10/10/2011 6:43:15 PM
Third-ranked Montana State enters the third weekend of October riding a five-game winning streak at it plays host to Northern Arizona in Bozeman. The Bobcats are in sole possession of first place in the Big Sky at 3-0, but face a Lumberjack squad that has beaten Montana State two straight seasons, including 30-7 in 2010....Montana returns home to face a dangerous Portland State squad. No. 14 Montana is 3-1 in league and 4-2 overall, while Portland State is 2-1, 3-2. The Vikings are coming off a two-point home loss to Montana State...Weber State plays at home for just the second time this season when it takes on rival Idaho State. The Wildcats, who had a bye last week, are seeking their ninth straight win over the Bengals. ISU hasn’t won in Ogden since 1984...Eastern Washington guns for its third straight victory when it takes on winless Northern Colorado at “The Inferno.’’ Sacramento State has a bye this week...All four games can be viewed on Big Sky TV.
This Week’s Sky Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 15....................................................................... Time
Series: UM leads 27-11
Last Meeting: UM won 23-21 in 2010.
Series Streak: UM has won six.
TV: Montana’s News Stations
Internet: Big Sky TV
Series: NAU leads 24-21.
Last Meeting: NAU won 34-7 in 2010.
Series Streak: NAU has won two.
TV: Max Media (Montana).
Internet: Big Sky TV.
Series: WSU leads 36-14.
Last Meeting: WSU won 16-13 in 2010.
Series Streak: WSU eight.
Internet: Big Sky TV.
Series: EWU leads 7-1.
Last Meeting: EWU won 35-28 in 2010.
Series Streak: EWU has won six.
TV: SWX (Washington)
Internet: Big Sky TV.
*Big Sky Conference Game
Around the Big Sky
ALONE IN FIRST: Montana State held on for a 38-36 win over Portland State on Saturday at JELD-WEN Field in a battle of the only undefeated teams remaining in conference. Montana State moved to 3-0 in league and 5-1 overall and into sole possession of first place. The Bobcats’ five-game winning streak is tied for the second-longest active streak in FCS. Sam Houston State has won seven straight dating back to last season. Georgia Southern, North Dakota State and Drake are also on five-game winning streaks. Montana State coach Rob Ash came to the Bobcats from Drake. NDSU ended Montana State’s 2010 season in a second-round playoff game. Montana State is at home against Northern Arizona on Saturday. The Bobcats’ only league loss in 2010 came to the Lumberjacks. NAU has beaten MSU two straight times and has won the previous two meetings in Bozeman. Montana State is 3-0 at home this season and has won nine straight regular-season home games. This is the second straight season Montana State has started 5-1.
ROAD SUCCESS: Entering Saturday, Big Sky teams were a combined 4-20 on the road. Last Saturday, road teams won all four road games. Montana State and Sacramento State each won the road for the second time. Montana and Eastern Washington notched road victories for the first time this season. Idaho State, Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado have yet to win road games this season.
NO NEED TO PASS: Sacramento State became the first team in FCS history to play a game without attempting a pass. The Hornets beat Northern Colorado 14-0 in terrible conditions Saturday in Greeley. With wind, rain, snow and cold weather wreaking havoc, Sacramento State ended the game without a pass attempt. The Hornets did try one pass, but it was called back on a pass interference. Six times in FCS history, a team played a game throwing just one pass. Sacramento State ran 51 running plays for 177 yards. Bryan Hilliard had his 17th 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 106. QB Jeff Fleming scored on a 15-yard run. Northern Colorado attempted 13 passes, completing just three. The Bears had just 23 rushing yards on 49 attempts. For Sacramento State, it was the team’s first shutout since a 30-0 win against San Francisco State in 1994. Northern Colorado became the first team in Big Sky history not to allow a pass attempt. The previous record was 2 set by Weber State against Eastern Montana in 1964, and Northern Arizona against Cal Poly Pomona in 1978. This marked the eighth time, and the first time since 1983, and a Big Sky team didn’t allow a completion. It marked the 10th time a Big Sky team did not allow a passing yard.
ROAD SHUTOUTS: Montana and Sacramento State both notched shutouts on Saturday, and both accomplished the feat on the road. Montana beat Idaho State 33-0 in Pocatello. Sacramento State topped Northern Colorado 14-0 in Greeley. In the previous four seasons, there was a total of two shutouts in conference play. In 2009, Eastern Washington beat Northern Colorado 16-0 in Cheney. The last road conference shutout prior to Saturday came in 2007 when Weber State topped Northern Colorado 23-0. Montana’s shutout was its first conference road shutout since a 23-0 win at Northern Arizona in 2005. Sacramento State had never posted a shutout against a Big Sky team. Saturday’s shutout was the program’s first since 1994.
HARRINGTON SETS RECORD: Idaho State senior All-American punter David Harrington set a Big Sky single-game record with 618 punting yards in the Bengals’ 33-0 loss to Montana. Harrington punted 12 times and averaged 51.5 yards per punt with a long of 64. Five of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. The previous record was 582 yards set by Idaho State’s Steve Beller in 1973 against Idaho. Harrington leads the nation in punting wth an average of 48.1 yards per punt.
IN THE POLLS: Montana State remained third in both major FCS polls this week. The Bobcats are behind No. 1 Georgia Southern (5-0) and No. 2 Northern Iowa (4-1). Montana improved from 16th to 14th in the Sports Network/Fathead.com Poll. The Grizzlies jumped from 14th to 11 in the coaches’ poll. North Dakota, which will join the Big Sky next season, is ranked 18th in the coaches’ poll, and 23rd in the Sports Network top 25. North Dakota is 4-2.
Extra points: Portland State is tied with Drake and North Dakota for the national lead in blocked kicks with six. PSU blocked two punts and a field goal against Montana State. PSU has four blocked punts this season after going five seasons without one…MSU QB DeNarius McGhee and Montana kicker/punter Brody McKnight were named National All-Stars by College Sporting News…Idaho State All-American and Buck Buchanan Award nominee A.J. Storms had a season-high 17 tackles and an interception against Montana…Montana forced seven turnovers in its first five games. The Grizzlies had seven last week against Idaho State...ISU WR Rodrick Rumble was held under 100 receiving yards for the first time this season. He had six catches for 73 yards...Weber State QB Mike Hoke enters Saturday’s game against Idaho State having not thrown an interception in 192 straight pass attempts.
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