They will come from across the Trea- sure State to Bobcat Stadium to honor their young warrior, to watch his con- tinuing transformation into a man. They will sing a spirited centuries- old song, the warrior song, intended to give their young hero courage as he takes the battlefield. As he en- gages in battle with a fierce opponent, they will cheer, their collective hearts swell- ing with pride with each snap of the football. Today, like each Saturday for the past four years, Leo Davis will do his best to count coup. And just as they have each home Saturday at Bob- cat Stadium, those who take pride in his accomplishments will be there to see the Montana State offensive lineman as he carries the banner of his people. But today is different. Its family weekend on the MSU campus. Look around. You will see No. 50 jerseys in hoards. The cheers coming from those wearing Davis jerseys will be as loud as ever. The young warrior will enter his combat arena buoyed by a warrior song sung by more than 150 family members as his Bobcats take on North- ern Arizona. Davis and his four younger brothers, sons of a Deborah, a Lower Brule La- kota and Doug, a Blackfeet, are accus- tomed to overwhelming family support. Dozens of family members come to Bobcat football games each Saturday to cheer on Davis and his brother, Mat- thew, a freshman walk-on this fall. Davis relatives come here during win- ter as well, as Leos brother, Steven, is a 6-foot-7 forward on the MSU basket- ball team. The support given to these modern-day warriors is deep-seated in the family. But its also woven in the fabric of the familys Native American heritage. Not only are we a close family, but it comes from our culture, our traditions, said Leos aunt and Dougs sister, Dar- nell RidesAtTheDoore. These are our young warriors. This is a different type of warrior situation. You compare it to the parallels of the past when young men went out and did great things, counted coup. Then the family could tell their coup stories with great pride. Those who counted coup were the ones people looked up to, the heroes, the ones you wanted your young boys to be like. These are young warriors out there making history, but also writing their own legend and the legend of our people. Leo has done that tenfold. He is a warrior we look up to, someone who brings our people much pride. So (today) before the game, we will sing him out onto that battlefield. Generations ago, American Indian men ascended the social ladder within each tribe by acts of bravery, valor and great courage. Since the turn of the 20th century, Indian males have been robbed of the traditional proving grounds used to attain masculine status among their people. Gone are war parties and buf- falo jumps. No longer can you steal a rival tribes horses. 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Slocum, M.D. Fellowship Trained in Pain Medicine, Non-operative Spine Care Royce G. Pyette, M.D. Non-operative Musculoskeletal Care, US Ski Team Physician saturday, OCt. 15 vs. nO. arizOna Game Day Full PaPer InsIDe InsIDe BaCK aT HOme Hawk football team looks to fatten Braves at Van Winkle Stadium I spOrts THe sTreaK GOes On For MSU, so says Colter Nuanez I G6 TrenD BreaKer? Lumberjacks have played well in Bozeman of late I G2 nOrTHern arIZOna aT nO. 3 mOnTana sTaTe, BOBCaT sTaDIum, 1:05 P.m. survIvOr: nau Scott McKeever, now cancer-free, fnally lands in Bozeman I G2 Printed on recycled PaPer MODERN-DAY WARRIOR Leo Davis takes family weekend to whole new level People dont see me as a Bobcat football player, they also see me as a Native American. Leo Davis SeaN Sperry/CHroNiCLe When Montana State senior lineman Leo Davis (50) takes the field today, nearly 150 family members from across the state are expected to be in attendance at Bobcat Stadium. More dAvis I g5 bozeman dai ly chroni cle G6 | Saturday, October 15, 2011 Depth charts Montana State Offense LEFT TACKLE 68 Conrad Burbank 6-4/297 Sr 79 Quinn Catalano 6-5/276 Fr LEFT GUARD 57 Casey Dennehy 6-1/280 Sr 62 Ben Tauanuu 6-4/300 Jr CENTER 56 Shaun Sampson 6-0/277 Jr 61 Alex Terrien 6-4/283 Sr RIGHT GUARD 61 Alex Terrien 6-4/283 Sr 75 Andrew Verlanic 6-4/279 Jr RIGHT TACKLE 50 Leo Davis 6-4/300 Sr 75 Andrew Verlanic 6-4/279 Jr QUARTERBACK 9 DeNarius McGhee 6-0/213 So 5 Grayson Galloway 6-4/207 Jr RUNNING BACK 25 Cody Kirk 5-10/214 So 7 Tray Robinson 6-1/221 Jr X RECEIVER 1 Elvis Akpla 6-1/190 Sr 4 John Ellis 5-10/180 So Z RECEIVER 86 Tanner Bleskin 6-3/215 