#BigSkyFB Weekly Notebook – Oct. 14
#BigSkyFB Weekly Notebook
FARMINGTON, Utah (October 13, 2019) – Montana, Sacramento State and Weber State lead the Big Sky with undefeated conference records of 2-0. Five more teams have one loss, and the Big Sky is stacked with unknowns on who will come out on top due to the talent that shines from top to bottom in the league.
It’s mid-October and that means the halfway point of the season is in our rearview mirror. There’s six weeks left of regular season play before the conference accolades and playoff bids become a reality. Let’s take a look at some of the rankings by Big Sky players in the NCAA stats.
Big Sky quarterbacks continue to make an impact in 2019. Eastern Washington’s Eric Barriere is tied for second in the FCS with 20 touchdowns through seven games. Sacramento State’s Kevin Thomson is tied for fifth with 19 through six games, while Northern Arizona’s Case Cookus is tied for eighth with 18 through six games, along with UC Davis’ Jake Maier who has 18 touchdown passes in seven games. That gives the conference four of the top 10 spots in the FCS.
Cookus and Maier rank third and fifth respectively in passing yards per game at 345.8 and 320.4.
Defensively, Idaho’s Tre Walker is second in the FCS in total tackles with 78, including 48 solo. Montana’s Dante Olson is averaging 11.5 tackles per game for third in the FCS.
Montana State’s Bryce Sterk and Idaho’s Charles Akanno both have 12.5 tackles for loss to rank tied for second in the FCS, just .5 behind the leader. Sterk is also second in sacks with 8.5.
Anthony Adams of Portland State leads the nation is passes defended with 14, including three interceptions.
When it comes to special teams, three Big Sky punters are averaging over 45.0 yards per punt – Daniel Whelan, UC Davis (47.4), DJ Arnson, Northern Arizona (45.3), and Jered Padmos, Montana State (45.3).
The ROOT SPORTS Game of the Week features Idaho State at Idaho. The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. PT from the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.
NCAA Single-Game Highs (as of Oct. 13)
Longest Plays – Field Goals Made
57 - Luis Aguilar, NAU vs. Northern Colorado (10/5)
Punt Return Yards SG
150 – Jerry Louie-McGee, UM vs. N. Alabama (9/7)
Receiving Yards SG
289 – Dre’Sonte Dorton, EWU vs. Lindenwood (9/7)
Assisted Tackles SG
15 – Dante Olson, UM vs. Idaho State (10/5)
Blocked Kicks SG
2 – Dylan Ledbetter, EWU at Idaho (9/21)*
Field Goals Made SG
4 - Seth Harrison, EWU vs. Northern Colorado (10/12)*
Longest Play – Kickoff Return
100 – Malik Flowers, UM vs. Monmouth (9/21)*
Rushes SG
39 – Milo Hall, UNC vs. Idaho (9/28)
Total Offensive Yards SG
556 – Eric Barriere, EWU vs. Lindenwood (9/7)
* Denotes tied for first in the FCS
This Week in Big Sky Football
Saturday, Oct. 19
Northern Arizona at No. 4/5 Weber State............... 2:00 p.m. MT
TV/Digital: Pluto TV 535
Portland State at Northern Colorado....................... 1:00 p.m. MT
TV/Digital: Eleven Sports Game of the Week/Pluto TV Ch. 541
Talent: Bill Doleman and Justin Adams
Idaho State at Idaho...................................................... 2:30 p.m. PT
TV/Digital: ROOT SPORTS Game of the Week
Talent: Tom Glasgow, Taylor Barton, Ty Gregorak
North Dakota at Cal Poly.............................................. 5:00 p.m. PT
TV/Digital: Pluto TV Ch. 544
No. 23/22 UC Davis at Southern Utah...................... 6:00 p.m. MT
TV/Digital: Pluto TV 536
No. 5/6 Montana at No. 15/17 Sacramento St....... 6:00 p.m. MT
TV/Digital: Pluto TV Ch. 533/CW Sacramento/SWX Montana