Photo by: Garrett Becker
GAME #2: 12th Gold Rush Ushers in Montana State's 2019 Home Schedule
9/5/2019 8:10:00 AM | Football
Home season arrives with traditional game, excellent opponent
BOZEMAN, Montana – Jeff Choate is very clear that there is much to admire in the way Southeast Missouri goes about its business.
"I would describe this team as physical," Montana State's fourth-year head coach said of the team that arrives in Bobcat Stadium tonight. "I would describe this team as confident. You can tell that they feel good about who they are."
As well they should. The No. 12 Redhawks soar into Bobcat Stadium as the third-highest ranked non-conference opponent ever to visit for a regular season game, and Choate says that is no fluke. "This is a very good football team. Let's be honest. This is a big game. It is. For both teams."
Choate has recent success on his side in praising Southeast Missouri. The Redhawks finished second in the Ohio Valley in 2018, won an FCS Playoff game, and nearly upended Weber State in Ogden. Not only did linebacker Zach Hall earn the 2018 Buck Buchanan Award, but he returns as a senior this season. Hall's season began with a bang last week, when he recorded 19 tackles, two for a loss, and a sack against Southern Illinois. "He's an extremely physical, active linebacker," Choate said, "and he will hit the line of scrimmage with some intensity and some attitude."
Hall is far from SEMO's only defensive weapon, but he keys the Redhawks experienced and aggressive defense. Defensive coordinator Bryce Saia's unit also welcomes back returning All-Ohio Valley safety Bydarrius Knighten, preseason all-conference selection Justin Swift, a linebacker, and seven others who have started. "They return eight of 11 starters on defense and they play with some swagger," Choate said. "They led all of college football, any level, in takeaways last year with 36. They had 23 interceptions and 13 recovered fumbles, so that's something that was obviously a huge part of their success a year ago."
Quarterback Daniel Santacaterina triggers SEMO's offense. He threw for 248 yards and one touchdown against Southern Illinois in the season opener, and rushed for 54 yards and two touchdowns. "Santacaterina is the guy that makes it go. A very tough kid, he's the undisputed leader of that offensive side of the ball. He's a good runner, and he's a willing runner. He's like a point guard with the ball in his hand and the clock winding down. He wants the ball, and he's going to make some plays with his feet when he needs to."
Choate calls the Redhawks "primarily a run team" that operates behind a retooled offensive line that he calls "mature guys… with long-levered bodies who look the part, very physical players with a very physical mindset." Receivers Kristian Wilkerson (146 yards vs. SIU) and Aaron Alston (91 yards) provide Santacaterina excellent targets, and running backs Zion Custis (76 yards last week), Geno Hess (77 yards) and Mark Robinson (72 yards) present what Choate calls a three-headed monster.
The Bobcats counter with an experienced defense that also relies on tested athletes. Senior defensive end Bryce Sterk recorded MSU's only sack last week, and now has a tackle-for-loss in four straight regular season games. Junior Troy Andersen, who started at running back and linebacker at Texas Tech, registered four tackles in his return to full-time defensive duty. Safeties Jahque Alleyne and Brayden Konkol performed well, with Alleyne getting the team's takeaway on a fumble recovery and Konkol leading MSU in tackles with nine.
Jones AT&T Stadium offered a hostile environment for freshman quarterback Casey Bauman's debut as MSU's starter in that role, and he performed well, completing eight of his 20 passes while leading a Bobcat offense that didn't turn the ball over. But Choate said there were positives in his outing that don't show up in statistics.
"(The teammates) that maybe didn't see some of the shots he took live and didn't see on film how he hung in there, they got to see that highlighted (on Sunday), Choate said. "I think they definitely got to see his toughness. Quarterbacks sometimes get the moniker of the pretty boy or the frat boy, but they're tough guys. He took some big-time shots from big-time players."
In an offense that Choate admitted was purposefully vanilla a week ago, sophomore running back Isaiah Ifanse rushed for 77 yards. Senior receiver Kevin Kassis added to his highlight reel with impressive catches, Coy Steel caught his first touchdown pass as a Bobcat, and the team's offensive line surrendered only one sack.
Choate said his team has improvement ahead, but a good starting point. "I do think there were some positive things to build on," he said of last week's Texas Tech performance. "I think our kids know that they could have played better, and they also know that was the best team we've played by far (in Choate's four years) in terms of athletic talent and speed."