So 84 Brian Flotkoetter 6-2/205 Fr W RECEIVER 14 Everett Gilbert 5-9/195 Jr 10 Kruiz Siewing 5-11/189 Jr TIGHT END 89 Steven Foster 6-5/260 Jr 88 Shane Robison 6-5/260 Sr KICKER 15 Jason Cunningham 6-1/180 Sr Defense END 11 John Laidet 6-5/255 Sr 41 Brad Daly 6-1/232 So TACKLE 96 Zach Minter 6-1/285 Jr 99 Brian Bignell 6-2/255 Jr NOSE TACKLE 98 Christian Kelii 6-0/305 Jr 97 Zach Logan 6-4/295 Fr BANDIT 49 Caleb Schreibeis 6-3/253 Jr 48 Connor Verlanic 6-4/231 Fr SAM LINEBACKER 2 Naa Moeakiola 5-11/220 Sr 44 Aleksei Grosulak 5-10/215 So MIKE LINEBACKER 42 Clay Bignell 6-2/240 Sr 51 Michael Foster 6-1/232 Fr WILL LINEBACKER 23 Jody Owens 6-1/221 Jr 43 Alex Singleton 6-2/210 Fr BOUNDARY CORNER 13 Darius Jones 5-10/179 Jr 8 Zach Coleman 5-10/172 Jr ROVER 5 Joel Fuller 6-0/200 Jr 31 Robert Marshall 6-0/202 Fr FREE SAFETY 28 Steven Bethley 5-11/210 So 6 Heath Howard 5-10/190 Jr FIELD CORNER 17 Sean Gords 5-10/188 So 37 Deonte Flowers 5-11/168 Fr PUNTER 18 Rory Perez 6-3/179 So No. Arizona Defense LEFT END 94 Jarrett Bilbrey 6-5/245 So 97 Alec Hutton 6-4/245 Sr TACKLE 98 Dan Pela 6-3/275 Sr 90 Tim Wilkinson 5-11/290 So NOSE TACKLE 95 Blayne Anderson 6-4/275 Sr 90 Tim Wilkinson 5-11/290 So RIGHT END 96 Isaac Bond 6-4/260 Sr 93 Perry Jackson 6-2/245 Jr SAM LINEBACKER 56 Brandon Phillips 5-10/215 Jr 44 Ryan Reardon 6-1/235 Jr MIKE LINEBACKER 54 Craig Frum 6-3/225 Fr 51 Eric Storey 6-1/235 Jr JACK LINEBACKER 46 Scott McKeever 6-1/230 Sr 33 Tevin Ray 6-1/190 Fr RIGHT CORNERBACK 4 Randy Hale 5-10/175 So 21 Daivon Dumas 6-1/180 Sr STRONG SAFETY 38 Taylor Malenfant 6-1/200 Jr 25 Mike Dosen 5-11/195 So FREE SAFETY 47 Taylor Patton 6-1/200 Jr 3 Taylor Patton 6-0/190 Jr LEFT CORNERBACK 24 Blake Bailey 5-8/170 Fr 19 Anders Battle 6-0/185 So PUNTER 42 Drew Zamora 6-1/210 Sr Offense LEFT TACKLE 72 Trey Gilleo 6-6/300 Jr 79 Chris Pitts 6-5/250 Jr LEFT GUARD 74 Kyle Walker 6-4/290 So 67 Roy Garcia 6-3/250 Fr CENTER 78 Alex Mott 6-5/290 Sr 60 Shane Moniz 6-3/270 Fr RIGHT GUARD 75 Dwight Boyd 6-5/325 Sr 55 Jake Abbott 6-3/275 Fr RIGHT TACKLE 69 Matt Wilson 6-6/300 Jr 71 Joe Gurski 6-5/280 Fr QUARTERBACK 5 Cary Grossart 6-1/180 Jr 15 Chase Cartwright 6-3/210 Fr RUNNING BACK 34 Zach Bauman 5-10/200 So 22 Giovannie Dixon 5-10/175 Jr RECEIVER 80 Ify Umodu 6-3/215 So 81 Jeremy Dang 6-3/210 So RECEIVER 85 Dejzon Walker 6-3/225 Fr 82 Daniel Adler 5-9/180 Sr RECEIVER 18 Khalil Paden 6-1/180 Sr 11 Mike Czyz 5-10/180 Sr TIGHT END 86 Brian Riley 6-4/252 Sr 83 R.J. Rickert 6-3/230 Fr KICKER 29 Matt Myers 6-0/200 Sr THE EDGE NortherN arizoNa at MoNtaNa state Rushing: Northern Arizona has long prided itself as one of the toughest teams against the run in the Big Sky Conference. The Lumberjacks led the Big Sky in rushing defense last year (93.5 yards per game) and led the Football Championship Subdivision in 2008 (58.9 ypg). A season ago, Northern Arizona bafed a Montana State ofense that entered the 34-7 NAU win averaging 516.2 yards per game. The Lumberjacks limited MSU to 16 yards rushing, a season-low. Again this season, the Jacks have one of the best front sevens in the league. NAU currently leads the Big Sky allowing just 109 rushing yards per game. But this Montana State squad has more weapons than at maybe any time in school history. Sophomore Cody Kirk and junior Tray Robinson give MSU a one- two punch at tailback amongst the best in the league in leading the ground game. MSU has rushed for more than 200 yards against four of the fve FCS teams its defeated this season. Last week against Portland State, the Vikings sold out to stop Kirk and Robinson, yet the Bobcats still fnished the 38-36 win with 174 yards on the ground. Its doubtful MSU will be able to pound the ball like it did against Eastern Washington (255 yards), but the Bobcats dedication to achieving ofensive balance is doubtful to waver this week. Look for Kirk and Robinson to get plenty of carries, opening up play-action fakes for quarterback DeNarius McGhee and the deep MSU receiving corps. EDGE: Montana State WHEN MONTANA STATE HAS THE BALL EDGE Rushing: NAUs short passing game is so prevalent that it opens up the run game instead of the commonplace reverse strategy employed by most teams. Sophomore Zach Bauman is one of the leagues best running backs. But dont sleep on back- up Giovannie Dixon. The junior is a big play waiting to happen. Dixon has rushed for 261 yards on just 26 carries (10 yards per carry) and has scored three touchdowns, including an 82-yard scor- ing jaunt