A festive and explosive start at Bobcat Stadium turned into a lackluster finish after Montana State bolted out to a 35-0 lead and led 38-7 at halftime only to see the Maine Black Bears chip away at the MSU backups as the Bobcats cruised yet battled for a 41-24 win in the home opener for the Bobcats.
MSU was electric right out of the gate. The ‘Cats scored three touchdowns on just six plays with three consecutive two-play drives. Scottre Humphrey sprinted 79 yards for the first score, then Adam Jones took a pass for 28 yards and on the next play ran it in from the 40. After Taki Uluilakepa blocked a Maine punt, MSU went 22 yards as Tommy Mellott connected with Ryan Lonergan from four yards out to put the Bobcats up 21-0 with 4:39 still remaining in the first quarter.
“I thought the first half for a stretch there we had a tons of big plays, tons of big holes, explosive runs, a very efficient pass game,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen said. “You work real hard to get guys in the game and second half wasn’t quite the same, so it looks like we got a ways to go with that second group. If we keep that first group out there, who knows where that goes.”
Humphrey and Jones would then score from six and 19 yards out, respectively, as MSU looked to be on the verge of humiliating Maine in going ahead 35-0.
Down 38-7 at halftime, the Black Bears got an early third quarter touchdown, then tacked on 10 fourth quarter points to narrow the lead down. They outscored MSU 24-6 from the 8:29 mark of the second quarter to the end of the game as the Bobcats steadily rotated in players from deep on their depth chart.
The Bobcats had some gaudy first half numbers as Mellott connected on his first nine passes. He, Jones and Humphrey had 12 carries for 214 yards and four touchdowns in the first half alone.
Mellott gave way to Jordan Reed and Chance Wilson in the second half. Reed was clobbered on his second play and coughed up the ball. He would complete a pass later before Wilson took over for the final quarter and made nice throw for 34 yards to Rylan Schlepp and just missed a touchdown on another good ball to tight end Hunter Provience, but it cost MSU a first down.
“I think Chance (Wilson) made a few plays,” Vigen said. “That’s my first assessment. Would’ve liked for him to keep that ball and get the first down instead of throwing it downfield. I think he had the first down, but that’s his first game action.
“Jordan (Reed), we didn’t get going too well with him. To get them both out there is very valuable. That backup spot, for us … continuing to sort that out is unfortunately an ongoing process.”
The Bobcat’ offensive and defensive lines were on fire in the first half. Both teams had 16 carries in the first half, but MSU had 232 rushing yards to just 13 for the Black Bears as Montana State controlled the lines of scrimmage. MSU has a bevy of speed in its backfield and Humphrey, Mellott and Adam Jones finished with 13 carries for 239 yards with just one of those runs in the second half.
“They run hard and that speed really helps with those breakaways,” senior center Cole Sain said in deflecting the credit for MSU’s running attack to his running backs. “The worst is if anyone ever gets run down (from behind on a long run), then you’re like running down the field (for the next play). They’re super-fast and very talented and blessed to have them in the backfield.”
Captain defensive end Brody Grebe says the Bobcats have a unique advantage that multiplies upon itself from fall practices to game days.
“Ones on ones, we get so much work with that in fall camp with the best O-Line in the country that just makes us better,” Grebe said. “Honestly, if I’m going against (offensive tackle) Marcus (Wehr) every day I feel like I’m in a good spot coming into the game because I’m going against somebody who isn’t as good as who I go against every single day.
“That’s a huge deal for us to be able to have our O-Line and D-Line be pillars on this team. If you look at good teams, college football or NFL whatever it is, the best teams always have good O-Line and D-Line.”
The offensive line didn’t just run block well. They provided Mellott ample time to get set and look downfield and the payoff was a nine for nine start for the senior quarterback. It was the best start of his college career, and he finished 12 for 15 for 144 yards and one touchdown.
His first two passes were throws into the flat for Ryan King and Adam Jones. Jones split a pair of defenders for a 28-yard gain. His third throw was a touchdown to tight end Ryan Lonergan.
Mellott’s following series was perhaps his most impressive throwing the ball as MSU ran three straight passing plays – a rarity for the Bobcats. Mellott completed all three for 15 (Rohan Jones), 10 (Taco Dowler) and 22 (Lonyatta Alexander, Jr.) yards.
The Bobcats have an open date before playing upstart Mercyhurst, which is in the Football Championship Subdivision for the first year. Mercyhurst lost to Howard 32-31. The time off and perceived easy opponent gives MSU lots of time to prep for its Big Sky Conference opener at Idaho State.
“I suppose record-wise, we are where we wanted to be and I think the bye comes at a good time with the early start going back to the last week of July,” Vigen said. “Hopefully, we are healthier come Mercyhurst. And hopefully, we can take a step forward over the next couple of weeks as we prepare for conference play.
“I think we have a really good conference right now and that schedule is going to be a grind. It’s a really important couple of weeks here to continue to solidify our depth.”
