SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Montana State struck early and never looked back, rolling to a 72-28 win at Cal Poly on Saturday night in San Luis Obispo.
The Bobcats (9-1) not only scored 70 points for the first time since a 77-point output against UC Davis in 2014, but also set the single-game rushing record with 554 yards. MSU had 357 rushing yards in the first half alone on the way to scoring 51 points.
In scoring the fourth-most first quarter points and the fifth-most first half points in Bobcat history, Montana State put the game out of reach before halftime. Marqui Johnson scored on touchdown runs of 12, 71, 36 and 78 yards in the first half, totaling an amazing 218 yards. As a team the Cats gained 437 total yards before the break and finished with 744 yards of total offense.
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The Bobcats scored on all eight first half possessions. Blake Glessner nailed a 46-yard field goal on the team’s opening drive, then Johnson scored from 12 yards out. Derryk Snell plunged in untouched from one yard out, Johnson scampered 71 yards, Glessner nailed a 32-yard field goal, and Johnson scored on a 36-yard run. Ben Seymour scooped up a fumbled and dashed in from 26 yards after a Kenneth Eiden IV sack, then Johnson scored on his 78-yard run and Glessner capped the first half scoring with a 31-yard field goal.
Cal Poly’s Spencer Brasch enjoyed a productive first half, throwing for 164 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Yet the Bobcat defense would turn two of his turnovers into 14 points in the first half alone.
With backups playing on both sides of the ball for the second half, the Bobcats extended their lead with Sean Austin under center on the first possession of the half. Austin threw the first touchdown pass of his career — a 7-yard strike to Aidan Garrigan — to put MSU up 58-14. The Mustangs would score 14 third-quarter points, yet those would be offset by Austin’s touchdown pass and Garrett Coon’s first score of the day.
Austin threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Coon to start the fourth quarter and make it a 72-28 game. Austin would finish 5-for-6 with 110 passing yards and two touchdowns, plus two rushing yards on three attempts.
The Bobcats will host Montana for the 121st-annual Brawl of the Wild rivalry game on Saturday, Nov. 19 at noon. ESPN College Game Day will come to the Big Sky Conference for the first time.