against Idaho State. Bauman is also NAUs third-leading pass catcher with 14 grabs for 128 yards. Montana State enters today with the leagues top total defense (300 yards per game). But the Bobcats will be tested by the best and most balanced ofense theyve seen this season. Passing: To put it simply, NAU quarter- back Cary Grosshart is the most efcient quarterback in the Big Sky. He has the league-leading pass efciency rating (160.4) to prove it. But its not just about the efciency rat- ing. Grosshart has completed 70 percent of his passes for 255 yards per game and has been intercepted just three times. Grossharts mastery of the short passing game is what makes NAUs ofense tick. None of NAUs top-fve pass catchers average more than 15 yards per catch. But fve Lum- berjacks have at least 10 grabs. NAU uses crossing routes, drag patterns and screens to spread the feld, which in turn opens up lanes in the running game. A weakness of the NAU passing attack thus far has been the teams ability or lack thereof to protect Grosshart. The junior has been sacked 12 times. The short passing game opens up run- ning lanes, but it also keeps the safeties and linebackers honest. The last two games, MSU junior safety Joel Fuller has been tremendous in run support, but he wont be able to aford to creep up to the line as much today. The Bobcat defensive front and the pressure they can apply will be the key to slowing down an NAU ofense that averages a league-best 460 yards per game. EDGE: Northern Arizona WHEN NORTHERN ARIZONA HAS THE BALL overall McGhee continues to wow with his dazzling play. The running game is multi- faceted and tough. The defense seems to thrive of each challenge presented each week. NAU makes too many mistakes at crucial moments and have proven to be too inconsistent this season to derail this Bobcat squad. It all adds up to a sixth straight win for Montana State. The Bobcats are currently riding the second-longest winning streak in the FCS at fve games. MSU is averaging nearly 40 points and nearly 500 yards a game in Bobcat Stadium and Rob Ashs teams are 21-0 when scoring 30 points or more. Couple the Bobcats hot streak with a desire to exact revenge after a loss last year in Flagstaf that many Montana State players described as humiliating, and the Lumberjacks could be in for a long day. EDGE: Montana State INTaNGIBleS 38 28 Analysis by COLTER NUANEZ of the Chronicle EDGE EDGE Special teams breakdowns al- most cost MSU the game against Portland State. The Vikings blocked two frst-quarter punts leading to 10 points then blocked a third quarter feld goal attempt by MSU. PSU also recovered a crucial onsides kick attempt to give them one last shot at tying the game after trailing by as much as 38-22. On the fipside, NAU leads the nation with a 30.7-yard kick return average cour- tesy of fve players. The Jacks best kickof return man is Jamaal Perkins, who leads the team with a 40.7-yard-per-return average on seven returns, including a 99-yard touchdown. MSU kicker Jason Cunningham is the best in the Big Sky, but the Bobcat special teams around him have been too sporadic as of late to give MSU the edge here. EDGE: Northern Arizona SpecIal TeamS EDGE BOBCATGAMEDAY Northern Arizona at Montana State 1:05 p.m. Bobcat Stadium Late this summer McKeever was back in the hospital. No operating table was needed, however. A trip to Phoenix Childrens Hospital to visit sick young- sters was organized by NAU kicker Matt Myers. I immediately volunteered, McKeever said. Not only was he returning to the city of his birth, he was the example of what positive thinking can lead to. He was the survivor. Being down there did more for us than it did for them, McKeever said. Id do it again if I had the opportunity. Even if hes unsure how many days he has left, McKeever still looks to the future. He is taking graduate school courses and aspires to run his own business. Hell continue his out- door passions: riding dirt bikes and hunting. And some day he can look back on his long-awaited ap- pearance in Bozeman to see how far he has come. This is a special trip, he said. Theres a lot of people going through the same thing that I did. Not only do I try to play for them, I try to play for a greater cause. Tim Dumas can be reached at tdumas@dailychronicle.com and 582-2651. Dumas/from B1 In our ways, you become a man by count- ing coup, Leo says. That meant making your first hunt or stealing a horse. Today, you cant do that. I cant go out