Saturday, November 16
Davis, CA
6:00 pm MT
Montana State University
at
UC Davis
Paul Brott
Photo by: Daryn Hendrickson
GAME #11: Bobcats Battle UC Davis for First Place in Big Sky
11/14/2024 4:49:00 PM | Football
Montana State rides '1-0 mentality' into crucial showdown
BOZEMAN, Montana – One and oh.
That's an often-used phrase around the Bobcat Athletics Complex, one which Montana State head football coach Brent Vigen says communicates in large and small ways the program's commitment to "live in the week that we're in, live in the opponent that we're facing," rather than allowing attention to drift into the future or the past. That one-and-oh mentality comes into clear focus this week, as the Bobcats face the Big Sky's only other unbeaten team. MSU and UC Davis square off on Saturday at 6 pm MT in UC Davis Health Stadium.
Vigen acknowledges that while it sounds like a "broken record," this week shapes up like all before it which have led the Cats to a 10-0 record, 7-0 in the Big Sky. "That's really the key," he said. "We can't all of a sudden think we need to change things this week. We need to stick to a similar script, really prepare well, and know that we have to play well against a really good football team — a well-coached football team — this week."
The second-ranked Bobcats face No. 4 UC Davis (9-1, 6-0 Big Sky) in a game that decides the Big Sky Conference's automatic berth to the FCS Playoffs. Vigen said everyone acknowledges the game's significance:. "Two teams unbeaten in conference play getting a chance to face off down in Davis" is an exciting opportunity.
"I've got a lot of respect for that program, not only what they've done this year but over time. I have a lot of familiarity with UC Davis, going back to my time at North Dakota State. We've only played once in my time here, but I certainly have a lot of respect for what that program has done over the years," Vigen said.
Vigen asserted UC Davis' key element is balance. "This team in particular has put itself in this position because it's playing well on offense and it's playing well on defense. It's really that simple. They've found ways to control the line of scrimmage, in particular on Saturday night in the second half, they did that, and they got a big win."
The Aggies are third in the Big Sky in both scoring offense (35.3 points a game) and scoring defense (20.9 points allowed), but the key matchup comes at the line of scrimmage. UC Davis allows just 118.3 rushing yards per game, second in the Big Sky, while Montana State rushes for an FCS-best 330.0 yards a game.
"Something's going to have to give," Vigen said of the matchup that pits MSU's run game against UCD's defensive front. "I think they're giving up 118 yards rushing (per game), 3.6 yards per rush, and we average 7.2 yards per rush. So that piece of our offense, our ability to run the football, vs. their defense and their ability to stop it will be critical. They've taken the ball away a significant amount this year, so that's going to play a big piece in how this game goes on Saturday."
The Aggies' reliability on defense has been important, Vigen said. "Defensively they've been really consistent, really good, particularly against the run," he said. "That says they're playing well up front. They're big. It's a defense where I wouldn't pull out any one or two individuals and that's a credit to what they're doing. They play a lot of guys, they have good size up front, they're active, they tackle well, and they've got good coverage ability at the same time."
UC Davis attacks with an offense that features experienced quarterback Miles Hastings and brilliant running back Lan Larison. The Aggies lead the Big Sky with 317.3 passing yards a game, and Larison rushes for 106.1 yards an outing while contributing a team-high of 46 catches.
"Miles Hastings is a vet," Vigen said. "He's played a lot of football, and it appears that he's playing his best football right now. He's dang near 70 percent completion, over 3,000 yards passing, 26 touchdowns, and really does a good job of spreading it around. He looks like a polished vet, a guy that just gets rid of the ball and knows where to go, a guy who doesn't make bad plays. They do a really good job of playing to his strengths, a quick release and accuracy, he can get the ball downfield as well."
As the primary weapon in both the run and passing attacks, Larison affects every aspect of the Aggies' offense. "Lan Larison has over 1,500 total yards, 16 TDs, 40 catches —, so he has over 250 touches. They're leaning on him and finding different ways to get him involved. He's really an effective guy in so many ways, but I think he's most dangerous when they get him in space."
Vigen said that to only focus on Larison, though, is not an option. "They have four versatile receivers that all have over 25 catches and tight ends that they use in different ways. There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle offensively for them, and they're very creative. They do what they do, but they find different wrinkles each and every week."
