Matthew McKay
Photo by: Garrett Becker
BOBCAT FOOTBALL SUNDAY NOTEBOOK #4: Isaiah Ifanse Posts Historic Day, Lance McCutcheon Sets Career Mark in Portland
9/26/2021 7:10:00 PM | Football
MSU rode strong individual performances to a 30-17 road win
A quick look back at Montana State's 30-17 road win at Portland State on Saturday...
NOTEBOOK
• Isaiah Ifanse's 217 rushing yards at Portland State was the second-most by an FCS player this season, and the most by a Big Sky back. It was his second career 200-yard game (he rushed for 227 yards against Cal Poly in 2018), and his 30 carries is the most by a Bobcat since Cody Kirk's 30 against Stephen F. Austin in 2012.
• Although Matthew McKay tossed his first interception (on his 81st pass) as a Bobcat, he completed 14 of his 21 attempts for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
• Lance McCutcheon continues to sparkle for the Bobcats, catching eight passes for a career high 161 yards against Portland State last week.
• Montana State owns a 22-10-1 advantage against Northern Colorado, including nine straight wins and five straight in Bozeman.
• Matthew McKay's 81st pass of the 2021 season, in the second quarter at Portland State, resulted in his first interception thrown as a Bobcat. He is sixth in the FCS in passing efficiency, 2nd in the Big Sky.
• Montana State's defense has held three straight opponents below 80 rushing yards, and no Bobcat opponent has gained 20 first downs in a game in 2021.
• The Cats have finished the last 14 games no worse than even in turnover margin.
• Montana State has rushed for at least 100 yards in 30 straight games, scoring at least one rushing touchdown against 37 consecutive FCS foes.
• Daniel Hardy's 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 sacks as a defensive end in 2021 eclipse his 2019 marks (1.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles-for-loss) as a linebacker.
STAT SNIPPETS
Isaiah Ifanse's 122.2 rushing yards per game leads the Big Sky Conference and is seventh in the FCS… the team's 207.2 rushing yards per game also leads the league.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATIONS
OFFENSE: Isaiah Ifanse, RB (5-10, 205, Jr, Bellevue, WA)
Bobcat running back Isaiah Ifanse rambled for 217 rushing yards at Portland State on Saturday, the second-most by an FCS player this season and the most among Big Sky backs, to lead Montana State to a 30-17 road win to open Big Sky play. Ifanse gained 48 yards in the first quarter, 64 in the second, 40 in the third, and 55 to help MSU seal the win in the final stanza. He scored on a nine-yard run to cap the team's second drive of the third quarter and give Montana State its first lead of the game at 16-9, then scampered for 35 yards on the final drive of the game to help MSU seal the win. Ifanse's 30 carries Saturday is the most by a Big Sky player this season, and the most by a Bobcat since Cody Kirk carried that many times against Stephen F. Austin in 2012, 98 games ago. Ifanse averages a Big Sky best 122.2 rushing yards per game this season, which is 7th in the FCS.
DEFENSE: Daniel Hardy, DE (6-3, 240, Sr, Beaverton, OR)
Playing just miles from his Beaverton, Oregon, home, Daniel Hardy set a career high with 3.5 tackles-for-loss and registered 1.5 sacks for the second straight game, helping lead Montana State to a 30-17 win over Portland State on Saturday. Hardy spearheaded a defense that limited the Vikings to 351 yards and 17 points. Hardy's 2.1 tackles-for-loss per game is fourth in the FCS this season, and his 1.25 sacks per game is 11th.
NOTEBOOK
• Isaiah Ifanse's 217 rushing yards at Portland State was the second-most by an FCS player this season, and the most by a Big Sky back. It was his second career 200-yard game (he rushed for 227 yards against Cal Poly in 2018), and his 30 carries is the most by a Bobcat since Cody Kirk's 30 against Stephen F. Austin in 2012.
• Although Matthew McKay tossed his first interception (on his 81st pass) as a Bobcat, he completed 14 of his 21 attempts for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
• Lance McCutcheon continues to sparkle for the Bobcats, catching eight passes for a career high 161 yards against Portland State last week.
• Montana State owns a 22-10-1 advantage against Northern Colorado, including nine straight wins and five straight in Bozeman.
• Matthew McKay's 81st pass of the 2021 season, in the second quarter at Portland State, resulted in his first interception thrown as a Bobcat. He is sixth in the FCS in passing efficiency, 2nd in the Big Sky.
• Montana State's defense has held three straight opponents below 80 rushing yards, and no Bobcat opponent has gained 20 first downs in a game in 2021.
• The Cats have finished the last 14 games no worse than even in turnover margin.
• Montana State has rushed for at least 100 yards in 30 straight games, scoring at least one rushing touchdown against 37 consecutive FCS foes.
• Daniel Hardy's 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 sacks as a defensive end in 2021 eclipse his 2019 marks (1.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles-for-loss) as a linebacker.
STAT SNIPPETS
Isaiah Ifanse's 122.2 rushing yards per game leads the Big Sky Conference and is seventh in the FCS… the team's 207.2 rushing yards per game also leads the league.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATIONS
OFFENSE: Isaiah Ifanse, RB (5-10, 205, Jr, Bellevue, WA)
Bobcat running back Isaiah Ifanse rambled for 217 rushing yards at Portland State on Saturday, the second-most by an FCS player this season and the most among Big Sky backs, to lead Montana State to a 30-17 road win to open Big Sky play. Ifanse gained 48 yards in the first quarter, 64 in the second, 40 in the third, and 55 to help MSU seal the win in the final stanza. He scored on a nine-yard run to cap the team's second drive of the third quarter and give Montana State its first lead of the game at 16-9, then scampered for 35 yards on the final drive of the game to help MSU seal the win. Ifanse's 30 carries Saturday is the most by a Big Sky player this season, and the most by a Bobcat since Cody Kirk carried that many times against Stephen F. Austin in 2012, 98 games ago. Ifanse averages a Big Sky best 122.2 rushing yards per game this season, which is 7th in the FCS.
DEFENSE: Daniel Hardy, DE (6-3, 240, Sr, Beaverton, OR)
Playing just miles from his Beaverton, Oregon, home, Daniel Hardy set a career high with 3.5 tackles-for-loss and registered 1.5 sacks for the second straight game, helping lead Montana State to a 30-17 win over Portland State on Saturday. Hardy spearheaded a defense that limited the Vikings to 351 yards and 17 points. Hardy's 2.1 tackles-for-loss per game is fourth in the FCS this season, and his 1.25 sacks per game is 11th.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
