Montana State football is well known for its depth, but that attribute makes it difficult to put the spotlight on all the players that make the Bobcat machine roll.
Guys in their senior season are especially deserving. Defensive tackle Blake Hehl, defensive end David Alston, running back Lane Sumner and wide receiver Tayvian Williams all have contributed in different ways during their times at Montana State.
Sumner went from Class B standout to game day stud only to battle so many injuries that his career is likely over after this season even though he’d certainly qualify for a medical redshirt. Hehl went from starter to hobbled by a back injury to key backup for the final two seasons of his winding college football path. Alston has Big Ten credentials yet has found a home and settled in as a reserve in the Big Sky. And Williams has done everything from play corner during spring ball to play a variety of offensive positions on the scout team, all the while carving out a role on special teams to contribute where he can.
On Saturday, Montana State plays its final regular season home game against Eastern Washington. The contest will also serve as senior day for the aforementioned quartet along with super senior Clevan Thomas, a former Kentucky transfer in his seventh season, plus former JC transfer defensive end Ben Seymour and four other stalwarts who have been with the program for six years: tight ends Derryk Snell & Treyton Pickering, linebacker Nolan Askelson and nickelback Level Price Jr.
“You want them to enjoy that moment, that recognition before the game, the opportunity to have their families out there,” Montana State head coach Brent Vigen said earlier this week. “But you still want to remind them that their lasting memory is still going to be how that game plays out on that field. Encouraging them to take all that in.
“However those emotions come flooding into you, that’s the way you should feel. You should feel emotional. A lot of blood, sweat and tears put into this program and that’s an opportunity to get recognized for that. Take a deep breath afterwards and once that kickoff happens, it’s about the game and make the memory there as well to cap the experience off for the day.”
Hehl came to MSU in a roundabout way even for a player caught up in the Covid Era. After graduating from Orange Lutheran High School in Huntington Beach, Calif. he had stops at nearby Fullerton Junior College, then cross country to Old Dominion University, back to the west and south at Tarleton State before heading due north to Bozeman.
Hehl’s career at MSU began with him starting six games in 2021 in place of star defensive tackle Chase Benson. He played in 13 games in 2022 but an injury hampered him, and he would have offseason surgery.
“Getting Blake healthy was the big thing in the offseason,” Vigen said. “This time last year we probably would’ve questioned whether he would play again. He had offseason back surgery and he came back a new man. He really had a good offseason through the summer.”
Montana State’s defensive line is one of the main pieces of the puzzle for success for the Bobcats. The 6-foot-3, 273-pounder is most recognizable for the intimidating eye black he wears on his cheeks during game day. This season, he’s primarily backed up fellow Californian Blake Schmidt and has played that role admirably.
“Blake has played a key role and it’s very unsung, Vigen said. “His ability to go out there and allow, in particular, Blake Schmidt to get off the field along with Sebastian Valdez is huge. He and (defensive tackle) Paul Brott play a key role. I think the more consistent they’ve been the more the D-line coaches have put them on the field. That’s something we need to do on a week-in, week-out basis where Blake gets a 20-play run each weekend and he’s not just going out there, but he’s been real effective. So, credit to him for wanting to finish off career on his own terms.”
Alston is another player that has had an unorthodox journey before landing at MSU. He actually graduated from Nebraska before becoming a Bobcat and oddly enough has spent an equal amount of time at each school.
“David was a guy that was highly recruited that ends up at Nebraska,” Vigen said. “When he transferred, he had the three-year potential left and he was coming as a graduate at the same time. A six-year guy that has spent half his time in one spot and half his time in another is not typical.”
Alston was able to get on the field right away at MSU and took to the school instantly. In 2021, Alston’s pressure on Eastern Washington quarterback Barriere, who was scrambling in the end zone, causing the former Eastern All-American him to be held by the Eagles left tackle to key a safety that was crucial in MSU’s 23-20 win in Cheney.
