Game Day

saturday, nov. 5 at weber state

Full PaPer InsIDe

no. 2 montana state at weber state, stewart staDIum, 1:35 P.m.

InsIDe

Weber State brings toughness on both sides of ball I G2

GettInG PhysIcal

cat anD cats

MSU used the Wildcat formation last week; will they drag it out again today? I G2

rIse oF the bobcats

MSU has a chance to clinch share of Big Sky title, another nine-win season
By COLTER NUANEZ
Chronicle Sports Writer

Colter Nuanez breaks down matchup with Weber State I G6

GoInG For 9

Uncharted territory is on the horizon for these Bobcats. Now, Montana State just has to steer the ship to shore. No. 2 MSU enters todays game in Ogden, Utah, against Weber State with the programs highest ranking since 1976. A win today would clinch at least a share of the teams second straight Big Sky Conference championship. MSU has won consecutive Big Sky titles just twice (1966-1968, 2002-2003). A win over Weber would put MSU one step closer to clinching a top-four seed in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and would give the school its first back-to-back nine-win campaigns. Rising to such lofty heights could prove to be a distraction, but senior wide receiver Elvis Akpla said no such problem exists for a team that strives to see the full scope of the sea. We have to be national champs; thats

We have to be national champs; thats what we want, we expected to be in this position ...
elvis akpla, wide receiver

what we want, we expected to be in this position, so its not that amazing to us, said Akpla of his teams No. 2 national ranking. This is what we sought out after last season, this summer. Its exciting, but at the same time we have to focus on the next opponent and the greater goal. We wont be satisfied until we get that national championship. The last time Montana State found itself in the regular season top two, the team won a national championship. But MSU head coach Rob Ash said his team is not focused on its lofty rise. Rather, Montana State is focused on the task at hand: defeating a hungry Weber State team still licking its wounds from last weekends 45-10

pounding by No. 10 Montana in Missoula. The guys look at the rankings and say, oh, thats good and then we go out and practice, Ash said. Thats really truly how it feels inside this program. Our guys have high aspirations to get into the national playoffs and go deep in the national playoffs and win a national championship. That means No. 2 isnt even enough at some point. Because of that, we truly have to take it one game at a time from here on out. According to Weber State head coach Ron McBride, last weeks performance in the Garden City was an embarrassment to our program, an embarrassment to college football. He said making up for last weeks dismal performance in which the Wildcats dug themselves a 38-3 halftime hole is the motivation for redemption. McBride said it wouldnt matter the ranking of this weeks opponent. The Wildcats are just in desperate need of a win.
More RisE I G5

the bIG one

No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Alabama meet in seasons most anticipated NCAA matchup I G5
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CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

MSUs Aleksei Grosulak celebrates MSU gaining possession after a Weber State turnover during last years game in Bozeman.

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G6

| Saturday, November 5, 2011

bozeman daily chronicle

BOBCATGAMEDAY Montana State at Weber State

1:35 p.m. Stewart Stadium

Montana state at Weber state

When MonTana STaTe haS The ball
Rushing: Its becoming increasingly Passing: Sophomore quarterback edge clear that, no matter the opponent, DeNarius McGhee hasnt had to Montana State will run the football with shoulder the load quite so much this authority. The Bobcats are averaging season after earning the Big Skys 276 rushing yards a game in six Big Sky co-Offensive MVP award last season. Conference contests. Through nine With MSUs prevalent running attack, games, MSU is averaging more than McGhee has been able to pick and 250 yards a game on the ground. choose spots in which to exploit Weber State is allowing 170 rushing yards per defenses. game, sixth-best in the league. But dont sleep on McGhee. He is still one of the The dynamic backfield duo of sophomore most efficient quarterbacks in the FCS. If Weber Cody Kirk and junior Tray Robinson seems to can slow down MSUs running game and get stronger by the week. Last week against thats a BIG if McGhee and his receivers can Idaho State, Kirk rushed for 184 yards and four more than pick up the slack. touchdowns. Robinson added 154 yards and In short, Montana State has forced opponents two scores. Both played sparingly in the second to pick their poison during the teams eighthalf as MSU rolled up 415 yards on the ground, game winning streak. If the team wants to stop the sixth-most in team history. the run ala Portland State, McGhee will throw for Weber has some playmakers on the defensive four touchdowns like he did in the City of Roses side of the football, namely senior linebacker last month. If teams want to take away receivers Nick Webb. But the Wildcats will suffer a similar Elvis Akpla, John Ellis, Tanner Bleskin and Everett fate as the rest of the Big Sky this season: they Gilbert, Kirk and Robinson can grind opposing simply wont be able to stop MSUs running defenses to dust. edge: Montana State game.

