22014014 MontanaMontana StateState BobcatsBobcats #13/17 Montana State vs. North Dakota Homecoming/Reunion Weekend • September 27 • Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT Montana State University of THIS WEEK’S GAME BOBCATS NORTH DAKOTA KICKOFF: 2:07 pm 2-2/0-0 Big Sky 2-2/0-0 Big Sky SITE: Bozeman, MT STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Jay MSU in ‘14 ............................................2-2 UND in ‘14............................................. 2-2 Sanderson, Dan Davies, Riley Corcoran) Conf./Record ............................Big Sky/0-0 Conf./Record ............................Big Sky/0-0 TELEVISION: SWX Montana (Chris Home/Road .....................................2-1/0-1 Home/Road .....................................2-0/0-2 Byers, Mike Callaghan, Rob Jesselson) Grass/Turf ........................................0-0/2-2 Grass/Turf ........................................0-1/2-1 Day/Night .........................................1-1/1-1 Day/Night .........................................0-1/2-1 2014 MSU SCHEDULE HEAD COACH ............................. Rob Ash HEAD COACH ..............Bubba Schweigert Aug 30 at Arkansas State L 10-37 Alma Mater ........................ Cornell (Ia.)/’73 Alma Mater .........................Jamestown/’85 Sept 6 Black Hills State W 57-10 Overall/Years ......................235-128-5/34th Overall/Years ...............................24-22/5th Sept 13 Central Arkansas W 43-33 At MSU/Years ..............................59-29/8th At School/Years ...............................2-2/1st Sept 20 Eastern Wash. L 51-52 vs UND ..................................................2-0 vs MSU ..................................................0-0 Sept 27 *North Dakota (HC) 2:05 pm Oct 4 *at Sacramento St 6:05 pm PT Home/Road ....................................1-0/1-0 Home/Road .....................................0-0/0-0 Oct 11 *at UC Davis 4:10 pm PT SERIES ..........................................17-13-1 ABOUT UND ............The Green and White Oct 18 *Weber State 3:35 pm At Bozeman .........................................10-5 Spirit Colors ............................Green, white Oct 25 Open At Grand Forks ...................................7-7-1 Location/Enrollment .........Grand Forks, ND Nov 1 *at Cal Poly 6:05 pm PT Nov 8 *Portland State 2:05 pm At Neutral...............................................0-1 Stadium...... ..........................Alerus Center Nov 15 *Idaho State 1:40 pm SID......................................... Bill Lamberty FB SID ....................................Ryan Powell Nov 22 *at Montana 3:10 pm Offi ce ......406/994-5133 (o), 406/580-6781 Offi ce ....................................701/777-2986 E-mail .......... [email protected] E-mail [email protected] HIGHLIGHTS • MSU’s 51 points vs. EWU was the pro- THE STORYLINE gram’s most ever in a loss, and the 103 Montana State began celebrating its throwback game a week early, putting up 1984-like combined points was third-most numbers in Saturday’s 52-51 loss to Eastern Washington, an old-time Big Sky shootout. • RB Shawn Johnson’s 374 all-purpose This week marks the full-out celebration of MSU’s 1984 National Championship and 1964 yards moves him into fi rst in the Big Sky Big Sky Championship teams. This week’s opponent brings a staunch defense to Bobcat and ninth in the FCS with 181.3 per game Stadium, as North Dakota is among the league’s top four teams in scoring, total, rush and • Rob Ash’s Cats stand 31-1 when hold- pass defense after beating Stony Brook 13-3 last week. On the other side of the ledger, ing the opponent under 20 points MSU scored 51 points with 547 total yards last week, with Shawn Johnson’s 374 all-pur- pose yards) leading the way. STREAKS • Montana State has recorded at least ON THE RECORD 500 total yards in three straight games for • Shawn Johnson’s 374 all-purpose yards against EWU was an MSU record and the the fi rst time since 2004 sixth-best game in Big Sky history, and his 3,519 career all-purpose yards is fourth at MSU • After fi ve straight games with two sacks • Dakota Prukop’s 304.8 total offense yards per game is second in the Big Sky or less, the Bobcats have logged three sacks in each of the last two games STADIUM STUFF • Montana State’s current four-game homestand is the program’s longest since opening MILESTONES with four straight in then-Reno H. Sales Stadium in 1991 • MSU’s 1,712 yards in the last three • The Cats average 430.7 yards and 33.7 points a game on their seven-year old turf fi eld games boosts the Bobcats to second in the Big Sky and 11th in the FCS in total BIG SKY BULLET POINTS offense (485.0 yards per game) • MSU is second in the Big Sky with 245.0 rushing yards a game, behind only Cal Poly, a • Rob Ash (88 games) matches Cliff Hy- team that has thrown only 35 passes in 2014 sell for second place in games coached • UND is second in the Big Sky in highest percentage of run plays to total, MSU is fourth at MSU. Schubert Dyche coached 98. BY THE NUMBERS THE BOBCATS THIS WEEK SHINING Sun ......................................................... 