Isaiah Ifanse
Photo by: Garrett Becker
BOBCAT FOOTBALL SUNDAY NOTEBOOK #3: Cats Log Double Pick-6 Game for First Time Since 2007
9/19/2021 6:04:00 PM | Football
Offensive and defensive highlights boost the Cats into Big Sky play next week...
NOTES
• Isaiah Ifanse rushed for 109 yards against San Diego, his second 100-yard game this season and the 12th of his career. His 74-yard touchdown run matched his career long, was his third jaunt of at least 70 yards (74 vs. Cal Poly and 73 vs. Wagner in 2018), and his sixth of at least 40. Ifanse now has 2,110 career rushing yards, one yard from joining Chad Newell in 12th place in school history.
• Matthew McKay is one of five FCS quarterbacks with at least 600 passing yards and no interceptions. Of those players, only McKay has more than 20 rushes and more than 50 rushing yards. McKay is 9th in the FCS in passing efficiency, 11th in passing TDs (seven), and 36th in passing yards per game (226.7). He is 25th in the FCS in total offense.
• The Bobcats have surrendered less than 20 points, 350 yards and 20 first downs in each of the first three games of 2021.
• Montana State's 540 yards of total offense Saturday is the team's fourth-highest total in the last 53 games (670 vs. Norfolk State and 564 against Northern Colorado in 2019, 556 vs. Wagner in 2018), and the 10th of at least 500 yards in that time.
• The Bobcats surpassed the 300-yard rushing mark on Saturday (305 vs. San Diego) for the 14th time since the beginning of the 2016 season.
• Montana State returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a single game Saturday for the first time since Michael Beach and Chase Gazzerro logged pick-6s against Weber State on September 22, 2007.
• Mac Bignell (2017) was the last Bobcat to return an interception for a touchdown before Saturday's game.
• Ty Okada's 74-yard interception return Saturday was the fourth-longest such play in stadium history, but fell short of the school's top five in that category.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATIONS
DEFENSE: Troy Andersen, LB (6-4, 240, Sr, Dillon, Montana)
Troy Andersen scored the 34th touchdown of his Bobcat career – second-most in school history – but his first on an interception in Montana State's 52-10 win over San Diego in Bobcat Stadium on Saturday. Andersen logged eight tackles, 1.5 behind the line of scrimmage with a half-sack, a pass breakup and quarterback hurry as MSU limited the Toreros to 204 yards and 13 first downs.
FIRST LOOK: Montana State vs. Portland State
Game Details: Date – September 25, 2021 Site – Hillsboro Stadium Kickoff – 3 pm MT Records – MSU is 2-1 overall, 0-0 in the Big Sky, while Portland State is 1-2 overall, 0-0 in the Big Sky Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network and msubobcats.com (Zach Mackey, Mikey Rider, Dan Davies) Television – none Streaming – ESPN+
• Isaiah Ifanse rushed for 109 yards against San Diego, his second 100-yard game this season and the 12th of his career. His 74-yard touchdown run matched his career long, was his third jaunt of at least 70 yards (74 vs. Cal Poly and 73 vs. Wagner in 2018), and his sixth of at least 40. Ifanse now has 2,110 career rushing yards, one yard from joining Chad Newell in 12th place in school history.
• Matthew McKay is one of five FCS quarterbacks with at least 600 passing yards and no interceptions. Of those players, only McKay has more than 20 rushes and more than 50 rushing yards. McKay is 9th in the FCS in passing efficiency, 11th in passing TDs (seven), and 36th in passing yards per game (226.7). He is 25th in the FCS in total offense.
• The Bobcats have surrendered less than 20 points, 350 yards and 20 first downs in each of the first three games of 2021.
• Montana State's 540 yards of total offense Saturday is the team's fourth-highest total in the last 53 games (670 vs. Norfolk State and 564 against Northern Colorado in 2019, 556 vs. Wagner in 2018), and the 10th of at least 500 yards in that time.
• The Bobcats surpassed the 300-yard rushing mark on Saturday (305 vs. San Diego) for the 14th time since the beginning of the 2016 season.
• Montana State returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a single game Saturday for the first time since Michael Beach and Chase Gazzerro logged pick-6s against Weber State on September 22, 2007.
• Mac Bignell (2017) was the last Bobcat to return an interception for a touchdown before Saturday's game.
• Ty Okada's 74-yard interception return Saturday was the fourth-longest such play in stadium history, but fell short of the school's top five in that category.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATIONS
DEFENSE: Troy Andersen, LB (6-4, 240, Sr, Dillon, Montana)
Troy Andersen scored the 34th touchdown of his Bobcat career – second-most in school history – but his first on an interception in Montana State's 52-10 win over San Diego in Bobcat Stadium on Saturday. Andersen logged eight tackles, 1.5 behind the line of scrimmage with a half-sack, a pass breakup and quarterback hurry as MSU limited the Toreros to 204 yards and 13 first downs.
FIRST LOOK: Montana State vs. Portland State
Game Details: Date – September 25, 2021 Site – Hillsboro Stadium Kickoff – 3 pm MT Records – MSU is 2-1 overall, 0-0 in the Big Sky, while Portland State is 1-2 overall, 0-0 in the Big Sky Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network and msubobcats.com (Zach Mackey, Mikey Rider, Dan Davies) Television – none Streaming – ESPN+
Players Mentioned
Leon 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
