Around the Big Sky
PLAYOFF BOUND: The Weber State Wildcats clinched the Big Sky’s automatic bid to the FCS playoffs with its 59-27 win over Idaho State on Saturday. The Wildcats will advance to the playoffs for the third time in school history, and the first time since 1991. Weber State also went to the playoffs in 1987. Both previous trips to the playoffs were as an at-large team. The Wildcats clinched at least a share of the 2008 Big Sky championship with the victory, and will clinch the title outright with a win over Eastern Washington on Nov. 22, or if Montana loses one of its final two games. The championship is only the third for Weber State in school history, and the first in 40 years. Weber State shared Big Sky titles in 1965 and 1968. Weber State tied Idaho with a 7-1 record in 1987. That year, the Big Sky did not recognize co-champions. Idaho won the head-to-head meeting against Weber State during the regular-season, and was recognized as outright champion. The Wildcats have never won eight conference games in a season, and this marks just the second time the school has won seven conference games in a season.
COACH MAC OK: Weber State rewarded Ron McBride with a four-year contract extension last week. Unfortunately, the 69-year-old coach was not on the sideline when the Wildcats celebrated clinching the automatic bid to the playoffs. McBride had to be carted from the sideline to a local hospital after becoming short of breath and dizzy. McBride spent the night in a Pocatello hospital, and all heart tests were negative. Prior to heading back home to Ogden, the Wildcat football team took the championship trophy to McBride’s hospital room. McBride became one of just a handful of coaches to win conference titles in three Divisions I conferences. McBride previously won titles in the WAC and Mountain West with Utah. Other coaches that have won titles in three difference conferences include Dennis Erickson, who won one at Idaho in the Big Sky, Lou Holtz, Frank Beamer and John Cooper.
FIRST TO 100: The Montana Grizzlies won their 100th game since the start of the 2000 season on Saturday with a 29-12 win over Portland State. Montana is the first Division I team to win 100 games this decade, century and millennium. Montana coach Bobby Hauck has guided the Grizzlies to a 61-15 record in the last six seasons. Joe Glenn compiled a 39-6 record in three seasons from 2000-2002. Montana has won or shared 10 straight league titles, a streak that is in serious jeopardy this season. Oklahoma has 99 victories to lead all FBS teams. Appalachian State is second in the FCS with 87 wins since the start of 2000. Since the start of the 2000 season, Montana has compiled a Big Sky Conference record of 52-6. Montana has advanced to the playoffs a record 15 straight seasons, and is in position to receive at at-large bid this season. Montana won the 2001 National Championship, and was the runner-up in 2000 and 2004.
WINS SINCE START OF 2000 SEASON
All Division I
Montana 100-21
Oklahoma 99-18
Boise State 95-16
Texas 94-12
Ohio State 89-22
LSU 88-25
Georgia 88-25
Appalachian State 87-29
Virginia Tech 85-28
Miami, Fla. 82-26
Florida 82-26
FCS
Montana 100-21
Appalachian State 87-29
Dayton 78-20
Northern Iowa 78-29
Furman 78-33
Georgia Southern 75-35
Colgate 72-32
McNeese State 72-32
Delaware 72-40
Lehigh 70-32
UMass 70-37
RECORDS WITHIN NAU’S REACH: Northern Arizona hasn’t been quite as dominant against the run in recent weeks as it was early in the season, but the Lumberjacks are still within reach of a couple of single-season conference records in rushing defense. Northern Arizona enters its season-finale this Saturday against Eastern Washington allowing 56.7 rushing yards per game. Opponents have rushed for 560 yards, and 2.0 yards per carry against NAU this season. Montana State currently holds the single-season record for fewest rushing yards allowed at 659 set in 1966. The single-season record for fewest average rushing yards per game is 65.3 set by Idaho in 1994. The single-season record for average yards per rush allowed is 1.7 set by Montana State in 1966. Eastern Washington enters Saturday’s game averaging 84.2 rushing yards per game.
SKY IN THE SAGARIN: Six Big Sky Conference teams are rated in the top 30 among FCS teams in this week’s Jeff Sagarin computer rankings. Montana is ranked fourth among FCS teams, and 64th overall. Weber State is sixth among FCS teams and 74th overall. Montana State is 18th, followed by NAU at 19, Sacramento State at 26, and Eastern Washington at 28. The Big Sky continues to be ranked third among FCS conferences, behind only the CAA and Southern.
TREVYN IN THE TOP 10: Weber State junior Trevyn Smith became the school’s all-time leading rusher, and moved into 10th place on the Big Sky’s all-time career rushing list in the Wildcats’ win over Idaho State. Smith, of Springville, Utah, rushed for 143 yards, giving him 3,616 in 33 career games. Smith moved past Nick Chournos (3,593) into first place on Weber State’s all-time list and into 10th place on the Big Sky’s all-time list. Smith is just 30 yards behind former Montana State Ryan Johnson for ninth place on the Big Sky’s all-time list. Smith leads all active juniors in the FCS in rushing yards. He had led the Big Sky in average rushing yards per game as a freshman and sophomore. He is looking to become just the second player in league history to lead in average rushing yards per game. Smith currently leads at 106.6 rushing yards per game. Smith broke Chournos’ record on a 41-yard touchdown run. Smith finished the ISU game with 229 all-purpose yards, as he caught seven passes for 86 yards. Smith has scored 20 touchdowns this season, seven more than any other player in the league.
