Big Sky Conference

Wide receivers still finding their way in new Bobcat offense

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Justin Paige entered the 2016 season averaging more than 32 yards per catch during his first two years in Bozeman. The lightning fast wide receiver caught seven touchdowns of more than 40 yards among his 25 career catches entering his junior season.

Jayshawn Gates entered his junior season with five touchdowns of more than 35 yards, either receiving or rushing.

In 2014, Montana State broke a school record by scoring 496 points en route to the FCS playoffs. The Bobcats averaged 6.7 yards per ply, 5.3 yards per rush and 13.9 yards per catch as 10 players scored touchdowns of more than 35 yards. In 2015, MSU led the Big Sky Conference by averaging 42 points and 519 yards per game. Paige averaged 34.8 yards per catch, Gates averaged 22.2 yards per catch and tight end Beau Sandland piled up nine touchdowns and averaged 17.1 yards per catch as an astounding 15 different Bobcats notched plays of at least 39 yards.

But Tim Cramsey, the puppeteer of MSU’s explosive spread offense, was sent packing with Rob Ash’s firing in December. Star quarterback Dakota Prukop transferred to Oregon within the month. With them, Montana State’s explosive abilities offensively, particularly in the pass game, left Bozeman as well.

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Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved. 

About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

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