Saturday, October 23
BOZEMAN
1 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
Idaho State
Daniel Hardy and the Bobcat defense hosts Idaho State on Saturday
Photo by: Garrett Becker
GAME #8: Montana State Hosts Long-Time Rival Idaho State for 'Pack The Place In Pink' Game Saturday
10/21/2021 8:18:00 AM | Football
Bobcats ride hot defensive hand into final October contest
BOZEMAN, Montana – Brent Vigen isn't fooled.
The first-year head coach of No. 8 Montana State (6-1 overall, 4-0 Big Sky) understands that Idaho State's record (1-5 overall, 1-2 Big Sky) isn't what the Bengals would like it to be, and that ISU has faced plenty of challenges this season. But he knows what's at the heart of the team that MSU welcomes to Bobcat Stadium for Saturday's 1 pm Pack the Place in Pink game.
"You look at their record, that's one thing, then you look at a couple of their games," Vigen said. "I know they upset UC Davis a couple weeks ago, they played Sacramento State very close, and they had a couple of games that didn't go their way. They're very capable on both sides of the football. They have big play ability on offense and they can make plays on defense."
It never takes long to get to Montana State's biggest strength through seven games, which Vigen said is an area that has vexed area for Idaho State. "The one stat that hasn't gone their way is they're minus-nine in turnover margin and we're plus-12," he said. "It's no secret that's working well for us and not for them. In the Davis game they were on the plus side and they were able to convert those opportunities into scores."
Idaho State entered the season with Tyler Vander Waal, who Vigen recruited to and coached at Wyoming, as quarterback. Apparently injured and unavailable, freshman Hunter Hays has taken the snaps recently. He has thrown for 773 yards in six games, with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. Malakai Rango and Tyevin Ford combined for about 75 yards a game on the ground, and Tanner Conner leads the receiving corps. Defensively, Connor Wills (53 tackles, three for a loss) and Darian Green (40 tackles, 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage) lead the Bengals.
Vigen said ISU's most consistent trait is a valued one. "On both sides of the football they've shown continuous improvement. They've played better at home than away, but we've got to count on their best effort, and that's what we're preparing for this week."
Montana State's defense led the way against four-time defending Big Sky Champion Weber State last Friday, in a game the Cats won 13-7 on ESPNU. "Weber State has been the standard in the past several years in this conference, and to go on the road on a short week with several things working against us, they had a bye, we had weather, all that stuff, but none of that could get in our way, we got our preparation in during the week. It wasn't perfect by any means on Friday night, but our guys trust each other and found a way to close it out in the end. Couldn't be more pleased to get one more win."
Daniel Hardy landed Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honors for his 3.5 sack performance at Weber State, The senior defensive end has led a ferocious Bobcat pass rush, but Vigen said he is becoming a well-rounded player.
"He shows up in the pass rush side of things, but I think where he's become better and better is defending the run. Being gap sound, trusting his teammates, that whole thing, to say he's perfected his pass rush, I don't think that's the case, but he's becoming harder and harder to block each week. When we can get teams chasing the sticks, chasing points, then turn him loose, along with the other guys, that certainly plays in our favor."
The annual Pack the Place in Pink game is a tribute to cancer victims and survivors, and specifically those who have battled breast cancer. Kickoff is 1 pm, and the game airs on ABC stations around Montana and on SWX in Billings (channel 503 on the cable, 8.2 over the air). Zach Mackey, Michael Rider and Dan Davies call the action on the Bobcat Radio Network.
#GoCatsGo
The first-year head coach of No. 8 Montana State (6-1 overall, 4-0 Big Sky) understands that Idaho State's record (1-5 overall, 1-2 Big Sky) isn't what the Bengals would like it to be, and that ISU has faced plenty of challenges this season. But he knows what's at the heart of the team that MSU welcomes to Bobcat Stadium for Saturday's 1 pm Pack the Place in Pink game.
"You look at their record, that's one thing, then you look at a couple of their games," Vigen said. "I know they upset UC Davis a couple weeks ago, they played Sacramento State very close, and they had a couple of games that didn't go their way. They're very capable on both sides of the football. They have big play ability on offense and they can make plays on defense."
It never takes long to get to Montana State's biggest strength through seven games, which Vigen said is an area that has vexed area for Idaho State. "The one stat that hasn't gone their way is they're minus-nine in turnover margin and we're plus-12," he said. "It's no secret that's working well for us and not for them. In the Davis game they were on the plus side and they were able to convert those opportunities into scores."
Idaho State entered the season with Tyler Vander Waal, who Vigen recruited to and coached at Wyoming, as quarterback. Apparently injured and unavailable, freshman Hunter Hays has taken the snaps recently. He has thrown for 773 yards in six games, with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. Malakai Rango and Tyevin Ford combined for about 75 yards a game on the ground, and Tanner Conner leads the receiving corps. Defensively, Connor Wills (53 tackles, three for a loss) and Darian Green (40 tackles, 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage) lead the Bengals.
Vigen said ISU's most consistent trait is a valued one. "On both sides of the football they've shown continuous improvement. They've played better at home than away, but we've got to count on their best effort, and that's what we're preparing for this week."
Montana State's defense led the way against four-time defending Big Sky Champion Weber State last Friday, in a game the Cats won 13-7 on ESPNU. "Weber State has been the standard in the past several years in this conference, and to go on the road on a short week with several things working against us, they had a bye, we had weather, all that stuff, but none of that could get in our way, we got our preparation in during the week. It wasn't perfect by any means on Friday night, but our guys trust each other and found a way to close it out in the end. Couldn't be more pleased to get one more win."
Daniel Hardy landed Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honors for his 3.5 sack performance at Weber State, The senior defensive end has led a ferocious Bobcat pass rush, but Vigen said he is becoming a well-rounded player.
"He shows up in the pass rush side of things, but I think where he's become better and better is defending the run. Being gap sound, trusting his teammates, that whole thing, to say he's perfected his pass rush, I don't think that's the case, but he's becoming harder and harder to block each week. When we can get teams chasing the sticks, chasing points, then turn him loose, along with the other guys, that certainly plays in our favor."
The annual Pack the Place in Pink game is a tribute to cancer victims and survivors, and specifically those who have battled breast cancer. Kickoff is 1 pm, and the game airs on ABC stations around Montana and on SWX in Billings (channel 503 on the cable, 8.2 over the air). Zach Mackey, Michael Rider and Dan Davies call the action on the Bobcat Radio Network.
#GoCatsGo
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