and steal somebodys car. So sports have become a right of passage. Its that modern- day warrior that we seek to become. I take it as a challenge because every week we go into somebody elses territory or try to protect our own. If you can go into an opponents house and make a victory, thats counting coup. Last year, beating the Grizzlies in Missoula, to me and my people, thats my most impressive coup. Born on the Crow Reservation, Davis spent the majority of his youth growing up in Billings. His familys support in sports started long before Davis was bashing heads as MSUs 6-foot-4, 305-pound starting right tackle. Doug and Deborah would spend many week- ends driving to Browning to watch RidesAtThe- Doores son, Robert, play for his father, Smokey, at Browning High School. To this day, Davis spends most of his free time on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer with his paternal grandfa- ther Larry Thompson or on the Blackfeet Reserva- tion in Browning. Although he didnt grow up on the reservation, Davis has immersed himself in his familys culture and tradi- tions. He sweats and medi- tates in sweat lodges with local Native Americans during the offseason. He attends pow wows. It was at the annual MSU pow wow where he met his fianc, Gabriela Whitethorne. Davis gridiron prowess impressed Whitethorne, but its his dedication to his heritage and his desire to make his people proud that she admires most. Im proud of Leo inside and out, said Whitehorne, a Navajo and an NAU alumna. His athletic ac- complishments are only an inch of his lifetimes suc- cess. Leo is strongly con- nected to his self identity, native life and to nature. In the Blackfeet Nation, Davis has been transferred certain rights within the society from his aunt and uncle. Darnell and Smokey are the keepers of the tribes Thunder Medicine Pipe. In Blackfeet tradition, those endowed with the responsibility of watching over the Thunder Medi- cine Pipe are given the responsibility of keeping their people alive. The Thunder Medicine Pipe is not simply part of a religion; its a fundament part of Blackfeet existence. The Blackfeet believe in maintaining a perfect bal- ance of happiness, health and strength physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. The Thun- der Medicine Pipe is the fundamental center of this circle of balance. Leo is a part of that, he is our holy son, RidesAt- TheDoore said. It would be comparable to if you baptized someone in the Catholic Church. We have more of less taken him as our son. Doug, his dad, was taken by the elders of his day as their holy son. Our family has kept alive that tradition for hundreds of years, generation to gen- eration to generation. Despite his immer- sion in Native American cultural practices, Davis said the resentment hes faced from fellow Indians has been challenging and frustrating. People used to say, he aint Indian because he dont play rez ball, or he aint Indian because he didnt come up on the rez. But my true friends, the ones who know me, know I spend most of my free time (on the reservations) with my people, said the 22-year-old. As a fifth-year senior starter for the No. 3 team in the nation, Davis has risen to prominence amongst Native Americans throughout Montana. Leo is a star in Indian country, said Darnells son, Robert RidesAtThe- Doore, who lives in Bill- ings but returns to Brown- ing often. Somebody like Leo is special. He is quick to move forward and teach younger kids the right way, the correct way. He is out there representing not only our family, but also native people in general. Hes stayed focused and not gotten washed away by all the negativity out there. The pressures of becom- ing a man under such a microscope have been try- ing. With more than 400 family members of some sort of relation spread across the state, Davis feels the weight of many he wants to make proud. And it doesnt help that history is against him. The NCAA student-athlete race and ethnicity report re- leased after the 2009 school year estimated that less than 0.2 percent of Division I football rosters, or less than 90 athletes spread across 242 rosters, were Native American. On the football field, just a handful of Mon- tana Native Americans Tuff Harris at the University of Montana comes to mind have played four years of college football and earned a degree. The rising popularity of sports, particularly basket- ball, on Montanas seven reservations has been tre- mendous during the past