Kickoff Saturday is 6 pm, and the game is televised around the state on Fox stations via Cowles Media, and on SWX in Billings.
#GoCatsGo
"I would describe this team as physical," Montana State's fourth-year head coach said of the team that arrives in Bobcat Stadium tonight. "I would describe this team as confident. You can tell that they feel good about who they are."
As well they should. The No. 12 Redhawks soar into Bobcat Stadium as the third-highest ranked non-conference opponent ever to visit for a regular season game, and Choate says that is no fluke. "This is a very good football team. Let's be honest. This is a big game. It is. For both teams."
Choate has recent success on his side in praising Southeast Missouri. The Redhawks finished second in the Ohio Valley in 2018, won an FCS Playoff game, and nearly upended Weber State in Ogden. Not only did linebacker Zach Hall earn the 2018 Buck Buchanan Award, but he returns as a senior this season. Hall's season began with a bang last week, when he recorded 19 tackles, two for a loss, and a sack against Southern Illinois. "He's an extremely physical, active linebacker," Choate said, "and he will hit the line of scrimmage with some intensity and some attitude."
Hall is far from SEMO's only defensive weapon, but he keys the Redhawks experienced and aggressive defense. Defensive coordinator Bryce Saia's unit also welcomes back returning All-Ohio Valley safety Bydarrius Knighten, preseason all-conference selection Justin Swift, a linebacker, and seven others who have started. "They return eight of 11 starters on defense and they play with some swagger," Choate said. "They led all of college football, any level, in takeaways last year with 36. They had 23 interceptions and 13 recovered fumbles, so that's something that was obviously a huge part of their success a year ago."
Quarterback Daniel Santacaterina triggers SEMO's offense. He threw for 248 yards and one touchdown against Southern Illinois in the season opener, and rushed for 54 yards and two touchdowns. "Santacaterina is the guy that makes it go. A very tough kid, he's the undisputed leader of that offensive side of the ball. He's a good runner, and he's a willing runner. He's like a point guard with the ball in his hand and the clock winding down. He wants the ball, and he's going to make some plays with his feet when he needs to."
Choate calls the Redhawks "primarily a run team" that operates behind a retooled offensive line that he calls "mature guys… with long-levered bodies who look the part, very physical players with a very physical mindset." Receivers Kristian Wilkerson (146 yards vs. SIU) and Aaron Alston (91 yards) provide Santacaterina excellent targets, and running backs Zion Custis (76 yards last week), Geno Hess (77 yards) and Mark Robinson (72 yards) present what Choate calls a three-headed monster.
The Bobcats counter with an experienced defense that also relies on tested athletes. Senior defensive end Bryce Sterk recorded MSU's only sack last week, and now has a tackle-for-loss in four straight regular season games. Junior Troy Andersen, who started at running back and linebacker at Texas Tech, registered four tackles in his return to full-time defensive duty. Safeties Jahque Alleyne and Brayden Konkol performed well, with Alleyne getting the team's takeaway on a fumble recovery and Konkol leading MSU in tackles with nine.
Jones AT&T Stadium offered a hostile environment for freshman quarterback Casey Bauman's debut as MSU's starter in that role, and he performed well, completing eight of his 20 passes while leading a Bobcat offense that didn't turn the ball over. But Choate said there were positives in his outing that don't show up in statistics.
"(The teammates) that maybe didn't see some of the shots he took live and didn't see on film how he hung in there, they got to see that highlighted (on Sunday), Choate said. "I think they definitely got to see his toughness. Quarterbacks sometimes get the moniker of the pretty boy or the frat boy, but they're tough guys. He took some big-time shots from big-time players."
In an offense that Choate admitted was purposefully vanilla a week ago, sophomore running back Isaiah Ifanse rushed for 77 yards. Senior receiver Kevin Kassis added to his highlight reel with impressive catches, Coy Steel caught his first touchdown pass as a Bobcat, and the team's offensive line surrendered only one sack.
Choate said his team has improvement ahead, but a good starting point. "I do think there were some positive things to build on," he said of last week's Texas Tech performance. "I think our kids know that they could have played better, and they also know that was the best team we've played by far (in Choate's four years) in terms of athletic talent and speed."
Kickoff Saturday is 6 pm, and the game is televised around the state on Fox stations via Cowles Media, and on SWX in Billings.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
S
/ Football
RB/QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
S
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DE
/ FootballLeon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
