Game Day

saturday, sept. 8 at draKe

Full paper Ins InsIDe

nO. 4 mOntana state at Drake, Drake staDIum, 5 p.m.

InsIDe
mIrrOr ImaGes
n MSU and Drake
resemble one another on and off the field I G2

nOt theIr Day?

n Dogs have won 11
Montana State head coach Rob Ash spent 18 seasons at Drake before taking over at MSU in 2007.
ADR IAN SAN CHE Z-GO NZA LEZ/ CHR ONIC LE

Trip to Des Moines is a trip to a place many Bobcats used to call home
ob Ash saw his kids go to school from kindergarten through 12th-grade in Des Moines, Iowa. Bo Beck used to live in an apartment right down the street from Valley High, the alma mater of Alex Wilcox and a place Michael Foster went to school. Jamie Marshall and Erik Link played at Drake Stadium before roaming the sidelines as assistants.
Homecoming weekend isnt scheduled until Sept. 22 for the Montana State football team, but todays trip to Des Moines to take on Drake University is a homecoming of sorts for many of the Bobcats. The capital of the Hawkeye State is a place five MSU coaches and one Bobcat linebacker used to call home. In 1986, Drake forfeited its Division I-A stature, electing to pull all football scholarships from the program. The move seemed to spell impending doom for any dreams of big-time football, as the Bulldogs became a NCAA Division III affiliate. Then, in 1989, the school hired a Des Moines native to resurrect the dream. Ash took over and quickly helped change the landscape both at Drake and across the country. He played an integral role in helping form the PioneerFootball League, a footballonly conference that stretched across America, allowing teams who didnt give grant-in aid to football players to still compete at the Division I-AA

FAMILIAR TERRITORY
By COLTER NUANEZ Chronicle Sports Editor

straight at home, but will be outmatched today, says Colter Nuanez I G6

Once cats, nOw cOaches

are now coaches at Bozeman High I G5

n Five former Bobcats

FIve pIllars OF Drakes success

n Chris Creighton wants experience to go beyond football I G5

(now Football Championship Subdivision) level. Ash was 125-62-2 at Drake, including winning four PFL championships and posting an 82-20 record at home. During the resurrection, Marshall, now MSUs defensive coordinator, was an all-league defensive back (1995-98) before joining Ashs coaching staff in 2000. Link, now MSUs tight ends coach, was an all-league offensive lineman (2000-2002) under Ash. Beck was a Drake assistant for three seasons (2002-2004) under Ash. Wilcox, MSUs strength and conditioning coach, came to Montana State last winter after spending two seasons at Drake in the same position in his hometown. While Ash spent a good portion of his 61 years in Des Moines, he isnt calling todays return a home coming.
More Homecoming | g2

FIrst-place shOwDOwn
n Bozeman, West gun
for 3-0 starts in Eastern AA battle I spOrts
Printed on recycled PaPer

bozeman daily chronicle

Saturday, September 8, 2012 |

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No. 4 Montana State at Drake

5 p.m. Drake Stadium

FCS Non-Conference BOBCATGAMEDAY

Sideline Briefing
Records
No. 4 Montana State 1-0 Drake 1-0 1-1; Montana State won 48-21 in 2010 in Bozeman; Drake won 54-0 in Des Moines in 1940.

Bobcats, Bulldogs share similar strengths

MSU, Drake resemble one another on, off the field
By COLTER NUANEZ
Chronicle Sports Editor

Series

Weather forecast
Passing clouds, 77 degrees

Crowd
Roughly 5,000 fans excpected

TV
None

Radio
KXLB-FM (100.7),Tyler Wiltgen, Dan Davies,

Coaches

ROB ASH

MSU, 6th year 32nd year overall 40-20 at MSU 216-119-5 overall

Drake, 5th year 16th year overall 31-14 at Drake 127-28 overall

CHRiS CREigHTON

Schedules
8 Sept. 8 Sept 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17 6 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Drake Grand View 28 No. 4 Montana State 5 p.m. at Indiana State 1 p.m. Morehead State 1 p.m. at Campbell 5 p.m. San Diego 12:30 p.m. at Valparaiso Noon Marist 1 p.m. at Dayton Noon Butler 1 p.m. At Jacksonville Noon Montana State Chadron State 33 at Drake 5 p.m. Stephen F. Austin 1:35 p.m. N. Colorado (Homecoming) 2 p.m. at Southern Utah 1:35 p.m. at U.C. Davis 5 p.m. Eastern Washington 1:35 p.m. Open North Dakota 2 p.m. at Sacramento State 5 p.m. Portland State 1:35 p.m. at Montana 1:35 p.m.

