FARMINGTON, Utah (Oct. 2, 2024) – Conference play is in full swing for Big Sky football, as Week 6 features five league matchups on Saturday. Below are news and notes for Week 6 of the football season.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (Week 6)
Weber State-Montana Featured Game on "This Week in Big Sky Football"
No. 8 Montana hosts Weber State this Saturday, as the Grizzlies and Wildcats meet for the 57th time in their football series. The Wildcats have won the last two meetings, while the Griz lead the overall series 40-16. The contest will be featured on “This Week in Big Sky Football” which airs each Friday on @BigSkyConf’s YouTube.
Kibbie Dome Hosts Top 25 Showdown on Saturday
No. 10 Idaho hosts No. 25 NAU on Saturday at the Kibbie Dome, as both teams seek another ranked win on the year. The ranking for NAU marks the first time the Lumberjacks have made the Stats Perform Top 25 since Sept. 10, 2018.
No. 10 Idaho has played three-straight ranked games, while winning two of those, while NAU has now played in two-straight ranked contests and won its first last week against Sacramento State.
Looking ahead to next week, the Vandals face No. 3 Montana State, while the Lumberjacks will go up against current No. 8 Montana. That would give Idaho five-straight ranked games and NAU four-straight ranked games.
Idaho vs. Ranked Foes in 2024 (2-1)
9/14: vs. #17 UAlbany (W/41-13)
9/21: at #19 Abilene Christian (W/27-24)
9/28: at #14 UC Davis (L/26-28)
10/5: vs. #25 Northern Arizona
10/12: at #3 Montana State*
NAU vs. Ranked Foes in 2024 (1-1)
9/21: at #15 UIW (L/14-38)
9/28: vs. #10 Sacramento State (W/34-16)
10/5: at #10 Idaho
10/12: at #8 Montana*
* - current Stats Perform FCS ranking
Grizzly Rushers
Montana has used a balanced attack this year on the ground, with three different rushers owning a game with over 160 yards rushing. The next closest is Montana State, who has two different running backs with over 159 yards rushing for a single game.
Most Yards Rushing in Game for 2024
176: Malae Fonoti, UM vs. Morehead State (9/14)
175: Eli Gillman, UM vs. Western Carolina (9/21)
167: Adam Jones, MSU at New Mexico (8/24)
160: Nick Ostmo, UM at EWU (9/28)
159: Scottre Humphrey, MSU at Idaho State (9/28)
Bobcats Seek 6-0 Start to the 2024 Season
Montana State hosts Northern Colorado this Saturday, as the Bobcats seek a 6-0 start to the season. The 6-0 start would be the best for Montana State since going 6-0 to open the season in 2012.
Three Big Sky Standouts Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalists
The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced its 203 semifinalists for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy, with Eastern Washington's Efton Chism III, Montana's Trevin Gradney, and Montana State's Brody Grebe being named to the list.
Players of the Week Announced for Big Sky Football
Offensive Player of the Week: Logan Fife, Montana (QB, R-Jr., Tracy, Calif.)
In his first start at Montana, quarterback Logan Fife helped the Grizzlies win a 52-49 shootout at Eastern Washington for the program’s first victory on the Red Turf. Fife threw for 364 yards on 30-of-42 attempts and five touchdowns, with no interceptions on the day. The 364 yards passing was the most for a Grizzly quarterback since Dalton Sneed threw for 459 in 2019. Overall, Montana had 701 yards of total offense on Saturday.
Defensive Player of the Week: Alex McLaughlin, Northern Arizona (DB, So., Chandler, Ariz.)
Alex McLaughlin led Northern Arizona on defense as the Lumberjacks upset No. 10 Sacramento State at home. McLaughlin had nine tackles, four solo, with a pair of sacks, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble that was recovered for a touchdown. The NAU defense limited Sacramento State to 231 yards of offense, including just 51 net yards rushing. The Hornets averaged 173 rushing yards per game entering Saturday.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Marcus Lye, Northern Arizona (K/KO, Jr., Parkes, Australia)
Marcus Lye had a career day in the upset win over No. 10 Sacramento State, as he made two field goals for the first time in his career, connecting on a career-long 52-yarder and a 30-yarder. Lye made all four extra point attempts, while handling kickoff duties as well where he boomed all seven kickoffs for touchbacks for a 65.0 average.
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Upcoming Big Sky Football Games (Week 6)
Saturday, Oct. 5
#RV Weber State at #8 Montana* // 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps)
Northern Colorado at #3 Montana State* // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps)
#9 UC Davis at Portland State* // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
#25 Northern Arizona at #10 Idaho* // 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Idaho State at Cal Poly* // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Rankings: Stats Perform FCS
* - Denotes Big Sky Conference game