Week 3 Grizzlies, Bobcats Capsules
Grizzlies, Bobcats Capsules
No. 2 Montana at Indiana St.
When: Saturday, 11 a.m.; TV — n/a; Web — ESPN+; Radio — Grizzly Radio Network.
Where: Memorial Stadium (12,784, FieldTurf)
Records: Montana is 2-0, Indiana St. is 1-1.
When the Grizzlies have the ball: Lucas Johnson had a blazing start in last week’s 24-7 win over South Dakota, including an arm-fake, 24-yard, twisting, physical touchdown run.
Marcus Knight got more carries last week but remains off the Griz two-deep at running back, while Xavier Harris and Nick Ostmo are. Harris’ 78 rushing yards ranks second, far behind Johnson’s 148 in two games. Ostmo has 72 yards, and Knight has 63. Mitch Roberts has team highs of nine catches and 116 yards; Junior Bergen has eight catches for 99. They’ve combined for all five of Johnson’s TD throws.
When the Sycamores have the ball: Sophomore Gavin Screws is the QB, and has one TD pass against four interceptions. A year ago he was playing for the Butler Community College (Kan.) Grizzlies. Receiver Dante Hendrix, who wears No. 8, is a preseason second team all-Missouri Valley and has caught a pass in 28 straight games. Linemen Joel Stevens and Jose Vazquez are highly-regarded, and Tennessee transfer Tee Hodge is a hard-running freshman with 110 yards in two games. Hodge ran for 32 yards in a 56-0 loss at Purdue last week.
Notable: The Sycamores, like South Dakota, play in the Missouri Valley Conference. Sixth-year coach Curt Mallory is 18-29 in Terre Haute, including a 7-4 mark in 2018. Indiana State’s last FCS playoff appearance was a 35-14 loss to Chattanooga in the second round in 2014. Memorial Stadium opened in 1924. Watch for No. 2, linebacker Geoffrey Brown, who was ISU’s top 2021 tackler as a freshman. Backup safety Riley Cole had eight tackles and two interceptions in the Sycamores’ season-opening 17-14 overtime win over North Alabama.
The pick: Griz, 35-7.
No. 4 Montana St. at Oregon St.
When: Saturday 6:10 p.m., TV — Pac 12 Network; Web — Pac 12 Now; Radio — Bobcat Radio Network, msubobcats.com.
Where: Providence Park, Portland, Ore. (20,438, FieldTurf)
Records: MSU is 2-0. Oregon St. is 2-0.
When the Bobcats have the ball: Sophomore QB Tommy Mellott ranks sixth in the FCS in passing efficiency, having completed 67 percent of his passes, with eight TDs and no picks. Willie Patterson has had half his six catches go for TDs. Ravi Alston has a team-high eight catches for 144 yards and one score. There are injury worries at running back, where Elijah Elliott is listed as the starter and Garrett Coon, a freshman, is the backup. The Cats, who run the ball two-thirds of the time, lost San Diego State transfer Kaegun Williams (neck) for the season, and both 2021 standout Isaiah Ifanse and Huntley Project flash Dane Sumner (arm) are out.
When the Beavers have the ball: Chance Nolan has completed 28 of 50 passes in two games (wins over Boise State and Fresno State) for 470 yards and 3 touchdowns. He has two interceptions. Seshaun Fenwick is the top rusher, with 141 yards and two TDs. Luke Musgrave (11 catches-169 yards), Tre’Shaun Harrison (8-86) and Tyjon Lindsey (2-55) each have a TD reception. Brandon Kipper has 34 starts on the O-line, and Joshua Gray has 23.
Notable: It’s the first meeting between the programs. MSU is 7-9 all-time at Providence Park, including a 6-8 mark against Portland State, which now plays at Hillsboro Stadium. Oregon State last played at Providence Park (then Civic Stadium) in 1986, against UCLA. Beavers coach Jonathan Smith is 18-28 in his fifth season in Corvallis, and was Montana’s offensive coordinator in 2010-11. Bobcat safety Jeffrey Manning played in 16 games for Oregon State in 2018-19. One of OSU’s best eras came in 1999-2002, when former MSU quarterback Dennis Erickson guided the Beavers to 31 wins, including an 11-1 season in 2000 with Smith as his QB. Bobcat LB (2001-14) Cody Moore is OSU’s director of player personnel.