BOZEMAN – On a hot summer evening, it only made sense that Montana State would lean on tailback Lane Sumner. Saturday, it paid off as he burned McNeese State with a career-high 176 yards rushing on 24 carries as Bobcats scalded the Cowboys with a 40-17 win in their annual Gold Rush game.
“That was the first time that Lane really had a chance to be the guy,” Montana State second-year coach Brent Vigen said. “We felt confident in his ability to do so, and he went out there and did it.”
“Just grateful for the opportunity, obviously we’ve had some guys go down (to injury), but all credit to the guys up front,” added Sumner, a former Class B 100-meter champion during his prep days at Huntley project. “Everyone’s chasing Zay (All-America tailback Isaiah Ifanse who is out with an injury). He sets the standard and he really pushes the rest of us to get better.”
It was Montana State’s fourth straight win in its ever-popular home opener that saw 21,687 gold-clad fans push Bobcat Stadium beyond its capacity (17,777) on a stadium record 95-degree day.
“We tried to press them offensively and I think at times it worked in our favor,” Vigen said in his team’s approach to the heat. “It was factor for both teams, so credit to (strength) coach (Sean) Herrin. I think our guys are conditioned well.”
Sumner also took a short pass over the middle from sophomore quarterback Tommy Mellott for 50 yards to set up a field goal on the first drive of the second half for the Bobcats. That sparked a dominant third quarter that saw MSU push its advantage from 17-10 to 33-10
Sumner finished with 228 total yards, which was also a career high. He would’ve had a much higher total were it not for a pair holding penalties that negated about 30 yards from his total.
Mellott saw his first action since the Bobcats national championship loss that saw him forced out of the game on the game’s opening drive. He was also taking the first hits to his body since that game as he was protected all spring and preseason. Despite that the sophomore turned in a solid effort with 11 completions on 19 attempts for 182 yards and a pair of touchdowns for a 173.1 passer rating. He also ran for 44 yards and a score. His backup, Sean Chambers, ran for a pair of touchdowns to compliment Mellott. Chambers, a transfer from Wyoming, sat out the lone scrimmage of preseason.
Both teams were sluggish early, but the Bobcats won the game of adjustments at halftime and scorched the Cowboys for 224 yards in the third quarter to push it’s lead to 33-10 after leading 17-10 at halftime.
The Bobcats struck first when Chambers scored on his third straight run from the McNeese State 7-yard line hitting pay dirt from the 3.
McNeese State was able to stay in the game thanks to pair of explosive plays. The first came on a 75-yard touchdown run by backup tailback D’Angelo Durham that tied the game at 7-7 in the second quarter. Then on the first play of the fourth quarter Josh Matthews hauled in a mid-range pass from quarterback Knox Kadum to complete a 66-yard touchdown play to cut the Bobcat’ lead to 33-17.
The latter play came after MSU had tallied 23 straight points from late in the second quarter to the near end of the third. The Bobcats amassed 254 yards on those four drives to take control of the game. Mellott tacked on a touchdown on a 17-yard run on a busted play to cap the scoring.
The Bobcats out-gained the Cowboys 541-303 in total yards with the Pokes getting 172 of their total on three plays. MSU was stymied by a pair of turnovers and a handful of untimely penalties.
Former Montana State receiver Koby Duru transferred to McNeese State and got the start but wasn’t targeted until late in the game. He gained 19 yards late in the fourth quarter. Simeon Woodard was shaken up on the play but was able to walk off the field unassisted.
Sophomore inside linebacker Danny Uliulakepa led the Bobcats in tackles with eight in his first career start, while senior captain defensive back Ty Okada had seven stops. Callahan O’Reilly stole the show on defense. The senior captain had a pair of interceptions housing the first only to see he called back due to an illegal block. He had another long return on the second pick. The two interceptions matched his total from 2021.
Uliulakepa has the unenviable task of replacing one of the greatest players in Bobcat history in Troy Andersen.
“Danny does a good job of communicating and flying around,” O’Reilly said of his new partner in the linebacking corps. “I think he had a great game.”
The Bobcat’ defense held McNeese State to just 12 of 23 passing for 145 yards. The Cowboy’ passer rating was just 102.1.
Late in the game the running of Montana State backup tailback Jared White, who is actually the fifth string running back for the Bobcats, was featured as he tallied 89 yards on just seven carries good for a 12.7 average. Montana State was without the services of not only Ifanse, but San Diego State transfer Kaegun Williams and sophomore Elijah Elliott.
The Bobcats are home again this Saturday when they face Morehead State.
