Montana State ‘focuses on ourselves’ ahead of high-stakes game at UC Davis

DAVIS, Calif. — The stage is set for Saturday’s showdown of the Big Sky’s Best as No. 2 Montana State will take on No. 4 UC Davis at UC Davis Health Stadium.

The winner secures at least a share of the Big Sky Conference title and an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. But the Bobcats, as they have all season, are not wavering from their mentality that has gotten them to this point.

“Winning the Big Sky Conference is a major goal for us, so with that on the line this weekend, you know, along with the auto bid and all that, yeah, it’s another step in the direction we want to go .” Montana State coach Brent Vigen said at his weekly news conference Monday. “But at the same time, I told our guys this morning, it doesn’t mean we’re going to suddenly try harder this weekend. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing and maybe just do it a little bit better.”

“We’re really just focusing on ourselves,” Montana State linebacker McCade O’Reilly said. “You can’t really do anything about what’s going on there until you get there. Right now we’re just going day by day, focusing on our practices, focusing on our meetings, trying to learn as much about these guys to prepare us until Saturday.”

The Aggies have the preseason offensive MVP in Lan Larison. The do-everything running back is utilized all over the field. He has 1,061 rushing yards, 577 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns so far this season.

“They’re going to put him at receiver, they’re going to put him in the backfield,” Vigen explained. “If he’s in the backfield, what does that mean? If he’s at receiver, what have they done with him? You know, generally speaking, when he’s out there, he’s a real active participant. Again, the creative piece, I think is significant.”

But as the Bobcats continue to focus on themselves Saturday, it’s all about the trust the players on the team share with each other.

“I think it’s just the confidence in the guy next to you, honestly,” Montana State wide receiver Ty McCullouch said. “Every time I go out there for every game, I look left and right and I just see a bunch of guys that are really bought in and we have the same goal. And when you have that, it’s hard to beat. “

Saturday’s game between the Bobcats and Aggies starts at 18.00 mountain time and is broadcast on CBS subsidiaries throughout Montana.