Players to watch
DRAKE: QB Mike Piatkowski is a fifth-year senior whos been starting at Drake the past three falls. Last week, he surpassed 7,000 career passing yards. MONTANA STATE: DT Zach Minter is among the best defensive linemen in the FCS. He had 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in MSUs 33-6 win over Chadron State to open 2012.

An experienced, savvy quarterback who can improvise under pressure. A stout defensive line filled veterans who pride themselves on making life miserable for opponents. A group of quick, speedy linebackers who move sidelines to sidelines with reckless abandon. An offensive line short on experience, but not lacking in talent. A head coach who wants his players experiences to go well beyond the gridiron. Sounds a lot like Montana State if youre a Bobcat fan. Sounds just like the Drake Bulldogs if you live in Americas Heartland. Today at Drake Stadium, No. 4 Montana State comes to Des Moines, Iowa for a nonconference showdown with the Bulldogs of the Pioneer Football League. On paper at least, Montana State head coach Rob Ashs current program and his former program he coached at Drake for 18 seasons look a whole lot alike. The foundations are very similar in how the program is run and operated, said Ash, who is 42-20 in his sixth season at MSU after going 12562-2 at Drake. I told our team last Sunday that we are going to be playing a mirror image of ourselves. Fundamentally, they are very sound. They play great defense. They are balanced on offense. They attack teams in a smart, intelligent way. They play really hard. They are committed guys who are always in the right place. Drake tallied nine sacks in a season-opening 28-6 win over NAIA Grand View. Montana State finished second in the FCS with 44 sacks last season. Drake fifth-year senior quarterback Eric Piatkowski was the PFL Offensive Player of the Year last season and has thrown for 7,198 yards and 55 touchdowns in his Bulldogs career. MSU quarterback DeNarius McGhee was the Big Sky Conference Offensive Most Outstanding Player in 2010 and has thrown for 6,138 yards

and 51 touchdowns as he continues his third year as the MSU starter. DU senior Tyler Moorehead is an outside linebacker with speed who flies all over the field and leads by example, evidence in his team captain status. You could say the same thing about MSU senior Jody Owens. Their strength is definitely in the defensive line like ours is, Ash said. The quarterback is tremendous. Piatkowski is a fabulous player. He was the player of the year in the Pioneer League just like DeNarius has been the player of the year in our league. Theres tremendous analogies and player comparisons between the two programs. Both programs are trying to work four new starters in on the offensive line. Heres where the first difference pops up, though: Of Montana States four new starters, two are redshirt freshman and one is a third-year sophomore. Drake starts five seniors along the offensive line. In a season-opening 33-6 win over Chadron State in front of a record crowd, MSU senior defensive tackle Zach Minter was a force. He registered 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in less than three quarters of play. The 6-foot-2, 297-pound All-America said he is well-aware that Drakes offensive line has played with each other just once. Oh yeah that gets me going, but at the same time we are going to prepare for them like they are four year starters, said Minter, who has 16 career sacks. This game is all about preparation, all about learning their keys. They are big, but they are also new. But people are saying that same thing about our offensive line. We will see who prepares better. I try not to look it like that, but its going to make me play hard, added junior middle linebacker Naa Moeakiola. Freshman or senior, I want to play as hard as I can at all times. Drake head coach Chris Creighton said his

EARL HULST/DRAKE UNIVERSITY

Drake fifth-year senior quarterback Mike Piatkowski was the 2011 Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Year. Hes thrown for more than 7,000 yards in his Bulldogs career.

