Bobcats Earn Force-ful win
10/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
When we first got here, Montana State's senior strong safety says, "me and Travis (Lulay) said we'd never lose to them."
That became impossible last fall, when PSU stunned the Bobcats with a walk-off field goal to upset Montana State in Portland. Force picked up the torch on Saturday, though, leading Montana State to an emotional 14-0 shutout win over the Vikings.
"Last year (the loss) set in real deep with us," Force said. "I really wanted to finish this off with a victory. It feels good."
Force didn't lead the Bobcats statistically on Saturday, his first game back after missing a couple of contests. He made only two tackles. But he appeared to be the unquestioned emotional leader in a highly emotional game.
"Ryan really set the tone," said MSU coach Mike Kramer, and the fifth-year senior from Lake Oswego, a Portland suburb, did so early with a crashing tackle of Mu'Ammar Ali on Portland State's first offensive play of the second quarter. "Everybody was like, 'You alright? You alright?' It was a little adrenaline rush. It felt good."
With Force, along with starting defensive end Aaron Papich, back in the lineup, the Bobcat defense felt good. It looked good, too, limiting the Vikings to just 132 total yards and 51 plays.
Force came to Montana State as a walk-on, unrecruited by the Vikings until he'd chosen the 'Cats, a decision he said he has no regret over. He also says he's more than happy to finish his career against his hometown team with a smothering defensive effort and a Bobcat win.
"I wish we were 4-0," he said, somewhat wistfully, "but the win feels great."
That became impossible last fall, when PSU stunned the Bobcats with a walk-off field goal to upset Montana State in Portland. Force picked up the torch on Saturday, though, leading Montana State to an emotional 14-0 shutout win over the Vikings.
"Last year (the loss) set in real deep with us," Force said. "I really wanted to finish this off with a victory. It feels good."
Force didn't lead the Bobcats statistically on Saturday, his first game back after missing a couple of contests. He made only two tackles. But he appeared to be the unquestioned emotional leader in a highly emotional game.
"Ryan really set the tone," said MSU coach Mike Kramer, and the fifth-year senior from Lake Oswego, a Portland suburb, did so early with a crashing tackle of Mu'Ammar Ali on Portland State's first offensive play of the second quarter. "Everybody was like, 'You alright? You alright?' It was a little adrenaline rush. It felt good."
With Force, along with starting defensive end Aaron Papich, back in the lineup, the Bobcat defense felt good. It looked good, too, limiting the Vikings to just 132 total yards and 51 plays.
Force came to Montana State as a walk-on, unrecruited by the Vikings until he'd chosen the 'Cats, a decision he said he has no regret over. He also says he's more than happy to finish his career against his hometown team with a smothering defensive effort and a Bobcat win.
"I wish we were 4-0," he said, somewhat wistfully, "but the win feels great."
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