Elijah Elliott
Photo by: Garrett Becker
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #14: It's Next Man Up Time in the Bobcat Backfield
12/18/2021 11:00:00 AM | Football
With Isaiah Ifanse and Lane Sumner out today, Elijah Elliott and DeMareus Hosey get an opportunity
BOZEMAN, Montana - It's hard to pay attention to football at any level without hearing "next man up" referenced to replacing injured players. The Bobcats live that creed today.
The Bobcats' top two running backs, Isaiah Ifanse and Lane Sumner, each suffered injuries last Saturday that leave them on the shelf this afternoon. That boosts Elijah Elliott and DeMareus Hosey into primary roles as ball carriers. As former Bobcat coach Rob Ash often said, "The only person that isn't surprised when a player who is asked to step up succeeds is that player, because he knows how hard he's worked to get ready."
The Cats also have holes to plug on defense. Nose tackle Chase Benson and Nickel Ty Okada are also injured, leaving defensive lineman Byron Rollins and safety Rylan Ortt to make their first career starts.
* * * * *
The weather in Bozeman this week brought to mind the snowy day in 2014 when the Jackrabbits and Bobcats raced up and down the snowy Bobcat Stadium playing field. SDSU won 47-40 behind Zach Zenner's 252 rushing yards. Chad Newell scored five touchdowns for the Bobcats.
* * * * *
If Rollins, Ortt and Elliott need inspiration, they need look no further than behind center for the Bobcats. Like those three, quarterback Tommy Mellott made his first career start in the playoffs, becoming MSU's first quarterback to do so.
The Bobcats' top two running backs, Isaiah Ifanse and Lane Sumner, each suffered injuries last Saturday that leave them on the shelf this afternoon. That boosts Elijah Elliott and DeMareus Hosey into primary roles as ball carriers. As former Bobcat coach Rob Ash often said, "The only person that isn't surprised when a player who is asked to step up succeeds is that player, because he knows how hard he's worked to get ready."
The Cats also have holes to plug on defense. Nose tackle Chase Benson and Nickel Ty Okada are also injured, leaving defensive lineman Byron Rollins and safety Rylan Ortt to make their first career starts.
* * * * *
The weather in Bozeman this week brought to mind the snowy day in 2014 when the Jackrabbits and Bobcats raced up and down the snowy Bobcat Stadium playing field. SDSU won 47-40 behind Zach Zenner's 252 rushing yards. Chad Newell scored five touchdowns for the Bobcats.
* * * * *
If Rollins, Ortt and Elliott need inspiration, they need look no further than behind center for the Bobcats. Like those three, quarterback Tommy Mellott made his first career start in the playoffs, becoming MSU's first quarterback to do so.
Players Mentioned
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DB
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