As the season reaches its stretch run, the Big Sky Conference race is upside down.
With four or five conference games remaining for everyone in the league, perennial powers like Montana State and Montana are trailing upstarts like Weber State and Southern Utah. Northern Colorado has as many league wins and more wins overall than the Bobcats, the preseason league favorites. Of the teams voted to finish in the league’s top six in the preseason polls — Eastern Washington, Montana State, Montana, Cal Poly, Idaho State, Northern Arizona — just EWU and UM have winning conference records thus far.
Each Monday for the rest of the season, Skyline Sports will break down the Big Sky Conference race with weekly power rankings. These rankings are based on strength of schedule, quality of wins and each team’s future in regards to momentum, health, and upcoming match-ups.
1. No. 7 Eastern Washington (3-0 in Big Sky play, 4-2 overall) — Once again, Cooper Kupp came through in the clutch. And for the first time in a few weeks, the Eagles received a boost from their defense.
EWU wide receiver Cooper Kupp against ISU
Kupp caught 14 passes to break Eric Kimble’s school record for receptions in a career. He also returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown in EWU’s 45-28 win over Idaho State. The Eastern Washington defense forced four Idaho State turnovers, including intercepting Michael Sanders three times.
Since the beginning of 2011, the Eagles are 30-3 against Big Sky Conference competition. EWU plays at upstart Northern Colorado next week. If the defense can continue to improve, Eastern will be hard to beat.
2. No. 13 Portland State (2-1 in Big Sky play, 5-1 overall) — The Vikings had two wins over FBS schools entering last Saturday’s matchup against Montana State. But Portland State still needed a win over a Big Sky Conference power to prove it belonged among the top teams in the league.
PSU utility quarterback Paris Penn scores a TD vs. MSU/by Brooks Nuanez
With Montana State in town, PSU firmly solidified itself as a contender for the conference crown. Portland State scored on its first eight possessions, rushed for a program record 465 yards and looked like an unstoppable juggernaut on both sides of the ball in dismantling the Bobcats in a 59-42 win. David Jones rushed for a career-high 285 yards and three touchdowns in earning national and Big Sky Player of the Week honors.
PSU’s chance to affirm itself will not let up for the rest of the fall. Portland State plays at Cal Poly this week and hosts Montana on October 31. If PSU can emerge from the two-game stretch unscathed, games against Southern Utah and Eastern Washington, the last two unbeaten teams in the league, could serve as back-to-back defacto league championship games.
3. Southern Utah (3-0 in Big Sky play, 4-2 overall) — Fresh off a bye week and the abrupt resignation of offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, the Thunderbirds continued to roll.
For the second time during conference play, SUU posted a 44-0 win, this time over Sacramento State. The Thunderbirds are out to a 3-0 start in league play thanks to a 118-3 scoring advantage. Southern Utah gave up a field goal to Northern Colorado and has not allowed a point since.
SUU wide receiver Mike Sharp scores a TD against Sac State
All told, Southern Utah is allowing 12.8 points and 318 yards of total offense per game. The Thunderbirds have done it with a swarming defense that has notched 13 interceptions and 58 tackles for loss.
The return of senior linebackers Matt Holley (knee injury in 2014) and Mike Needham (LDS mission) have invigorated a defense that already featured NFL prospects in seniors defensive end James Cowser, strong safety Miles Killebrew and cornerback LeShaun Sims. Holley and Cowswer each have nine tackles for loss while Needham leads the team with three interceptions.
Southern Utah has a chance to stay hot with a game at one-win UC Davis this weekend. The challenge begins on Halloween with a schedule that includes Cal Poly at home, trips to Montana State and Portland State before finishing at home with Northern Arizona.
4. Weber State (3-1 in Big Sky play, 4-3 overall) — Weber State proved its lone loss — a 44-0 beat down at the hands of Southern Utah — was an exception more than the rule this year after last week’s comeback 25-24 win over North Dakota.
Weber St. quarterback Jadrian Clark throws down field against UND/by Robert Casey
Weber State has yet to find true balance offensively because of a lacking pass game consistency but the running game has been a key factor to WSU winning four of its last five. WSU rushed for 253 yards in its first win in Missoula since 1987.Last week, North Dakota’s league-leading rushing defense held Weber to less than 240 yards rushing for the first time in three games.
