Big Sky Power Ratings – Sept. 28
By Lance Berndt
FCS Columnist
College Sports Jourmal
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — With the Big Sky Conference schedule taking a turn into some key matchups this weekend, including the much-anticipated Montana at Eastern Washington game, here is an updated look at where each team is at after four weeks of the season and what to anticipate as we enter the second third of the regular season.
Big Sky Power Ratings – Sept. 28
(Stat Legend: TD = Touchdowns; TTs = Total Tackles; TFL = Tackles For Loss; PBrk = Pass Breakups; FF = Forced Fumbles; FR = Fumble Recovery; INT = Interceptions)
1. Montana State 4-0, 1-0
Interesting Note: The Bobcats are 4-0 for the first time since 1978.
Leading Offense: QB – Denarius McGhee 107-157-4, 1044 yds, 9 TDs; RB – Cody Kirk 77-328 yds, 6 TDs; WR/TE – Tanner Bleskin 32-420 yds, 2 TDs
Leading Defense: Jody Owens 31 TTs, 2 TFL, 1 FF; Caleb Schreibeis 14 TTs, 4.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 PBrk; Steven Bethley 13 TTs, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PBrk
Last Week: Won at home vs. Northern Colorado 41-16
Next Week: @ Southern Utah
2. Eastern Washington 2-1, 1-0
Interesting Note: The Eagles have now won 6 of their last 7 Big Sky openers.
Leading Offense: QB – Kyle Padron 50-104-4, 788 yds, 4 TDs; RB – Jordan Talley 50-199 yds, 3 TDs; WR/TE – Brandon Kaufman 16-416 yds, 3 TDs
Leading Defense: Ronnie Hamlin 25 TTs, 1 TFL, 2 PBrk; Jerry Ceja 8 TTs, 4 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 FF; Allen Brown 16 TTs, 5 PBrk, 1 FR
Last Week: Won @ Weber State 32-26
Next Week: Vs. Montana
3. Cal Poly 3-0, 1-0
Interesting Note: Win last weekend snapped a 3 game losing streak to UC-Davis.
Leading Offense: QB – Andre Broadous 24-43-1, 237 yds, 3 TDs; RB – Deonte Williams 60-484 yds, 4 TDs; WR/TE – Willie Tucker 6-44 yds
Leading Defense: Nick Dzubnar 28 TTs, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 PBrk; Kennith Jackson 28 TTs, 0.5 TFL, 1 PBrk; Nico Molino 15 TTs, 2 INTs, 4 PBrk
Last Week: Won at home vs. UC-Davis 28-20
This Week: @ North Dakota
4. Northern Arizona 3-1, 1-0
Interesting Note: Last weekend the Lumberjacks recorded their first win in Missoula since 1986.
Leading Offense: QB Chase Cartwright 37-79-2, 461 yds, 3 TDs; RB – Zach Bauman 62-499 yds, 6 TDs; WR/TE – Ify Umodu 10-159 yds, 2 TDs
Leading Defense: Ryan Reardon 23 TTs, 2 TFL, 1 PBrk; Lucky Dozier 19 TTs, 2 PBrk, 2 INTs; Zach McDonnell 9 TTs, 3.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks
Last Week: Won @ Montana 41-31
This Week: Vs. Portland State
5. North Dakota 3-1, 1-0
Interesting Note: Even though he only played at the very end of UND’s first game, backup quarterback Marcus Hendrickson ranks second in the nation with 14 passing TDs.
Leading Offense: QB – Marcus Hendrickson 62-104-2, 970 yds, 14 TDs; RB – Mitch Sutton 49-280 yds, 6 TDs; WR/TE – Greg Hardin 20-457 yds, 7 TDs
Leading Defense: Garrison Goodman 31 TTs, 2.5 TFL, 1 PBrk, 1 FR, 1 blocked kick; Ross Brenneman 12 TTs, 1.5 TFL, 1 sack, 4 PBrk, 1 FR, 1 blocked kick; Erik Mersereau 13 TTs, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PBrk
Last Week: Won @ Sacramento State 35-13
Next Week: Vs. Cal Poly
6. Montana 2-2, 0-1
Interesting Note: The Grizzlies have already given up 13 turnovers which ranks second to last in all of FCS.
Leading Offense: QB – Trent McKinney 80-121-7, 815 yds, 6 TDs; RB – Dan Moore 70-407 yds, 4 TDs; WR/TE: Sam Gratton 14-216 yds, 2 TDs
Leading Defense: Jordan Tripp 40 TTs, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBrk, 1 FF; Zack Wagenmann 23 TTs, 4.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 PBrk; John Kanongata’a 36 TTs, 2 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBrk, 1 FR
Last Week: Lost at home vs. Northern Arizona 41-31
This Week: @ Eastern Washington
7. Southern Utah 2-2, 1-0
Interesting Note: Southern Utah has won eight consecutive games when they rush for over 100 yards.
