Big Sky Week 4 Recap

Stephen F. Austin 35, Cal Poly 17 (Nacogdoches, TX)

The Big Sky-Southland love affair continued this weekend in Nacogdoches, TX when the Mustangs took the trip to face the Lumberjacks. The Mustangs got most of their business done through the air, grabbing a 10-7 lead early in the 2nd quarter before SFA answered with a touchdown just before halftime. Afterward, the Cal Poly offense would struggle to find paydirt, going silent for nearly 3 quarters. The Mustang defense would go on to allow 28 unanswered points to put the Lumberjacks comfortably in the lead.The Mustangs cycled through their stable of QBs, tallying 288 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air. Redshirt sophomore QB Jackson Akins took the majority of the snaps after coming in late in the 1st quarter, going 13/29 for 182 yards and a touchdown, but 3 INTs soured the day for him. Akins also led the Cal Poly rushing attack with 36 yards on 10 attempts. Redshirt senior WR Michael Briscoe continues to produce, going for 140 yards and a touchdown on just 4 catches. Defensively, the Mustangs had their chances at SFA’s QB, including 6 QB hurries and a forced fumble. They also hit on 2 sacks for 24 yards. Mustangs will look to open Big Sky play on the road this weekend, taking the trip north to face a fellow green team in Sacramento State.

Eastern Washington 52, Western Illinois 31 (Cheney, WA)

It was the Eags’ run game that was the star on Saturday afternoon at the Inferno, led by redshirt sophomore QB Nate Bell. The young EWU QB also went for 272 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 INTs passing, giving him a whopping 416 all-purpose yards for the day. Bell started things off by tossing 2 touchdown passes to put Eastern in the lead at 15-3. The scoring party continued on the ground when redshirt junior WR Wesley Garrett broke off a massive 67 yard touchdown run. Bell followed it up with a 2 yard touchdown scamper of his own right before the half, heading into the locker room with a 27-17 lead. Eastern would add 25 more points in the 2nd half, including a touchdown run from redshirt junior RB Marceese Yetts and 2 more Bell touchdown scampers. In total, the Eags amassed 597 yards of offense, but looked a little undisciplined at times, giving up 122 yards on 11 penalties. Defensively, Eastern got to WIU QB Chris Irvin for 3 sacks totaling 14 yards. The EWU secondary also had their say, with redshirt junior CB Dre Greeley nabbing a 46 yard interception just as the 2nd half got started to put the Eastern offense in prime position for another touchdown drive. With their first victory of the season in hand, the Eags will take the trip to Bozeman this weekend to open Big Sky play against the #5 Montana State Bobcats.

San Jose State 31, #6 Idaho 28 (San Jose, CA)

The Vandals suited up for one more FBS matchup last weekend, this time on the road to face the Mountain West’s San Jose State. The Vandals built a 14-0 lead with 7:12 remaining in the 1st half. The Spartans would answer though, starting with an 87 yard touchdown run from scrimmage. They would go on to score again in their next drive to knot it up 14-14 at the half. The 2nd half was a game of cat and mouse, with Idaho jumping out to a lead, then SJSU answering to tie it up again with 5:21 left in the game. The Vandal offense would stall again, opening the door for the Spartans to drive down the field and kick what would be the game-winning field goal. Idaho gave it one last try with 8 seconds on the clock, trying to lateral the ball up the field before ultimately fumbling to end it. Vandals redshirt sophomore QB Joshua Wood ended the day with a tidy line of 232 yards and 2 touchdowns on 18/32 attempts. Redshirt sophomore RB Art Williams also got a lot of run, carrying the ball 18 times for 65 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt senior RB Nate Thomas chipped in 42 yards of his own on 15 attempts. The Vandals would end the day with 152 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. The Idaho defense struggled to bring SJSU QB Walker Eget down, recording no sacks and just 3 TFLs for 7 yards. The Vandals will renew their rivalry with neighbor Montana in Missoula this weekend, vying to take home the Little Brown Stein and open Big Sky play with a massive road win.

Idaho State 90, Lincoln (CA) 0 (Pocatello, ID)

The Bengals came off their bye week with a vengeance, taking out all their close loss frustrations on the traveling Lincoln Oaklanders. After the Oaklanders put together a sustained drive to start the game, they turned the ball over on downs and it was all Stripes from there. They scored a whopping 69 points in the 1st half, 42 of those points coming in the 2nd quarter alone. At halftime, the 2 teams agreed to shorten the 3rd and 4th quarters to limit the embarrassment, ending with a final score of 90-0. Redshirt freshman QB Davis Harsin had a day, throwing for 195 yards and 6 touchdowns. ISU fans were also treated to an appearance from redshirt junior QB Jordan Cooke, who had been ruled out indefinitely just a few weeks ago. He appeared for a series, going 4 of 5 for 43 yards and a touchdown. The Bengals run game also had a day, racking up 281 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground. The Idaho State defense also got in on the action, recording 11 TFLs for 47 total yards, including 4 sacks. The Stripes will take the confidence on the road this weekend to face an improving Northern Colorado Bears team to open Big Sky play. 