“What happened pretty early on is David found that this was the right place for him. He had a role in ’21 and he’s worked through some injuries at the same time,” Vigen said. “It wasn’t about the stats, he’s a team player. A guy that wanted to be a part of something bigger than him. He’s really a smart young man and I just appreciate his unselfishness. It’s not typical at the end of the day in the transfer game but that’s who he’s been while he’s been with us.”
Sumner, a former Class B state champion sprinter during his prep days at Huntley Project, has been a hard luck story during the past two seasons and has been on the shelf most of 2023 since the first game when he suffered a lower leg injury on the second possession of the season. A year ago, he ran all over McNeese State gaining 159 yards and had two other 100-yard games on the way to 433 yards but had his season end after just five games.
Sumner had 141 yards in 2021 and perhaps his best season was 2019 when he ran for 424 yards on 61 carries – a 6.95 yards per carry average. Despite all his injuries, the speedy 5-foot-8, 198-pounder has rushed for 1,015 yards and five touchdowns in his jaded career.
“He’s a powerful guy wrapped into that smaller frame,” Vigen said. “That’s probably a thing most people don’t understand. He’s got really good feet. Good speed, not great speed. He has a smaller frame and with that durability is a challenge. He’s not the only one to suffer from that. Make his mark and finish on his terms.
“I’ll say again, he’s unselfish. To some degree, he had to wait his turn with (MSU’s all-time leading rusher) Isaiah (Ifanse) being in front of him. I’m glad Lane’s back with us. It’s been a long road.”
Sumner is known for bringing his teammates, especially those from out of state, into the outdoors to hunt and fish, a perk that not many college football players across the country get.
“Guys do it in different ways and with Lane it’s with the outdoors piece,” Vigen said. “When you can allow a guy from out of state the opportunity to learn more about all the things to do here, get a chance to enjoy all the things to do here, it’s unique. You need guys willing to do that. I’m sure Lane would rather go fish by himself sometimes, yet he brings himself to bring his buddies along. He loves this place wholeheartedly.”
Sumner got back on the field against Idaho in the final game of October but didn’t record a carry. Last week against Northern Arizona ,he got his first test and while he didn’t break off a big run (two carries, three yards) it was still a bit of a milestone for the senior out of Huntley Project.
Williams’ efforts certainly aren’t lost on Vigen, who had some poignant words to say about one of the players that does so much behind the scenes.
“Tayvian’s been a very useful player let’s put it that way,” Vigen started out saying. “Meaning, at any turn he’s done what we asked. A guy that if you asked what’s a high characteristic that he has, it’s unselfishness.”
Williams recovered a punt blocked by Julius Davis near the goal line in a 20-16 loss against No. 1 South Dakota State allowing the Bobcats to tie the game in the fourth quarter earlier this season.
“He’s played a key role in special teams this year, building off a really solid year last year,” Vigen said. “He’s become more integrated offensively this year, but you think about him my first two years. Yes, it was the playing corner in spring ball just to get us through. It was playing scout team running back over and over those first two years in the fall when we were continuing to be short. It was doing whatever we asked, that’s hard. Guys don’t come to college to be playing on a scout team, necessarily, when they’re in their fourth or fifth year. That’s where he was and he continued to work and he felt like, ‘hey, I’m going to be able to make it.’ And everybody’s definition of making it is their own. I would say that Tayvian’s made it. He’s played a key role this fall and will continue to. We really appreciate him for his efforts.”
Montana State celebrates senior day on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Eastern Washington a team that the Bobcats have tough luck against until recently, winning a pair of games against the Eagles the past two years. EWU is 4-5 overall and trying to avoid its second straight losing season, a fate that has not befallen the Eagles since the 1994 and 1995 seasons.
“I want them to feel all the emotions,” Vigen said. “I don’t discourage the emotion but once the game gets going, it’s still about the game.”