3:30 pm • Luke Daly’s 29 kickoffs have resulted Mon ................................................Players’ day off in 17 touchbacks, and he is 5-for-7 on Number of different players Tue ..... 10:30 am - Coaches Corner (Holiday Inn) 14 fi eld goals who have caught passes for the Bobcats .......................................11:45 am - Media Lunch through four games ..............................3:45 pm - Practice in Stadium • Tanner Roderick’s 122 receiving Wed ................3:45 pm - Practice (no interviews) yards Saturday was a career high ....................................................7 pm - Cat Chat • Dakota Prukop has accounted for 17 Yards-per-touch by Shawn John- Thu ......................4 pm - Practice (no interviews) 13 touchdowns (six rushing, seven pass- son last week in compiling a school-record Fri ..............................4 pm - Practice at Stadium ing) 1,073 total yards (357.7 per game) in # Sat ..................... 2:07 pm MSU vs. North Dakota 374 all-purpose yards the last three outings In-Season Media Policies A Quick Look Practice Policy MSU practices are generally open to the public, but MSU vs. North Dakota media members are asked to check in with MSU Sports Info. EVERYTHING SEEN AND HEARD The Series seasons in the series against the current week’s AT PRACTICE IS OFF THE RECORD. Photog- When Montana State’s series with North opponent. 1984: The Bobcats did not meet raphy and videography are never permitted during Dakota ended in 1983, it was mostly slanted UND that season for only the second time since line-of-scrimmage situations (11-on-11, 7-on-7). eastward. The then-Fighting Sioux had won 1970. 1964: North Dakota beat the Bobcats 9-7 in a non-league tilt at Dakota Field. Player Interviews four straight against Montana State to draw MSU players are available ONLY on Tuesdays dur- within 16-13-1 in the rivalry against their west- ing normal game week at the Bobcat Media Lunch ern neighbors. Montana State has fl ipped the It’s All Relative (12-1 pm, Hall of Fame Room). Players not at the script since the rivalry’s revival, winning 55-10 Montana State’s 2014 football team is one of Media Lunch are available after practice (in-person in Bozeman in 2012 and 63-20 in Grand Forks strong bloodlines. Below is a closer look... interviews only), while those asked to attend the last fall. The Cats compiled a combined 1,298 pizza lunch won’t be asked to do post-practice inter- yards and 75 fi rst downs in those games. Last views. Players are NEVER available for interviews Brothers: Na’a and Toti Moeakiola, and Nate fall’s Bobcat win marked Bobcat quarterback on Monday, or after Tuesday. Per Rob Ash’s policy, and Mac Bignell are current Bobcat teammates. true freshmen are not available for interviews. Only DeNarius McGhee’s return from a shoulder in- Jake Bleskin (brother Tanner is MSU’s all-time captains are available during Cat-Griz week, and jury after missing a pair of games. The Bobcats leading receiver), Trevor Bolton (Tyler), Trace only at the media lunch. own a 10-5 record against UND in Bozeman. Timmer (Trevan), Jayshawn Gates (Morris), Before the 2012 contest, North Dakota had Jackson Mahlum (Hunter), and Rhett Young Rob Ash Interviews won two straight against the Bobcats in then- (Chase) all have brothers that played for the Rob Ash is available during the weekly Media Lunch Reno H. Sales Stadium. Bobcats. (Tuesdays, noon) or by arrangement through MSU Sports Info. Ash is generally available Wednesdays Multi-Generational: Tanner Roderick (father from 10 am to noon and on the Big Sky coaches Mining the Numbers Steve), Trace Timmer (father Kirk played at A closer look at the numbers of MSU’s two conference call Wednesday at 10 am (866-398-2885, MSU, mother Kelly played hoops), Trevor Passcode 517644). Coach Ash is available on game previous meetings with North Dakota in the Bolton (father Pat), Nate and Mac Bignell (fa- days only following the contest. Big Sky series between the two teams shows ther Joe), and Hunter Mahlum’s (father Tom) that the Bobcat offense has been spectacular each had parents that played for the Cats. Injury Updates but most of the main players are gone. In the MSU issues injury reports on Sunday night, Tuesday, Cousins and Nephews: Hunter Mahlum’s and before and after each game. Per school policy, last two seasons Cody Kirk rushed for 272 MSU updates the player and availability. yards and an amazing eight touchdowns against cousin (Cody Kirk) fi nished his Bobcat career UND, while DeNarius McGhee was 37-for-50 last season. (uncle Tom Mahlum played at Post-Game Interviews passing for 453 yards. Tanner Bleskin caught MSU), Nate and Mac Bignell (father Joe was Up to four requested players appear in the former 10 passes for 207 yards, and Caleb Schreibeis a Bobcat All-America, cousins Clay and Brian visiting team house in Bobcat Stadium’s NW corner (2012) and Brad Daly (2013) each logged sacks played at MSU).