team is keen on MSUs defensive strengths, particularly in the trenches. That 96 (Minter), that 3-technique, that guys is awesome, just awesome, Creighton said. If he misses the plane, I hope they leave on time. That dude is a special player. Creighton also said senior cornerback Darius Jones, Owens, and junior linebacker Aleksei Grosulak all jumped out at him during film study. All three started for the Cats the last time the programs squared off in 2010. Last week, McGhee completed 29-of-40 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns. CSC broke off the line at the snap on the majority of MSUs offensive plays, giving McGhee not much else but to dice the Eagles underneath. The fast-paced attack MSU employs is something that got Drakes attention on film. They are going to keep converting, keep making

plays, so you just have to keep playing hard until you can stop them, said Moorehead, who had 10.5 sacks last season and leads the FCS with three sacks. Its more of a mentality when you play an offense like Montana States. Drake has won 11 straight games at home. That, coupled with the fact that today marks the first time Ash has coached in his home town as the opposition makes for an interesting dynamic. But the Bobcats say their default homecoming four other MSU coaches were on Ashs staff at Drake wont be a distraction. It will be an interesting environment, but we know they are a solid team, said MSU junior running back Cody Kirk, who rushed for 91 yards in the opener. But its just one week as a time. Thats all we approach each game. We just want to stay focused on the game. Its like Cat-Griz. You cant

focus on anything else besides the game. Creightons team came to Bozeman three seasons ago and left licking their wounds after falling 48-21 and seeing Piatkowski knocked out of the game. The quarterback suffered a concussion when Jason DAlba, a former Drake player himself, put a controversial late hit on the Bulldogs quarterback. Creighton, who is 21-3 at home since taking over in 2008, said his team is excited for a rematch. We are excited about playing the game, Creighton said. We have all kinds of respect for Montana State. We played them in 2010 and were disappointed with the end result. Our guys arent going to back down to anybody, I will promise you that. We have a healthy respect, but there is no fear. We believe if we play our best, we will be good enough to win.

Injury report
MONTANA STATE OUT: DE Odin Coe (shoulder), DT Brian Bignell (shoulder), DE Heath Hunter (leg), OL Christian Williams (eye) QUESTiONABlE: Kruiz Siewing (ankle) PROBABlE: lB Aleksei Grosulak (shoulder), DE Brad Daly (ankle) DRAKE UNDiSClOSED

Homecoming/from G1
We just had great friends there. My kids were able to go K through 12 in the same school district while their dad was a college head football coach and that just doesnt happen very often, said Ash, who is 40-20 at MSU after taking over in 2007. But I dont feel like Im going home because home is Montana and home is Bozeman. Ive been here long enough, thats really, truly how I feel. Its a special place, but it wont be going home. The MSU roster says Foster, a sophomore linebacker, hails from Seabrook, Texas, a suburb of Houston. But the 6-foot-1, 228-pounder calls Des Moines home. Fosters father, Melvin, played at the University of Iowa before spending a season with the Dallas Cowboys. Foster went to Valley High for three years. Actually one of my best friends and I used to be ball boys for Coach Ash, Foster said. As a junior high kid, Foster remembers thinking working for a college team was as cool as it gets. He remembers eating chips and drinking Gatorade while dancing around the Bulldogs locker room at halftime of games. Now, almost a decade later, Foster returns to his roots. Its going to be awesome; there will be a ton of family that have never seen me play in college and this might be their only opportunity, said MSUs backup middle linebacker. My barber shop is right down the street too. I might head to my barber shop. If Foster would have stayed in Des Moines to complete his high school career, he may

Game notes

n Montana State head coach Rob Ash coached at Drake for 18 seasons (19892006) and compiled a 125-622 record....Ash was 82-20 at Drake Stadium, but today will mark the first time he coaches in the venue as a visitor....The Bulldogs have won 11 games in a row at home...DU is 7-2 in nine previous match-ups against Big Sky Conference schools...After a nine-sack performance in their opener against NAIA Grand View, Drake currently leads the FCS in sacks...In 2010, Montana State posted a 48-21 win over DU in Bozeman. Orenzo Davis rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns in the MSU win... Last season, Drake went 9-2, sharing the PFL title.