six decades. Larry Pretty Weasel, Elvis Old Bull, Jonathan Takes Enemy - all became basketball legends, leaders of their respective tribes. But breathtaking athlete after breathtaking athlete, generation after generation, Takes Enemys brother James famous say- ing seemed to always hold true: Every Indian who leaves the reservation has a rubber band attached to his back. Davis spent time on reservations on both sides of the state, but the pull is nonexistent. Davis has a clear vision of his desired future and he refuses to let it become muddled by the demons of alcohol and loneliness that derailed those who went before him. People dont just see me as a Bobcat football player, they also see me as a Na- tive American, Davis said. If I make a slip-up, they say OK he is just a Native. But they see me doing good, they see me as a Na- tive American defying the stereotype. I just try to be a role model by example, a leader by example. Im very conscious of my standing. Upon graduation from Billings Skyview High School, Davis committed to Colorado State to play defensive end. In 2007, told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle: I want to prove to the country that Native Americans, yes, we have athletes that can make it past high school and into college. Davis never dealt with the pull of the reserva- tion, but the pull of the Treasure State was real and so were the linger- ing questions inside his head. And the questions wouldnt stay quiet. Was the human wealth hed acquired during his life not worth anything? Would playing in the Mountain West Conference be the same as playing in front of countless aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins? Without the witness of those who loved him most, who would tell Davis coup stories? Shortly after giving his commitment to CSU, Davis rescinded his verbal promise and instead elected to attend Montana State, his parents alma mater. The allure of be- ing able to morph into a man in front of his people proved more important than playing in college footballs highest level. At MSU, Davis has flourished on the field, in the classroom and within the campus community. Like the elders in his fam- ily, Davis has learned to be engaging and accepting of people from all walks of life. Many young Native Americans have come to predominantly white campuses such as MSU and folded, choosing isola- tion instead of acclimation. Davis and his brothers have instead immersed themselves in Montana State campus life. The Davis boys, led by Leo, have broken down barriers, Robert RidesAt- TheDoore said. They dont care if you are black, Samoan, white, Indian, they just approach every- body. Thats what weve been taught, to value the core of the individual. When Davis was a young boy, Robert RidesAtTheDoore would babysit him, all the while listening to the child scream and beg for graham crackers and milk. Robert jokes that his refusal to succumb to Davis snacking whims is what made Leo so strong- willed. Da- vis credits a strong upbringing and a rich athletic lineage. Both Davis grandfa- thers were standout athletes. Darnell and Dougs father, for whom Leo is named after, was an elite rodeo cowboy, one of the youngest and toughest of his day. He never turned pro, but rode in Madison Square Garden and was well known throughout Montana before his death in 1970. Following the elder Leos death, Darnell and Dougs mother Cynthia Davis- Kipp was left to raise nine children alone. Today, all nine of those children masters degrees or more and 39 of her grandchil- dren are spread through- out Montana and the West. Deborahs father, Larry Thompson, was a star run- ning back, boxer and track star at the University of South Dakota in the 1950s. Following his service in the Army, Thompson received a letter from Don Shula asking him to join the Baltimore Colts for the 1958 season. He wasnt granted a release from the service. Since Leo was in eighth grade, Thompson has called him every Thursday evening to give him an inspirational talk. Davis said he hears his grandfa- thers words each time he runs onto his modern-day battlefield. He is my rock, Leo Davis said. If Billy Mills and Jim Thorpe didnt do it before him, he would have done it first. Thompson attended all of Davis football and basketball games in high school and makes the trip to Bozeman from Lame Deer when he can. He feels a strong sense of pride watching his grandson become a man. I think Leo has done a tremendous job represent- ing