BIG SKY POWER RANKINGS: Week of October 31

With a slate of five games set for Halloween, the playoffs have essentially started in the Big Sky Conference.

Weber State and North Dakota each enter the week with four Division I losses, meaning one more defeat will certainly end any postseason hopes. Montana and Montana State are in similar situations as the ‘Cats must win out to reach seven Division I wins, the baseline for playoff eligibility. Montana has played a full D-I schedule so might be able to afford one more slip up but it’s not likely.

Southern Utah and Eastern Washington continue to battle for the top spot in the standings and each have physical opponents coming to down this weekend.

Each Tuesday 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. 5 Eastern Washington (4-0 in Big Sky play, 5-2 overall) — Each week, the statement seems to become more true: if you have Cooper Kupp, you have a chance. In a comeback win over Sacramento State, Kupp almost single-handedly sparked the rally. In a win over Idaho State, Kupp caught, threw and returned a punt for touchdowns. Last week in a come from behind win over Northern Colorado, Kupp put the Eagles on his back.

Kupp caught seven passes for 130 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter alone during a record-setting day that saw him haul in 20 passes for 275 yards and three scores as EWU earned a 43-41 win over Northern Colorado via a last-second field goal. Kupp became the Big Sky’s all-time leader in catches (281) and receiving yards (4,338) in the game.

For a second straight week, EWU will face an athletic secondary with Weber State in town on Saturday. The Eagles are 31-3 against Big Sky opponents since 2011. EWU has not lost on its famed red turf since then either.

2. No. 12 Portland State (3-1 in Big Sky play, 6-1 overall) — The Vikings continue to defy the odds. After an 850-mile bus ride from Oregon to the Central Coast in California, PSU earned a win in the final minute as Jonathan Gonzalez kicked a game-winning field goal in a 38-35 triumph over Cal Poly.

It seems like each week brings a new judgment day for a program off to its best start since 2001. This week, the Vikings will put their hard-hitting style up against perennial Big Sky power Montana. The Grizzlies haven’t been to Portland since 2010. A win would bring Portland State one step closer to sewing up its first playoff spot in 16 years.

3. No. 24 Southern Utah (4-0 in Big Sky play, 5-2 overall)

— Despite five straight wins in which the Thunderbirds are giving up four points per game, the team still has not broken into the FCS STATS Top 25. This week’s No. 24 ranking comes via the FCS Coaches’ poll.

Last week, senior defensive end James Cowser piled up three tackles for loss and two sacks as SUU’s defense continued to roll in a 34-9 win over UC Davis. The nine points tripled the amount of points SUU gave up in its first three conference wins combined. The Thunderbirds notched seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss against the Aggies.

The knock on SUU is strength of schedule. The five-game winning streak includes a Division II win and victories over Sacramento State and Davis, a pair of teams that have won just two combined Division I games. This week, SUU will get its most challenging conference test yet with a desperate Cal Poly squad coming to town.

4. No. 17 Montana (3-1 in Big Sky play, 4-3 overall) — The Grizzlies put together their most complete performance of the Bob Stitt era on Saturday in cruising past North Dakota, 42-16.

UND running back John Santiago ripped off an 80-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. He piled up 145 yards before halftime. After intermission, the Grizzlies clamped down, allowing the true freshman 3.3 yards per carry.

Offensively, Montana hit on almost every one of its big play attempts for the first time since a season-opening 38-35 win over four-time defending national champion North Dakota State. Against UND, third-string quarterback Makena Simis — who made his first career start with Brady Gustafson and Chad Chalich on the shelf with injuries — threw for six touchdowns as the UM offense looked as explosive as it has since the first week of the season.

Montana has what amounts a stretch of playoff games upcoming. UM plays at Portland State this weekend in a game that will certainly influence the playoff picture. UM is at Idaho State the first weekend of November before completing its home schedule against Eastern Washington on November 14. UM wraps up the regular season in Bozeman against Montana State. UM will have to win three of four and likely all four for hosting a playoff game to be a realistic possibility.

5. No. 19 Montana State (2-2 in Big Sky play, 4-3 overall

— The Bobcats could have had a bye last week but because of atypical scheduling, MSU took its bye in Week 2 and played a non-conference game last weekend.

The narrative out of the Bobcat side is that the 63-7 victory over FCS independent East Tennessee State is just what Montana State needed. MSU will get its first of four straight chances to show its ailing defense can at least compete in games to compliment an explosive offense that leads the conference in scoring.

Montana State plays what amounts to an elimination game in Grand Forks against North Dakota on Saturday. The Bobcats finish with home dates against Southern Utah (November 7) and Montana with a road trip to Idaho State in between (November 14). MSU needs to win all four games to reach seven Division I wins.

6. Northern Arizona (2-2 in Big Sky play, 4-3 overall) — The Lumberjacks have been all over these rankings already this season thanks to an unpredictable level of performance.

NAU looked like a conference contender in extending a 14-14 tie into a 42-14 lead in a 49-41 win over Montana State earlier this month. The following week, NAU turned around and handed UC Davis its first win. Following a bye, Northern Arizona bounced back. The Lumberjacks jolted out to a 42-9 lead against Weber State and held off a furious rally for a 52-36 win.

The Lumberjacks are in the same situation as Montana State because of playing a Division II game. The Lumberjacks will need to win their final four games if they hope to become playoff eligible. NAU hosts a Northern Colorado team in the same situation on Saturday with Eastern Washington looming the first weekend of November.

7. Weber State (3-2 in Big Sky play, 4-4 overall) — The Wildcats were one of the hottest teams in the league before a slow start bit them in Flagstaff last weekend.