not have eneded up a Bobcat. Its very much a coincidence he ended up at Montana State, Ash said with a laugh. I told him the other day, and I think I crushed him, that I did not specifically remember Mike. I remember Austin because he was kind of the ringleader for the ball boys. It was kind of a strange deal, he went to Houston to get a little bit more exposure. We were recruiting Houston and we found him there. Ironically, I dont think I would have found him if he would have stayed at Iowa. When I first came on a visit here, I thought to myself that Coach Ash looked really familiar, Foster said. When I first started looking through all the coaches, then my mom told me they all used to coach at Drake. It kind of all clicked from there. Its kind of a small world that we ended up here. My mom definitely liked that Iowa connection. Zach Minter is one of two Bobcats who hail from Arizona. But he will have quite the cheering section today. His mother, Dannettes side of the family is driving up from Chicago. About 28 people will smatter Drake Stadium wearing specially made Minter t-shirts. Oh no, thats a surprise for me for sure, Minter said bashfully when told about the t-shirts. They will be there though, for sure in full force. Thats the first time family on that side has seen me play in my whole life, so thats exciting. None of Chris Creightons players know Ash. Since he took over the program in December of 2007, the 43-year-old has broken boundaries. Last year, the Bulldogs shared the PFL title. Two years ago, his team traveled to Tanzania to play the first American

football game on African soil. His players may not know Ash, but the significance of the return is not lost on Creighton. The guy put 18 years of his life, raised his family here, Creighton said. If I was every fortunate enough to be somewhere for 18 years and had an opportunity to take a team back to that place, I think that would be special. So I think it will be neat for him to come back to this place he helped establish and put so much of his life into. When Ash looks at the program he left and the program he has helped reestablish its place among the FCS elite, he sees striking similarities. We put a really solid program together with good high school recruiting, getting guys in the weight room, a tradition of working hard and earn your spot, a lot of redshirting, player development all of that contributes to the tradition of winning, Ash said. We promised every guy while I was at Drake that theyd leave with two things: a diploma and a championship ring. We promise that same thing here at Montana State. While a handful Montana State players and coaches have ties to Drake, most dont. Yet the Bobcats still want Ashs return to his hometown to end in celebration. We have to get them back, show them why Coach Ash left, said junior middle linebacker Naa Moeakiola with a laugh. I dont want to say too much, but we just want to go out there and play hard for our coach. We are going to have to bring our own energy, our own enthusiasm within the team and just carry that over onto the field. We need an electric sideline on the field. We just have to be happy and have fun.

bozeman daily chronicle

Saturday, September 8, 2012 |

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2012 MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

Jon Ellis

#4 // Wide Receiver

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| Saturday, September 8, 2012

bozeman daily chronicle

bozeman daily chronicle

Saturday, September 8, 2012 |

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Montana State at Drake

5 p.m. Drake Stadium, Des Moines, Iowa

FCS Non-Conference BOBCATGAMEDAY

Drake experience about much more than football

By COLTER NUANEZ
Chronicle Sports Editor

CREIGHTONS WAY

Chris Creightons vision is crystal-clear when it comes to his Drake University football team. The program he took over in December of 2007 is based on five tenets, all of which concern life much more than they do football. Strive for academic excellence. Be your best. Embrace the family the Bulldogs personify. Have fun always, because fun has endless personalities. And, most importantly, be impact men. We want our program to positively and significantly impact our guys lives, otherwise my life will be empty when Im done. If my tombstone is just my win-loss record, then my life has been a joke, Creighton said. We want our program to positively impact the world. Heavy words from a man paid to coach a football team, but words that his players absorb and exemplify. Absolutely one of the things that Coach Creighton takes so much pride in is being good men at all times, said senior linebacker Tyler Moorehead. Whether it be community service or in the classroom, we want to be impact men. Whether we are in the community, on the field, we want to influence people and lead people. And above all, we are a family. On the surface, it may sound like talking points, coach speak, clich rhetoric. But at Drake University, things must be done differently. In 1986, the Des Moines, Iowa private school chose to cut all football scholarships, dropping the team from a Division I-A playing school the team won the Aloha Bowl in 1981 into purgatory. It was uncertain if football would survive. In 1989, current Montana State head coach Rob Ash, a Des Moines native, took over. In 18 seasons at the helm for the Bulldogs, Ash rejuvenated the program and played a key role in the founding of the Pioneer Football League. The PFL is a football-only league made up of members all

