A disappointing end to a once-promising season played out as the snow fell down on the Bobcat Stadium turf.
Spirits of coaches past surely shuddered as Montana State’s 2014 season ended in the first round of the playoffs at home. It wasn’t that the Bobcats lost in the playoffs — qualifying is a lofty accomplishment in itself in today’s Big Sky Conference — but it was that MSU scored 41 points on its home field in a driving snow storm and still did not advance.
[restrict paid=”true”]The 47-point outburst by South Dakota State including four touchdowns of more than 45 yards, 324 total yards and five total touchdowns by SDSU running back Zach Zenner. The season-ending loss also put in motion an off-season of change for the Bobcats.
Over the last nine months, Montana State has gained a new defensive coordinator in Kane Ioane, a new assistant linebackers coach in Jody Owens and a new cornerbacks coach in Michael Rider. The Bobcats have installed Ioane’s new scheme, tried to find replacements for 11 departed seniors and welcomed seven transfers from the FBS and junior college ranks to the fold.
Although Montana State opened fall camp on August 9, the Bobcats’ revamped defense will receive its first true test on Saturday. And it won’t be easy. No. 11 Montana State travels to No. 14 Eastern Washington. EWU scored more touchdowns (84) than any Big Sky team ever last season. Through two games this season, both Eastern losses, the Eagles are averaging are averaging 38.5 points and 482 passing yards per game.
“I think (EWU head) Coach (Beau) Baldwin is a very, very adept game planner and play caller,” MSU ninth-year head coach Rob Ash said. “I love watching their games as you go through the season, how he attacks coverage’s and how he has plays designed to go after weaknesses he sees in the other team. He’s an aggressive, point-scoring play caller. He’s not afraid to take shots down the field. They probably do the best job of anybody in our conference as far as taking shots down the field, going for big plays and executing those plays.”
Montana State opened its season on September 3 with a 45-14 win over Division II Fort Lewis, a first test that likely will pale in comparison to the remainder of the Bobcats’ Big Sky schedule. That begins with the Eagles, a team that led the nation in scoring offense last season and has won the Big Sky scoring title two years running.
“The system they run, it’s an air raid attack where they throw it down the field constantly and they are very polished,” Montana State senior cornerback Bryson Keeton said. “The details, the releases, the routes, the timing of the back shoulders, they do a great job of it all.”
Eastern Washington’s offense went through an off-season of change as well. The college football news cycle, both in the Big Sky and nationally, was dominated by the details and drama surrounding former EWU quarterback Vernon Adams’ transfer to Oregon. Many wondered if he would academically qualify. He did and ended up leading the Ducks to a 61-42 win over EWU to open the season.
With the two-time reigning Big Sky Offensive MVP now in Eugene potent passing attack hasn’t missed a beat. Junior Jordan West has already thrown for 642 yards and six touchdowns despite sharing repetitions with redshirt freshman Reilly Hennessey. West threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns in EWU’s 38-35 loss at Northern Iowa last week. Hennessey, the 2013 Washington Gatorade Player of the Year out of Camas High, threw for 177 yards and a touchdown as EWU set a school record with 526 passing yards in the loss. All told, Hennessey has completed 69 percent of his 322 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns.
“The thing with Eastern Washington is it doesn’t matter who’s at the helm,” Ioane said. “Offensively, they’ve been very successful for years and years. The quarterback, whoever is running the show, is going to put up big numbers. It’s just a matter of who’s the trigger man and who’s the main target.”
West left the Oregon game with cramps only to return. Hennessey’s strong performance in relief earned him repetitions against UNI, but he suffered a sprained ankle and is questionable for Saturday’s game. Still, EWU is confident both quarterbacks will play and the two-QB system can be successful like it was in 2012 when Adams split reps with Kyle Padron as the Eagles won the Big Sky and jolted to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs.
“It’s always good when you have more than one guy who can play that spot,” EWU All-Big Sky senior left tackle Clay DeBord said. “Really, Reilly plays fearless. And why wouldn’t he? He’s a redshirt freshman with nothing to lose. No one is really expecting you to come in and put up 50 touchdowns like Vernon did these last two years. He’s got that swagger to him and he’s got a little bit of that cockiness. They compliment each other very well. It’s nice having them back there. It’s fun protecting them both.”
Regardless of who’s playing quarterback for the Eagles, most Saturdays they have one of the most unflappable security blankets in all of college football. Cooper Kupp is already a two-time consensus All-America who’s closing in on some of the Big Sky’s all-time receiving marks. And he’s just a junior. This season, in just six quarters of action — he missed the second half of the UNI loss with a hip pointer that has him listed as “questionable” for the MSU game — Kupp already has 24 catches for 425 yards and five touchdowns. Against Oregon, he set two Autzen Stadium record with 15 catches for 246 yards and added three touchdowns.
“The best thing with what Eastern does with Cooper is you never really know where he’s going to line up,” Ioane said. “He does a good job of his body control in the air. He attacks the football no matter where the ball is at; he’s going to go attack it. He can bring it down with one hand, two hands, his eyeballs, his forehead. Whatever he needs to do to catch the ball, he’ll do it.”
Keeton played three seasons at Nevada before transferring to Montana State. He intercepted Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston when the Wolfpack took on Florida State in 2013. He’s played against several NFL-caliber receivers. He says Kupp is among the best.
“I didn’t know this at first but I found out a few weeks ago that his dad and his grandpa played in the NFL and it makes sense because he’s really polished,” said Keeton. “When I went against him last year, I couldn’t believe how polished he was. He has solid releases, really good hands and great routes.”
If Kupp can’t go, Eastern Washington’s receiving corps still has plenty of weapons. Shaq Hill, a lightning-fast senior who’s been an All-Big Sky selection the last three seasons as a slot standout, is doubtful with a knee injury. But junior Kendrick Bourne has proven he can produce (13 catches, 144 yards, 3 TDs so far) as has Nic Sblendorio. The sophomore came in for Kupp after halftime and piled up 10 catches for 158 yards. Simba Webster, a speedy redshirt freshman, should also see elevated time on Saturday.
Montana State’s defense played well for most of its opener. But the Skyhawks are a Division II team picked to finish toward the bottom of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. For MSU, the gauntlet begins this weekend with one of the stiffest tests on the schedule.
“I think we will react just fine,” Keeton said. “We have to keep our heads up and keep fighting hard to the end. We come into this knowing what sort of system they run, knowing they will put up points. You can’t get your head down if they score 14. You have to keep playing. All that matters is a win at the end of the day.”
[/restrict]Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
