Big Sky Roundup: Recaps, Rankings And Previews
By Lance Berndt
FCS Columnist
College Sports Journal
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — There hasn't been a dull Football Championship Subdivision moment this season in the newly expanded Big Sky Conference.
Last weekend's games had plenty of down-to-the-wire excitement and this weekend's matchups should offer more of the same.
So here is the breakdown of roundups, recaps, rankings and previews:
Recaps
Last weekend was one of the more exciting slates of games that the Big Sky Conference has had this season.
First, North Dakota set offensive records in a down to the wire battle with Montana. Braden Hanson passed for 660 yards with receiver Greg Hardin catching 333 of those yards.
Also, North Dakota’s defense stepped up shutting out Montana in the fourth quarter as they came back for the win.
Eastern Washington held off a pesky Sacramento State squad in a key 31-28 conference win.
It was Eastern Washington’s first ever regular season win during a week they were ranked #1 in one of the two major polls. (They had lost their first two games of 2011 while holding that ranking.)
Cal Poly needed a fourth quarter comeback to take down Portland State at home. The Vikings had the Mustangs on the ropes with a 25-23 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
However, Cal Poly kept their vaunted option attack rolling putting up 14 unanswered points en route to a 37-25 victory.
Northern Colorado got their first D-I win since 2010 in their annihilation of Idaho State. UNC quarterback Seth Lobato threw for 5 TDs to lead the Bears.
Northern Arizona kept its defensive dominance in home games going with an impressive two touchdown win over UC-Davis.
Potential Big Sky offensive player of the year Zach Bauman tallied 122 yards on the ground, 55 receiving yards, and 1 TD.
Finally, Weber State picked up its first win of the season with a road triumph over Southern Utah.
Up to this point, the Wildcats have faced arguably one of the toughest schedule in all of the FCS with their opponents having a combined 37-25 record, which includes two FBS teams.
Rankings
1. Eastern Washington (6-1, 5-0)
2. Cal Poly (7-0, 5-0)
3. Northern Arizona (6-1, 4-0)
4. Montana State (6-1, 3-1)
5. North Dakota (4-4, 2-3)
6. Sacramento State (5-3, 3-2)
7. UC-Davis (3-5, 2-3)
8. Southern Utah (3-5, 2-3)
9. Montana (3-5, 1-4)
10. Weber State (1-7, 1-4)
11. Portland State (2-5, 1-3)
12. Northern Colorado (2-5, 1-3)
13. Idaho State (1-6, 0-4)
Previews
North Dakota at Montana State
Last Meeting: 1983 – North Dakota 21 Montana State 3
All-Time Series: MSU 14-13
Offense: UND – 472.9 ypg, 37.4 ppg; MSU – 424 ypg, 35.3 ppg
Defense: UND – 453 ypg, 33.5 ppg, MSU – 300.9 ppg, 23.7 ppg
Offensive Impact Player: UND – WR Greg Hardin; MSU – QB Denarius McGhee
Defensive Impact Player: UND –DL Jay Nelson; MSU – DL Jody Owens
Prediction: Montana State 41 North Dakota 24
Eastern Washington at Southern Utah
Last Meeting: 2010 – Eastern Washington 31 Southern Utah 24
All-Time Series: EWU 4-1
Offense: EWU – 415.4 ypg, 31 ppg; SUU – 337.8 ypg, 27.4 ppg
Defense: EWU – 363.6 ypg, 21.1 ppg; SUU – 435.9 ypg, 30.5 ppg
Offensive Impact Player: EWU – WR Brandon Kaufman; SUU – QB Brad Sorenson
Defensive Impact Player: EWU – LB Ronnie Hamlin; SUU – LB Zak Browning
Prediction: Eastern Washington 34 Southern Utah 20
Idaho State at Montana
Last Meeting: 2011 – Montana 33 Idaho State 0
All-Time Series: UM 41-13
Offense: ISU – 426.4 ypg, 23.7 ppg; UM – 447 ypg, 30.9 ppg
Defense: ISU – 554.7 ypg, 51.7 ppg; UM – 405 ypg, 29.1 ppg
Offensive Impact Player: ISU – QB Kevin Yost; UM – RB Peter Nguyen
Defensive Impact Player: ISU – LB Mitch Beckstead; UM – LB Jordan Tripp
Prediction: Montana 48 Idaho State 40
Northern Arizona at Northern Colorado
Last Meeting: 2011 – Northern Arizona 34 Northern Colorado 14
All-Time Series: NAU 10-2
Offense: NAU – 397.6 ypg, 31.9 ppg; UNC – 341.3 ypg, 24.3 ppg
Defense: NAU – 343 ypg, 23.3 ppg; UNC – 410 ypg, 31.9 ppg
Offensive Impact Player: NAU – RB Zach Bauman; UNC – QB Seth Lobato
Defensive Impact Player: NAU – DB Anders Battle; UNC – DB Jordan Bible
Prediction: Northern Arizona 28 Northern Colorado 10
Cal Poly at Sacramento State
Last Meeting: 2009 – Cal Poly 38 Sacramento State 19
All-Time Series: CP 16-15
Offense: CP – 424 ypg, 38 ppg; SSU – 399.4 ypg, 27.3 ppg
Defense: CP – 357.7 ypg, 21.3 ppg; SSU – 406.9 ypg, 28.4 ppg
Offensive Impact Player: CP – QB Andre Broadous: SSU – QB Garrett Safron
Defensive Impact Player: CP – DB Nico Molino; SSU – DB Osagie Odiase
Prediction: Cal Poly 38 Sacramento State 13
Portland State at UC- Davis
Last Meeting: 2010 – Portland State 41 UC-Davis 33
All-Time Series: PSU 7-4
Offense: PSU – 442.3 ypg, 34.6 ppg: UCD – 359.4 ypg, 27.4 ppg
Defense: PSU – 389.3 ypg, 33.9 ppg: UCD – 388.4 ypg, 26.9 ppg
Offensive Impact Player: PSU – QB Keiran McDonagh; UCD – RB Marquis Nicolis
Defensive Impact Player: PSU – LB Ian Sluss; UCD – DL Nick King
Prediction: UC-Davis 31 Portland State 28