The edge

Depth charts
Montana State offense
leFT TaCKle 68 Conrad Burbank 6-4/297 79 Quinn Catalano 6-5/276 leFT gUaRd 57 Casey Dennehy 6-1/280 62 Ben Tauanuu 6-4/300 CenTeR 56 Shaun Sampson 6-0/277 61 Alex Terrien 6-4/283 RIghT gUaRd 72 Stephen Memory6-4/295 50 Leo Davis 6-4/300 RIghT TaCKle 61 Alex Terrien 6-4/283 50 Leo Davis 6-4/300 QUaRTeRbaCK 9 DeNarius McGhee6-0/213 5 Grayson Galloway6-4/207 RUnnIng baCK 25 Cody Kirk 5-10/214 7 Tray Robinson 6-1/221 X ReCeIveR 1 Elvis Akpla 6-1/190 4 John Ellis 5-10/180 Z ReCeIveR 86 Tanner Bleskin 6-3/215 84 Brian Flotkoetter 6-2/205 W ReCeIveR 14 Everett Gilbert 5-9/195 10 Kruiz Siewing 5-11/189 TIghT end 89 Steven Foster 6-5/260 88 Shane Robison 6-5/260 KICKeR 15 Jason Cunningham6-1/180 Sr Fr Sr Jr Jr Sr Jr Sr Sr Sr So Jr So Jr Sr So So Fr Jr Jr Jr Sr Sr

Weber State defense

leFT end 46 Trevor Pletcher 6-2/245 Jr 52 Curtis Cosgrove 6-3/255 So TaCKle 90 Pete Rolf 6-0/285 So 96 Veteson Sauni 6-0/285 So TaCKle 99 Adam Saga-White5-11/290 Jr 95 Ryan Eastman 6-0/285 Jr RIghT end 40 Caldwell Taylor 6-5/220 Jr 18 Danny Mullarkey 6-3/250 Sr lInebaCKeR 16 Mo Neal 6-2/240 Sr 56 Devin Ellis 6-2/220 So lInebaCKeR 44 Anthony Morales 6-0/230 So 23 Jarred Henry 6-2/210 So lInebaCKeR 45 Nick Webb 6-4/245 Sr 29 Willie Harris 6-0/210 Jr leFT CoRneRbaCK 3 Devin Pugh 5-10/175 Fr 1 Robbie Diamond 6-0/175 So RIghT CoRneRbaCK 20 David James 5-11/185 Jr 9 Jarret Gooden 5-10/170 Jr STRong SaFeTY 2 Willie Okwuonu 6-0/200 So 31 Jamie Rigby 5-10/175 Fr FRee SaFeTY 12 Tony Epperson 6-4/215 So 36 Zach Higgins 5-10/195 Sr PUnTeR 37 Josh Kealamakia 6-1/185 So

When WebeR STaTe haS The ball

Rushing: The pending health of passes and has thrown for 1,653 edge Weber State quarterback Mike Hoke yards this season. He has tossed 17 puts the Wildcats at a disadvantage touchdowns and just two intercepin the running and passing game. tions. Weber State head coach Ron If Hoke doesnt play or isnt at full McBride said he will play this week, strength, Montana States leaguebut its not a certainty. Hokes injury leading rushing defense will stack was bad and it was his throwing the box and make it difficult for shoulder that was wrenched hard. Weber to get anything going on the ground. Dont be surpsied if Jordan Adamczyk gets If Hoke is healthy, the Weber offense the start instead. is much more efficient. The junior signal Weber will also be without Xavian Johnson. caller suffered a sprained shoulder against The freshman wide receiver suffered a scary Southern Utah two weeks ago. He didnt injury against Montana last week. After being play in WSUs 45-10 loss at Montana last hit by UM middle linebacker Caleb McSurdy, week. Johnson had to be carried off the field in a Regardless if Hoke plays, Weber will constretcher. He was released from the hospitinue to use a three- and sometimes fourtal last Sunday in Missoula and returned to back attack. Josh Booker is the speediest of Ogden, but is likely done for the year with the Wildcat ball-carrying foursome and leads a sprained neck. Johson was the teams the team with a 6.2-yards-per-carry average second-leading receiver. during league play. In his absence, expect Shaydon Kehano to Passing: When healthy, Hoke is one of get more balls. The Wildcats big-play threat the most efficient quarterbacks in America. is averaging 24 yards per catch and has His 158.6 passer efficiency rating is 11th in seven touchdowns this season. edge: Montana State the FCS. He is completing 65 percent of his

