9/20 Chronicle Force article

[urcrackinmeup]

Bad news mounts for Bobcat football

By TIM DUMAS Chronicle Sports Writer

One of Montana State’s most dependable starters over the past three seasons may be out for quite some time.
Strong safety Ryan Force had started 25 straight games, the longest active streak on the team, including Saturday’s 45-0 loss to UC Davis. But Force dislocated his shoulder in the first quarter and is expected to be out until October, maybe longer.
“Two to four weeks at least,” head coach Mike Kramer said Tuesday. “He’s in a sling, he’s extremely sore, he can’t sleep.”
Force, a second team all-Big Sky Conference performer last season, is considered the team’s most versatile player.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2004, he started all 11 games — splitting time between safety and cornerback. In his first career start, Force took back an interception for a touchdown against Adams State.
Last season, in addition to being second on the team with 82 tackles, he had two receptions on fake punts and punted twice in the season finale against Montana.
Kramer indicated that he won’t put Force back on the field until the senior captain is 100 percent healthy.
“If it was my druthers it would be six to seven (weeks),” Kramer said. “Because a dislocated shoulder is a really traumatic injury; it’s akin to a car wreck. I’ve done this in the past with guys who have shoulders like this and it keeps coming out over and over again.”
In Force’s place, Marcosus LeBlanc moves over from free safety to strong safety this weekend against Eastern Washington. Colorado transfer Tyrone Henderson will earn his first start at MSU. He will play free safety.
LeBlanc started the first three games at free safety and is second on the team in tackles with 25.
“LeBlanc’s played pretty darn well this year,” Kramer said.“He’s had some meltdowns, but he’s become a very emotional leader for us.”
For the first time in Kramer’s seven seasons as head coach, the Bobcats have their bye week in November, just before the annual ‘Cat-Griz game on Nov. 18.
But Kramer isn’t pining for time off now.
“We could be just as injured going into the Montana game,” he said. “Injuries are part of major college football.”
Force’s injury is Montana State’s first significant one suffered in a game this season. Tailback Evin Groves, receiver Josh Lewis and tight end Elliott Barnhart were all injured in practice.
Of the three, Barnhart is the closest to returning.
“Elliott Barnhart might be able to see the field next week,” Kramer said.
MSU plays at Northern Arizona a week from Saturday.