over the country that want to compete at the FCS level but dont give grant-in aid football scholarships. Because the school of less than 3,200 undergrads puts a priority on the classroom, it makes for an interesting collection of athletes. From aspiring lawyers to future practitioners of medicine and pharmacy, Drake is atypical of most FCS football teams. One of the most important things at Drake is academics because we dont have football scholarships, Moorehead said. Most kids that come to play at Drake are in-tune to academics and love the game of football as well, otherwise they wouldnt be playing it here. Academics is one of our top priorities and we take pride in that. Moorehead is studying to earn a PhD in pharmacy. Hes also a two-time All-Pioneer League selection and an NFL prospect. On Tuesday, the 6-foot-1, 223-pounder gave an interview to the Chronicle shortly after meeting with scouts from the St. Louis Rams. The program isnt unique, but the collection of players is uncommon. So is the path the Bulldogs have traveled. Drake last took on Ash and his Bobcats in Bozeman in 2010. A few weeks before its trip to Bozeman MSU won, 49-21 Drake forfeited its postseason tie-ins, instead electing to go on a global adventure. The team elected to participate in the Global Kilimanjaro Bowl, the first American Football game in Africa. While in Tanzania, the team climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Thats sort of a microcosm, even though thats a macro trip, of the type of experience we want our guys to have, Creighton said. The model Creighton uses is the model Ash used to resurrect the Bulldogs over two decades ago. As Ashs team travels to Des Moines on Saturday for a non-league showdown, the similarities between the two programs remain. I think thats the way you build a program is to bring in the right kind of guys who fit academically into the program and then train and build them over time, Ash said. Im glad to see Coach Creighton has been able to build that model and perpetuate the success. One can hear his passion when Creighton communicates the five pillars of his program. You must strive for academic excellence, he says, because people come from all over the world to study at Drake. You must always be at your best, which goes far beyond

Earl Hulst/DraKE uNIVErsItY

Chris Creighton is in his fifth season as the head football coach at Drake University.

winning. Its an Olympic attitude because one can win without being ones best. You must buy into the concept of family because at the end of the day, what else is there? Football must remain fun because when you were eight years old, were you thinking about how much money a professional gets paid? And whether its on the gridiron or in the community, you must strive to make an impact. I have a crystal-clear vision for what I think a football program can and should be, Creighton said. Basically that vision states that I want to make playing football at Drake University ONE of the most incredible experiences of our guys lives. Not THE most, because that would be pathetic. But I want their four or five years here to be incredible. For that to happen, there needs to be deep and real relationships with the team, with each other. I want these guys to appreciate every minute of it.

Cats become coaches

AROUND ThE BIG SK y

National powers collide in Boone

Griz travel to Appalachian State for early showdown
By Chronicle Staff

CHroNIClE FIlE PHoto

Bobby Daly, center with hat, played linebacker for Montana State from 2005-2008. The Helena Capital product is now the linebackers coach at Bozeman High School.

Quintet of former MSU players now Hawk coaches

Gazzerro and Groves are rookies all over again. They love it. I was fortunate, Purcell Chronicle Sports Writer said. The knowledge and stuff those guys Look at the mug shots from the 2006 bring is really good; they share a lot and Montana State University media guide, know a lot. then look around the Bozeman High None have designs of becoming a fullpractice fields. time coach/teacher though Saucedo You see five faces, and the exnotes if he gets an opportunity at pressions they hold mirror the the college level Ill definitely take faces from the media guide. it. For now, hes content to run a They all look the same, give or group home for A.W.A.R.E. Inc and take a few years of aging, and consider this his hobby. hold similar expressions. One way to give back to the Bobby Daly, Eric Fisher, sport and lifestyle I love is to coach; Chase Gazzerro, Evin Groves to give kids the blueprint to sucand Lou Saucedo all came to ceed and the passion and will to do Montana State between 2003 great things, Saucedo said. and 2005, each starting their Daly and Groves cited giving Saucedo journey as Bobcat football back and teaching others as the players. They all went through primary reason they walk around ups and downs Groves was forced into a giant swath of grass located behind early retirement due to chronic injuthe Bozeman High softball complex for ries, Saucedo missed a full season due roughly three hours a day. They each used to academic ineligibility and spent his the word fun multiple times in describcareer moving from the defensive line to ing their feelings towards football and offensive line; on the opposite end, Daly coaching. produced two All-America seasons for Daly sells insurance and works at 4800 MSU. Gym; Groves is a music producer for Several years later, they all have sepaMain Event West; both Gazzerro and rate jobs, separate lives. But one thing Fisher work in town. Yet they all found brings them together every day of the time to stay connected to the sport that week: being mentors to the Bozeman brought them to the Gallatin Valley. Hawk football team. Each of them still Being around these guys I missed loves the game and stays connected to it. I missed the game, Groves said. These it and each other through hours they are the same guys I stepped out on the spend together as part of Troy Purcells field with in college. Those are my brothcoaching staff. ers, and it feels like old times out here. Saucedo is in his third year with PurAdded Daly: Football is my first love, cell, second year as defensive coordinator by far, so I have to stay involved, Daly after former Bobcat Roger Cooper moved said. I had a lot of great coaches on my on to college football coaching. Daly and way to success and Im hoping I can help Fisher are in their second years while someone do the same thing.
By GIDAL KAISER