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 Grosulak5-10/215 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

offense
leFT TaCKle 72 Caleb Turner 6-4/285 Sr 51 Alex Land 6-4/295 Fr leFT gUaRd 73 J.C. Oram 6-4/300 Sr 54 Austin Butler 6-2/285 Fr CenTeR 65 Tyson Tiatia 6-2/270 So 64 Spencer Rangasan6-0/280 So RIghT gUaRd 70 Tytan Timoteo 6-1/310 Jr 71 Jiniki Timoteo 6-3/310 So RIghT TaCKle 68 Shelton Robinson6-3/275 Fr 78 Joel Turrubiates 6-7/340 Sr QUaRTeRbaCK 11 Mike Hoke 6-2/220 Jr 14 Jordan Adamczyk6-1/205 So RUnnIng baCK 24 Aaron Prier 5-10/175 Fr 8 Jarrod Daniels 5-11/190 So FUllbaCK 42 Tevia Tolutau 6-2/255 Fr 33 Karl Finai 5-11/225 Fr X ReCeIveR 85 Shaydon Kehano5-11/180 So 87 Eric Shufford 6-0/175 Fr Z ReCeIveR 84 Austin Raught 6-2/205 Sr 83 Erik Walker 5-10/175 So TIghT end 13 Brian Jankowski 6-4/255 Jr 5 Jordan Clemente 6-4/215 So KICKeR 49 Shaun McClain 6-3/215 So

SPeCIal TeaMS
The special teams demons that haunted MSU seem to have been exorcised. The Cats have been solid in recent weeks, limiting big plays, not allowing blocked kicks or punts and letting two of the Big Skys most talented specialists do work. MSU senior kicker Jason Cunning-

edge

ham currently leads the Big Sky with 80 points. His 14 field goals are also tops in the league. Sophomore punter Rory Perez is averaging 42 yards per boot. Webers Shaun McClain is 8-for-12 on field goals. Josh Kealamakia is averaging 40 yards per punt for the Wildcats. edge: Montana State

InTangIbleS
Montana State can clinch at least a share of its second consecutive Big Sky Conference title with a win today. But will the Bobcats be looking toward what amounts to the conference title game against Montana in two weeks in Bozeman? The Wildcats are coming off their worst performance of the season. In Missoula,

edge

Weber let previously inconsistent UM quarterback Jordan Johnson toss six touchdowns, including five in a first half that saw Montana build a 38-3 lead. The Wildcats get the edge here simply because they are the hosts and they have absolutely nothing to lose in this game. edge: Weber State

weber state notes

oveRall
The Wildcats will keep it close and should give MSU all it can handle. The 13 WSU seniors would like nothing more than to knock off the No. 2 team in the country and set up the Brawl of the Wild as a battle for the outright conference title. But these Bobcats wont let the desperation of Weber get in their way. Despite the lofty national ranking and the spot atop the Big Sky, MSU remains hungry. Weber will pull out all the stops, theres no doubt about that. But MSUs ability to execute with precision on both sides of the football will continue today and will be too much for the host team to handle. The Bobcats will earn another Big Sky ring today.

31

24

Analysis by ColTeR nUaneZ of the Chronicle

Montana State has won nine of the last 10 and 12 of the last 14 games against Weber State. The Bobcats have won six straight in Ogden, with WSUs last home win over the Bobcats coming in 1996. ... For the third straight game and the fifth time this season, sophomore anthony Morales led the Wildcats in tackles in Saturdays game against Montana. Morales recorded 13 total tackles and now has 79 total tackles. He ranks third in the Big Sky and 27th in the nation in tackles at 9.9 per game. ... The Wildcats are 3-1 this season when leading at halftime. In all three of WSUs wins, the Wildcats had leads at halftime before going on to win. The only loss came against Southern Utah, when WSU held a 14-3 lead at halftime before losing 35-28. Conversely, Weber State is 0-4 this season when trailing at halftime. ... For the second-straight game, Weber State committed two turnovers in the loss to the Grizzlies. For the first six games the Wildcats had committed just one turnover in each game. Against Southern Utah and Montana, WSU had two turnovers in each game. On the season Weber now ranks fourth in the conference in turnover margin at +2. The Wildcats have committed 10 turnovers and forced 12 turnovers from their opponents. ... This season marks the 50th season of Weber State University football on the four-year level, and the 49th year as a member of the Big Sky Conference. Weber State attained four-year status in 1962-63 and played as an NCAA Division II member until 1978 when, along with the rest of the Big Sky, became members of NCAA Division I-AA, now the Football Championship Subdivision.

bozeman daily chronicle

Saturday, November 5, 2011 |

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BOBCATGAMEDAY Montana State at Weber State