Saturday's game airs around Montana on Scripps Sports' CBS stations, and streams on ESPN+. The Bobcat Radio Network also carries the call by Keaton Gillogly and former Bobcats Leo Davis and Dan Davies.
#GoCatsGo
That's an often-used phrase around the Bobcat Athletics Complex, one which Montana State head football coach Brent Vigen says communicates in large and small ways the program's commitment to "live in the week that we're in, live in the opponent that we're facing," rather than allowing attention to drift into the future or the past. That one-and-oh mentality comes into clear focus this week, as the Bobcats face the Big Sky's only other unbeaten team. MSU and UC Davis square off on Saturday at 6 pm MT in UC Davis Health Stadium.
Vigen acknowledges that while it sounds like a "broken record," this week shapes up like all before it which have led the Cats to a 10-0 record, 7-0 in the Big Sky. "That's really the key," he said. "We can't all of a sudden think we need to change things this week. We need to stick to a similar script, really prepare well, and know that we have to play well against a really good football team — a well-coached football team — this week."
The second-ranked Bobcats face No. 4 UC Davis (9-1, 6-0 Big Sky) in a game that decides the Big Sky Conference's automatic berth to the FCS Playoffs. Vigen said everyone acknowledges the game's significance:. "Two teams unbeaten in conference play getting a chance to face off down in Davis" is an exciting opportunity.
"I've got a lot of respect for that program, not only what they've done this year but over time. I have a lot of familiarity with UC Davis, going back to my time at North Dakota State. We've only played once in my time here, but I certainly have a lot of respect for what that program has done over the years," Vigen said.
Vigen asserted UC Davis' key element is balance. "This team in particular has put itself in this position because it's playing well on offense and it's playing well on defense. It's really that simple. They've found ways to control the line of scrimmage, in particular on Saturday night in the second half, they did that, and they got a big win."
The Aggies are third in the Big Sky in both scoring offense (35.3 points a game) and scoring defense (20.9 points allowed), but the key matchup comes at the line of scrimmage. UC Davis allows just 118.3 rushing yards per game, second in the Big Sky, while Montana State rushes for an FCS-best 330.0 yards a game.
"Something's going to have to give," Vigen said of the matchup that pits MSU's run game against UCD's defensive front. "I think they're giving up 118 yards rushing (per game), 3.6 yards per rush, and we average 7.2 yards per rush. So that piece of our offense, our ability to run the football, vs. their defense and their ability to stop it will be critical. They've taken the ball away a significant amount this year, so that's going to play a big piece in how this game goes on Saturday."
The Aggies' reliability on defense has been important, Vigen said. "Defensively they've been really consistent, really good, particularly against the run," he said. "That says they're playing well up front. They're big. It's a defense where I wouldn't pull out any one or two individuals and that's a credit to what they're doing. They play a lot of guys, they have good size up front, they're active, they tackle well, and they've got good coverage ability at the same time."
UC Davis attacks with an offense that features experienced quarterback Miles Hastings and brilliant running back Lan Larison. The Aggies lead the Big Sky with 317.3 passing yards a game, and Larison rushes for 106.1 yards an outing while contributing a team-high of 46 catches.
"Miles Hastings is a vet," Vigen said. "He's played a lot of football, and it appears that he's playing his best football right now. He's dang near 70 percent completion, over 3,000 yards passing, 26 touchdowns, and really does a good job of spreading it around. He looks like a polished vet, a guy that just gets rid of the ball and knows where to go, a guy who doesn't make bad plays. They do a really good job of playing to his strengths, a quick release and accuracy, he can get the ball downfield as well."
As the primary weapon in both the run and passing attacks, Larison affects every aspect of the Aggies' offense. "Lan Larison has over 1,500 total yards, 16 TDs, 40 catches —, so he has over 250 touches. They're leaning on him and finding different ways to get him involved. He's really an effective guy in so many ways, but I think he's most dangerous when they get him in space."
Vigen said that to only focus on Larison, though, is not an option. "They have four versatile receivers that all have over 25 catches and tight ends that they use in different ways. There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle offensively for them, and they're very creative. They do what they do, but they find different wrinkles each and every week."
Saturday's game airs around Montana on Scripps Sports' CBS stations, and streams on ESPN+. The Bobcat Radio Network also carries the call by Keaton Gillogly and former Bobcats Leo Davis and Dan Davies.
#GoCatsGo
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