Cats looked at life from all angles in topsy-turvy season

[Eastcoastgriz]

Cats looked at life from all angles in topsy-turvy season
By SCOTT MANSCH
Tribune Asst. Sports Editor


It began with a shocking Rocky Mountain high.

The Montana State season was then laid low by three surprising defeats.

And in probably the most stunning development of all, coach Mike Kramer's team righted itself when it mattered most and enters Saturday's 106th Bobcat-Grizzly game riding a six-game winning streak.

What to make of this roller-coaster campaign?

Expectations certainly weren't off the charts given the graduation of superstar quarterback Travis Lulay two others — receiver Rick Gatewood and offensive lineman Jeff Bolton — who earned long hard looks by the NFL. But when the Bobcats went to Boulder, Colo., in the season opener and beat the vaunted Colorado Buffaloes 19-10, a lot changed.

The Bobcats were feted on ESPN and Kramer was suddenly a hot interview for all the big-shot talking heads. In one memorable moment with a national sports talk show, Kramer said he spoke for all I-AA coaches when he said "Long-time listener, first-time caller."

But the high-profile media requests ceased seven days later when NCAA Division II Chadron, Neb., came to Bozeman and knocked off the Cats.

Injuries came. Momentum left. Losses added up. Frustration multiplied.

Montana State lost three in a row — all at home — in what Kramer would later call a "September stinkfest."

Given the amazing turn of events, only the most optimistic of fans could have predicted another turnaround for this team. But then again, Kramer is as optimistic as they come in the Big Sky.

Stunned and shunned at home, where they'd gone unbeaten the year before, the Bobcats found some traction on the road.

The revival tour survived injuries to key starters, including quarterback Cory Carpenter, and featured victories in domed stadiums at Northern Arizona and Idaho State — houses of horror for previous MSU outfits.

With backup QB Jack Rolovich, the former Hawaii Rainbow, under center, the Bobcats kept riding the wave. The victory margin was never large, and the stress level was always ramped up, but Montana State and its fans enjoyed a loss-free October and slowly but surely crept back into the national polls.

On Saturday the Bobcats hope to end the regular season they way they started it — with a shocking road victory in one of the most picturesque stadiums in the Rockies. A win would give Montana State a share of the Big Sky Conference championship and the league's automatic berth into the national playoffs.

Can it happen?

Well, the Cats have beaten the Grizzlies three out of four. Or is that three out of 20? Both statements are accurate.

What's also true is that the Bobcats have beaten the Grizzlies only one time in Missoula since Washington-Grizzly Stadium opened 20 years ago.

If anything, this year's Montana State has proved to be pretty much unpredictable. Few expected a road victory at Colorado, and even less could have predicted a subsequent loss to a Division II team.

A six-game winning streak entering the Cat-Griz game seemed implausible a few short weeks ago. But now, as Bobcat fans certainly realize, nothing is impossible.

Here's one observer's report card on the 2006 Bobcats as they get ready for their biggest game of the season:

Offense: B-minus

On the road, the Bobcats averaged 425 yards total offense and 30 points per game. But in the friendly confines of Bobcat Stadium, the averages were 278 yards and 14 points.

Rolovich had some nice games, including back-to-back 300-yarders upon replacing Carpenter. Strong-armed and cool under pressure, Rolovich is not especially nimble and will make no one forget about Lulay's amazing scrambling ability.

But he's proved to be a winner.

A receiving corps that was heralded by Kramer as the best of his MSU tenure has been a bit up and down.

Arizona transfer Michael Jefferson has been brilliant on occasion. The tall (6-2), muscular (203 pounds) Jefferson set MSU records with a 239-yard receiving effort at Northern Arizona and a 305-yard all-purpose performance at Idaho State.

Swift Josh Lewis and UNLV transfer Donnell Wheaton are also capable receivers. Deon Toliver, who made arguably the biggest catch of the year with a diving touchdown grab to spark a Bobcat rally against Weber State, is out for the season with a collarbone injury.

The running game was a non-factor early on when starter Evin Groves hurt a knee. True freshman Aaron Mason picked up a lot of slack, though, and enters Saturday's game with 529 yards, the most ever for a Bobcat frosh.