Big Sky’s Career Rushing Leaders
Coach, Player Years Yards
1. Charles Robers, Sacramento State 1997-2000 6,553
2. Charles “Chip” Dunn, Portland State 1997-2000 6,007
3. Charvez Foger, Nevada 1985-1988 4,484
4. Cedric Minter, Boise State 1977-1980 4,475
5. Jesse Chatman, E. Washington 1999-2001 4,173
6. Lex Hilliard, Montana 2003-05, 07 4,016
7. Sherriden May, Idaho 1991-94 3,748
8. Ryan Fuqua, Portland State 2001-04 3,709
9. Ryan Johnson, Montana State 1999-2002 3,646
10. Trevyn Smith, Weber State 2006- 3,616
PEACH OF A SACKER: Eastern Washington’s Greg Peach, a leading candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, picked up two more sacks and three tackles for loss in the Eagles’ 31-16 win over Northern Colorado. Peach set the school’s single-season record for sacks with 16, which leads the nation. Peach also leads the nation with 20 tackles for loss. Peach owns the all-time EWU record with 33½ sacks. The NCAA began recognizing sacks as an official statistic in 2000. Since then, the league record for sacks in a season is 19, set by Montana’s Andy Petek in 2000. Jared Allen tallied 17.5 sacks en route to winning the Buck Buchanan Award in 2003. Montana’s Kroy Biermann, the 2007 Buck Buchanan Award Winner, had 15 sacks last season. Peach’s 33 ½ career sacks currently ranks third on the Big Sky’s all-time list. Allen tallied 38.5 career sacks. Montana’s Tim Bush had 34.5 career sacks. Peach’s 20 tackles for loss currently ranks eighth on the Big Sky’s single-season list. Allen had 28 tackles for loss in 2003, followed by 27 for Petek in 2000. Jeff Allen holds the EWU record and ranks third in league history with 24 in 2000.
WIN IN THE CAUSEWAY: Sacramento State won its annual rivalry game with UC Davis 29-19 on Saturday in Davis, marking the Hornets’ first win over the Aggies in the Causeway Classic since 1999. It was Sacramento State’s first at Davis since 1996. Wide receiver Tony Washington hauled in three touchdown passes to lead the Hornets. The Hornet defense held UC Davis to six second-half points and 301 yards of total offense. The victory moved Sacramento State to 5-5. It’s the Hornets’ most wins since finishing 5-7 in 2002. Marshall Sperbeck’s Hornets have won two straight games, and are seeking their first in-season three-game winning streak since the start of the 1992 season. Sacramento State closes with games against Northern Colorado and Idaho State. The Hornets are in position to finish 7-5, which would be the program’s best record since finishing 7-4 in 2000.
CASE FOR THE PAYTON: Weber State’s Cameron Higgins might only be a sophomore, but he is making a strong case to win the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top offensive player in FCS football. Higgins leads the nation with 3,479 yards, and is second in the nation with 33 touchdown passes. Higgins is completing 68.6 percent of his passes with just eight interceptions. Higgins ranks second in the nation in passing efficiency. Against Idaho State, Higgins completed 18-of-23 passes for 369 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He didn’t play most of the fourth quarter. Higgins has also guided WSU to its highest ranking since 1998, its first playoff appearance since 1991, and its first conference title since 1968. Higgins, along with Appalachian State QB Armanti Edwards, is considered by many as the leading candidates for the Payton. Edwards is third in the nation in passing efficiency. He’s thrown for 1,999 yards with 22 touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s also rushed for 974 yards and nine touchdowns.
Extra points: Portland State had just 210 yards of offense last week, the lowest total in the Jerry Glanville era…All five road teams won last week…Montana’s Chase Reynolds has rushed for 454 yards and eight touchdowns in his last three games…Idaho State’s 14-game losing streak remains the second longest in the nation, behind Indiana State’s 24…Montana coach Bobby Hauck earned his 61st career win last Saturday, tying him with Jerome Souers for sixth on the Big Sky’s all-time victories list…UM’s Cole Bergquist has thrown 108 passes without an interception...Northern Colorado linebacker CJ Stemo sustained a broken leg against Eastern Washington and had to go undergo surgery…Twin brothers Zach and Matt Johnson have combined for 27 tackles in EWU’s win…WSU’s Josh Morris picked off three passes against ISU…WSU’s offense had 666 yards of offense against the Bengals… WSU’s Josh Morris picked off three passes against ISU…WSU’s offense had 666 yards of offense against the Bengals.