WSU rushed for 98 yards but junior quarterback Jadrian Clark responded by throwing for 273 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the final eight minutes of the game as Weber rallied from a 24-10 deficit.
It remains to be seen if Weber is a true conference title contender or a contender for a playoff spot. The Wildcats have a key game at Northern Arizona this weekend, a game that could be an elimination game for NAU. WSU finishes with a trip to Eastern Washington on Halloween, then a November that includes a matchup with UC Davis, a bye week and a finale against rival Weber State.
5. Montana (2-1 in Big Sky play, 3-3 overall) — The Grizzlies are coming off a bye but the significant injuries incurred will likely linger again with hard-charging North Dakota in town.
UM head coach Bob Stitt and DC Ty Gregorack/by Brooks Nuanez
Junior quarterback Brady Gustafson and sophomore quarterback Chad Chalich remain doubtful for this week with undisclosed leg injuries. Sophomore Makena Simis will try to help Montana bounce back from its first home loss to Weber State in 28 years.
The Montana defense continues to be stout despite being put in tough situations time and again by first-year head coach Bob Stitt’s up-tempo but largely unproductive offense. Since a 38-35 win over North Dakota State to open the season, Montana is averaging just 22 points per game. Montana leads the league with 23 sacks, including 11 by senior defensive end Tyrone Holmes, but UM has struggled to force turnovers. Montana has nine takeaways as opposed to 12 turnovers.
Montana plays essentially an elimination game against UND in Missoula on Saturday. The Griz finish with trips to Portland State, Idaho State and Montana State with a home date against Eastern Washington preceding the Bobcat game.
6. North Dakota (2-2 in Big Sky play, 4-3 overall)—Injuries continue to hinder UND on both sides of the ball.
In the home loss to Weber State, junior quarterback Ryan Bartels completed just nine passes with sophomore starter Keaton Studsrud on the shelf. The defense also has been vulnerable, especially against the pass since inside linebacker Taj Rich and starting safeties Zach Arnell and Cole Reyes went down with injuries.
UND running back John Sanitago fights for yards against Weber State
Rich is done for the season. Reyes and Arnell are both questionable for the Montana game. Studsrud is doubtful.
North Dakota true freshman running back John Santiago continues to impress. He is averaging 107 yards per game. He and the rest of the UND offense will be tested in a hostile environment in Missoula on Saturday.
The health of UND’s defense will be of paramount importance down the stretch. Defense is an essential part of North Dakota’s identity and, paired with it’s downhill ball control offense, the way the team wants to win games. UND finishes by hosting Montana State before taking the first week of November off, followed by hosting Northern Colorado and finishing its season at Cal Poly.
MSU quarterback Dakota Prukop evades PSU defenders on a 70-yard TD run/by Brooks Nuanez
7. Montana State (2-2 in Big Sky play, 3-3 overall) — The Bobcats, the preseason Big Sky favorites, find themselves with their backs against the wall midway through their conference season. MSU has just two Division I wins, meaning the Bobcats will likely have to win the rest of its game to earn seven Division I wins, the unofficial baseline for playoff eligibility.
Last week in Portland, the Bobcat defense again looked helpless. Montana State gave up touchdown drives on Portland State’s first eight possessions as the Vikings piled up more rushing yards than ever before in school history. Montana State is giving up 52 points per game on the road this season.
The Bobcats get a bit of a reprieve this week with East Tennessee State, a team that recently revived its football program after 13 years away. But the playoffs also begin this week as MSU faces must-win situations if it hopes to stay alive for the conference title and the postseason.
MSU finishes its season with trips to North Dakota (October 31) and Idaho State (November 14) with home dates against Southern Utah (November 7) and a season finale against the Grizzlies.
8. Northern Arizona (1-2 in Big Sky, 3-3 overall) — NAU is also coming off a bye week and the Lumberjacks need to prove which version is the real version of Northern Arizona.
NAU quarterback Case Cookus under center/by Brooks Nuanez
NAU looked offensively deficient in a 24-13 loss at Montana, gaining just 19 yards in the first half. The next week, NAU looked unstoppable, partially because it was playing Montana State. The Lumberjacks rolled up 506 yards and scored at will for portions of the 49-41 win. The week before its bye, Northern Arizona again looked sluggish in a 38-24 loss at a previously winless UC Davis squad.