#4 Montana 63, Indiana State 20 (Missoula, MT)

The Griz enjoyed their 3rd home game in a row, facing another Missouri Valley Football Conference foe in the Indiana State Sycamores. After some back and forth, the Griz offense found their footing, leading to a massive 69 yard touchdown dash from redshirt junior RB Eli Gillman. ISU would answer right back with a touchdown of their own, but it was all Griz after that. Montana would go on to score 28 unanswered to go into the locker room with a commanding 35-7 lead. The Griz would add 21 more points in the 2nd half before the Sycamores broke through for just their 2nd score of the game. Redshirt sophomore QB Keali’i Ah Yat would take home Big Sky Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his 313 yard, 2 touchdown performance. Gillman would end his day with 120 yards and 3 touchdowns of his own.The Montana run game tallied a staggering 303 yards and 6 touchdowns. In total, Montana’s offense put together a whopping 647 yards total. Griz senior K/P Ty Morrison would kick a perfect 7/7 on PATs, earning him Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The defense racked up 7 TFLs, including 3 sacks for 33 yards and an INT. Montana will play host again this week, welcoming regional rival #6 Idaho to Washington-Grizzly Stadium to play for the Little Brown Stein to open up the Big Sky slate.

#5 Montana State 17, Mercyhurst 0 (Bozeman, MT)

Bobcats fans were not treated to an offensive explosion last weekend. Montana State would score 17 points in the 1st half before the scoring would grind to a halt for both teams in the 2nd half. The Bobcats would not drive to the red zone again in the game. Both Mercyhurst and MSU traded punts and INTs in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Mercyhurst had an insane 19 play, 58 yard slog of a drive that took nearly 11 minutes of the game clock. Montana State focused their attack on the ground, piling up 233 yards and 2 touchdowns. Sophomore RB Colson Coon led the way with 71 yards, 45 of those yards coming on one explosive play. MSU junior QB Justin Lamson was relatively quiet, throwing for 121 yards and an INT. However, the Bobcat defense was anything but quiet, tallying an impressive 11 TFLs for 30 yards, including 3 sacks. Montana State will stay home this week, hosting Eastern Washington to open Big Sky play at Bobcat Stadium. 

#19 Northern Arizona 31, Incarnate Word 23 (Flagstaff, AZ)

Stayson Isobe from NAU Athletics

The Lumberjacks looked to make a statement last weekend, hosting Incarnate Word of the Southland Conference. UIW has taken a tumble since their preseason rankings in the top 10 after their stunning loss to Nicholls to open up the season. NAU got the scoring started in the 1st quarter, opening up a 7-0 lead before the Cardinals answered back with 10 points of their own to take a 10-7 lead. But Lumberjack junior QB Ty Pennington would not be denied, throwing a pair of deep touchdown passes to take a 21-10 lead at halftime. The Cardinals would do their best to keep up, scoring a touchdown with 11 minutes left in the 4th quarter to make it a one score game. But, a late 50 yard field goal sealed it for the Jacks, putting the game out of reach. Pennington would put together a 286 yard, 3 touchdown performance that would earn him Big Sky Co-Offensive Player of the Week. Surprisingly, UIW would outgain NAU in both passing and rushing for the day, but the scoreboard is always what matters. Defensively, NAU got pressure on UIW’s QB EJ Colson, sacking him twice for 18 yards total and 5 total TFLs for 25 yards. The Lumberjacks will hit the road again this weekend, facing a struggling Portland State team in Portland to open conference play.

Northern Colorado 26, Houston Christian 23 (Houston, TX)

The Bears broke through this weekend, getting their 2nd Division 1 win in as many seasons, taking down Houston Christian. After falling behind early due to an HCU pick six, UNC got their offense going, scoring 17 points to take a 17-7 lead. But, just before the end of the 1st half, the Bears gave up another pick six, this time for 82 yards to hold just a 3 point lead at halftime. In the 2nd half, it was all about field goals, with both teams kicking them to end regulation at 20-20. The Huskies would score just a field goal in OT, while the Bears would answer with a touchdown to win the game. Redshirt junior QB Eric Gibson, Jr. tossed for 215 yards and a touchdown, but committed the 2 costly INTs that let HCU back in the game. However, the UNC run game came through with 222 yards and 2 touchdowns. On defense, the Bears held the Huskies to just 40 yards rushing and 160 yards passing. They totaled 6 TFLs for 19 yards, including 3 sacks. UNC will take the confidence from this win back to Greeley this weekend to host Idaho State to open Big Sky play.

