Bobcats Hammer Stephen F. Austin
9/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Senior quarterback Travis Lulay rushed for 106 yards and threw for 202 more and the Bobcat defense held Stephen F. Austin to just 185 total yards in a 42-6 win over the Lumberjacks on Saturday in Bobcat Stadium.
Bobcat coach Mike Kramer didn't dwell on the significance of the numbers, though, when analyzing his team's performance. He was most interested in the significance of the win.
"This was the best game at home that we've played in my years here," Kramer said. "Top to bottom, inside out, we were in command and in control throughout the game, and we were never really threatened except by ourselves."
After Stephen F. Austin's Cory Long drilled a 23-yard field goal to give the Lumberjacks a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter, the game belonged to MSU. Lulay found Chaz Guinn for a six-yard touchdown on MSU's next possession, and Michael Bass scored on a two-yard scamper early in the second quarter to give the Bobcats a 14-3 lead. Later in that quarter, Lulay hit Tramaine Murray for an 18-yarder and a 20-3 lead after Jeff Hastings' missed the PAT.
"We made a lot of plays," Lulay said, and he was in the middle of most of them. The senior from Aumsville, Ore., threw for a career-high four touchdowns. He also rushed for 106 yards, his second 100-yard outing in MSU's last four games dating to last season. He rushed for gains of over 20 yards twice Saturday.
While the Bobcat offense assumed its customary role of moving the ball up and down the field Saturday, gaining 433 yards, the defensive unit was quietly excellent. A week after holding Division I-A Oklahoma State to 378 yards, the Bobcats limited SFA to just 185 yards. That was the lowest total by a Montana State opponent since Portland State gained just 112 yards late in the 2003 season.
Kramer said a simple defensive adjustment helped stymie the Lumberjacks. "Our linebackers were actually playing a little too shallow," Kramer said. "We moved them back and that got them a better run at the play." SFA gained only 106 yards rushing.
While the Bobcat offense played sloppy football at times, the MSU defense forced the Lumberjacks into many mistakes. Montana State picked off three passes, two of which set up MSU scores. Linebacker Clive Lowe led the way with eight tackles, including two for a loss, and one pass breakup. Andre Fuller, Toph Grenfell and Kory Austin all picked off SFA passes, and Grenfell returned his interception to the Lumberjack 10-yard line.
Saturday's game drew 13,327 to Bobcat Stadium in spite of cold and rainy conditions. That marked MSU's first-ever home-opening sellout. The Bobcats have drawn at least 11,000 fans to eight straight home games.
Montana State meets Cal Poly next Saturday at 7 pm MDT in San Luis Obispo's Mustang Stadium.
Bobcat coach Mike Kramer didn't dwell on the significance of the numbers, though, when analyzing his team's performance. He was most interested in the significance of the win.
"This was the best game at home that we've played in my years here," Kramer said. "Top to bottom, inside out, we were in command and in control throughout the game, and we were never really threatened except by ourselves."
After Stephen F. Austin's Cory Long drilled a 23-yard field goal to give the Lumberjacks a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter, the game belonged to MSU. Lulay found Chaz Guinn for a six-yard touchdown on MSU's next possession, and Michael Bass scored on a two-yard scamper early in the second quarter to give the Bobcats a 14-3 lead. Later in that quarter, Lulay hit Tramaine Murray for an 18-yarder and a 20-3 lead after Jeff Hastings' missed the PAT.
"We made a lot of plays," Lulay said, and he was in the middle of most of them. The senior from Aumsville, Ore., threw for a career-high four touchdowns. He also rushed for 106 yards, his second 100-yard outing in MSU's last four games dating to last season. He rushed for gains of over 20 yards twice Saturday.
While the Bobcat offense assumed its customary role of moving the ball up and down the field Saturday, gaining 433 yards, the defensive unit was quietly excellent. A week after holding Division I-A Oklahoma State to 378 yards, the Bobcats limited SFA to just 185 yards. That was the lowest total by a Montana State opponent since Portland State gained just 112 yards late in the 2003 season.
Kramer said a simple defensive adjustment helped stymie the Lumberjacks. "Our linebackers were actually playing a little too shallow," Kramer said. "We moved them back and that got them a better run at the play." SFA gained only 106 yards rushing.
While the Bobcat offense played sloppy football at times, the MSU defense forced the Lumberjacks into many mistakes. Montana State picked off three passes, two of which set up MSU scores. Linebacker Clive Lowe led the way with eight tackles, including two for a loss, and one pass breakup. Andre Fuller, Toph Grenfell and Kory Austin all picked off SFA passes, and Grenfell returned his interception to the Lumberjack 10-yard line.
Saturday's game drew 13,327 to Bobcat Stadium in spite of cold and rainy conditions. That marked MSU's first-ever home-opening sellout. The Bobcats have drawn at least 11,000 fans to eight straight home games.
Montana State meets Cal Poly next Saturday at 7 pm MDT in San Luis Obispo's Mustang Stadium.
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