Former No. 1 Bobcats Visit Saturday
12/6/2011 11:41:00 AM | Football
Montana State earned the No. 1 national ranking after a 44-24 victory over Weber State on Nov. 5 and an open date Nov. 12. The win game was the Bobcats' ninth straight victory for a 9-1 record (the only loss in the season opener to FBS foe Utah 27-10).
The Montana Grizzlies knocked off the Bobcats 36-20 on Nov. 19 to win the Big Sky Championship and knock Montana State from No. 1 in the poll to No. 7. With their perfect 11-0 regular season record and a Southland Conference championship, Sam Houston moved into the No. 1 spot on November 21.
Montana State received a NCAA playoff first round bye and earned their spot in the quarterfinals with a 26-25 win over New Hampshire in Bozeman last Saturday.
MSU overcame four turnovers that led directly to 14 points for the Wildcats, a blocked extra point that was returned for a two-point conversion and a shanked punt that led to what would've been the tying score had UNH kicker Mike MacArthur's extra-point not been partially blocked by MSU safety Steven Bethley.
The win upped the Bobcats' season record to 10-2.
Sam Houston also had to come from behind to defeat No. 22 Stony Brook 34-27 Saturday in Huntsville. The Bearkats drove 83 yards in a five-minute drive to score the winning touchdown with just one minute to play.
Montana State features a balanced offense that is averaging 223.5 yards per game rushing and 213.4 yards in the air.
Running back Cody Kirk has rushed for 1,233 yards on the ground, the eight-best season total in school history.
Quarterback DeNarius McGhee, a second-team All-Big Sky selection with an 18-5 career record as starting quarterback for the Bobcats, has passed for 2,527 yards and 23 touchdowns.
McGhee, starting linebacker Na'a Moeakiola, and defensive back Tray Robinson all are Texans, playing at Trinity High School in Euless.
Elvis Akpla is one of the top receivers in FCS football with 57 catches for 1,045 yards and 11 touchdowns. He owns a 33-game streak with a catch and has produced five 100-yard games this year.
Led by unanimous All-Big Sky linebacker Jody Owens who has 10 tackles for losses and 98 stops this year, the Bobcat defense has limited foes to only 125.4 yards rushing and 190.4 yards passing.
Tickets for the NCAA Division I Football Playoffs quarterfinal game at Bowers Stadium are available now online at www.gobearkats.com or at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House.
Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday. Sam Houston State student tickets for $5 also will be on sale in the Lowman Student Center Mall area Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
