Stony Brook (10-2)
at Montana State (10-1)
Saturday, Dec, 1, 5:05 p.m. MST, Bozeman, Mont.
Bobcat Stadium (17,777 FieldTurf)
Internet: ESPN3
The Records: Montana State brings a 10-1 overall mark to the postseason. The Bobcats’ lone loss was a 27-24 setback on Oct. 13 to Eastern Washington. Montana State went 7-1 in conference, tying EWU and Cal Poly for the league title.. MSU earned an at-large bid from the Big Sky...Stony Brook bring a 10-2 record to Bozeman. The Seawolves lost at Syracuse and to Liberty. Stony Brook notched a 23-3 win over Army. The Seawolves earned an at-large bid to the playoffs.
The Series: First Meeting
The Coaches: Montana State’s Rob Ash is 49-21 in his sixth season with the Bobcats. He is the school’s all-time leader in victories. Ash is 1-2 in the playoffs. Ash has an overall coaching record of 225-120-5 in his 33rd season as a head coach. Ash was named the 2010 Big Sky Coach of the Year, and the 2011 Liberty Mutal 2011 FCS Coach of the Year...Stony Brook’s Chuck Priore is 47-33 in his seventh season. He is 86-42 in his 13th season as a head coach. Priore is 2-1 in the playoffs.
Big Sky vs. The Big South: This is the first meeting between a Big Sky team and a team from the Big South. The Big Sky went 1-0 against teams from the Big South this season, as Montana beat Liberty 34-14
Up Next: The winner will play the winner of Saturday’s game between Cal Poly and Sam Houston State. If Montana State wins, the Bobcats will host next week.
Notes: MSU won 10 regular-season games for the first time in school history. The school record for wins in a season is 12, set in 1976 and 1984. MSU won the Division II title in 1976 and the FCS title in 1984...Stony Brook started its football program in 1984...MSU is in the playoffs for the third consecutive season...Stony Brook is located on Long Island in New York. Stony Brook will join the CAA for football next season...Stony Brook RB Miguel Maysonet, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, has rushed for 1,936 yards and 21 touchdowns this season...Stony Brook QB Kyle Essington has thrown 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has an efficiency rating of 175.8. Essington did not play last week against Villanova...Stony Brook’s top receiver is Kevin Norrell, who has 1,302 yards and 14 touchdowns...MSU QB DeNarius McGhee, the Big Sky Offensive MVP, has thrown for 2,726 yards with 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions...MSU RB Cody Kirk averages 90.9 rushing yards per game and leads the Big Sky with 13 rushing touchdowns...MSU went 5-1 at home this season...Stony Brook went 2-2 on the road...With a win, Ash will become the 14th coach in Big Sky history with 50 wins while coaching in the league...MSU DE Caleb Schreibeis, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, leads the Big Sky with 12 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. He is tied for the national lead with seven forced fumbles...MSU is converting 51.41 percent of its third downs. Stony Brook converts 50.36...Opponents are converting just 28.83 percent of its third downs against Montana State...MSU has gone 21-3 in Big Sky play the last three seasons, tops among league teams...MSU has been ranked in the top 10 for 27 consecutive weeks.