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Let's get this one started early.

Recent history is on the side of the Eagles in a series that has seen EWU come out on top in 24 of 32 meetings. Eastern has won the last six meetings and 15 of the last 18. In fact, Eastern has not lost to Montana State in the last six times they have met at Woodward Field, dating back to a 28-25 double-overtime victory by the Bobcats in 1990. Since that game, EWU's only losses to them came in 1997 (17-7 in Bozeman), 2001 (48-38 in Spokane) and 2002 (25-14 in Bozeman).

http://goeags.com/sports/m-footbl/2009- ... ntanaState

7 straight?

Can MSU stop Taiwan Jones? They gave up 172 on the ground vs. USD, and Jones proved he can get the yards (145 yds, 1 TD) against a stout Montana defense.

Will EWU keep their slim playoff hopes alive? Word back from the appeals committee is still pending, but if we lose Saturday, it won't matter.

Other notes:
*Eagles will be without star WR Aaron Boyce after suffering a career-ending achilles injury against Montana last weekend. The good news is, we have a deep and very talented WR corps.

*Matt Nichols has broken most all of Walton Payton winner Erik Meyer's records at EWU (passing yards, total yards, attempts, completions) except two. Nichols needs 8 more TDs and 47 yards rushing to tie Meyer.

*LB J.C. Sherritt leads FCS in tackles now after 17 stops against Montana, bringing him to 101 on the year. Sherritt was recently added to the Buck Buchanan watch list.

*It's homecoming for EWU.

EWU will win this by 10-14. Not only are they at home, they're coming off a tough loss in Missoula. They'll be fighting like there's no tomorrow.

Willie wrote:EWU will win this by 10-14. Not only are they at home, they're coming off a tough loss in Missoula. They'll be fighting like there's no tomorrow.

I think so too. Although I'm hoping for a score more reminiscent of the Erik Meyer/Travis Lulay era... EWU by 21+

I think the Eagles Offense will be too much for the Cats. Cats have a good D, but unlike Montana, won't score enough points to stay with the Eagles

DDG thinks the Cats are decent, but MSU will get rolled.

Montana State could surprise in Cheney if the front 7 get the pressure they will need to truncate that offense. Eastern's offense is probably too good not to score at least 31 but I think I'm gonna go out on a limb and pick the Cats to score 33. That goes against what I witnessed last weekend but I'm gonna ride that one anyway.

Montana State D vs EWU O...

MSU's defense wins the battle...

I would love to see a win for the Cats, but defense is down 4 starters from the beginning of the year and another 2-3 subs are also down. Taking a dominant defense and turning it into an ordinary one.

Cats can't score 35 points against EWU's defense and it will take at least that much to beat the Eagles on their home turf.

bpcats wrote:I would love to see a win for the Cats, but defense is down 4 starters from the beginning of the year and another 2-3 subs are also down. Taking a dominant defense and turning it into an ordinary one.

Cats can't score 35 points against EWU's defense and it will take at least that much to beat the Eagles on their home turf.

It would only have taken 12 points a couple of weeks ago...

Game day. Homecoming. Nice and sunny outside and a lovely 35 degrees, with a projected high of 52 and partly cloudy skies. It's a great day for some football... and drinking!

Both teams have some injuries. Losing Boyce really hurts, but there is a fair amount of depth at the WR position with Davis and Freshman Edwards and Kaufmann. Someone will need to step up. With the absence of Boyce, we will need the running game to get going to be able to stretch the field. MSU has been good against the run, so it will be interesting to see how we match up. I am wondering if the MSU defense has consistently faced backs as elusive as Jones, however, and I think he will get his yards. Although MSU doesn't seem to have as many offensive weapons as Eastern, the defense will need to show up and limit mistakes. I look for Sherritt to have another big game today. I think this one will be close for the majority of the game, but in the end I just think this team is way too fired up to lose this one at home.

Eastern 28
MSU 17

Between injuries and the flu the Cats are pretty short handed, especially defensively.

Starting Tackle Jeff Miller out for season
Starting CB Arnold Briggs out for season
Starting DE Brad Smith Out for Season
Starting CB Cory Nicol: Out for the season (knee) - I’m told he’s having surgery today.
CB Zach Coleman: Out for the season (ACL) -
LB Chase Gazzerro: Doubtful (ankle) - No elaboration here, other than that he injured it in the South Dakota game.
LB Jeff Price: Out (shoulder) - “He’s still trying to come back from that,” is all Ash said. I’m told Price will continue to practice this week, like he has every week since injuring the shoulder three weeks ago.
RB Aaron Mason: Out (concussion)
RB: Blayde Becksted: Out (calf) - Ash said Blayde is “a question mark.”
S Joel Fuller: Out (ankle)
DT Dan Ogden dinged up against USD, will play if gets healed up this week.
DE Dane Fletcher: Out (mono)
DE Dustin O’Connell: Out (flu)
Punter Eric Fisher: Out (flu)
Kicker Jason Cunningham: Questionable (flu)- Apparently he made the trip, but whether or not he can play is questionable

These are as of yesterday, we don't even know who made the trip. Pre-game is about 15 minutes away so we should get some updates on who is healthy.