Twelve of the Big Sky Conferences 13 football-playing schools will hit the gridiron Saturday. But eyes around the FCS will be most intently watching the matchup of No. 11 Montana at No. 12 Appalachian State in Boone, North Carolina. The showdown pits two of the top FCS team in the country over the last 25 years. In 24 years at the helm for the Mountaineers, head coach Jerry Moore coach is 207-80. He is the six-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year, has led the team to 17 conference titles and won three straight national championships between 2005 and 2007. Hes coached two Buck Buchanan winners (Dexter Coakley in 1995 and 1996) and two Walter Payton award winners (Armanti Edwards in 2005 and 2006). Since Kidd Brewer Stadium better known as The Rock opened in 1962, the Mountaineers have lost 62 times at home. The stadium holds nearly 22,000 fans. In the last 25 years WashingtonGrizzly opened in Missoula in 1986 UM has lost 20 out of 162 home games. The stadium holds 25,204. In the time span, Montana has won 17 Big Sky titles and has made seven national title appearnces, winning titles in 1995 and 2001.

No. 9 EaStErN WaShiNgtoN at WaShiNgStoN StatE: The Eagles are fresh off a dominant 20-3 win over FBS Idaho. Now the Eagles and their high-flying passing game led bwide receivers Brandon Kaufman and Nicholas Edwards will look for a second upset in as many weeks. SouthErN utah at Cal: The rigors continue for star quarterback Brad Sorensen and the Thunderbirds. SUU lost 34-3 at FBS Utah State last week and now travel to Pac 12 Cal for another play-up game. WEbEr StatE at bYu:The Cougars looked to be in mid-season form during last weeks 30-6 trouncing of Washington State. Weber fell short, losing to Fresno State 37-10 in its opener. Unless Mike Hoke can make some magic in this Beehive State match-up, WSU is staring a 0-2 start right in the face. PortlaNd StatE at North dakota: This will be a conference game the next time the schools square off, but North Dakota will get its first taste of Big Sky competition in 2012 and it wont count against its league record. Both teams played NAIA schools last week, with UND destroying South Dakota Mines 66-0 and Portland State outlasting Carroll College 38-20. Sac State plays Colorado, U.C. Davis is at San Jose State, and NAU plays at UNLV. Northern Colorado and Idaho State play Division II teams.

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bozeman daily chronicle

No. 4 Montana State at Drake

5 p.m. Drake Stadium, Des Moines, Iowa

FCS Non-Conference BOBCATGAMEDAY

Montana State at Drake

When MonTana STaTe haS The ball
ping the run in an effort to get the Cats Rushing: During the first half of Monedge in to long-yardage situations on third tana States season-opening 33-6 win downs to utilize a pass rush that curover Chadron State, the Cats young ofrently leads the FCS in sacks. fensive line struggled to get a push and Passing: The Bulldogs will be eager worked to find a rhythm. After halftime, to get MSU into third downs so they the Bobcats made adjustments, but it can unleash their array of blitzes and was the acclimation to the speed of a cut Moorehead loose. But if Drake alcollege game that benefited redshirt lows MSU to get into short-yardage sitfreshmen John Weidenaar and Matthew Devereux and sophomore Quinn Catalano most uations, Bobcat quarterback DeNarius McGhee will slice and dice DUs young secondary. Look in their first college starts. for receiver Jon Ellis to build on last weeks twoThe results was 142 of 214 MSU rushing yards touchdown performance and look for Everett coming after intermission. Gilbert, Chase Young, Brian Flotkoetter and Drake prides itself on the aggressiveness of its Tanner Bleskin to get in on the action as well. front seven. Senior linebacker Tyler Moorehead McGhee probably wont top his completion total is one of the better players at the position in the (29), but he certainly will throw for more than FCS. Travis Merritt was an all-conference pick at 176 yards. middle linebacker as a freshman. Junior defensive end Brandon Coleman is stout against the run and the pass. Expect Drake to prioritize stop- edge: Montana State

