BOZEMAN – The last time the UC Davis Aggies were in Bozeman to face Montana State it was 2016 and both teams were mired in 2-7 seasons with rivalry showdowns awaiting that penultimate game.
The Bobcats would claim a 27-13 win that day and both teams would go on to pull off upsets over their rivals with MSU running all over Montana for a 24-17 win in Missoula and the Aggies lighting up Sacramento State 48-30 at home.
On this wet evening it was the Bobcats, yet again, coming out on top 41-24.
While the stakes were higher Saturday night and so many things have changed for both teams, there was one stark similarity – that being Montana State’s starting quarterbacks in those games had a couple of strong similarities.
Neither 2016 starting quarterback Chris Murray nor Sean Chambers, who was filling in for injured starter Tommy Mellott, were known for their passing abilities. They were, however, very well known for their running skills.
That was the case going into the game. Someone forgot to tell Chambers. Coming out of the game, he had changed everyone’s mind about his throwing prowess.
“I just felt relaxed,” Chambers said. “I wasn’t nervous, and everything was just moving slowly.”
“You could tell he was feeling really comfortable,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen said. “He came out and hit his first couple throws. He was ready to go this week. He’s a competitor.”
Chambers threw for 227 yards on 13 for 21 passing and ran for 203 yards on 18 carries in a breakout performance for the ages pushing MSU to its seventh straight win over UC Davis. He ran for three touchdowns and passed for two. He’s the fourth quarterback in Big Sky Conference history to rush for 200 yards and the fifth total time that has occurred (Troy Andersen did it twice for MSU in 2018).
Chambers is the first quarterback in MSU history to throw for 200 yards and run for 200 yards in the same game and the second quarterback in Big Sky history to do so. And he did so in his first career start for the Bobcats.
The record-breaking night nearly left Chambers speechless.
“I can’t even think about it,” he said. “I’m just so grateful and blessed to be in this position. I’m just over the moon. Over the moon.”
Chambers spread the credit around mentioning Mellott, who helped him prepare. He thanked his offensive line, his coaches and even head coach Vigen’s wife Molly.
“Mrs. Vigen she’s up there, too.” Chambers said while reflecting on all the people who’ve helped during his career. “She’s just as good as him, even better.”
The 2016 season was the first of Jeff Choate’s four-year run as head coach at MSU and a year prior to current Davis coach Dan Hawkins taking the helm. Choate had a precocious freshman quarterback in Murray, who had just turned 18 a few weeks before the game.
UC Davis head coach Ron Gould was in his final season with the Aggies. He was let go after the season despite knocking off the Hornets. Since then, the Aggies have steadily become more prominent in the conference, winning the Big Sky in 2018 and making the playoffs last season.
Murray would run for 98 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries to buoy the Bobcats and Choate to their third win of the season. Veteran running back Chad Newell was good for 132 yards and a score. After trailing 10-3 the Bobcats regrouped to grab a 17-13 halftime lead and then shutout the Aggies 10-0 in the second half. Joshua Kelley ran for 99 yards for Davis.
The first time the teams met it was 2006 and one week after MSU was upset by Division II Chadron State and two weeks after MSU upset FBS Colorado. The Aggies abused a downtrodden MSU 45-0, but after another loss to Eastern Washington the Bobcats rebounded to make the playoffs and pick up their first FCS tournament win in 22 years.
On Saturday, much looked different. And some looked the same. The Bobcats can still run the ball. And the Bobcats still own the Aggies. Montana State has now won seven straight games against the Aggies.
Montana State hosts Idaho State this Saturday for its homecoming game, which starts at 2:00 pm.
