BOBCAT FOOTBALL SUNDAY NOTEBOOK: John Walker Paces Bobcat Defense

Saturday, September 10

Bozeman, MT

2:05 pm

Montana State University

1-1

Bryant

1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Bryant

Montana State

The first of John Walker's two interceptions Saturday

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

BOBCAT FOOTBALL SUNDAY NOTEBOOK: John Walker Paces Bobcat Defense

9/11/2016 7:30:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Montana State capitalizes on turnovers in win over Bryant

By: Bill Lamberty

Montana State forced five Bryant turnovers, including a pair of interceptions inside the Bobcat five-yard line, to hold off the pesky Bulldogs 27-24 in front of 18,867 fans in the Bobcats' annual Gold Rush Game. Bryant out-gained the Cats 452 yards to 265, but turned BU turnovers into 14 points and scored seven more after a de facto turnover when a bad punt snap gave MSU possession at the Bulldogs' nine-yard line. The Cats didn't turn the ball over in the win, which was the 10^th straight Bobcat home-opening win and was Jeff Choate's first as the program's head coach.

Player of the Week Nominees
Defense – CB John Walker (5-9, 180, Gr., Washington, D.C.): Graduate transfer cornerback John Walker intercepted two passes in the shadow of Montana State's end zone to help the Bobcats turn back Bryant 27-24 in Bobcat Stadium on Saturday. Walker's first pick came late in the first half on a pass that originated at the Bobcat seven-yard line. The interception came with MSU holding a 14-3 lead, at the Bobcat three-yard line. The second came in even more dire circumstances for the Cats. MSU led 27-24, but Bryant had just scored and recovered an on-side kick. The Bulldogs moved to the Montana State 20, and on second-and-nine Dalton Easton threw into the end zone. But Walker, listed at 5-9, got inside position and made a leaping interception to preserve the Bobcats' lead with 4:49 to play. Bryant never possessed the ball again. Walker's pair of picks marked the first time a Bobcat had managed that since 2011. In fact, it had been 16 games since Montana State picked off more than one pass in a game as a team. Walker also recorded four tackles, second-most among Bobcat defensive backs.

Statistical Rankings
Top 20 in NCAA Team Rankings – 1. Turnover Margin, +3.00; 6. Passes Intercepted, 4; 6. Turnovers Lost, 1; 7. Turnovers Gained, 7; 12. Fumbles Recovered, 3; 14. Fewest Penalties, 9; 17. Third Down Conversion Defense, .261; 17. Fewest Penalty Yards, 79; 19. Net Punting, 39.00.
NCAA Individual Rankings – Mac Bignell: T5^th in Fumbles Recovered (1), 2^nd in Solo Tackles (8.0). Bryson McCable: 19^th in Interceptions per Game (0.5), 18^th in Passes Defended (1.5). Fletcher Collins: 17^th in Forced Fumbles (0.5), T5th in Fumbles Recovered (1). Mitchell Herbert: 12^th in receiving TDs (7).

Bobcat Players of the Week
SCOUTS OF THE WEEK: Offense-Keon Stephens (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), Defense-Michael Jobman (Huntley Project, MT), Special Teams-Koni Dole (Huntley Project, MT). PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Offense-Johnny D'Agostino (Bozeman, MT), Defense-John Walker (Washington, DC), Special Teams-Tavon Dodd (Houston, TX), Lineman-Tucker Yates (Colstrip, MT).

Post-Game News and Notes
Injury Report: Out for Season – DE Devin Jeffries, DT Robert Wilcox.
• John Walker became the first Bobcat to intercept two passes in one game since Steven Bethley's pair of pilfers against Minot State in 2011, and Walker's total Saturday was one shy of the school record
• Before Saturday, Montana State's last five-takeaway game was against Adams State in the 2008 season opener
• After not losing a fumble in the first seven games of the 2015 season, MSU has not lost one in the first two games of 2016
• Montana State's seven takeaways leads the Big Sky Conference, and its one giveaway is second in the league
• Freshman quarterback Chris Murray has the longest run from scrimmage in each of Montana State's two games – 14 yards at Idaho, and 33 yards against Bryant
• The last time Montana State held opponents to less than 25 points in consecutive games was October 5 (NAU) and 19 (Weber State), 2013
• The Bobcats now stand 80-21-3 in home openers, and have won 10 straight such games, and 14 of 15

First Look: Montana State at North Dakota
Game Details: Date – Saturday, September 17 Kickoff – 2:07 pm Audio – Statewide on the Bobcat Radio Network and msubobcats.com Video – Statewide on SWX Montana (Fox stations across Montana except in Billings, Fox)
At A Glance: Montana State looks to continue forcing turnovers while taking excellent care of the football against a Western Oregon team that opened the season with a win at Sacramento State. The Cats have turned the ball over only once through two games, while taking the ball away seven times. The Wolves are an NCAA Division II school in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.