<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3rXpXb_1Grj90NX00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3rXpXb_1Grj90NX00" width="1174" height="660" >BOZEMAN, Mont. — The Montana State Bobcats (8-1, 5-1) are back on the road this week taking on Idaho State (6-3, 3-3) in Pocatello, Idaho.Montana State is fresh off a 61-7 win over Cal Poly last week in which the Cats' offense scored eight touchdowns, the special teams added a kickoff return for a touchdown and the defense forced three turnoversIdaho State has wins over the Virginia Military Academy (38-10), FBS Utah State (29-17), San Diego (59-17), Southern Utah (28-14), Portland State (38-8) and Utah Tech (34-27). Their three losses this season came to Northern Arizona (38-31), Cal Poly (25-24) and Weber State (27-20).“(They’re) A team that's very much in the thick of things right now has had some impressive wins this year and has continued to get better and better each of Coach (Cody) Hawkins' years,” Montana State head coach Brent Vigen said. “Impressed with what they've shown, they bounced back after a few games that didn't go their way, and you know we'll look forward to the opportunity to go down there this week, and again for us to take another step forward.”The Bengals are the No. 2 ranked total defense in the Big Sky Conference and are allowing just 21.4 points per game (behind only MSU’s 18.9).Their defense is also No. 1 in pass defense, No. 2 in pass defense and No. 1 in defensive touchdowns.“I think their defense is probably even more of the story (than their offense),” Vigen said. “They continue to get better and better on defense. They're giving up less than 22 points right now. Really good against the run in the pass statistically at this point. Really good on third down, and really good at taking it away. I think they're one of the better units in our league, and they're certainly from my perspective the unit that's continued to get better. They've been good on offense all of Coach Hawkins' years, but defensively, they're clearly, I think the best that they've been.”Idaho State has been one of the best teams in the country at creating turnovers, with 18 this season, which ranks No. 2 in the Big Sky behind Northern Arizona’s 19 and only two shy of the most in the FCS behind Chicago State and N.C. Central, who each have 20.“I think part of it is they're a team that can get pressure, and pressure forces poor decisions,” Vigen said. “I would say both the turnovers late in that game on Saturday (ISU’s game against Utah Tech) were a product of pressure, poor decisions. One was a sack fumble, and one was just an ill-advised throw to a defensive lineman that was dropping (into coverage). But you know, you got to have guys that can be in the right spot. They play a fair amount of man coverage. Sometimes man is harder to get takeaways because you don't have quarterback eyes, but they mix in enough zone to to have their eyes on the quarterback, and so there's a lot of things that go into it. I do think their ability to put pressure on the quarterback and force bad decisions is probably the most prevalent thing.”Offensively, Idaho State is led by fifth-year quarterback Jordan Cooke. Cooke has 2,199 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.The Bengals average 33.4 points per game and 409 yards per game this season.“(Cooke is a) really, really talented quarterback. One of the more talented quarterbacks probably in the country and when he's on, he's on,” Vigen said. “He's got great size, so I think his stature I think presents some challenges, and then he's shown a capability of being able to to move a little bit more I think this year than he has in years in the past years I guess, so he can make all the throws and he's very dangerous and he's you know I think his decision making is growing with his experience.”Montana State will look to improve to 9-1 this season and 6-1 in conference play on Saturday at 4pm.</div></body>

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BOZEMAN, Mont. — The Montana State Bobcats (8-1, 5-1) are back on the road this week taking on Idaho State (6-3, 3-3) in Pocatello, Idaho. Montana State is fresh off a 61-7 win over Cal Poly last week in which the Cats' offense scored eight touchdowns, the special teams added a kickoff return for a touchdown and the defense forced three turnovers.

MSU back on road to take on Idaho State

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BOZEMAN, Mont. — The Montana State Bobcats (8-1, 5-1) are back on the road this week taking on Idaho State (6-3, 3-3) in Pocatello, Idaho. Montana State is

MSU back on road to take on Idaho State

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