BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 22 Days Until Kickoff
8/13/2021 1:20:00 PM | Football
Isaiah Ifanse is the latest in a long list of great Bobcats to wear no. 22...
Bobcats by the Numbers takes a look at current and past Bobcats whose jersey numbers correspond to the number of days remaining before Montana State opens the 2021 football season at Wyoming on September 4.
#22
Isaiah Ifanse, RB: Isaiah Ifanse's career, to its halfway point, has been historic. His 1,838 rushing yards is 14th in MSU history, and his 13 rushing touchdowns is nine from MSU's career top 10 list. As amazing as his stats are, his running style is nearly breathtaking. Built low to the ground but with great power and instincts, Ifanse has the ability to be exactly where would-be tacklers need him to not be. He batters his way through tacklers, makes cuts on a dime, and has breakaway speed. He is the total package. Just as important, though, is what Ifanse represented when he signed with the Cats. Signing a Washington Gatorade Player of the Year is also a huge deal. But signing a coveted, sought-after recruit from Bellevue High was eye-popping. Bellevue had served as a talent pipeline to schools in the Northwest, including a couple in the Big Sky. He is the first Washington Gatorade Player of the Year to sign with the Bobcats, gaining nearly 2,500 yards in his time at Bellevue. Ifanse set MSU's freshman rushing record with 1,025 yards, and is on track to etch his name near the top of Montana State's long, storied list of great running backs.
Spotlight – Michael Rider: If you want to get the hard-working staff at BBTN excited about football on a random Tuesday in June or something, bring up the name of Michael Rider. He came to Montana State as a walk-on defensive back, and no less an expert on Bobcat brilliance than Kane Ioane called his shot with Rider before he even arrived at MSU. "The kid I really like is the safety from (Billings) West, Michael Rider. He has a chance." When Rider got his chance, he took every advantage. His bloodlines didn't hurt – his father Craig played at Texas, coached football for many years, and if you ever had the good fortune to stand near him at a Bobcat game you'd know that he seemed to have a sixth sense for what was about to unfold in front of him – and neither did his work ethic and relentlessly positive nature. Rider redshirted in 2006, was outstanding on kick teams for two seasons, and started as a junior and senior. A team captain in 2010, he was third on the team in tackles (66) and tied for the team-high with two fumble recoveries. Rider posted what could be considered MSU's signature defensive plays in two straight seasons. In 2009, against nationally-ranked Weber State, with seconds left in the game, Rider stopped star running back Trevyn Smith on third-and-goal from the MSU 4 for a loss of three yards. On the next play, fourth-and-goal, Rider tipped over Bo Bolen with 20 seconds left to give MSU its biggest win of the Rob Ash era to that point. The next year, Rider closed his wonderful career (the regular season phase) with a bang by intercepting a Grizzly pass at the goal line on the last play of the 2010 Cat-Griz game to clinch for MSU a Big Sky Championship. Michael Rider coached for the Cats after his playing days, and is now married to former MSU track star Danielle Muri and is in private business in Billings. He remains one of the truly fine people, tremendous players, and loyal Bobcats that MSU football has produced.
