Bobcats Blow Ol' Dixie Down for Ash's First Win
9/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
On Montana State's all-time football hit list, Saturday's 61-7 Bobcat win over Dixie State may not prove much. To first-year head football coach Rob Ash, though, it is solid gold.
"It's a win," Ash said after coaching his first game in Bobcat Stadium, "and it feels great."
Bobcat freshman Arnold Briggs set the tone for MSU on a day that witnessed a number of bizarre occurrences. With MSU receiving the opening kickoff, Dixie State attempted an on-side kick that Briggs recovered to give the Bobcats the ball at the Dixie State 35. Six plays later, freshman kicker Michael Sweeney drilled a 30-yard field goal to give MSU a 3-0 lead. Michael Beach intercepted a Skyler Ence pass on the ensuing possession, and after a Bobcat punt Dixie State snapped the ball through the end zone on fourth down for an MSU safety.
"There were just a lot of crazy things in this game," Ash said. "Being ahead 5-0 in the first quarter, scoring on defense and special teams. There were some things you don't see all the time."
The Bobcats started the next possession on the Dixie State 45, and on the fourth play Jack Rolovich found Tyler Lulay 38 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Rolovich posted another efficient effort, finishing with 221 yards and two touchdowns on nine-for-16 passing. His lone interception came on what he called "maybe my stupidest throw." Rolovich moved the Bobcat offense masterfully in his two-and-a-half quarters under center. MSU's ground game received a boost from junior college transfer Demetrius Crawford, who carried 11 times for 128 yards and a touchdown. Aaron Mason added 62 yards and Isaiah Taito, both in limited work.
"The offensive line did a real good job today," Rolovich said. "We got off to a little bit of a sluggish start, but the offensive coordinator saw what they were doing. It was not exactly what we thought they'd be doing, but (coach Dale Ploessl) made the adjustment."
Leading 33-7 at halftime, Montana State blew the game open in the third quarter with a series of unusual events. On the first drive of the series, Dixie moved to the Bobcat five and faced a third-and-goal. Ence was sacked by Aaron Papich to set up a 32-yard field goal try, which Dane Fletcher blocked and Kory Austin picked up and returned 86 yards for a touchdown. "I had responsibility for the wing," Austin said. "The ball bounced toward me and just floated up into my arms."
On the ensuing possession, Dixie State's Nate Lewis punted 34 yards to Austin at the MSU 15, and the senior defensive back and return specialist returned the punt 85 yards for a touchdown. That return snapped a string of 37 straight games for the Bobcats without a punt or kickoff return for a score. Montana State closed the scoring later in the third quarter, on the possession after Rolovich found Deon Toliver for a 72-yard score. Freshman defensive lineman Dan Ogden snagged an errant Dixie State pass and rumbled 62 yards for a touchdown.
Montana State's 61 points stands ast the sixth-highest total in school history. MSU opens Big Sky play next Saturday at Weber State.
"It's a win," Ash said after coaching his first game in Bobcat Stadium, "and it feels great."
Bobcat freshman Arnold Briggs set the tone for MSU on a day that witnessed a number of bizarre occurrences. With MSU receiving the opening kickoff, Dixie State attempted an on-side kick that Briggs recovered to give the Bobcats the ball at the Dixie State 35. Six plays later, freshman kicker Michael Sweeney drilled a 30-yard field goal to give MSU a 3-0 lead. Michael Beach intercepted a Skyler Ence pass on the ensuing possession, and after a Bobcat punt Dixie State snapped the ball through the end zone on fourth down for an MSU safety.
"There were just a lot of crazy things in this game," Ash said. "Being ahead 5-0 in the first quarter, scoring on defense and special teams. There were some things you don't see all the time."
The Bobcats started the next possession on the Dixie State 45, and on the fourth play Jack Rolovich found Tyler Lulay 38 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Rolovich posted another efficient effort, finishing with 221 yards and two touchdowns on nine-for-16 passing. His lone interception came on what he called "maybe my stupidest throw." Rolovich moved the Bobcat offense masterfully in his two-and-a-half quarters under center. MSU's ground game received a boost from junior college transfer Demetrius Crawford, who carried 11 times for 128 yards and a touchdown. Aaron Mason added 62 yards and Isaiah Taito, both in limited work.
"The offensive line did a real good job today," Rolovich said. "We got off to a little bit of a sluggish start, but the offensive coordinator saw what they were doing. It was not exactly what we thought they'd be doing, but (coach Dale Ploessl) made the adjustment."
Leading 33-7 at halftime, Montana State blew the game open in the third quarter with a series of unusual events. On the first drive of the series, Dixie moved to the Bobcat five and faced a third-and-goal. Ence was sacked by Aaron Papich to set up a 32-yard field goal try, which Dane Fletcher blocked and Kory Austin picked up and returned 86 yards for a touchdown. "I had responsibility for the wing," Austin said. "The ball bounced toward me and just floated up into my arms."
On the ensuing possession, Dixie State's Nate Lewis punted 34 yards to Austin at the MSU 15, and the senior defensive back and return specialist returned the punt 85 yards for a touchdown. That return snapped a string of 37 straight games for the Bobcats without a punt or kickoff return for a score. Montana State closed the scoring later in the third quarter, on the possession after Rolovich found Deon Toliver for a 72-yard score. Freshman defensive lineman Dan Ogden snagged an errant Dixie State pass and rumbled 62 yards for a touchdown.
Montana State's 61 points stands ast the sixth-highest total in school history. MSU opens Big Sky play next Saturday at Weber State.
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