BOZEMAN – Montana State simply took care of business as they methodically did away with a spunky Mercyhurst crew that put up a better fight than most expected in a 52-13 non-conference tilt.
For the second straight contest, the Bobcats were playing mostly backups early in the second half after building a 38-0 lead on their first drive of the half.
Bobcat senior quarterback Tommy Mellott was stellar in MSU’s improving passing game as he connected on 14 of 18 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns. The three TD passes match his career high, which he set against Northern Colorado in 2022. He’s now 26 for 33 for 358 yards and four touchdowns over the last two games. For the season, he’s 61 for 86 (71%) for 715 yards and seven touchdowns against no interceptions for a passer rating of 167.6.
His performance to wrap up the first half highlighted his efficiency and effectiveness. The Bobcats took over with just 1:38 to go in the second quarter on their own 20-yard line. Mellott connected on all five of his pass attempts on the drive, including two that stopped the clock and the last that was set up by the previous four and covered 50 yards to Adam Jones for a touchdown with 27 seconds left.
“Tommy was on point,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen said. “The touchdown to Adam (Jones) was a play off of another play that we had thrown a few times. It wasn’t a broken play. Tommy had to move a little bit, but it was a designed play. Adam continues to show his ability to not only catch the football but then be able to run after the catch. So that was a big sequence for us.”
The Bobcat’ run game was sluggish until the third quarter when receiver Ty McCullouch broke off a 35-yard run and running back Colson Coon scored on a 50-yard run. Coon was a battering ram from late in the third and through the fourth quarter as he amassed 75 yards on his first five carries and ended up with a team-high 102 yards on 10 carries. MSU finished with 256 yards – well below its average – on 37 carries.
Offensive guard Blake Mastel returned from injury and got the first start of his career with MSU’s formidable offensive line.
“I played okay,” Mastel said. “I’m definitely going to find a lot of things that I need to clean up. I felt I did alright for a first game.”
While MSU’s offense is focused on running the ball, Mastel humorously shared his insight on MSU’s passing game.
“Keep 4 (Mellott)off the ground,” he said.
Scottre Humphrey had 69 yards in the first quarter and appeared on the verge of his fourth 100-yard game of the season, but he wouldn’t play in the second half and finished with 77 yards and touchdown on 12 carries.
MSU got out of the game relatively unscathed as Bryce Grebe was the only player that left the game with an apparent minor injury, but he would return later. The Bobcats are still awaiting the return of 2023 starters Julius Davis (RB), Justus Perkins (center) and Dru Polidore (safety), all who are seniors.
The starting defensive unit was stellar again as they allowed just 80 yards in the first half before giving way to the backups. For the game, MSU held Mercyhurst to -9 yards rushing on 13 carries.
Backup quarterback Chance Wilson appeared to sew up that role as he played from the second drive of the second half through MSU’s last possession. He attempted just one pass, which he completed for 32 yards to Rylan Schlepp, and ran once for a touchdown from the five.
“I think (offensive coordinator) Tyler (Walker) is really trying to get him loose running and it really didn’t play out that way,” Vigen said. “He only had that one pass, but the ball moved. I think he’s beginning to get more comfortable and he’s got playmaking ability in his own right. It’s a confidence, experience piece that hopefully he continues to grow.”
Kicker Myles Sansted, who is playing for the injured Casey Kautzman, converted all seven of his extra points and is now 21 for 21 in that category. He also kicked a 23-yard field goal and is 4 for 6 on the season.
Mercyhurst kept after MSU until the final gun as they kept their starting unit in and with :16 to play converted on fourth down. The Lakers went for it on fourth down seven times converting four. Quarterback Adrian Urena threw 44 passes on the day and wasn’t finished until he threw the last one out of bounds to end the game. He finished 28 for 44 for 213 yards and wasn’t intercepted.
Rylan Ortt highlighted a big day for MSU’s Missoula contingent. He blocked a punt that was picked up for a touchdown by fellow Missoulian Zac Crews. The Garden City was also represented by Adam Jones and his 91 total yards, JJ Dolan nearly intercepted a pass late in the game, and offensive lineman Dylan Rollins – a Montana Gatorade Player of the Year award winner – helped spark Colson Coon’s second half running spree. All five of the aforementioned are former Sentinel Spartans.
“JJ went out there and played awesome,” Ortt said. “He’s been doing great but its pretty cool to see Adam (Jones) and Zac (Crews) and all the Missoula guys who come here and Dylan Rollins got some playing time, too, so I think it’s a credit to Sentinel’s football program and coach (Dane) Oliver doing a good job and getting players college-ready.”
The Bobcats are finished with their non-conference slate as they begin prepping for the Big Sky Conference schedule which opens with a road game at Idaho State.
