Following are game notes for the Montana State football team’s game at Sacramento State on Saturday provided by the MSU Sports Information Department. Click below for a PDF of the media game notes.
THE STORYLINE
Montana State plays a road game for the first time in 28 days Saturday, returning to California for a late afternoon contest against surging Sacramento State. The Hornets upended nationally-ranked Cal Poly a week ago, adding to an already-impressive resume that includes a win over Colorado. Quarterback Garrett Safron triggers Sac State’s balanced, dynamic offense that features productive RB Ezekiel Graham, while DB Osagie Odiase has three interceptions and seven pass breakups. The Hornets have won five of their last six home games against ranked foes, and at 6-3 continue their run at the FCS Playoffs this week. Montana State bounced back from its only loss of 2012 with a 55-10 home win over North Dakota.
THIS WEEK’S GAME
KICKOFF: 4:15 pm PT/5:15 pm MT
SITE: Sacramento, CA
STADIUM: Hornet Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Tyler Wiltgen, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: ROOT Sports (Rich Burk, Jason Stiles, Jen Mueller)
FOR OPENERS
• The Bobcat football program joins the Sacramento State family in grieving the loss of John Bloomfield, a standout on the Hornets football team who passed away last week
• Montana State’s last trip to Hornet Stadium ended in a mind-scrambling 64-61 overtime win in which the Bobcats lost a 27-point lead and overcame a fourth quarter deficit
• Rob Ash’s 46 wins at MSU is one from the Sonny Holland’s MSU wins record of 47
STADIUM STUFF
• MSU and Sac State combined for 125 points in the teams’ last game at Hornet Stadium
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
• Big Sky teams own wins over the Pac 12 (Sac State beat Colorado), Mountain West (NAU topped UNLV, Cal Poly beat Wyoming), and WAC (EWU beat Idaho) this season
• MSU leads the Big Sky in third down offense (57.5%) and defense (27.4%)
• The Cats lead the Big Sky in rush defense (63.9) and total defense (285.8)
2012 MSU SCHEDULE
Aug 30 — Chadron State, W, 33-6
Sept 8 — at Drake, W, 34-24
Sept 15 — *Northern Colorado, W, 41-16
Sept 29 — *Stephen F. Austin, W, 43-35
Sept 22 — at Southern Utah, W, 24-17
Oct 6 — *at UC Davis, W, 48-41
Oct 13 — *Eastern Wash., L, 24-27
Oct 27 — *North Dakota, W, 55-10
Nov. 3 — *at Sacramento St, 5:15 p.m. MT
Nov 10 — *Portland State, 1:35 p.m.
Nov 17 — *at Montana, 1:35 p.m.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The 34 wins by this year’s seniors is the most by any group in school history
• The Bobcat offense has produced six 2012 scoring drives of 84 yards or longer
STREAKS
• MSU’s 24 straight weeks in the top 10 is longer than any other string of consecutive weeks in the top 25 in school history
• Tight end Lee Perkins has caught a touchdown pass in two straight games
• DeNarius McGhee has started – and completed a touchdown pass in – each of his first 33 games as a Bobcat
• Caleb Schreibeis has at least one sack in each of his first seven games of 2012
MILESTONES
• DeNarius McGhee‘s 64 career TD passes is an MSU record
• Rob Ash’s 46 career victories is one from Sonny Holland’s school record (47)
• DeNarius McGhee owns 26 wins as MSU’s starting quarterback, tied with Paul Dennehy for the most in school history
• Cody Kirk’s 25 career rushing TDs is third in MSU history
SHINING
• RB Cody Kirk rushed for 160 yards last week in his return after two weeks out of the lineup
• OT John Weidenaar earned Sports Network National Freshman of the Week honors, the first Bobcat so honored
• DE Caleb Schreibeis has forced four opponent fumbles this season