1:35 p.m. Stewart Stadium

big sky conference

BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Standings

WESTERN OREGON AT #10 MONTANA

1:05 p.m., Washington-Grizzly Stadium (25,217 SprinTurf) TV: CW-Montana Internet: Big Sky TV The Series: First Meeting Coaches: Montanas Robin Pflugrad is 14-6 in his second season. Western Oregons Arne Ferguson is 45-28 in his seventh season. Notes: Western Oregon is located in Monmouth and has an enrollment of 6,200. The Wolves compete in the Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference... Montana is seeking its sixth straight win. Western Oregon brings a three-game winning streak and a 6-3 record to Missoula... UM QB Jordan Johnson tied a school-record with six passing touchdowns last week... Western QB Evan Mozzochi has thrown for 1,996 yards with 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. Mozzochi is a transfer from Idaho State... UM is 5-0 at home this season... Montana is +4 in turnover margin, tops in the Big Sky... Montana linebacker Caleb McSurdy is second in the Big Sky with 91 total tackles... Western Oregon averaged 31.6 points per game and allows 25.9... Montana averages 32.1 points per game and allows 23.0... Montana is 168-21 all-time at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. UM hasnt lost a non-conference regular-season game at home since 2003... Montana has a bye next week, and closes out the regular season on the road Nov. 19 at Montana State. The winner of that game will earn the Big Skys automatic bid to the playoffs.

SACRAMENTO STATE AT PORTLAND STATE

2:05 p.m., JELD-WEN Field (18,627, FieldTurf) Internet: Big Sky TV The Series: Portland State leads 21-9, but Sacramento State has wonthree straight. Last Meeting: Jeff Fleming threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns to lead Sacramento State to a 28-15 home win over the Vikings. PSU QB Connor Kavanaugh did not play because of an injury. Coaches: Sacramento States Marshall Sperbeck is 23-30 in his fifth season... Portland States Nigel Burton is 7-12 in his second season. Notes: The teams first met in 1965. Sacramento State has won the past three meetings, but Portland State won eight in a row prior to that... PSU ranks second in the league in points per game with an average of 34.6... Kavanaugh has rushed for 807 yards this season, the most ever by a Big Sky QB in a single season... Portland State has a league-high 25 rushing touchdowns this season... PSU is +1 in turnover margin. SAC is -3... Sac St. WR Brandyn Reed averages 21.1 yards per catch...Sac States Joe Larche leads the league with eight pass breakups... Sac State has played the last two weeks without Fleming... PSU had 499 yards of total offense in a win over EWU last week.. PSU K Zach Brown is 14-of-15 on field goals this season... Sac State is 2-3 on the road this season... PSU is 3-1 at home.. PSU is seeking to secure its first winning season since 2006. Portland State had four combined victories in 2009 and 2010.

NORTHERN COLORADO AT NORTHERN ARIZONA

4:05 p.m., Walkup Skydome (12,000 Hellas Turf) TV: NAU-TV, Fox College Sports Internet: Big Sky TV The Series: Northern Arizona leads 9-2 and has won eight straight. Last Meeting: Zach Bauman rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns to lead Northern Arizona to a 21-14 win over the Bears in 2010 in Greeley. Coaches: Northern Colorados Earnest Collins Jr. is 0-9 in his first season with the Bears... Northern Arizonas Jerome Souers is 75-80. Notes: NAU has won all five meetings since the Bears joined the Big Sky... Northern Colorado hasnt beaten Northern Arizona since 1978. The teams first met in 1964, a 1-0 forfeit win by Northern Colorado... NC WR Patrick Walker caught 10 passes for 315 yards with two touchdowns last week. The 315 yards are a Big Sky single-game record... Walker has 66 catches for 920 yards and nine touchdowns this season... Bauman rushed for a career-high 246 yards last week, and has 1,028 yards this season... NC QB Seth Lobato is averaging 365.3 passing yards per game over the last three weeks...NAU is -3 in turnover margin. NC is -5... NC linebacker Clarence Bumpas leads the Big Sky in tackles with 115. He is averaging 14.8 tackles per game in conference play... NAU has scored 220 points this season and allowed 219... NAU QB Cary Grossart is completing 66 percent of his passes for an average of 250 yards per game.

Team Conf. All Montana State 6-0 8-1 Montana 6-1 7-2 Portland State 3-2 5-3 Weber State 3-2 3-5 E. Washington 4-3 4-5 N. Arizona 2-4 3-5 Sacramento State 2-4 3-5 Idaho State 1-5 2-7 N. Colorado 0-6 0-9 Todays Games W. Ore. at Montana, 1:05 p.m. MSU at Weber St. 1:35 p.m. Sac St. at Portland St., 2:05 p.m. N. Colo. at N. Ariz., 4:05 p.m. Idaho State WR Rodrick Rumble has set a Big Sky singleseason record for catches in the season Rumble caught 13 in the Bengals 54-13 loss to Montana State on Saturday. Rumble now has 98 catches, breaking the previous singleseason record of 96 set by Idaho States Ed Bell in 1969... Portland State QB Connor Kavanaugh has rushed for 807 yards this season, a single-season record for quarterbacks in the Big Sky. Kavanaugh topped the previous mark of 686 set by Northern Arizonas Lance Kriesien in 2007... Montana States eight-game winning streak is tied with North Dakota State for the second-longest active streak in the FCS. Sam Houston State has won 10 straight dating back to last season. With a win over Weber State on Saturday, Montana State will clinch at least a share of the regular-season title for the second straight season... Road teams are 12-15 in conference play. ISU and NC are the only two teams who havent won a road conference game.