The edge

Depth chartS
MSU oFFenSe
leFT TaCkle 55 John Weidenaar 6-7/267 Fr 71 Alex Eekhoff 74 Matt Devereux 63 Kyle Godecke CenTeR 56 Shaun Sampson 6-0/268 Sr 70 Joel Horn 6-4/290 Fr RIghT gUaRd 79 Quinn Catalano 6-4/265 So 72 Charles Lee 61 Steven Foster 64 Andy Austin 9 2 6-2/315 Jr 6-5/268 Sr 6-3/284 Jr RIghT TaCkle 6-6/268 Fr 6-3/287 Fr 6-5/316 Fr leFT gUaRd 93 Brett Park 96 Ryan Larson TaCkle 94 Matt Acree end 92 Anthony Gianaras6-3/246 Sr 46 Naser Hannoon 6-0/226 Jr RoveR 44 Tyler Moorehead 6-1/233 Sr 54 Mike Cardamone 6-2/205 Fr MIke lInebaCkeR 53 Travis Merritt 51 Seth Hedman bUCk 30 John Hugunin 5-11/215 Fr 33 Alex Thompson 6-1/231 Fr CoRneRbaCk 34 John Bloss 22 Brad Duwe WhIP 26 Bob Quilico Jr. 6-0/195 Fr 48 Jake Underwood 6-1/195 Fr FRee SaFeTY 21 Mike Ratelle 6-1/195 Fr 48 Jake Underwood 6-1/195 Fr CoRneRbaCk 2 5 Derek Temple Matt Buckley PUnTeR 6-3/185 Jr 19 Jeremy Stein 6-2/185 Jr 5-10/180 So 6-0/191 Fr 6-0/173 Fr 6-0/183 Fr 6-0/223 So 6-4/223 Fr 6-2/284 So 49 Nick Underwood5-11/270 So

dRake deFenSe
end 91 B. Coleman 35 Kolby Knuth noSe 6-3/283 Jr 6-4/277 So 6-3/266 Jr 6-3/227 So

QUaRTeRbaCk DeNarius McGhee 6-0/210 Jr Jake Bleskin 6-1/186 Fr 5-10/208 Jr 6-1/225 Sr 6-3/219 Jr 6-5/210 Jr 5-10/180 Jr RUnnIng baCk 25 Cody Kirk 7 Tray Robinson

X ReCeIveR 86 Tanner Bleskin 81 Kurt Davis 4 Jon Ellis

When dRake haS The ball

and junior middle linebacker Naa Rushing: Freshman Gary Scott, Jr. edge Moeakiola say has them licking their rushed for 117 yards in his debut at lips. tailback last week for Drake. But that Passing: Mike Piatkowski probably was against an NAIA school. has bad memories of the Bobcats. Montana State allowed 100 yards The fifth-year senior quarterback was rushing to Division II Chadron State the starter when Drake came to Bozelast week, but that was with nary a man in 2010. He left the game with a blitz and with All-America defensive tackle Zach Minter missing the first quarter do concussion after a controversial late hit and his team left the Gallatin Valley 48-21 losers. to a minor rules infraction. Piatkowski is the key to Drakes multi-tempo This week, look for the Bobcat defense to offense and he has 7, 108 career passing yards fly to the football and swarm the Bulldogs rushing attack. Junior defensive end Brad Daly to show for it. If he can stay upright, the Bullis questionable after injuring his ankle against dogs can hang tough. Easier said than done against an MSU team that was 2nd in the naCSC, but classmate Preston Gale may actually tion in sacks last fall. be an upgrade against the run. Drake is working in four new starters on the offensive line, something that both Minter edge: Montana State

Z ReCeIveR 84 Brian Flotkoetter 6-2/205 So F/Y ReCeIveR 14 Everett Gilbert 11 Chase Young 80 Tiai Salanoa 93 Lee Perkins kICkeR 18 Rory Perez 5-9/197 Sr 5-11/196 Sr 6-3/255 So 6-2/235 So