NAU plays what essentially amounts to a playoff game with Weber State in town on Saturday. The ‘Jacks will need to win out to reach seven Division I wins. NAU finishes with Northern Colorado in Flagstaff, at Eastern Washington the first weekend of November, before two more weeks at home with Sac State and Southern Utah coming to the Walkup Skydome.
9. Cal Poly (1-2 in Big Sky, 2-4 overall) — One of three Big Sky teams that had byes last week, the Mustangs have the biggest game out of the rest week with No. 13 Portland State coming to town.
Cal Poly defensive back Kevin Griffen breaks up a pass vs. EWU
Cal Poly rushed for more than 500 yards for two straight weeks leading up to the bye. The Mustangs earned a 58-26 win over Idaho State but fell 42-41 in overtime to Eastern Washington. That sort of offensive production out of CP’s triple option offense could throw a wrench in the Big Sky race given Cal Poly’s remaining schedule. Cal Poly plays contenders PSU and Southern Utah before finishing with Sacramento State, UC Davis and UND. If Cal Poly ran the table, the Mustangs could have an outside chance at the playoffs.
10. Northern Colorado (2-2 in Big Sky, 4-2 overall) — Northern Colorado has as many conference wins as the Montana schools and more wins overall than either the Bobcats or the Grizzlies. Regardless of strength of schedule, that scenario would’ve been hard to fathom during the off-season.
UNC running back Brandon Cartagena rushes against UC Davis
Behind three touchdowns each from running back Brandon Cartagena and quarterback Jacob Knipp, Northern Colorado burst out to a 42-0 lead in a 56-27 victory over UC Davis last week.
Still, UNC’s four wins have come against a Division II (Western State), an FCS program that is three seasons old (Houston Baptist) and a pair of teams (Sac State and Davis) who are a combined 2-12. But the team that used to be the caveat for weakening strength of schedule used to be the Bears.
This week, UNC will have its first of three straight Big Sky tests. The Bears host Eastern Washington before playing at Northern Arizona. UNC finishes by hosting Portland State, playing at North Dakota and hosting Abilene Christian in a non-conference season finale.
11. Idaho State (1-3 in Big Sky, 2-5 overall) — ISU essentially eliminated itself from the playoff picture with last week’s 45-28 home loss to Eastern Washington. But the Bengals can still screw up the rest of the title race while they strive to finish better than .500 for the second straight season.
ISU defenders take down EWU wide out Cooper Kupp/by Julie Hilliebrant
ISU quarterback Michael Sanders continues to struggle. His three interceptions against Eastern Washington brings his total to 10 for the season. ISU is throwing for nearly 80 yards less per game this season than last season when the Bengals led the FCS is passing offense and total offense.
ISU has a bye this week before wrapping up with a string of contenders. ISU hosts Montana on November 7 and Montana State the following week before finishing its season at Weber State on November 21.
12. UC Davis (1-3 in Big Sky, 1-6 overall) – Below
13. Sacramento State (0-4 in Big Sky, 1-6 overall) — Northern Colorado entered last week’s game with the 10th-ranked offense in the league. The Bears proceeded to roll up 484 yards of offense, including nearly 300 on the ground in scoring a season-high 56 points on UC Davis. Sac State gave up 44 points without scoring a single point of its own against Southern Utah.
Sacramento State is now starting true freshman Nathan Ketteringham at quarterback, giving the Aggies a slight advantage in the power rankings. The two teams play in their season finale, a game that might very well be to avoid finishing at the bottom of the Big Sky.
LAST WEEK – WEEK 8
Saturday, October 17
*UC Davis at Northern Colorado
*Sacramento State at Southern Utah
*Eastern Washington at Idaho State
*Montana State at Portland State — L
*North Dakota at Weber State — L
Skyline Sports Week: 3-2 Overall: 45-12
THIS WEEK – WEEK 9
Saturday, October 24
*Portland State at Cal Poly
*Eastern Washington at Northern Colorado
*Southern Utah at UC Davis
*Weber State at Northern Arizona
*North Dakota at Montana
*Idaho State at Sacramento State
East Tennessee State at Montana State
Photos courtesy of represented Athletics Department or Noted. All Rights Reserved.