NOTES

N o. 1

vs .

N o. 2: LSU AT ALABAMA

Game for the ages looms in Tuscaloosa

By PAUL NEWBERRY
The Associated Press

Rise/from D1

Johnny Rodgers remembers a day when the two best teams in the land played a game for the ages. Forty years later, he can go over the winning drive as if it happened yesterday. Gino Torretta can still feel the hits he took in a different game. They were harder than most, and didnt necessarily end when the whistle blew. For Ara Parseghian, the most vivid memories are of Super Bowl-like hype before there was even such thing as a Super Bowl, leading to a showdown that demonstrated the enormous potential of No. 1 vs. No. 2. All were key figures in a so-called Game of the Century, those landmark contests that helped define the sport. And all will be tuned in Saturday night to catch the latest chapter in this ongoing saga: top-ranked LSU vs. second-ranked Alabama. Absolutely, said the 88-year-old Parseghian, who guided Notre Dame to a pair of national championships during his coaching career. Thats exactly what you want to see. While 1-2 matchups have become commonplace in the Bowl Championship Series, theyre a rarity in the regular season. This will be the first scheduled matchup of the top-ranked teams in The Associated Press poll since 2006, when No. 1 Ohio State defeated No. 2 Michigan 42-39 in their traditional season finale. In fact, since the AP poll was launched in 1936, there have been only 22 regular-season games pitting the two best teams as determined by a panel of media voters. If history is any indication, the 23rd could very well be a classic. More often not, the game lives up to the hype, from a banged-up Torretta leading Miami to a 1716 victory over Florida State that became known as Wide Right, to Parseghians must-debated call to settle for a 10-10 tie with Michigan State, to perhaps the greatest 1-2 showdown of all Nebraskas 35-31 victory over Oklahoma that will forever be remembered for Rodgers thrilling 72-yard punt return. We played pretty much a flawless game, Rodgers recalled, and it still went right down to the wire. We didnt make mistakes in those days. LSU and Alabama will try to heed that example, because Saturdays game could very well come down to which team makes the fewest errors. Pressure, Rodgers said with a chuckle, makes you dumber. Rodgers certainly looked as cool as that crisp Thanksgiving Day in 1971 when he hauled in a punt at his own 28, bounced off Oklahoma

AP

LSUs Jordan Jefferson throws a pass against Alabama in last years game.

star Greg Pruitt and took off for the games opening touchdown. Still, Oklahoma fought back for a 31-28 lead in the fourth quarter. The Cornhuskers never blinked, moving it methodically down the field on a 12-play, 74-yard drive that required only one completed pass. Jeff Kinney won it on a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:38 remaining. You have to want it, but you dont worry about it. You just go get it, said Rodgers, a star flanker for the Cornhuskers who would win the Heisman Trophy the following year. Thats what I take pride in about our team. We didnt make mistakes. We didnt get nervous. Even though there were still two games to go, Nebraska felt like a champion when it left the field in Norman, Okla. The Cornhuskers routed Hawaii in a regular-season finale that was little more than a vacation, then blew out Alabama 38-6 in the Orange Bowl, a much less dramatic 1-2 matchup against the team that moved up after the Sooners lost. We knew Alabama wasnt the team that Oklahoma was, Rodgers said. The real championship game had already been played. In 1966, Notre Dame claimed a national title by playing it safe. Rallying from a 10-0 deficit against a Michigan State team that featured Bubba Smith and three teammates who would go in the top eight picks of the next NFL draft, the Fighting Irish were happy to settle for a 10-10 tie even when they got the ball back with just over a minute remaining. Parseghian has steadfastly defended his decision to run out the clock, saying he didnt want to take a chance against Michigan States fearsome defense when his injury depleted team was missing its starting quarterback and top runner. It worked out just fine for the Irish, who routed USC the following week

and were voted No. 1. The Spartans finished No. 2. The significance of the game was undeniable, starting with the buildup. Incredibly, it wasnt even supposed to be nationally televised, but ABC made sure everyone at least got a chance to see the game on tape delay after receiving tens of thousands of angry letters. It was exhausting getting ready for it, Parseghian said. It was like the Super Bowl, it was incredible. We had press conferences after every practice and by the end of the week, I didnt know what to say. For all the debate and disappointment over the outcome, he points to that game as planting the seed that eventually resulted in the BCS, which is designed to ensure the top two teams meet for the national championship at the end of the season. It encouraged people to look at being able to put 1 and 2 together, Parseghian said. The emphasis thats placed on it and the amount of attention from the press, the present Bowl Championship Series came from that. A quarter-century later, there was no lack of hype when No. 2 Miami traveled to Tallahassee to take on top-ranked Florida State. The Seminoles were 10-0 and averaging more than 40 points a game, but the Hurricanes held on for a 17-16 victory when Gerry Thomas missed a 34yard field goal in the final minute. Wide right, of course. Torretta, who was Miamis quarterback, remembers the brutal hits more than he does the missed kick. I was running out of bounds toward their side of the field and I got hit significantly out of bounds and jacked my ankle up pretty good, the 1992 Heisman Trophy winner said. I realized then that it was a little different game. They were going to hit harder, and it might be a touch after the whistle.