Portland State BYE

The Vikings had the week off to prepare for this week’s opponent, Northern Arizona, to start their Big Sky schedule.

Sacramento State 45, Central Arkansas 16 (Sacramento, CA)

Hornet fans got another front row seat to new Sac State head coach Brennan Marion’s Go-Go Offense this weekend when Sac State welcomed a struggling Central Arkansas program to Hornet Stadium. The Hornets jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead in the first quarter before ultimately giving up a Central Arkansas touchdown with 17 seconds left in the 1st half. The Hornets would head into the locker room with a 28-6. After adding 10 more points in the 2nd half, the Sac State defense gave up 10 points to the Bears in back to back 4th quarter drives. But redshirt sophomore QB Jaden Rashada ended the game on a high note, tossing a 50 yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman WR Ernest Campbell. Both Rashada and junior QB Cardell Williams combined for 340 yards passing and 2 touchdowns. On the ground, the Hornets racked up 262 yards and 4 touchdowns, led by sophomore RB Damian Henderson II and his 137 yards. The Hornet defense had their way, piling up 13 TFLs for 58 yards, including a staggering 8 sacks. Redshirt sophomore DL Dylan Hampsten tallied 3.5 of those TFLs and 2.5 sacks, earning him Big Sky Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Sac State will stay home again this weekend, welcoming fellow California green team Cal Poly to Hornet Stadium to begin Big Sky play.

#17 UC Davis 50, Southern Utah 34 (Davis, CA)

The Aggies hosted a shaky Southern Utah Thunderbirds team, a de facto start to Big Sky play for the Aggies. Davis jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead early in the 1st quarter before SUU found their feet and answered with a pair of touchdown passes of their own, knotting things up at 14-14. Each team would score another touchdown before the end of the 1st half, with SUU missing a PAT while Davis went for 2 and succeeded. The scoreboard read 22-20 at the half. Davis started the 3 quarter with a bang, handing the ball to junior RB Jordan Fisher 75 yard touchdown run. The T-Birds would answer with a touchdown of their own, but then the Aggies hit the jets, scoring 3 more touchdowns to put themselves firmly in control. SUU would score a garbage time touchdown to make things appear slightly more competitive, bringing the final score to 50-34. When it came to offense, both teams chose to go different ways. The Aggies amassed 357 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground, while SUU passed for 316 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an INT. But not to be outdone on the ground, the Thunderbirds also rushed for a cool 233 yards and 3 touchdowns. Fisher would lead all rushers with 170 yards and 2 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Aggie defense was able to get some pressure on SUU QB Bronson Barron, sacking him 5 times for a loss of 26 yards. Grad DL Jacob Psyk took home Big Sky Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his 2 sacks and 3 total TFL performance. Davis will welcome Weber State to UC Davis Health Stadium on Saturday to begin their Big Sky Conference schedule.

Weber State 38, Butler 24 (Ogden, UT)

Fresh off their bounceback win at McNeese in Louisiana last weekend, the Wildcats were finally home for the first time this season, hosting Pioneer League Butler. Weber started things with a convincing touchdown drive to score the first points of the game. But, red zone playcalling became an issue and the Wildcat offense stalled several time, settling for field goals. At the end of the 1st half, Weber State held only a 10 point lead on the Bulldogs 27-17. In the 2nd half, the Wildcat offense ground to a halt, struggling to put together drives against a non-scholarship opponent. After Butler scored a touchdown to open the 4th quarter, the Wildcat lead had shrunk to 30-24, making fans sweat. A nice drive capped off by a touchdown from redshirt freshman RB Boogie Sylvester to give Wildcat fans some relief and put the game away. Sophomore QB Jackson Gilkey struggled at times, passing for just 185 yards and 2 touchdowns. But, mental mistakes plagued the young quarterback, resulting in 2 INTs to give Butler a lifeline. Sophomore RB Davion Godley turned in an impressive 193 yard performance that included the game’s opening touchdown. The Weber State defense stacked up 7 TFLs, including a pair of sacks by junior DE Josh Hardy for a total loss of 6 yards. Weber State is headed back out on the road again this week, visiting the UC Davis Aggies to start their Big Sky Conference schedule.