passes; 2nd Quarter – 8/11, 3rd Quarter – 11/10, 4th Quarter – 25/1. Cumulative play breakdown for the season vs. FCS Opponents: 1st Quarter – 45/25, 2nd Quarter – 50/46, 3rd Quarter – 49/32, 4th Quarter – 63/13.
• After a game in which Bryce Sterk didn't register a sack, he still leads the FCS with 1.70 per contest.
• Montana State was flagged for just seven penalties in the team's first two games, but has been whistled 18 times in the last two games (the dozen flags at Western Illinois was the high mark for a Bobcat game coached by Jeff Choate).
• After surrendering just one sack in each of the team's first two games, Montana State has allowed none in the last three. MSU's 0.4 sacks allowed per game leads the Big Sky and is 5th in the FCS. MSU allowed a Big Sky-low 11 sacks (in 13 games) a season ago.
• Montana State fumbled three times vs. NAU. Two of them resulted in Bobcat turnovers, one in an MSU touchdown. The Cats have lost just 10 fumbles in the last 30 games.
• After 11 of Montana State's 13 opponents scored at least 20 points a season ago, the Cats held two of this season's four FCS opponents to under 20 points, and another to 21.
• After NAU scored on a 46-yard field goal with 11:28 remaining in the third quarter, the Cats scored the game's final 35 points.
• Montana State has scored more than 100 points combined in consecutive games for the first time since getting 42 at Portland State and 63 against East Tennessee State in back-to-back weeks in 2015.
• The Cats average 35.2 points a game, 24th in the FCS and 5th in the Big Sky. Montana State has out-scored its opponents 110-41 in the second half, 51-21 in the fourth quarter.
• Montana State's comeback from a 21-point deficit on Saturday was its largest since overcoming a 22-point deficit against the Grizzlies last November.
• The Cats face teams from every different direction in September – Southeast Missouri, Western Illinois, and Northern Arizona.
STAT SNIPPETS
Montana State's Saturday showdown pits the Big Sky's top two rushing attacks. The Cats gain 275.0 yards a game on the ground, while Cal Poly's triple option attack produces 257.8 yards an outing… Cal Poly is known for its rushing prowess, but Mustangs receiver JJ Koski stands 19th in the FCS with 93.5 yards per game… Montana State's Logan Jones is 19th nationally with 6.68 rushing yards per carry, and Cal Poly back Fuy Trans-Sampson is 41st (5.45).
FIRST LOOK: Montana State vs. Cal Poly
Game Details: Date – October 5 Site – Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo, CA Kickoff – 6 pm MT Special Promotions – NA Record – 2-2 overall, 1-0 in the Big Sky Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network and msubobcats.com (Jason Alvine, Zach Mackey, Dan Davies) Video– ABC Montana (KWYB ABC28 in Bozeman, KWYB ABC 18 in Butte, KFBB ABC5 in Great Falls, KHBB ABC21 in Helena, KTMF ABC23 in Missoula, KTMF ABC42 in Kalispell, SWX channel 503 in Billings, KXGN NBC in Glendive), SWX in Billings Streaming – Pluto.tv channel 538
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATIONS
OFFENSE: Travis Jonsen, WR (6-4, 211, Sr, Fullerton, CA)
Senior all-purpose player Travis Jonsen became the sixth Bobcat in the team's first five games to surpass the 100-yard rushing mark, gaining 105 on the ground and 36 receiving in Montana State's 49-31 win over Northern Arizona on Saturday. He gained 34 rushing yards in the fourth quarter from the quarterback position to help Montana State seal the victory. Jonsen also had a special teams tackle.
DEFENSE: Brayden Konkol, S (6-2, 215, Sr, Belgrade, MT)
Senior safety Brayden Konkol logged seven tackles, all solos, and broke up a pass in Montana State's win Saturday. He also had the hit on NAU quarterback Case Cookus that led to Amandre Williams' game-clinching interception in the fourth quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS: none
FRESHMAN: none
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Mitch Brott, OT (6-6, 300, Sr, Billings, Montana)
Montana State's offensive line, led by senior tackle Mitch Brott, again flipped the game in Montana State's favor on Saturday when the Bobcats rushed for 244 yards on 36 carries after halftime. The Cats continue to lead the Big Sky in rushing, and have allowed just two sacks this season. Brott has started all 40 of his varsity games at tackle for MSU.
