The Montana State Bobcats have been Jekyll & Hyde this year when playing at home as opposed to the road. MSU is undefeated at home and defeated on the road.
Southern Utah head coach Ed Lamb sees a different Bobcat team when he watches MSU’s film set in the hostile confines of Bobcat Stadium as apposed to other video from this season.
“I don’t see those struggles at home,” said Lamb, whose first-place Thunderbirds play in Bozeman on Saturday. “The 12th man that is part of that culture there in Bozeman, I think that’s a real thing for their defense. They have some players on defense that seem to play with more confidence when they are at home. The crowd noise in critical down situations can make it really difficult for offenses.”
MSU linebacker Mac Bignell celebrates a tackle vs. Cal Poly with teammates Tucker Yates (92) & Fletcher Collins (59)
The Bobcat defense has offered no resistance away from Bobcat Stadium, allowing more than 51 points per game. The performances have been so lackluster, it’s almost erased the memories of a few solid performances at home against Big Sky Conference opponents. In September, Montana State notched three consecutive stops in building a 21-0 lead in a 45-28 win over Cal Poly. Despite the Mustangs’ 2-6 record, the MSU win over CP serves as the most sound beating Cal Poly has taken this season. In a 35-13 win over Sacramento State, Montana State put consistent pressure on quarterback Kolney Cassell, eventually knocking him and junior running back Jordan Robinson out of the game.
All told, Montana State is allowing 15.5 points and 361 yards in four home wins as opposed to 51.25 points and 601 yards in four road losses.
“Our home field advantage is awesome and our guys have really taken to that this year,” MSU first-year offensive coordinator Kane Ioane said. “I love the way our guys fight and we have been able to respond well to adversity by coming home to the friendly confines of Bobcat Stadium. That’s important to us. But at the same time, we have to find how to get that same energy every day.”
Montana State has had no problem scoring points this season regardless of the venue. The Bobcats are averaging 44.9 points per game, best in the Big Sky Conference and fourth in the FCS. MSU’s 532.1 yards per game also lead the league and rank third nationally.
MSU quarterback Dakota Prukop avoids a Cal Poly defender
“It’s crazy to watch them get after people,” SUU senior All-America defensive end James Cowser said. “We know they have a lot of pieces, a lot of weapons and they really get after it so we have to be ready for a fight if we want to do anything with them.”
“We have to contain that offense. It’s so impressive to me. I’ve been reading about them all year. We need to contain big plays. They run the ball really well. Dakota (Prukop) is explosive at the quarterback position. He is like no other player in the league. He just runs around all over the place and you can’t really stop him. We have to force turnovers and not let them beat us.”
Junior quarterback Dakota Prukop has been one of the top dual-threats in the FCS. The Walter Payton Award candidate is seventh in the country in passing yards and ranks third nationally by averaging 363.5 yards of total offense per game. Prukop has thrown 20 touchdown passes and rushed for nine more, meaning he has accounted for 174 points this season, third nationally.
“The plan of what they do really allows Dakota to do some special things with his athleticism,” Lamb said. “Those things work hand in hand. He can make people miss. There’s not a better offensive football team in the country and there’s not a better team at home than Montana State.”
Prukop uses a slew of weapons at his disposal to move the ball as MSU has scored at least 35 points in every game this season and surpassed 40 six times. Five different players have caught at least 10 passes and 10 have caught touchdowns. Senior Mitch Griebel’s 39 catches lead the team out of the slow while sophomore Mitchell Herbert’s seven touchdowns are a team-best. Prukop is the leading rusher for a team that averages 220 yards per game on the ground but junior Chad Newell’s 557 yards are 65 yards behind Prukop for the team lead and his nine touchdowns equal Prukop’s total. MSU also returns speed back Gunnar Brekke this week after the junior missed the last two games with a concussion.
“Their offensive coordinator does a great job,” SUU defensive coordinator Demario Warren said. “I really respect a lot of things he does with the guys. Watching film, he does some really diverse things. And Dakota is one of the best players I’ve ever seen on film.”
SUU quarterback Ammon Olsen (2) operating the Thunderbird offense/SUU Media Relations
Lamb’s Thunderbirds counter with a defense that has been the best play-making unit in the league. Southern Utah has a +18 turnover margin to lead the FCS thanks to an FCS-best 14 interceptions. SUU is also second in the league with 20 sacks and has 22 takeaways all told. Southern Utah has scored six times defensively and is allowing less than nine points per game during conference play. SUU went five weeks without giving up a single touchdown.
“They are good but it’s nothing that scares us,” Griebel said. “Offensively, we are not scared of anybody. We are ready to go out and do our job and execute and make plays like we have all year.”
“They are just ball hawks. They make plays. It will be a test for us. But we’ve been tested all year and nothing has stopped us.”
Cowser and senior safety Miles Killebrew are the headliners for the Southern Utah defense. Each are hopeful to be selected in next spring’s NFL Draft. Senior cornerback LeShaun Sims is an All-Big Sky talent, as are senior linebackers Matt Holley and Mike Needham.
Southern Utah’s defensive resurgence has been the key to a turnaround from last year’s 3-9 campaign. A season ago, SUU gave up an FCS-worst 526 yards per game as the program stubbed its toe a year after making the playoffs for the first time ever.
SUU cornerback LeShaun Sims (36)/SUU Media Relations
“We haven’t changed our defensive philosophies over the eight years I’ve been here,” Lamb said. “There’s just a recognition by our players that our performance last year was unacceptable so it was an off-season commitment to each other to really work in the weight room. Getting some guys back from missions and injury and academic ineligibility has really rounded out our personnel and given us a little more depth.”
Southern Utah veteran offensive coordinator Gary Crowton resigned in the midst of the season. In the three games, since, SUU has not missed a beat, actually scoring a point more and averaging more than 100 yards of total offense more than in Crowton’s previous three games calling the plays.
“They are a very fast-tempo offense,” MSU defensive coordinator Kane Ioane said. “They get up and down the field. They throw the ball around. They are not afraid to take the deep shots. They have good balance and they keep you off balance as far as your defensive play calling is concerned.”
SUU is averaging 35 points and 405 yards of total offense behind 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior quarterback Ammon Olsen. The BYU transfer is throwing for 324 yards and three touchdowns per game since Crowton left. He will get a chance to feast on one of the most porous defenses in the conference, especially when facing league competition.
MSU wide receiver Mitch Griebel takes a bubble screen vs. UND
For Southern Utah, Saturday is a chance to extend a six-game win streak and remain unbeaten in its sixth Big Sky outing. For Montana State, the Bobcats likely just have pride left to play for as MSU is 3-4 against Division I competition with three games to play.
“There’s still a lot to play for with this team, this program,” MSU third-year offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey said. “We have to finish this season out and see what happens these next three games. I do not question our offense’s confidence. We play with an arrogance, a swagger that shows up to the fans watching it that will still be there for the remainder of the season.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez or note. All Rights Reserved.