I dont care who is coming in here; I dont care whether its Vince Lombardi or whoever is coming in here, we have to line up and play and take care of our business, McBride said. (MSU) deserves their ranking but I cant be worried about Montana State. Right now, I have to be worried about Weber State. While McBride is trying to help his team channel help last weeks frustrations into this weeks fury, a few of the Weber players say Montana States status atop the Big Sky and among the FCS elite paints a large target the Wildcats hope to strike. The (Bobcats) are I dont care who is ranked second now, so thats a huge thing coming in here; I for me because that dont care whether puts a huge target on their chests, said WSU senior guard J.C. Oram, its Vince Lombardi, a three-time all-league we have to line up pick and a 2010 AllAmerica. They have to and play and take win, they need to win and we have nothing to care of our business. lose so we might as well Ron McBride, go out and try to ruin Weber coach somebodys season. Thats our motivation this week. It would make all of our seniors feel pretty good about our ability and what we can do to compete against the No. 2 team in the nation, added senior linebacker Nick Webb, a 2010 first-team All-Big Sky selection. A win would be huge for our pride. Montana State is on an eight-game winning streak, which includes three league road wins. But the Bobcats have been a different animal at home in Bozeman. In five games at Bobcat Stadium this season, MSU is averaging 41.3 points per game and 504.2 yards of total offense. On the road, MSU is averaging just 26.5 points per game and 399.5 yards of total offense. Against FCS schools (MSUs only loss came in the season opener, 2710 to FBS Utah), Montana State is averaging 447 yards per game and 32.3 points. But MSU needed a stop on a 2-point conversion to escape Portland with a 38-36 win over Portland State. Last-place Northern Colorado gave MSU all it could handle in Greely before the Bobcats slammed the door on a 31-21 win. In three league road games, Montana State has played in front of an average of 8,169 fans. Weber is averaging almost 10,000 fans per contest at Stewart Stadium this season and theres sure to be even more with the No. 2 team in the land coming to town. Yet Montana State is confident in its ability to perform today. We like playing on the road, we like adversity, said MSU defensive tackle Zach Minter. We come together well when we absolutely have to. Its going to be a fun Saturday. If clinching a share of the league title werent enough, if marching toward a BSC championship showdown with the rival Grizzlies werent enough, the Bobcats lofty ranking this week came with an extra splash of incentive. North Dakota State, the team that ousted MSU from the playoffs with a 41-17 win in Bozeman last December, reached the top of the polls for the first time in school history. It sweetens the deal, said Akpla, who has caught touchdowns in eight straight games and has 10 total scores this season. I hope we can get that rematch. But before Montana State can look to the 111th Brawl of the Wild in Bozeman Nov. 19, before the Bobcats can think about a playoff rematch with the Bison, the team must first squeeze past Weber. Honestly, we are just thinking about this game and just winning, Akpla said. We are approaching it like we have every single week. (Weber State) is an opponent that we just have to beat. We wont be satisfied until we are in the national championship game. Colter Nuanez can be reached at cnuanez@dailychronicle.com and 582-2690.

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| Saturday, November 5, 2011

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2011 MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

Photo by Sean Sperry

#86 // Wide Receiver

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BOBCATGAMEDAY Montana State at Weber State

1:35 p.m. Stewart Stadium

Sideline Briefing
Records
Montana State 8-1, 6-0 Big Sky Weber State 3-5, 3-2

Bobcats, Wildcats ready to get physical

Weber seeks redemption after last weeks loss to UM
By COLTER NUANEZ
Chronicle Sports Writer

Series

49th meeting, MSU leads 27-20-1

Weather forecast
A.M. snow showers, high 37

Crowd
9,000 expected

TV
Altitude (Chris Marlowe, Scott Hastings, Maya Starks)

Radio
KXLB-FM (100.7), Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen

Coaches

ROB ASH

MSU, 5th year 32nd year overall 37-18 at MSU 213-117-5 overall

RON McBRIdE

WSU, 7th year 20th year overall 41-37 at WSU 129-100 overall

Schedules
32 17 49 45 21 39 28 10 Today 11/12 11/19 Weber State @ Wyoming @ Utah St. Sacramento St. @ No. Colorado @ E. Washington Idaho St. So. Utah @ Montana Montana St. No. Arizona @ Portland St. 35 54 17 21 27 12 35 45 1:35 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2 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 41 Northern Arizona 24 31 @ Northern Colorado 21 54 Idaho St. 13 Today @ Weber St. 1:35 p.m. 11/19 Montana 12:05 p.m.

