Saturday, September 18
BOZEMAN
1 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
San Diego
Photo by: Garrett Becker
GAME #3: Bobcats Host Balanced, Disciplined San Diego Toreros
9/16/2021 5:08:00 PM | Football
Montana State hosts USD in final non-league game of 2021
BOZEMAN, Montana – Many of the firsts have been checked off.
First game of a Brent Vigen's tenure? Check. First home game in 630 days? Done. Vigen's first win as Montana State's head coach? Matthew McKay's inauguration as Bobcat quarterback? Soft opening of the program's new home facility? Yep, yep, and yep.
And now, for the first time since 2019, the Bobcat football program finds itself in a rhythm.
"It feels good to get (all the firsts) behind us," Vigen said. After dropping a narrow 19-16 decision at Wyoming to open the 2021 season, Montana State roared to a 45-7 Gold Rush win over Drake last Saturday. "I've been hearing about (the environment in Bobcat Stadium) really since February," he said, "and it definitely lived up to the hype."
With the hype worn off and the 2021 season in full swing, Montana State welcomes a San Diego team that has faced two Big Sky teams in this young stadium to Bobcat Stadium this week. MSU and the Toreros (0-2) kick off at 1 pm Saturday afternoon. The game is sold out, and available on ABC stations around Montana and SWX (channel 503 on cable, 8.2 over the air) in Billings.
San Diego fell to Cal Poly 28-17 to open the season, then lost to UC Davis 53-7 last week. The Toreros allow 40.5 points and 442.0 yards, while scoring 12.0 points with 378.0 per game. Emilio Martinez rushes for 61.0 yards a game with 3.7 yards a carry to lead the Toreros, while Terrence Smith averages 60.0 yards a game and 4.4 a carry. Quarterback Randall Mason has thrown for 372 yards, completing 58.8% of his passes. The Toreros are an amazingly balanced offense, throwing the ball 78 times this year while running it 77.
"San Diego is a very disciplined team," said Bobcat defensive end Amandre Williams. "They have good athletes in the offensive line. It's a well-coached team."
Montana State's defense has played well in the team's first two games, allowing 172.5 total yards per game and just 31 first downs and three touchdowns on the season. Offensively, MSU averages 378.0 yards and 30.5 points a game. The Cats have run the ball 67 times, throwing it 58.
Matthew McKay has sparked the Bobcat offense. The junior signal caller has completed 71.2% of his passes, averaging 228.0 yards per game. He has also chipped in 67 rushing yards. Isaiah Ifanse averages 81.5 yards a game on the ground, while Lance McCutcheon's 12 catches and 192 receiving yards leads the team. Troy Andersen's 18 tackles sets MSU's pace.
Saturday's USD game is Montana State's final non-conference tuneup this season. A week from Saturday the Bobcats open Big Sky play at Portland State.
#GoCatsGo
First game of a Brent Vigen's tenure? Check. First home game in 630 days? Done. Vigen's first win as Montana State's head coach? Matthew McKay's inauguration as Bobcat quarterback? Soft opening of the program's new home facility? Yep, yep, and yep.
And now, for the first time since 2019, the Bobcat football program finds itself in a rhythm.
"It feels good to get (all the firsts) behind us," Vigen said. After dropping a narrow 19-16 decision at Wyoming to open the 2021 season, Montana State roared to a 45-7 Gold Rush win over Drake last Saturday. "I've been hearing about (the environment in Bobcat Stadium) really since February," he said, "and it definitely lived up to the hype."
With the hype worn off and the 2021 season in full swing, Montana State welcomes a San Diego team that has faced two Big Sky teams in this young stadium to Bobcat Stadium this week. MSU and the Toreros (0-2) kick off at 1 pm Saturday afternoon. The game is sold out, and available on ABC stations around Montana and SWX (channel 503 on cable, 8.2 over the air) in Billings.
San Diego fell to Cal Poly 28-17 to open the season, then lost to UC Davis 53-7 last week. The Toreros allow 40.5 points and 442.0 yards, while scoring 12.0 points with 378.0 per game. Emilio Martinez rushes for 61.0 yards a game with 3.7 yards a carry to lead the Toreros, while Terrence Smith averages 60.0 yards a game and 4.4 a carry. Quarterback Randall Mason has thrown for 372 yards, completing 58.8% of his passes. The Toreros are an amazingly balanced offense, throwing the ball 78 times this year while running it 77.
"San Diego is a very disciplined team," said Bobcat defensive end Amandre Williams. "They have good athletes in the offensive line. It's a well-coached team."
Montana State's defense has played well in the team's first two games, allowing 172.5 total yards per game and just 31 first downs and three touchdowns on the season. Offensively, MSU averages 378.0 yards and 30.5 points a game. The Cats have run the ball 67 times, throwing it 58.
Matthew McKay has sparked the Bobcat offense. The junior signal caller has completed 71.2% of his passes, averaging 228.0 yards per game. He has also chipped in 67 rushing yards. Isaiah Ifanse averages 81.5 yards a game on the ground, while Lance McCutcheon's 12 catches and 192 receiving yards leads the team. Troy Andersen's 18 tackles sets MSU's pace.
Saturday's USD game is Montana State's final non-conference tuneup this season. A week from Saturday the Bobcats open Big Sky play at Portland State.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
LB
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RB
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WR
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DE
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