GOKATS wrote:Between injuries and the flu the Cats are pretty short handed, especially defensively.

Starting Tackle Jeff Miller out for season
Starting CB Arnold Briggs out for season
Starting DE Brad Smith Out for Season
Starting CB Cory Nicol: Out for the season (knee) - I’m told he’s having surgery today.
CB Zach Coleman: Out for the season (ACL) -
LB Chase Gazzerro: Doubtful (ankle) - No elaboration here, other than that he injured it in the South Dakota game.
LB Jeff Price: Out (shoulder) - “He’s still trying to come back from that,” is all Ash said. I’m told Price will continue to practice this week, like he has every week since injuring the shoulder three weeks ago.
RB Aaron Mason: Out (concussion)
RB: Blayde Becksted: Out (calf) - Ash said Blayde is “a question mark.”
S Joel Fuller: Out (ankle)
DT Dan Ogden dinged up against USD, will play if gets healed up this week.
DE Dane Fletcher: Out (mono)
DE Dustin O’Connell: Out (flu)
Punter Eric Fisher: Out (flu)
Kicker Jason Cunningham: Questionable (flu)- Apparently he made the trip, but whether or not he can play is questionable

These are as of yesterday, we don't even know who made the trip. Pre-game is about 15 minutes away so we should get some updates on who is healthy.

Unfortunately, it looks like MSU's defense, which started out "twice as good as Montana's", is now probably merely mortal.

AZGrizFan wrote:

GOKATS wrote:Between injuries and the flu the Cats are pretty short handed, especially defensively.

Starting Tackle Jeff Miller out for season
Starting CB Arnold Briggs out for season
Starting DE Brad Smith Out for Season
Starting CB Cory Nicol: Out for the season (knee) - I’m told he’s having surgery today.
CB Zach Coleman: Out for the season (ACL) -
LB Chase Gazzerro: Doubtful (ankle) - No elaboration here, other than that he injured it in the South Dakota game.
LB Jeff Price: Out (shoulder) - “He’s still trying to come back from that,” is all Ash said. I’m told Price will continue to practice this week, like he has every week since injuring the shoulder three weeks ago.
RB Aaron Mason: Out (concussion)
RB: Blayde Becksted: Out (calf) - Ash said Blayde is “a question mark.”
S Joel Fuller: Out (ankle)
DT Dan Ogden dinged up against USD, will play if gets healed up this week.
DE Dane Fletcher: Out (mono)
DE Dustin O’Connell: Out (flu)
Punter Eric Fisher: Out (flu)
Kicker Jason Cunningham: Questionable (flu)- Apparently he made the trip, but whether or not he can play is questionable

These are as of yesterday, we don't even know who made the trip. Pre-game is about 15 minutes away so we should get some updates on who is healthy.

Unfortunately, it looks like MSU's defense, which started out "twice as good as Montana's", is now probably merely mortal.

There'll be some new faces today, some youngun's are gonna get a chance.

Kicker Jason Cunningham: didn't make the trip
SS Jordan Craney: Questionable (flu)
S Anthony Cosme-Peko: Questionable (flu)

MSU goes for it on 4th?

EWU Ball...

GrizFoo, almost out with flu... but tough enough to play.

EWU to Punt on their first drive.

8:09 in 1st.

Personal foul on EWU, when there was a missed holding call on MSU.

3rd down failure now 1st down cats.
next play pass to MSU TE for another 1st down

0 - 0

1st QTR 5:30

EWU penalty biting them in the ass.

another first down for the cats

Moving the ball well now on the 25 going in.

EWU just misses INT.

INT EWU, bad throw, bad decision by Iddins.

Iddens out and Kempt in for MSU

These Eastern announcers are starting to irritate. Bitching about EWU not getting any calls and getting screwed after Davis' knee was down and gave them an extra 30 yds or so on the return. STFU!

3 touchdowns have been scored in 35 seconds. Still 19 seconds to go before half so we got time to get a couple of more scores on the board.

MSU 12
EWU 14

Dude, that 1st quarter was ugly. We got completely dominated in the 1st and most of the 2nd quarters. Darn receivers need to stop dropping the ball. Looks like we are loosening up a little on offense though, so hopefully we can get some more big plays in the second half.

Observation: MSU is very physical.

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:These Eastern announcers are starting to irritate. Bitching about EWU not getting any calls and getting screwed after Davis' knee was down and gave them an extra 30 yds or so on the return. STFU!

Go watch the play again dude, his knee was not down.

What's up w/ the kicking situation at MSU today?

MrTitleist wrote:What's up w/ the kicking situation at MSU today?

Kicker didn't even make the trip. Sick or injured I'm not sure but the kicker and the punter are not even there. That's a rough one.