On Saturday, the Buccaneer football team will take its longest trip since the season started.

The team will fly to Bozeman, Montana, to take on the Montana State Bobcats.

The Bucs will look for their first win of the season after losing to Mercer 52­-0 last Saturday.

“We felt good about going into the game [against Mercer],” said coach Carl Torbush. “I think it gives our young men a chance to see what the SoCon is going to be like starting next year.

We’re not where we need to be, and we’re not where we’re going to be, but I do think it gave us a great indication of where we need to go in the SoCon as far as having a chance to compete week in and week out.”

In last Saturday’s game, a couple of Bucs had great performances, including Hank Black and Keanu James.

James had five total tackles against Mercer, and Black was named Special Teams Player of the Game. He totaled 93 all­-purpose yards, recorded 80 yards on three kickoff returns and completed his longest return of the season for 35 yards.

“We can only get better and learn from bigger teams,” said Black.

Last season, the Montana State Bobcats finished 8-­5 and tied for second in the Big Sky Conference.

According to the Montana State Athletics website, the Bobcats have a strong offense guided by junior quarterback Dakota Prukop.

Prukop threw for 2,559 yards and contributed to 3,525 yards of total offense. He earned Third Team All­-Big Sky, was named MSU’s Sonny Holland Offensive MVP by his teammates and achieved Big Sky Player of the Week four times.

“I know that they have a very explosive offense with a great quarterback and great wide receivers,” said James. “I believe our defensive backs can hold them down and hopefully limit the scoring.”

On defense, the Bobcats lost many starters from last season.

“This week gives us the chance to see where we are nationally in FCS football, because this is the type of team in the type of league that…will give us an indication of where we need to go as far as the challenges ahead,” said Torbush.

Saturday’s game will kick off at 4:35 p.m. in Bobcat Stadium.

Author

  • Garrett Tumlin

    Garrett Tumlin is a senior majoring in journalism with a minor in sports management. He is vice president of ETSU’s Black Affairs Association and a leader for Quest. He is also a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. A Chattanooga native, Tumlin has always loved writing and sports and is excited to be an athletics writer for the East Tennessean. He also works for BucTV. More recently, Tumlin has started working at the Herald & Tribune in Jonesborough. He loves basketball and his favorite NBA team is the Celtics.

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