BOZEMAN — Watching the film back from the win over Utah Tech didn’t change Montana State head football coach Brent Vigen’s opinion of how dominant the Bobcats’ defense was against the Trailblazers.
MSU didn’t allow a first down until early in the fourth quarter with backups in, holding Utah Tech to 1 for 11 on third downs. The Trailblazers put up less than 40 yards of offense in the first half and finished with 176 total yards. Dating back to the second half against New Mexico in Week 0, MSU went five straight quarters without allowing a score. Utah Tech’s Deacon Hill ended that streak with a fourth quarter rushing TD in garbage time.
“We want to play championship level defense,” Vigen said Monday. “We’re not there yet, but I think we’ve made some strides.”
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Montana State head football coach Brent Vigen talks to reporters about the Bobcats’ 31-7 win at Utah Tech, upcoming Gold Rush opponent Maine and more on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, at the Bobcat Athletic Complex in Bozeman.
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One omission from the box scores of both games, though, is the lack of production on the defensive line. In 2023, the Bobcats led the FCS in sacks per game (3.42) and ranked second in total sacks (41).
Through two games this season, MSU’s D-line has yet to record a sack, and has just 1 1/2 tackles for loss and three quarterback hits. The UNM game marked the first time since Dec. 17, 2022 against South Dakota State without a sack, and this is the first two-game stretch without a sack since 2017.
“Sometimes plays just don’t come to you, and that’s all right,” said defensive end Kenneth Eiden IV Monday. “But I think overall, we’ve been doing our job well and making sure we’re getting after these offensive lines and playing on their side of the line of scrimmage.”
Vigen said looking at sack totals can be tricky; despite being one of the top programs in that area last year, MSU didn’t play “championship-level defense” as an entire unit in Vigen’s estimation. The Bobcats ranked 31st in total defense (331.4 yards per game allowed), 24th in third down conversion percentage (33.8%) and tied for 62nd in first downs allowed (220).
There are also several in-game factors that can affect sack totals, he said, such as how quickly an opposing QB gets rid of the ball and how many bodies are up front in protection. The Lobos in particular had several fronts of max protection (seven players) to help out QB Devon Dampier.
“So I think we’ve affected the game plan maybe as much as anything these first couple weeks,” Vigen said. “And I hope that teams continue to be, let’s say, mindful of what we can do up front.”
Both Vigen and Eiden pointed to the depth of pass rushers up front, such as All-American Brody Grebe, Zac Crews, Paul Brott, Blake Schmidt and Eiden, that can impact games. The Bobcats are still hopeful — especially with the home opener this weekend — the team will get home more often in opponents’ backfields.
“I think we’ve got some studs up front that can get it done,” Eiden said. “It’s early in the season right now, and this is the time to make sure we get all those things figured out with (conference play) coming up.”
Montana State defensive end Brody Grebe sacks North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller during a second-round FCS playoff game on Dec. 2, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle Chronicle file photo
Injury update
The depth of the offensive line is the most concerning for Vigen heading into Week 3.
Starting left guard Conner Moore exited the game against Utah Tech, sitting out the entire second half. Vigen said there’s “a fair chance” Moore will return for the Gold Rush game against Maine, with Moore listed as the starter on the two-deep.
The rest of the O-line is still incomplete, with center Justus Perkins and guards JT Reed and Burke Mastel sidelined due to injuries. Vigen said all three will be out for Gold Rush.
The win over Utah Tech was “a grind of a game,” Vigen added, with players on both sides cramping with the heat in the mid-90s at kickoff. The most notable was MSU QB Tommy Mellott, who stayed down considerably longer than usual after scoring a TD in the second half. Mellott was helped off the field by trainers with cramps in both legs, which won’t affect his status moving forward, Vigen said.
Teammates congratulate Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott after his touchdown against Utah Tech Saturday at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George, Utah.
Brian Morse/Bobcat Creative Services
“I think as we look at this (Gold Rush) game, I think the temps are going to be in the 80s again, probably a little bit different type of heat,” he added. “But we’ve played two games now in that kind of setting, and that does take its toll on you a little bit.”
Kicker Casey Kautzman’s status is to be determined and MSU will know more in the next couple days, Vigen said. Running back Julius Davis and safety Dru Polidore — who missed the first two games — didn’t appear on this week’s two-deep and will miss the third game in a row.
Jones named FCS National Freshman Player of the Week
After being named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week following the win over UNM, RB Adam Jones was picked by Stats Perform as the FCS National Freshman Player of the Week, according to a release Monday.
Montana State’s Adam Jones runs the ball against Utah Tech Saturday at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George, Utah.
Brian Morse/Bobcat Creative Services
Jones finished with 167 yards on 17 carries against the Lobos, highlighted by a 93-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. He followed that up with 53 rushing yards and a TD on 11 carries against Utah Tech. Jones also has five catches for 28 yards this season.
“I think his performance last week for us was a big catalyst to us winning that game. He certainly on that stage against a Mountain West team on national TV looked the part and then performed well,” Vigen said, adding, “Any time you get a national honor individually, it speaks volumes. But then I think it’s a good pat on the back to the program as well.”
A look ahead to Maine
Both UNM and Utah Tech were filled with unknowns, including new head coaches and immense roster turnover from the 2023 season.
MSU’s Week 3 opponent, Maine, finally provides some stability in preparation. The Black Bears are coming off a 17-14 win over Colgate last week.
“Now to have a team where you feel like, OK, they got a game. We’ve had a chance to see that,” Vigen said. “We can work off of last year’s video a little bit differently than we would have otherwise.”
There are some notable additions such as Mercer transfer QB Carter Peevy and former MSU RB Jaharie Martin. Martin — who spent most of his three years at MSU at fullback and on special teams — led Maine in rushing with 66 yards and a TD on 15 carries. Peevy went 16 of 21 for 186 yards through the air, along with a rushing TD.
Vigen noted Peevy’s dual-threat ability, which helped lead Mercer to the second round of the FCS playoffs last year.
The Black Bears also return wide receivers Joe Gillette, Jamie Lamson and Montigo Moss and tight end Cooper Heisey. Gillette and Heisey earned 2024 preseason all-conference honorable mentions. Moss led all receivers against Colgate with five catches for 84 yards.
Vigen also said Maine was “really talented” on defense, a group that wasn’t represented on the preseason all-conference team.
“And that’s surprising to me because I do think they have some good players, especially in their front seven,” he added. “They were tested last week. They had to make some plays, and they did that. I think they’re a team that looks principled in what they’re trying to do.”
The Black Bears return D-linemen Izaiah Henderson (team-high 9 1/2 TFLs in 2023) and Xavier Holmes (No. 3 tackler), along with linebackers Tyshawn Stewart (No. 2 tackler), Christian Thomas and Jabari Odoemenem. They added D-lineman Jacob Tuiasosopo and LB Jermaine Baker, who both recorded a sack against Colgate.
Saturday’s game will be another test and a chance for improvement against a team “trending in the right direction,” Vigen said. It will also be the annual Gold Rush game and the first chance to start a new home win streak. North Dakota State ended the previous streak, which dated back to 2019.
Much like the opponent, MSU can enter into charted territory with the playing conditions in Week 3.
“It’s our expectation that any time a team comes in here, it’s going to be challenging for (our opponent) because of our crowd, because of the noise, because of the environment that we have,” Vigen said. “And on the flip side, we can hopefully feed off of that.”
Braden Shaw can be reached at bshaw@dailychronicle.com or 406-582-2690. Follow him on Twitter @ByBradenShaw
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Publish date : 2024-09-01 13:00:00
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