Following are the game notes for Montana State’s home opener against Chadron State as provided by MSU Sports Information. The football game will be played at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Bobcat Stadium.
THE STORYLINE
For all the talk about what’s new at the beginning of Montana State’s 2012 football season – an offensive coordinator, a home night game for the first time, 80 percent of the offensive line – the things that are the same are those that really matter. A head coach entering his sixth season with the core of a coaching staff that has been at his side the entire tenure, a third-year starting quarterback, nine returning starters on defense – those factors led to the Bobcats’ No. 4 national ranking entering the season. The Cats host Chadron State, a strong Division II outfit from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, to open 2012.
FOR OPENERS
— The last three times Montana State opened its season with a home game the Cats did so against a school from the Rocky Mountain Conference, to which MSU once belonged
— Chadron State won its last trip to Bozeman, a 35-24 triumph in 2006 powered by current New England Patriot Danny Woodhead
—P Montana State has hosted Chadron State to open its season twice previously – a 20-10 win in 1999, and a 24-14 win in 1997
STADIUM STUFF
— MSU’s 2012 season opener stands as the first home night game in school history
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
— Big Sky coaches and media each pick MSU to win the Big Sky
THIS WEEK’S GAME
KICKOFF: 7:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman, MT
STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Tyler Wiltgen, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: Max Media (Chris Byer, Mike Callaghan, Jeff Eberle)
2012 MSU SCHEDULE
Aug 30 Chadron State, 7:05 pm
Sept 8 at Drake, 5:05 pm MT
Sept 15 Stephen F. Austin, 1:35 pm
Sept 22 *Northern Colorado, 2:05 pm
Sept 29 *at Southern Utah, 1:35 pm
Oct 6 *at UC Davis, 5:05 pm MT
Oct 13 *Eastern Wash., 1:35 pm
Oct 27 *North Dakota, 2:05 pm
Nov. 3 *at Sacramento St, 5:05 pm MT
Nov 10 *Portland State, 1:35 pm
Nov 17 *at Montana, 1:35 pm
HIGHLIGHTS
— Montana State opens the 2012 season ranked No. 4 in both The Sports Network media/SID poll and the FCS Coaches Poll, the school’s highest preseason ranking since at least 1985
— MSU has gained at least 500 yards 10 times over the past two seasons, one more than from 1992-2009 combined
STREAKS
— DeNarius McGhee has started – and completed a touchdown pass – in each of his first 25 games as a Bobcat
— Linebacker Jody Owens, the preseason Big Sky Defensive MVP, had tackles-for-loss in three straight games and seven of the last eight to close 2011
— Montana State has compiled 10 consecutive winning seasons, the longest such streak in school history
MILESTONES
— DeNarius McGhee‘s 46 career TD passes is 4th in Bobcat history
—l Elvis Akpla’s 2,107 career receiving yards is a Bobcat record
SHINING
— DT Zach Minter landed on every Preseason All-America team after his unanimous All-Big Sky season of 2011
— LB Jody Owens also earned Preseason All-America mention on every team released, along with the added distinction of Preseason Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year honors
— QB DeNarius McGhee has thrown for 5,962 yards through two seasons