Players to watch
WEBER STATE: QB Mike Hoke. Without him, Wildcats managed just 290 yards of offense last week. MONTANA STATE: MSUs O-line; unit can be the difference once again.

Injury report
MONTANA STATE OUT: DE Preston Gale (knee); WR Kerry Sloan (knee); LB Roger Trammell (knee). QUESTIONABLE: OL Leo Davis (knee). WEBER STATE OUT: TE Tyrell Francisco (leg); WR Xavian Johnson (concussion).

Its no secret what either visiting No. 2 Montana State or host Weber State will try to do at Stewart Stadium this afternoon. The Bobcats and the Wildcats will try to smack each other in the mouth in a game that surely will be physically decided in the trenches. Montana State is currently second in the Big Sky Conference in rushing yards per game. The Bobcats are running for 246 yards per game, including a season-high 415 yards in last weeks 54-13 win over Idaho State. During Ron McBrides seven-year stint as head coach at Weber State, the Wildcats have been known for their physical fronts on both sides of the ball and a propensity to run the ball. This year is no different. Weber is rushing for nearly 200 yards per game and currently has three running backs with more than 300 yards this season. Weve always had physical offensive linemen, said WSU senior guard J.C. Oram, a three-time all-Big Sky pick and a 2010 AllAmerica. Thats what we pride ourselves upon. We dont like to do 60, 70 passes a game. We want to get down there, get low and hit somebody. MSU head coach Rob Ash is well aware of the Wildcats affection for smash-mouth football. Its always important to stop the run, said MSU head coach Rob Ash, whose 8-1 squad has its highest national ranking since 1976. Its what we believe in, its a fundamental part of our defensive plan and our football program. But Weber has a very good front line. Theyve always been big and strong up front. They present a more physical challenge than some of the other teams in the conference because they dedicate themselves to finding those kinds of players. Sophomore Cody Kirk and junior Tray Robinson both ran wild on Idaho State last week in helping Montana State pile up the sixth-most rushing yards in school history. Kirk ran for 184 yards and four touchdowns, including 166 first-half yards. Robinson had 141 of his 154 yards and both his touchdowns during a second period that saw MSU collect 249 yards on the ground. The offensive line coach at Montana State (Jason McEndoo) is obviously an excellent football coach because when you watch the guys that he is coaching and what their technique is and how they pass people off and how they do things, its very, very good, McBride said. That No. 7 (Robinson) is a good downhill back and that No. 25 (Kirk) is a good downhill back. They do a really nice job and it all starts with the guys up front. I dont know who their line coach is, but the guy is a good coach because their technique is very good. In Week 2, Utah State rushed for 440 yards on Weber in a 54-17 win. WSU linebacker Nick Webb said hearing about MSUs ability to relentlessly pound ISU on the ground is motivation for this week. Yes. To make it simple, yes its motivation, said the senior, a 2010 first-team allconference pick. I think it was Utah State that ran on us for 425 yards. When a team does that, it motivates you to get your game on, make sure you come out and try to stop their run game, force them into the pass. You hear that and you want to stop it, you dont want that to happen to you. Montana State currently leads the league in

COURTESy OF WEBER STATE UnIvERSITy

Weber State quarterback Mike Hoke is expected to return to the lineup against Montana State.

The offensive line coach at Montana State (Jason McEndoo) is obviously an excellent football coach.
Ron McBride, Weber State coach

rushing defense, allowing just 106 yards per contest. Weber might have a reputation, but Montana State has confidence in its abilities. Thats what we are good at, stuffing the run, so its going to be interesting to watch them come out and try to run the ball on us, said MSU defensive tackle Zach Minter, whose 9.5 tackles for loss are third in the league. We pride ourselves on being a run-stopping defense and Im pretty, pretty confident we are going to do that (today). Weber State has been reeling the past two weeks. The Wildcats gave up 25 unanswered points in the second half two weeks ago in a 35-28 loss to Southern Utah. Last week, WSU was the victim of a 45-10 loss to Montana that saw the Grizzlies build a 38-3 halftime lead. Still, Montana State isnt taking the Wildcats (3-5, 3-2 Big Sky) lightly. Any team can beat anybody no matter who is playing, Minter said. Watching Montana beat up on Weber like that definitely doesnt take away from what we need to do to prepare to beat Weber. A main factor to Webers lopsided loss was the absence of quarterback Mike Hoke. The