Chronology: Paul Torrance (1926), Joe Hazen (1931), Louis Edwards (1934), Frank Krevic (1937), William Forsythe (1941), Barney Berger (1946), Lynn Day (1947), Benny Auck (1948), Jerry Ragland (1950), Duane Aase (1953), Neal Christensen (1954-55), Dick Posewitz (1956), Dave Crocker (1957), Sam Moore (1958-60), Will Fennall (1961), Ron Bain (1966-67), Paul Schafer (1968, '70), Kerry Leatham (1969), Dud Lutton (1971), Steve Kracher (1972-75), Jeff Losett (1976-77), Joe Robinson (1978), Si Timberman (1979-82), Steve King (1983-84), Bob Burney (1985-86), Mike Pouliot (1987-91), Dawson Williams (1992-94), Josh Perkins (1995), Ryan Budde (1996), Jonathan Hoffman (1997-98), Zach Willis (1999), Brad Johnson (2000), Kahiam Hunter (2002-05), Michael Rider (2006-010), Eryon Barnett (2012-14), Marcus Tappan (2015), John Walker (2016), Noah James (2017), Isaiah Ifanse (2018-)
#22
Isaiah Ifanse, RB: Isaiah Ifanse's career, to its halfway point, has been historic. His 1,838 rushing yards is 14th in MSU history, and his 13 rushing touchdowns is nine from MSU's career top 10 list. As amazing as his stats are, his running style is nearly breathtaking. Built low to the ground but with great power and instincts, Ifanse has the ability to be exactly where would-be tacklers need him to not be. He batters his way through tacklers, makes cuts on a dime, and has breakaway speed. He is the total package. Just as important, though, is what Ifanse represented when he signed with the Cats. Signing a Washington Gatorade Player of the Year is also a huge deal. But signing a coveted, sought-after recruit from Bellevue High was eye-popping. Bellevue had served as a talent pipeline to schools in the Northwest, including a couple in the Big Sky. He is the first Washington Gatorade Player of the Year to sign with the Bobcats, gaining nearly 2,500 yards in his time at Bellevue. Ifanse set MSU's freshman rushing record with 1,025 yards, and is on track to etch his name near the top of Montana State's long, storied list of great running backs.
Spotlight – Michael Rider: If you want to get the hard-working staff at BBTN excited about football on a random Tuesday in June or something, bring up the name of Michael Rider. He came to Montana State as a walk-on defensive back, and no less an expert on Bobcat brilliance than Kane Ioane called his shot with Rider before he even arrived at MSU. "The kid I really like is the safety from (Billings) West, Michael Rider. He has a chance." When Rider got his chance, he took every advantage. His bloodlines didn't hurt – his father Craig played at Texas, coached football for many years, and if you ever had the good fortune to stand near him at a Bobcat game you'd know that he seemed to have a sixth sense for what was about to unfold in front of him – and neither did his work ethic and relentlessly positive nature. Rider redshirted in 2006, was outstanding on kick teams for two seasons, and started as a junior and senior. A team captain in 2010, he was third on the team in tackles (66) and tied for the team-high with two fumble recoveries. Rider posted what could be considered MSU's signature defensive plays in two straight seasons. In 2009, against nationally-ranked Weber State, with seconds left in the game, Rider stopped star running back Trevyn Smith on third-and-goal from the MSU 4 for a loss of three yards. On the next play, fourth-and-goal, Rider tipped over Bo Bolen with 20 seconds left to give MSU its biggest win of the Rob Ash era to that point. The next year, Rider closed his wonderful career (the regular season phase) with a bang by intercepting a Grizzly pass at the goal line on the last play of the 2010 Cat-Griz game to clinch for MSU a Big Sky Championship. Michael Rider coached for the Cats after his playing days, and is now married to former MSU track star Danielle Muri and is in private business in Billings. He remains one of the truly fine people, tremendous players, and loyal Bobcats that MSU football has produced.
Chronology: Paul Torrance (1926), Joe Hazen (1931), Louis Edwards (1934), Frank Krevic (1937), William Forsythe (1941), Barney Berger (1946), Lynn Day (1947), Benny Auck (1948), Jerry Ragland (1950), Duane Aase (1953), Neal Christensen (1954-55), Dick Posewitz (1956), Dave Crocker (1957), Sam Moore (1958-60), Will Fennall (1961), Ron Bain (1966-67), Paul Schafer (1968, '70), Kerry Leatham (1969), Dud Lutton (1971), Steve Kracher (1972-75), Jeff Losett (1976-77), Joe Robinson (1978), Si Timberman (1979-82), Steve King (1983-84), Bob Burney (1985-86), Mike Pouliot (1987-91), Dawson Williams (1992-94), Josh Perkins (1995), Ryan Budde (1996), Jonathan Hoffman (1997-98), Zach Willis (1999), Brad Johnson (2000), Kahiam Hunter (2002-05), Michael Rider (2006-010), Eryon Barnett (2012-14), Marcus Tappan (2015), John Walker (2016), Noah James (2017), Isaiah Ifanse (2018-)
Players Mentioned
RB
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