POST-GAME NEWS & NOTES
Injury Report: Questionable/Doubtful/Out – WR Willie Patterson, CB Greg Filer III, CB Ty Okada, TE Jacob Hadley, WR Coy Steel
• Montana State owns a modest six-game home winning streak, matching its longest since the 2012-13 seasons
• The Bobcats hadn't won at least four of the first five games, or four games in September, since 2012, until this year's team dropped its season opener on August 31 at Texas Tech then strung together four straight wins before the calendar flipped to October
• Travis Jonsen became the sixth different Bobcat – in the team's first five games – to rush for over 100 yards in a contest. His first career 100-yard game came Saturday, when he gained 105 yards on 13 carries, and scored twice. He also completed one of his two pass attempts (-3 yards) and caught five passes for 36 yards.
• Montana State has forced at least one turnover in 16 consecutive games, although Saturday's game was the Cats' first in almost exactly a year (September 29, 2018, vs. Eastern Washington) finishing negative in turnover margin.
• A week after popping a 58-yard run against Norfolk State, Lane Sumner's 34-yarder against Northern Arizona was MSU's longest rush of the day.
• The pick-six by Tucker Rovig was the first surrendered by MSU since the Sacramento State game in 2014, and it was the first thrown by the Bobcats this season.
• Montana State rushed for 340 yards on Saturday, and in the last two games has gained 789 yards on the ground (110 carries) without the services of starting running back Isaiah Ifanse. The Bobcats rushed for 244 yards after halftime vs. NAU, 153 yards in the fourth quarter, throwing 11 passes in the second half, one in the fourth quarter.
• Montana State has run 76 plays in the fourth quarter against FCS opponents this season, with 63 of them running plays. MSU's play breakdown by quarter vs. NAU: 1st Quarter – 14 rushes/4 passes; 2nd Quarter – 8/11, 3rd Quarter – 11/10, 4th Quarter – 25/1. Cumulative play breakdown for the season vs. FCS Opponents: 1st Quarter – 45/25, 2nd Quarter – 50/46, 3rd Quarter – 49/32, 4th Quarter – 63/13.
• After a game in which Bryce Sterk didn't register a sack, he still leads the FCS with 1.70 per contest.
• Montana State was flagged for just seven penalties in the team's first two games, but has been whistled 18 times in the last two games (the dozen flags at Western Illinois was the high mark for a Bobcat game coached by Jeff Choate).
• After surrendering just one sack in each of the team's first two games, Montana State has allowed none in the last three. MSU's 0.4 sacks allowed per game leads the Big Sky and is 5th in the FCS. MSU allowed a Big Sky-low 11 sacks (in 13 games) a season ago.
• Montana State fumbled three times vs. NAU. Two of them resulted in Bobcat turnovers, one in an MSU touchdown. The Cats have lost just 10 fumbles in the last 30 games.
• After 11 of Montana State's 13 opponents scored at least 20 points a season ago, the Cats held two of this season's four FCS opponents to under 20 points, and another to 21.
• After NAU scored on a 46-yard field goal with 11:28 remaining in the third quarter, the Cats scored the game's final 35 points.
• Montana State has scored more than 100 points combined in consecutive games for the first time since getting 42 at Portland State and 63 against East Tennessee State in back-to-back weeks in 2015.
• The Cats average 35.2 points a game, 24th in the FCS and 5th in the Big Sky. Montana State has out-scored its opponents 110-41 in the second half, 51-21 in the fourth quarter.
• Montana State's comeback from a 21-point deficit on Saturday was its largest since overcoming a 22-point deficit against the Grizzlies last November.
• The Cats face teams from every different direction in September – Southeast Missouri, Western Illinois, and Northern Arizona.
STAT SNIPPETS
Montana State's Saturday showdown pits the Big Sky's top two rushing attacks. The Cats gain 275.0 yards a game on the ground, while Cal Poly's triple option attack produces 257.8 yards an outing… Cal Poly is known for its rushing prowess, but Mustangs receiver JJ Koski stands 19th in the FCS with 93.5 yards per game… Montana State's Logan Jones is 19th nationally with 6.68 rushing yards per carry, and Cal Poly back Fuy Trans-Sampson is 41st (5.45).
FIRST LOOK: Montana State vs. Cal Poly
Game Details: Date – October 5 Site – Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo, CA Kickoff – 6 pm MT Special Promotions – NA Record – 2-2 overall, 1-0 in the Big Sky Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network and msubobcats.com (Jason Alvine, Zach Mackey, Dan Davies) Video– ABC Montana (KWYB ABC28 in Bozeman, KWYB ABC 18 in Butte, KFBB ABC5 in Great Falls, KHBB ABC21 in Helena, KTMF ABC23 in Missoula, KTMF ABC42 in Kalispell, SWX channel 503 in Billings, KXGN NBC in Glendive), SWX in Billings Streaming – Pluto.tv channel 538
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