junior is third in the league in pass efficiency rating (158.9) and has tossed 17 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions. But he wrenched his right (throwing) shoulder badly against Southern Utah. The player who McBride said is the engine that runs the thing is slated to start Saturday. We have to assume (Hoke) is going to play, Ash said. Thats the approach we are going to take. We are going to prepare for Mike Hoke. At the same time, we have to look at last weeks tape and have a plan ready for that as well. We are under the assumption and prepare that he will be out there. Montana State is fresh off its most dominating performance of the season. More importantly, a win today could clinch at least a share of the teams second straight Big Sky Conference championship. Wed like to play a game like last week every week if we could, but thats not going to happen in this conference, Ash said. We have to go down and win this football game and thats the bottom line. I dont care if its by one point or 30, it makes no difference. High scoring, low scoring, it makes no difference as long as we can win the game.

Dont expect the Wildcat against the Wildcats

Game notes
n MSUs 415 rushing yards last Saturday was the fourthhighest total in school history. The Bobcats have gained at least 500 yards 10 times over the past two seasons, one more than from 1992-2009 combined. n Rob Ashs 37th MSU win last week moves him into fourth place on MSUs career victories list, three behind current ISU coach Mike Kramer. n The Bobcat offensive line paved the way for 1,019 rushing yards with just one sack allowed in last three games. n For the second straight week, Montana State faces a fellow charter member of the Big Sky for the last time until 2014. Weber State and MSU helped form the conference in 1963, but due to league expansion, the teams wont meet for the next two seasons. n Weber State has owned the first half this season. Even after Montana took a 38-3 lead into the intermission last week, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents 124-112 in the first two quarters, but have been outscored 134-117 in the second half.

njury, opportunity One leads to the other in this game. Imagine if drew Bledsoe was never taken out by Mo Lewis 10 years ago; Tom Brady may still be on the sidelines wearing a baseball hat and carrying a clipboard. DeNarius McGhees injury last December didnt cause him to miss any plays. But it did open a window. And not just for backup quarterback Grayson Galloway. It took nine games this season for the opportunity to see the light of day and it was used for mere minutes but, boy, was it effective. Montana State was struggling to move forward against Idaho State last week, picking up just 16 yards on its first 11 plays. When the Cats took over at the ISU 38-yard line late in the first quarter, they still only managed a 4 yards on their first play. Time to try something different. When McGhee missed spring drills due to an injury to his non-throwing shoulder suffered in last seasons playoff loss to North Dakota State, the Bobcats prepared for life without DeNarius, as head coach Rob Ash referred to it on Monday.

Galloway did receive increased playing time during the spring, but MSU also had Cody Kirk taking snaps in the Wildcat formation. Last Saturday, the Cats brought the Cat out of the bag. With McGhee lining up wide to the left, Kirk took a direct snap and gained 10 yards, his teams longest gain of the day. That was supposed to be it. MSU offensive coordinator Brian Wright had planned to use the Wildcat early in the game and for just one play. But the coaching staff wasnt ready to let it go. That worked really good lets go again, was the conversation on the head set. Kirk then ran for 22 yards. Again! Two more yards and the Bobcats were in the end zone and on the way to a 41-point blowout. The formation wasnt used from there. Will we see the Wildcat today against the Wildcats of Weber State? Probably not; theyll be ready for it.

But since MSU hadnt used it in a long time, maybe Idaho State wouldnt be ready for it. That was the thinking last weekend. If we havent used the Wildcat formation in the last three or four games, maybe they wouldnt TIM spend a lot of DUMAS time on it why would they? Ash Chronicle said this week. Sports Editor So then you dust it off and bring it out and if they havent prepared for it, maybe itll work. The Wildcat was wildly popular in the college and pro games just a few years ago. Everyone seemed to be using it. Montana State employed it with Everett Gilbert at the controls; Tim Tebow and Cam Newton used it to win national championships. But using a running back like Kirk thats a dying breed. The idea, Ash said, is to give yourself another blocker. What it does is it basically gives you an extra player on the field, the coach said. The quarterback becomes a receiver that (the defense) has to cover. Instead of the quarterback just

taking the snap from center and handing the ball off and not really blocking anybody, now you have everybody accounting for a defensive player. It kind of gives you a numerical advantage in the nucleus. The Wildcat isnt for everyone, however. Someone like Kirk taking a direct snap is a whole different world from taking hand-offs. Kirk has to make the play call, get the linemen organized, call out the cadence of the play and make sure that the play gets off to a clean start. Its harder than it looks. With November here, teams have hundreds of hours of the opposing teams game film to review. Creativity and innovation are keys this late in the fall. Trying something new doesnt always work, but trying never hurts. Were all in the same boat, said Ash of his coaching brethren. We could all be right or wrong with our guesses at this point in the season. There are so many plays out there (on film) that its tough to prepare for everything. Start preparing in the spring, however, and who knows what kind of opportunity will open up in the fall.