Montana State plays its final road game of 2009 on Saturday, traveling to the Rose City to face Portland State at 2:05 pm MT. As usual, the Vikings own one of the explosive offenses in the Football Championship Subdivision, ranking 14th nationally in passing yards with 266.9 per game. Quarterback Drew Hubel is 16th in the nation in total offense with 270.1 yards per game. Montana State’s rush defense paces a team that bounced back last weekend with a 41-10 home win over Idaho State.
THIS WEEK’S GAME
KICKOFF: 2:05 pm MT/1:05 pm PT
SITE: Portland, OR
STADIUM: PGE Park
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen)
TELEVISION: Max Media (Chris Byers, Mike Callaghan, Dave Griffiths-sideline)
FOR OPENERS
• The Bobcats are 21-4 when positive or even in turnover margin since the beginning of 2006, but just 5-14 when finishing a game negative in turnovers. The Bobcats bucked that trend with Saturday’s 41-10 win over Idaho State in which the ‘Cats were -1 in turnovers.
• Montana State has trailed in four of the five games that it has won this season
STADIUM STUFF
• MSU looks for its sixth all-time win at PGE Park, but only its third in the last 35 seasons
• Montana State’s final 2009 record on natural grass will stand at 2-2
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
• Montana State continues to lead the Big Sky in rushing defense (79.4 yards per game)
• Eric Fisher reclaimed his lead in both the Big Sky and FCS in punting, averaging 46.1 yards per punt
HIGHLIGHTS
• A Bobcat running back has rushed for over 100 yards in three straight games and four of the last five, and MSU is second in the Big Sky in rushing
• Daruis Jones’ 32-yard fumble return for a TD Saturday makes MSU 12-0 under Rob Ash when the defense scores
STREAKS
• Kevin Retoriano’s ninth career interception snapped a three-game streak without a pick for the Bobcats
• Montana State has allowed only one rushing TD in 2009, and opponents have gained just 20 net rushing yards inside the MSU 10 in the last five games
• RG Jeff Hansen and RT Mike Person have 41 straight starts next to each other
MILESTONES
• Aaron Mason’s 108 yards Saturday moved him into 14th place on the school’s career rushing list
• Mason became the 11th Bobcat with five 100-yard rushing days in his career
SHINING
• WR Everett Gilbert, a true freshman, leads MSU in receiving
• DE Brad Daly, also a true freshman, stripped ISU running back Clint Knickrehm late in the second quarter last week
• CB Darius Jones, another true frosh, returned that fumble 32 yards for MSU’s first fumble return TD since the ‘08 opener