Sports, like life, don’t always follow a pattern. Some players get opportunities right away, while others have to bide their time. And just like life, sports aren’t always fair.
In the case of Montana State tight end Ryan Lonegan, he’s not only been behind two of the best players at the position in the Big Sky Conference, but also two of the most durable. Seniors Treyton Pickering and Derryk Snell have been key pieces in the Bobcat’ offense for three years and counting and until this past Wednesday, that was still case.
That’s when Snell suffered an injury during a practice and suddenly Lonergan – a highly touted, in-state recruit out of Bozeman High – went from being a special teams ace and getting just a few reps at tight end to a starting hybrid tight end/fullback for MSU with the unenviable task of replacing a 2022 All-Big Sky first team performer and preseason 2023 All-Big Sky first team pick in the biggest game of the conference season to date.
“Credit to Ryan because those reps were going to Derryk until Wednesday,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen said. “He had to catch up on the fly on Thursday. He was pressed into it and Ryan works really hard and has had to fight through some injuries, but he understands his role, he’s played his role really well and now his role just got expanded. He went out there and wasn’t perfect but played with confidence and got more and more comfortable as the game went along. Moving forward with the uncertainty about Derryk we’re going to need him.”
Lonergan still didn’t know for sure if he would replace Snell in a nationally televised game against No. 3 ranked Sacramento State until pregame warmups last Saturday night as Snell was making progress with the injury.
“During pregame I saw Derryk and he wasn’t feeling too good,” Lonergan said. “So, he let me know that he didn’t think he would be going tonight. He was pretty uplifting and told me to be confident and keep doing what I’ve been doing all year. He was really helpful mentally.”
Lonergan was a highly regarded recruit out of Bozeman High. Numerous FBS schools were after him as well as several Big Sky schools. Former MSU head coach Jeff Choate said he thought Lonergan was the top player in the state. Still, Lonergan had to wait for his chance.
“This has been a dream of mine since I can remember,” Lonergan said. “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to play here. Patience is the key when you have those two guys ahead of you, but those two guys have been everything for me lately. We’re pretty tight off the field and those two have been like, ‘don’t get discouraged, your time is coming.’”
Being thrown into the fray in such a big game challenged Lonergan to adjust his thought process on the fly. Not only was pushed to the forefront on short notice, but his first start came against the No. 3 team in the nation on the road, and also in front of a national audience on ESPN2.
“You have to be in the right mindset. It’s going to be smash football, man, it’s how Bobcat football is built, so I was comfortable about being back there,” Lonergan said. “You just have to be ready to go smash some people, that’s about it. Those first two drives were the time for me to settle into the environment.”
And the environment Lonergan is part of in Bozeman goes hand in hand with that.
“This is the closest team I’ve ever been a part of,” he said. “It’s like a family here. Compared to other programs I’ve heard about around the country they don’t have that family vibe to it. Our culture is different. We all understand that in this building.”
MSU found itself in a rare hole against the Hornets as the Hornets built a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Bobcats have only trailed for 13 minutes, 22 seconds in seven games this season.
“Our defense getting the ball back – Jon’s (Johnson) pick, Rylan’s (Ortt) pick – allowed the offense to get our confidence and also our offensive line helped,” Lonergan said. “Those dudes are hard people and very physical they showed Sac State that they’re very physical. They’re very focused guys and they just say good play, next play; bad play, next play.”
There was a play early in the game against Sacramento State where a linebacker got the best of Lonergan, but then he got several Hornet’ linebackers, including All-American Armon Bailey, back at least three times during the course of the game. His blocking out of the backfield was a key to helping the Bobcats get a few short yardage first downs.
“We talk about being able to move forward,” Vigen said. “You practice a lot, you get a lot of reps in spring, fall and through the week and you might get a handful of (game) reps and now you become a regular like Ryan did and I think you understand that the game’s not quite as complicated, it’s faster to a degree, but you belong out there.
“Not all the plays are going to go your way you gotta size up your opponents as you go. One play has no bearing on the next play. You gotta think that way and for that to show in Ryan’s confidence and feel, and that position for us is feel.
“Early on he had a corner cross his face on a perimeter play. He didn’t let that linger. What you don’t want to be doing at that position is playing with any indecision. You gotta be aggressive and go after it. I think Ryan really improved as the game went along.”
Vigen has made a definitive effort to make sure every member of his team fully understands their roles. Lonergan personifies that, Vigen said.
“Guys are making their way and building on their own experience and confidence, but if they do have guys in front of them, it’s not going to break them,” Vigen said. “Ryan’s done a really good job on special teams for us. He owned that role last year. He didn’t get a ton of reps.
‘Sometimes it’s patience, sometimes it’s ‘hey, I’m a part of something way bigger than me. I love being a part of it. Here’s my role, here’s what my coaches are asking me to do. I’m gonna accept them and do the very best I can and I’m going to be ready for that role to change.’
“I think we have quite a few guys that you’d classify in that regard. That’s when you truly have a team. Not everybody can be out there on Saturdays a whole bunch, not everybody can get the acclaim, but they’re all part of it and they all play a crucial role in what we’re trying to accomplish and Ryan’s a great example of that.”
Montana State is set to take on Idaho Saturday at 2 p.m. in Moscow.
“Definitely fun having these big-time matchups ,” Lonergan said. “Teams are trying to separate themselves from the pack and it’s going to be fun down there in the Kibbie Dome.”