TIghT end

MSU deFenSe
end 41 Brad Daly 34 Preston Gale TaCkle 96 Zach Minter 47 Taylor Dees 6-1/240 Jr 6-3/252 Jr 6-1/297 Sr 6-2/266 So

dRake deFenSe
leFT TaCkle 56 Matt Purdom 6-5/302 Sr 55 Paddy OConnell 6-3/255 Sr leFT gUaRd 73 Zach Bosch 75 Aaron Johnson CenTeR 74 Troy Whitmer 6-2/284 Sr 79 John McMahan 6-3/265 So RIghT gUaRd 70 Avery Fuhs 63 Eric Pachter 72 Vince Israel 59 Jack Beck 2 6-4/311 Sr 6-3/320 So 6-6/285 Sr 6-4/290 So 6-5/310 Sr 6-5/280 So

INTANGIBLES
a top-25 program on the brink and Drake has won 11 games in a row edge Drake was an FCS mid-major. at home and are 21-3 in the last Today, Drake is still a mid-major, four seasons under Chris Creighton while Montana State is among the FCS at home. The Bulldogs won the elite. The No. 4 Bobcats have won 17 Pioneer Football League last season of their last 22 games since last facing and are riding high with stars like Drake. The Cats aspirations go beyond Moorehead, Coleman and Piatconference titles and aim at Frisco, Texas, the kowski back for one more year. But the Bobcats rise has been meteoric. The site for the FCS national title game. last time the two schools faced off, MSU was edge: Montana State

noSe TaCkle 50 Craig Ashworth 6-1/281 Jr 90 Taylor Sheridan 6-3/264 Fr bandIT 49 Caleb Schreibeis 6-3/253 Sr 48 Connor Verlanic 6-4/233 So SaM lInebaCkeR 16 Cole Moore 44 Leks Grosulak 6-2/219 So 5-10/215 Jr

RIghT TaCkle

MIke lInebaCkeR

QUaRTeRbaCk Mike Piatkowski 6-1/188 Sr 6-3/208 So 6-0/161 Sr 6-2/184 So 6-0/161 Sr 6-2/184 So 6-4/247 Sr SPlIT end 17 Nick Rosa 27 Graham Butler 17 Nick Rosa 27 Graham Butler 16 Kevin Marshall J-baCk 1 Michael Hudson 6-3/212 So S-baCk 5 TJ James kICkeR 6-0/180 Jr 5-9/185 Fr 6-1/186 So 28 Gary Scott, Jr. 99 Spencer Lee 10 Jacob Schmudlach6-2/229 Jr 15 Andy Rice

oveRall
On paper, the match-up looks like one of mirror images. Both teams rely on fierce frontsevens, both teams have experienced, savvy quarterbacks, both teams have head coaches who are men of character. But games arent played on paper. Montana States talent on the outside both at wide receiver and in the defensive backfield far outweighs that of the Bulldogs. The Bobcat defense was utterly dominate in the teams opener and the team will be hungry to prove it was no fluke. Rob Ashs return to a place he coached for 18 seasons could be a distraction. Playing in a hostile environment where the host has won 11 straight could be a challenge. But Montana State has bigger aspirations than pseudohomecomings. MSU will give Ash his first win in his hometown as a visitor.

2 Naa Moeakiola 5-11/217 Jr 51 Michael Foster 23 Jody Owens 43 Alex Singleton 13 Darius Jones 22 Eryon Barnett RoveR 5 Joel Fuller 6-1/228 So 6-1/218 Sr 6-2/223 So 5-10/175 Sr 6-2/195 Jr 6-0/199 Sr WIll lInebaCkeR

boUndaRY CoRneR

FlankeR

TIghT end 88 Dan Hohenstein 6-6/247 Jr

44

10

31 Robert Marshall 6-0/202 So FRee SaFeTY 1 Steven Bethley 5-11/219 Jr 5-10/188 Jr FIeld CoRneR 37 Deonte Flowers 5-11/175 So 24 James Andrews 6-1/186 Sr PUnTeR 18 Rory Perez 6-3/185 Jr 17 Sean Gords

Analysis by ColTeR nUaneZ of the Chronicle

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