our family and our people, Thompson said. Ive always tried to teach the right way to represent yourself, and its something that Leo doesnt put on. Its just like you and me breathing. It just comes second nature to him. That doesnt happen with very many people. MSU teammates and coaches alike talk of Davis loyalty and passion. MSU sophomore quarterback DeNarius McGhee calls Davis the inspirational one. Tat- tooed upon Davis arm is a saying that he channels onto the football field and into his everyday life. The inscription reads: My Brothers Keeper. As a brother, you have to know your role, Davis said. Me being the oldest of five (Steven, Matthew, Ryan and Daniel), I had to know how to be a leader. When I came to the Bobcat foot- ball family, I was a younger brother and Id never been a younger brother before. I felt immersed by people looking out for me and now that Im a senior, Im trying to return that favor. Following the football season, Davis will graduate with a degree in American History of the West. For the past few years, he has volunteered working at pre-release centers with troubled juveniles in Boze- man. He someday hopes to work with troubled kids in an effort to stop poor behavioral trends before they begin. As a Bobcat, he said he is living a dream come true. Davis has always strived to live up to the example set first by his grandfathers, then by parents, uncles and cousins. Now, as a three- year starter for a top-tier FCS football program, he seems to have taken it one step farther. So today, more rela- tives than ever before will converge upon Bobcat Stadium to watch Leo con- tinue to write their fam- ilys legacy and sing their warrior into battle. Davis missed last weeks game against Portland State with a knee injury, but should play today. As the eldest Davis brothers time in the MSU blue and gold begins to wind down, he inches closer to achieving what he said he desired to do when he first committed to Colorado State. Im not doing it to reap the benefits, Im doing it to show our people that yes we can, where there is a will, there is a way, Davis said. I see my role on this team as a senior and as a leader and Ive brought my people along. I have a strong backing and when I play, I play for them. 586-5850 2744 W. Main St. Across from Gallatin Valley Mall www.mountainhottub.com Delivering fun and relaxation since 1979 G O C ATS ! GET HOT CATS! bozeman dai ly chroni cle Saturday, October 15, 2011 | G5 Davis/from B1 BOBCATGAMEDAY Northern Arizona at Montana State 1:05 p.m. Bobcat Stadium SEAN SPERRY/CHRONICLE Leo Davis does his best to spend time on reservations across the state. In our ways, you become a man by counting coup. That meant making your first hunt or stealing a horse. Today, you cant do that ... So sports have become a right of passage. Its that modern-day warrior that we seek to become. Leo Davis bozeman dai ly chroni cle G4 | Saturday, October 15, 2011 bozeman dai ly chroni cle Saturday, October 15, 2011 | G3 #15 // Kicker Jason Cunningham 2011 MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Photo by Sean Sperry 1 / 2
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A P P E T IZER .F ; 9 ? 7 B bozeman dai ly chroni cle G2 | Saturday, October 15, 2011 I t was a four-day transition. On Wednesday youre a college football player. By Saturday a cancer survivor. Scott McKeevers life changed that fast. Yet his ordeal slowed it down just the same. The Northern Arizona University starting out- side linebacker doesnt worry about tomorrow. He doesnt complain. There are no more problems. Focus on the solution, has become his mantra. Two years ago this week, the solution was surgery. McKeever was at practice in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Oct. 8, 2009, just like he always was on fall Wednesdays. The Lumberjacks were preparing for their game at Montana State. McKeever, then a junior, was expected to be a starter. But the following morning, he woke up with a sharp pain in his abdomen. Bozeman would have to wait. His football career, too. Same with his life. Diagnosis: testicular cancer. Surgery was scheduled for that weekend. McKeever was given no guarantees. Theres a chance you might not play football; theres a chance you might not make it, he re- members being told. School and football were out. Family, friends, teammates and his faith in God were in. It was a very hard time, McKeever said via phone after Tuesdays practice in Flagstaff. I cant even describe