Leading Offense: QB – Brad Sorensen 90-147-5, 968 yds, 11 TDs; RB – Brian Wilson 65-298 yds; WR/TE – Fatu Moala 25-245 yds, 4 TDs
Leading Defense: Rickey Clark 34 TTs, 0.5 TFL, 1 PBrk; James Cowser 25 TTs, 6.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF; Cody Larsen 16 TTs, 7 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 FR, 2 FF
Last Week: Won @ Portland State 49-42
This Week: Vs. Montana State
8. UC-Davis 1-3, 0-1
Interesting Note: The Aggies have outscored its opponents 27-7 in the first quarter but have been outscored 35-7 in the second quarter.
Leading Offense: QB – Randy Wright 68-112-4, 754 yds, 3 TDs; RB – Colton Silveria 34-157 yds, 2 TDs; WR/TE – Corey Galindo 11-200 yds, 1 TD
Leading Defense: Byron Gruendl 32 TTs, 1 PBrk; Nick King 19 TTs, 6 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FF; Jonathan Perkins 9 TTs, 1 INT, 2 PBrk, 1 FR
Last Week: Lost @ Cal Poly 28-20
This Week: Vs. Weber State
9. Weber State 0-4, 0-1
Interesting Note: With the loss last weekend, the Wildcats have started the season 0-4 for the third time in nine seasons.
Leading Offense: QB – Mike Hoke 64-111-3, 611 yds, 4 TDs; RB – C.J. Tuckett 53-222 yds, 2 TDs; WR/TE – Shaydon Kehano 11-149 yds, 2 TDs
Leading Defense: Tony Epperson 29 TTs, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FR, 1 FF (Also punts and is leading the FCS with an average of 47.7 yards per punt); Obi Owoh 11 TTs, 3 TFL, 2 sacks; Danny Mullarkey 9 TTs, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 2 FRs
Last Week: Lost at home vs. Eastern Washington 32-26
This Week: @ UC Davis
10. Portland State 1-3, 0-1
Interesting Note: The Vikings have given up an average of 48.7 points their last three games, all losses.
Leading Offense: QB – Kieran McDonagh 70-126-5, 941 yds, 8 TDs; RB – D.J. Adams 54-340 yds, 4 TDs; WR/TE – Justin Monahan 9-209 yds, 2 TDs
Leading Defense: Ian Sluss 41 TTs, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FR; Jaycob Shoemaker 27 TTs, 3.5 TFL, 1 INT; Marquis Jackson 10 TTs, 3.5 TFL, 3 sacks
Last Week: Lost at home vs. Southern Utah 49-42
This Week: @ Northern Arizona
11. Sacramento State 2-2, 0-1
Interesting Note: Hornet wide receiver DeAndre Carter is one of just three players in all of the FCS to have caught at least on TD in four straight games to start this season.
Leading Offense: QB – Garrett Safron 83-135-4, 965 yds, 7 TDs; RB – Ezekiel Graham 66-348 yds, 1 TD; WR/TE: Morris Norrise 22-289 yds, 1 TD
Leading Defense: Todd Davis 39 TTs, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBrk; Osagie Odiase 25 TTs, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 5 PBrk, 1 FR; Avery White 11 TTs, 2.5 TFL, 2 sacks
Last Week: Lost at home vs. North Dakota 35-13
This Week: @ Idaho State
12. Idaho State 1-2, 0-0
Interesting Note: Head Coach Mike Kramer has 80 victories which ties him for third all-time in Big Sky history with former Montana coach Bobby Hauck.
Leading Offense: QB – Kevin Yost 97-143-3, 926 yds, 4 TDs; Xavier Finney 43-117 yds, 3 TDs; WR/TE – Derek Graves 33-281 yds, 1 TD
Leading Defense: Mitch Beckstead 24 TTs, 0.5 TFL; Donovan Henley 16 TTs, 1 INT, 3 PBrk; Philip Pleasant 12 TTs, 1 TFL, 1 sack
Last Week: Lost @ FBS Nebraska 73-7
This Week: Vs. Sacramento State
13 Northern Colorado 1-3, 0-1
Interesting Note: The Bears have lost 17 of their last 18 FCS games.
Leading Offense: QB – Seth Lobato 73-144-4, 875 yds, 2 TDs; RB – Tromaine Dennis 49-210 yds, 4 TDs; WR/TE – Dimitri Stimphil 10-156 yds, 2 TDs
Last Week: Lost @ Montana State 41-16
This Week: Bye
Projected Final Big Sky Conference Standings
Montana State 7-1
Eastern Washington 7-1
Northern Arizona 7-1
North Dakota 6-2
Cal Poly 6-2
Montana 5-3
UC Davis 4-4
Idaho State 3-5
Weber State 3-5
Southern Utah 2-6
Portland State 2-6
Sacramento State 0-8
Northern Colorado 0-8