Groves, who gashed the Griz for 143 yards rushing last year, is healthy and should start Satirdau, with a well-rested Mason also available for action.

Offensive coordinator Don Bailey also likes to make great use of tight ends Elliott Barnhart and Brandon Bostick. Barnhart, especially, is a weapon in the passing game.

The MSU offensive line has come together well after freshman center Jeff Hansen became the starter. The former C.M. Russell High star is sandwiched between reliable Brant Birkeland and massive Louis Saucedo at guard. Tackles Joe Hirst and Peder Jenkins are veteran starters and key reasons why the Bobcats have yielded a league-low 20 sacks.

Defense — B-plus

There can be no forgetting Chadron's diminutive Danny Woodhead running for 215 yards or UC Davis making like USC with nearly 500 yards against the Bobcats.

But Kramer and defensive coordinator Rob Christoff deserve major props for the way this unit has performed since late September.

The Bobcats junked a familiar 4-3 alignment and what proved to be confusing personnel-package substitution habits after losing three of their four games. They went back to a "flex-style" unit that utilized off fronts and additional linebackers.

And it worked wonders.

Considered to be the fastest overall defense of the Kramer Era in Bozeman, this unit proved its mettle with a shutout of talented Portland State and a series of 3-and-out efforts in October.

Sophomore Bobby Daly and junior Epikopo King are both fine run-stoppers. Senior Clive Lowe and Washington State transfer Reyshawn Bobo are often in the backfield pressuring opposing quarterbacks.

The Bobcat front, which includes junior Aaron Papich of Great Falls and senior noseguard David Siataga, is also largely responsible for the defensive resurgence. They are blocker magnets who often occupy more than one guy while the linebackers flow free to the football.

Veterans Korey Austin and Andre Fuller are experienced cornerbacks who provide sticky coverage and sound tackling. Both are three-year starters who aren't easily fooled.

Strong free Ryan Force is a hard-hitting veteran who separated a shoulder in MSU's third game of the season but returned to action only three weeks later. Force and leading tackler Daly are both former walk-ons whose hungry attitudes epitomize this hard-nosed defense.

Strong safeties Marcosus LeBlanc, expected to play after sitting out a few weeks for a violation of team rules, and Tyrone Henderson are Division I-A transfers who offer leadership and exceptional tackling.

The nickel back is Michael Beach, who made one of the biggest players of the entire MSU season with a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter in a come-from-behind victory over Weber State.

Special teams-B

The coverage units have been exceptional. And senior kicker Jeff Hastings is one of the most reliable PAT and field-goal specialists the Bobcats have had in 25 years.

But the punting game hasn't produced much field position all year and at times has really hurt the Bobcats. Montana State has had three punts blocked on the year and ranks worst in the league in both average (35 yards) and net (32).

The Bobcats have used three punters this year, including strong-legged Tyler Bolton of Great Falls, and none has looked as comfortable as was the multi-talented Travis Lulay in the rugby-style roll punt that Kramer favors.

With Rolovich one of the punters, the threat of a fake always looms large. Against Weber State, Great Falls native Chase Gazzerro raced for a first down on a fake punt.

The Cats haven't returned a kick for the touchdown for the second year in a row. But they've got capable return men. Austin had a punt return for a TD called back by a penalty against Eastern Washington and the super-quick Lewis appears ready to bust one nearly every time he touches the ball.

Coaching-B-plus

The right buttons were not being pushed last September at Bobcat Stadium, but Kramer and his staff deserve much credit for turning things around.

The current six-game winning streak is the longest of the Kramer Era in Bozeman and MSU now owns five straight winning seasons for the first time in more than 40 years.

The Bobcats have never won six straight Big Sky games before and, before Kramer took over, had never won at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

The fact that Montana State is not a prohibitive underdog Saturday in Missoula against the second-ranked Grizzlies speaks volumes for Kramer's job performance.

[Weltercat]

That's a well written article. A far cry from the usual crap.

[whizonthegriz]

Agreed! It is nice to be able to keep up with the Cat team via newspaper articles, etc. Cat/Griz will be my first game watching them this year, though I have listened to every radio broadcast. Finally, I won't have to be near my lap top on a Saturday morning/afternoon.