it. I just remember thinking, what am I going to do? It brings you back to reality. His reality wasnt so bad after surgery. McKeevers recovery required no chemotherapy, no radiation. He lost 15 pounds, but gained so much more. Perspective topped the list. It taught me to want to be a better person; to be the best man that I can be, he said. You dont know how long youre going to be on this earth. You dont know if youre going to live until tomor- row or until youre 100. I was a 20-year-old kid. I hadnt even grown up completely yet. The former four-year starter at Wickenburg (Ariz.) High, where he also set school shot put and discus records, soon began to rediscover his athleticism and a desire to return to NAU. After being granted a medical redshirt season, McKeever returned last fall to continue the junior football season that was so suddenly halted. There was no easing in: McKeever led team in solo tack- les and was tied for the team lead in sacks. Last spring he graduated with a marketing degree. By COLTER NUANEZ Chronicle Sports Writer Somethings got to give today at Bobcat Stadium. Northern Arizona comes to Bozeman with the top-ranked offense in the Big Sky. The Lumberjacks are racking up 450 yards of total offense per game led by sophomore running back Zach Bauman (119 yards per game, 6 TDs) and junior quarterback Cary Grossart (255 yards per game, 160.2 passer efficiency rating). No. 3 Montana State has the leagues top total defense (300.2 ypg) and passing defense (168.3 ypg). MSU is allowing a league- low 21 points per contest. I think its pretty intriguing to have the No. 1 offense against the No. 1 defense, said MSU head coach Rob Ash, whose team enters the game riding a five-game winning streak. Both sides will make some plays and when the dust settles, we will see who has the upper hand. Although Jerome Souers team comes in with a high-powered, balanced offense, his squad is just 1-2 in Big Sky Conference play. The Lumberjacks have a 20-3 win over Idaho State, but lost heartbreakers 31-29 to Port- land State and 36-28 to Eastern Washington. The PSU loss came via a blocked last-second field goal. Souers said he is aware of the Bobcats defensive prowess, but he doesnt need a stat sheet to see it. I dont pay much attention to the statistics as I do the person- nel and the way they run things, said the 14 th -year head coach. Montana States defense, as usual, is very well coached and they are executing what they run well. Theres nothing easy to attack it. With the exception of a few plays, the Lumberjacks could be right alongside the Bobcats atop the league, Ash said. Regardless of record, NAU has always been a thorn in MSUs side. The Lum- berjacks handed Montana State its lone Big Sky Conference loss last season with 34-7 drubbing of the Bobcats in Flagstaff, Ariz. Its definitely in the back of our minds, said MSU senior middle linebacker Clay Bignell. We did go down there and get embarrassed. That ruined our perfection in the league last year. Every year is different. This is a new team, new challenges, but we definitely remember that and we will have a little extra motiva- tion going into this game. NAU has defeated the Bobcats three out of four times, includ- ing two straight wins in Boze- man. Souers refuses to believe there is some sort of magic to his success against MSU. I dont put much into that; all those years are different years just like this year is a different year, Souers said. Any success you had in the past, it was that given day. Im sure they are very motivated to play. They are lead- ing the conference, they have a lot of momentum and Im sure they are anxious to get after us. A week ago, MSU limited Portland States league-leading pistol rushing attack to 100 yards less than its season aver- age. Baumans 119 yards per game are second in the league, but the Lumberjacks scheme is much different than PSUs. To- day, expect power off-tackle and zone runs spliced with what Ash describes as a dink and dunk short passing game that opens up lanes in both avenues of the offense for Bauman. (Bauman) is quick, he keeps his feet, he is hard to hit, Bignell said. On tape, it seems like no one ever gets a clean shot on him and he is always making extra yards. Grossart is the most efficient passer in the Big Sky. He is com- pleting 70 percent of his passes and has thrown just three inter- ceptions in 138 pass attempts. His 255 pass yards per game are third in the league. The Lumberjacks defense is