The California Polytechnic State University Cal Poly Mustangs football team travels to Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana, to face the No. 3-ranked Montana State Bobcats on Saturday, October 31, with kickoff set for 12 p.m. Pacific Time. The matchup is a key Big Sky Conference contest.
Cal Poly holds a 4-5 overall record and 3-3 in Big Sky play entering the game, looking to end a two-game losing streak. Montana State, the defending national champions, comes in with a 7-1 overall record and 4-1 in conference play, leading the Big Sky alongside Northern Arizona. The Bobcats boast the top scoring offense and defense in the conference, averaging 39.5 points per game.
This game begins a stretch of three consecutive games for Cal Poly against ranked Big Sky opponents to close the regular season, with home games against No. 7 Northern Arizona on Senior Day, November 7, and a road game at No. 20 UC Davis on November 21 in the 52nd Battle for the Golden Horseshoe. Historically, Montana State leads the series 11-10 and has won seven straight meetings, including all four in Bozeman since 2004. Cal Poly’s last win over the Bobcats was in 2014.
Key Cal Poly players include linebacker Kenny Olson, who leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks eighth nationally with 81 tackles. Senior defensive back RL Miller ranks sixth nationally with 48 solo tackles and has three interceptions this season. Junior wide receiver Tayvion McCoy has two game-winning touchdown catches and ranks seventh nationally with 749 receiving yards. Quarterback Anthony Grigsby Jr. ranks tenth nationally with 2,142 passing yards and has accounted for 126 points. Junior running back Jaden Green leads the FCS in all-purpose yards per game and ranks fifth nationally in rushing yards despite missing a recent game.
CSB Take
The California Polytechnic State University Cal Poly Mustangs face a challenging trip to Bobcat Stadium against the top-ranked and defending champion Montana State Bobcats. While Cal Poly has endured recent losses, several standout players provide the team with opportunities to compete closely. This confrontation with a premier Big Sky opponent will be pivotal for Cal Poly’s momentum heading into the season’s final games against ranked teams.
Source: Original report
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