Weber rallied for a 24-21 overtime win in Missoula over Montana and rallied for a 25-24 win in Ogden over UND in consecutive weeks. Last week, Weber scored 27 unanswered points before NAU slammed the door with 10 fourth-quarter points.

If Weber wants to have any chance at all for playoff consideration, Saturday’s game in Cheney against EWU is a must-win. The Wildcats get one-win Davis at home the following week before taking a week off leading up to their rivalry game against Idaho State.

8. Northern Colorado (2-3 in Big Sky play, 4-3 overall) — UNC could have vaulted itself into the top five of these rankings and solidified a spot in the conversation as a playoff contender with a win over Eastern Washington last weekend. But the Bears lost in heartbreaking fashion as Jordan Dascalo kicked a 44-yard field goal as time expired to lift EWU to its fifth straight victory.

The ability to manufacture points with its special teams and defensively has been the key to Northern Colorado’s success as of late. The Bears lead the FCS in kickoff and punt returns. Ellis Onic returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown against EWU, his second return for a score this season. He also returned a punt 71 yards for a score in UNC”s 34-10 win over Houston Baptist. Hakeem Deggs returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score in a 27-21 win over Sacramento State. UNC has also scored three defensive touchdowns, all on fumble recoveries, this season.

As is the case for many teams around the league, UNC faces a playoff-like game at Northern Arizona this weekend.

9. Cal Poly (1-3 in Big Sky play, 2-5 overall) — The hard knocks continue for a Cal Poly squad that might be the best two-win team in the FCS. With four games remaining, Cal Poly has just pride to play for.

With senior quarterback Chris Brown on the shelf with an undisclosed injury, Cal Poly still hung tough with one of the Big Sky’s best. The average Mustangs’ score: 34-31. Cal Poly has a one-point win over Montana and a one-point loss to Eastern Washington. Add in last week’s 38-35 Portland State win via a Jonathan Gonzalez field goal with 33 seconds left, and it’s hard to imagine any team has had more bad luck than Cal Poly.

You make your own breaks as they say and Cal Poly could throw a wrench in the remaining Big Sky race starting this week. The Mustangs’ triple option offense is one of the toughest preparations in the league and the attack has totaled 1,422 yards rushing (474 yards per game) over the last three weeks. Cal Poly plays at Southern Utah on Saturday. The remainder of the schedule includes games CP will be the favorite: hosting Sac State, at UC Davis and home against North Dakota.

10. North Dakota (2-3 in Big Sky play, 4-4 overall)

— North Dakota’s pass defense continues to be a concern as UND continues to search for answers.

After one of the best starts in the league — four wins in five games, including a win over Portland State — UND has not been able to find its footing against down the field passes. Idaho State rallied from a 31-15 deficit to earn a 37-31 win in Grand Forks. Weber State rallied from a 24-10 fourth-quarter deficit for a 25-24 victory in Ogden two weeks ago. Last week, Montana’s Makena Simis threw six touchdowns — five for more than 23 yards — as Jamaal Jones and Ellis Henderson each went over 100 yards receiving in a 42-16 Griz win in Missoula.

North Dakota’s backs are certainly pressed against the wall with No. 19 Montana State coming to town this weekend. UND’s November includes a much-needed bye followed by a home date against Northern Colorado and a trip to Cal Poly.

11. Sacramento State (1-4 in Big Sky play, 2-6 overall) — Sac State is a climber in this week’s rankings after its first Division I win of the season against a struggling Idaho State squad.

In his second start, true freshman quarterback Nate Ketteringham completed 20-of-26 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns in the 38-13 win. Ketteringham threw two 20-yard touchdowns and a 61-yard TD to senior Shane Harrison. Sac put up 413 yards of total offense. Sac entered the game averaging a shade over 10 points per game during a six-game losing streak to Division I teams.

Sac is playing for pride now. Head coach Jody Sears said Ketteringham is the starter moving forward regardless of the health of sophomore Daniel Kniffin and Kolney Cassell. The Hornets are off this week before a November schedule that begins at Cal Poly.

12. Idaho State (1-4 in Big Sky play, 2-6 overall) — Idaho State head coach Mike Kramer gave redshirt freshman quarterback Tanner Gueller his first start in place of injured junior Michael Sanders. After interceptions on three consecutive third quarter possessions, Kramer pulled Gueller and put in sophomore wide receiver Trae Pilster at quarterback.

 ISU is giving up 43 points per game, including 51.5 in its four Big Sky games. ISU has not been able to bounce back to fall camp injuries suffered by sophomore linebacker Mario Jenkins and senior safety Taison Manu. The Bengals still have both Montana schools coming to Pocatello out of this week’s bye.

13. UC Davis (1-4 in Big Sky play, 1-7 overall) — The Aggies simply haven’t been able to run the ball well enough to manufacture points with its West Coast offense. Davis has run the ball 295 times compared to 281 passing attempts. The play-action has been lacking because UC Davis is averaging just 3.1 yards per rush.

UCD has scored more than 30 points one time this season in a league with six teams averaging 30 points per game. Davis has a bye this week before traveling to Weber State the first Saturday of November.

LAST 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 — L

*North Dakota at Montana

*Idaho State at Sacramento State — L

East Tennessee State at Montana State

 

Skyline Sports Week: 5-2 Overall: 50-14

 

THIS WEEK – WEEK 10

Saturday, October 31

*Cal Poly at Southern Utah

*Northern Colorado at Northern Arizona

*Weber State at Eastern Washington

*Montana at Portland State

*Montana State at North Dakota

 

 

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