Saturday, November 5
Cedar City, UT
12 noon
Montana State University
at
Southern Utah
Mac Bignell and the Bobcats run into Southern Utah on Saturday
Bobcats Look for Boost from Bye Week as Thunderbirds Loom
11/3/2016 3:45:00 PM | Football
Montana State looks for return to win column at Cedar City
The weather cooperated. The enthusiasm was present. Montana State coach Jeff Choate hopes that hitting the reset button during his team's open week is a boost entering the final three-game, season-closing stretch.
That begins Saturday, when the Bobcats (2-6 overall, 0-5 Big Sky) visit Southern Utah (4-4 overall, 3-3 Big Sky). Kickoff is 12 noon in Eccles Coliseum.
"We've got a three-game season," Choate said, "and we've got the opportunity to go 1-0 three times. The analogy I kept using (last week) is that this is fall camp, it's like August again, this just happens to be in October. We had a chance with guys that were injured to get them healthy. We gave guys the chance to show they have the ingredients we need to build a championship program. We want to use this to build momentum in the last three games and going into the off-season."
The task isn't easy. MSU visits the defending Big Sky Champion Thunderbirds for the first time since 2012, facing a team that Choate thinks is gaining traction. "I see a team that's improved a lot over the last couple of weeks," he said. "They're hitting their stride. They definitely got on track against Idaho State last week on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively they've been consistent through the course of the year, I think they're a good (defensive) football team."
Southern Utah drilled the Bengals 52-27, rolling up 32 first downs and 610 total yards. Patrick Tyler threw for 334 yards, while Malik Brown rushed for 103 yards. Mike Sharp caught 11 passes for 103 yards. Choate sees a lot to like in that trio.
"Tyler (is a) dual-threat quarterback, and he can hurt you both with his arm and legs," Choate said. "He throws the vertical balls very well, very good in the quick game, and they definitely have designed some quarterback runs for him. Brown, the tailback, is a physical runner. He fits their scheme very well. Their most productive receiver is Sharp, he competes for the ball very well… he's a good route-runner, physical."
The Thunderbirds multi-faceted offense presents challenges on several levels, Choate said. "They're interesting because they run their offense, kind of a spread-gun-run, zone read, quick game, spit the ball out, those types of things, take their shots down the field. Then they'll have kind of their game-plan segment. So they have their base offense, they have (plays) they think will work against this opponent, then they have their short-yardage stuff that's completely different. So they give you a lot to prepare for on the offensive side of the ball."
Defensively, the Thunderbirds rely on a physical, active front seven. "They look like a Power Five front," Choate said. "They're big." That begins with Fesi Vaa'ivaka, a 6-3, 360 lb defensive tackle. Mike Needham (8.0 takcles-for-loss, three sacks) and Junior Tufuga (6.5 tackles-for-loss) lead the charge.
Montana State enters the season's eighth game on a five-game losing streak, but healthier and energized. "We put the game against Eastern Washington to bed on Monday with the players and really had really good days of practice on Tuesday and Wednesday" during the bye week, Choate said. "A lot of the young guys got the opportunity to play a ton of reps, we looked at some guys in different spots, tried to get some guys healthy and ready to go for the stretch run."
Freshman quarterback Chris Murray has sparked the offense, and his 514 rushing yards is second-most by a Bobcat freshman. He is 131 yards from catching Aaron Mason in that category. Meanwhile, seniors Chad Newell (453 yards, six touchdowns) and Gunnar Brekke (331 yards) give the team's ground game multiple dimensions.
After Saturday's road game, the Cats return to Bozeman for Senior Day against UC Davis on November 12. The annual Cat-Griz Brawl of the Wild contest is November 19. This week's game is televised statewide on SWX Montana. Check local listings.
That begins Saturday, when the Bobcats (2-6 overall, 0-5 Big Sky) visit Southern Utah (4-4 overall, 3-3 Big Sky). Kickoff is 12 noon in Eccles Coliseum.
"We've got a three-game season," Choate said, "and we've got the opportunity to go 1-0 three times. The analogy I kept using (last week) is that this is fall camp, it's like August again, this just happens to be in October. We had a chance with guys that were injured to get them healthy. We gave guys the chance to show they have the ingredients we need to build a championship program. We want to use this to build momentum in the last three games and going into the off-season."
The task isn't easy. MSU visits the defending Big Sky Champion Thunderbirds for the first time since 2012, facing a team that Choate thinks is gaining traction. "I see a team that's improved a lot over the last couple of weeks," he said. "They're hitting their stride. They definitely got on track against Idaho State last week on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively they've been consistent through the course of the year, I think they're a good (defensive) football team."
Southern Utah drilled the Bengals 52-27, rolling up 32 first downs and 610 total yards. Patrick Tyler threw for 334 yards, while Malik Brown rushed for 103 yards. Mike Sharp caught 11 passes for 103 yards. Choate sees a lot to like in that trio.
"Tyler (is a) dual-threat quarterback, and he can hurt you both with his arm and legs," Choate said. "He throws the vertical balls very well, very good in the quick game, and they definitely have designed some quarterback runs for him. Brown, the tailback, is a physical runner. He fits their scheme very well. Their most productive receiver is Sharp, he competes for the ball very well… he's a good route-runner, physical."
The Thunderbirds multi-faceted offense presents challenges on several levels, Choate said. "They're interesting because they run their offense, kind of a spread-gun-run, zone read, quick game, spit the ball out, those types of things, take their shots down the field. Then they'll have kind of their game-plan segment. So they have their base offense, they have (plays) they think will work against this opponent, then they have their short-yardage stuff that's completely different. So they give you a lot to prepare for on the offensive side of the ball."
Defensively, the Thunderbirds rely on a physical, active front seven. "They look like a Power Five front," Choate said. "They're big." That begins with Fesi Vaa'ivaka, a 6-3, 360 lb defensive tackle. Mike Needham (8.0 takcles-for-loss, three sacks) and Junior Tufuga (6.5 tackles-for-loss) lead the charge.
Montana State enters the season's eighth game on a five-game losing streak, but healthier and energized. "We put the game against Eastern Washington to bed on Monday with the players and really had really good days of practice on Tuesday and Wednesday" during the bye week, Choate said. "A lot of the young guys got the opportunity to play a ton of reps, we looked at some guys in different spots, tried to get some guys healthy and ready to go for the stretch run."
Freshman quarterback Chris Murray has sparked the offense, and his 514 rushing yards is second-most by a Bobcat freshman. He is 131 yards from catching Aaron Mason in that category. Meanwhile, seniors Chad Newell (453 yards, six touchdowns) and Gunnar Brekke (331 yards) give the team's ground game multiple dimensions.
After Saturday's road game, the Cats return to Bozeman for Senior Day against UC Davis on November 12. The annual Cat-Griz Brawl of the Wild contest is November 19. This week's game is televised statewide on SWX Montana. Check local listings.
Players Mentioned
Leon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