led by a stellar defensive line. NAU currently leads the Big Sky in rushing yards against (109.2 per game) and is third in total defense (352.4 yards per game). Isaac Bond and Jarrett Bilbrey lead a pass rush that has 16 sacks. Bond has a league-high five sacks and Bilbrey is right behind him with 4.5 sacks. We have a veteran group with four senior defensive linemen and we know how to play our assignments, keep our run gaps and pressure the quarterback, Bond said. NAUs pass rush will be key today as will its ability to slow the run against a Montana State offense that continues to show its balance and versatility. MSU is averaging 200 yards per game on the ground and 229.3 yards per game in the air. Versatility is the key, Souers said. They are doing very well a lot of the things we are attempt- ing to do. They dont make mistakes. They dont turn it over. They run when you are playing the conservative posture. If you are too aggressive, their receivers get down the field. It definitely starts with their quarterback (sophomore DeN- arius McGhee), Bond added. He is one of the most important parts of the team because he can take the ball, run it, throw it down the field, all that. We want to stop the run and get them into predictable situations. Portland State held MSU under 200 yards rushing for just the second time all season. The result was an MSU offense led by McGhee that burned the Vikings all afternoon with play- action plays. McGhee ended the day with 255 passing yards and four touchdowns en route to Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors. Souers said McGhee has im- pressed him since assuming the starting duties at the beginning of last season. He is as good as weve had in this conference, Souers said. It seems like he gets smarter all the time. Every game, he makes better decisions. His accuracy has improved. He extends the play if you have it defended. He is able to create opportunities for his offense with his feet. He had great intelligence and leadership. He is what everyone wants in a football player.
Sideline Briefing Records Montana State 5-1 , 3-0 Big Sky Northern Arizona 2-3, 1-2 Series 46th meeting, NAU leads 24-21 Weather forecast Showers, high 53 Crowd 19,000 expected TV ABC (Chris Byers, Mike Callaghan, AJ Donatoni) Radio KXLB-FM (100.7), Jef Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen Coaches
Schedules Northern Arizona 10 @ Arizona 41 58 Fort Lewis 13 29 @Portland St. 31 20 Idaho St. 3 36 E. Washington 28 Today @ Montana State 1:05 p.m. 10/22 Montana 3:05 p.m. 10/29 @ Sacramento St. 7:05 p.m. 11/5 No. Colorado 3:05 p.m. 11/12 @ Weber St. 1:30 p.m. 11/19 So. Utah 3:05 p.m. Montana State 10 at Utah 27 38 UC Davis 14 43 Minot St. 7 36 @ Eastern Washington 21 31 Sacramento St. 21 38 @Portland St. 36 Today Northern Arizona 1:05 p.m. 10/22 @ Northern Colorado 1:35 p.m. 10/29 Idaho St. 12:05 p.m. 11/5 @ Weber St. 1:35 p.m. 11/19 Montana 12:05 p.m. Players to watch NORTHERN ARIZONA: RB Zach Bauman can run and catch the ball. MONTANA STATE: QB DeNarius McGhee. Can the sophomore come up big once again against a tough defense? Injury report MONTANA STATE OUT: DE Preston Gale (knee); WR Kerry Sloan (knee); LB Roger Trammell (knee). DOUBTFUL: LB Cole Moore (shoulder), WR Kruiz Siewing (hip), DB Rob Marshall (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: oL Leo Davis (knee), RB C.J. Palmer (migraines).
Game notes n Montana State possessed the ball for 20:41 of a possible 30 minutes in the last two fourth quarters (11:05 vs. Sac State, 9:36 vs. Portland State). n WR Elvis Akpla has caught a pass in each of his 28 games at MSU and a touchdown pass in the last fve; Akpla is now 8th in MSU history in receiving yards (1,607). n Rob Ashs Bobcats are 33-4 when scoring at least 20 points, 21-0 when scoring 30-plus. n MSU averages 37.3 points and 489.1 yards in its three home games this season n Second-year NAU running backs coach Jimmy Beal played for the Bobcats from 2002-04, fnishing up at Rocky Mountain College.
NAU looks to continue winning ways in Bozeman CoURTESY oF NoRTHERN ARIZoNA UNIVERSITY Zach Bauman has run for 597 yards and six touchdowns this season. ROB ASH MSU, 5th year 32nd year overall 34-18 at MSU 210-117-5 overall jEROME SOUERS NAU, 14th year 14th year overall 74-78 at NAU 74-78 overall TIM DUMAS Chronicle Sports Editor BOBCATGAMEDAY Northern Arizona at Montana State 1:05 p.m. Bobcat Stadium Cancer kept NAUs McKeever from last Bozeman trip More DUMAS I G6