Bobcats Race Past ISU for League-Opening Win
10/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
When Idaho State returned the opening kickoff to the Bobcat 37-yard line, then scored a touchdown five plays later, Montana State was on its heels. But coach Rob Ash didn't have much to say.
"I don't think much needed to be said," Ash said after Montana State finished a 33-21 Big Sky-opening win over the Bengals in Holt Arena on Saturday. "They knocked us right off the ball, they went right down and scored, it was a great drive by them. But it's funny how football works, it was probably just what our defense needed to wake our guys up and let them know we were in for a fight."
It might have been just what the Bobcat offense needed, as well. MSU marched the Bobcats 83 yards in 12 plays to tie the score, which launched a seven-minute spurt in which MSU took control of the game with three touchdowns. "For our offense to answer right away was huge," Ash said. That kept Idaho State from getting more out of that (opening touchdown) than just the seven points."
Demetrius Crawford scored MSU's first touchdown on a 12-yard run. The senior running back finished the day with 76 yards on 24 carries. On MSU's next possession, the Bobcat defense turned the game around with an interception of a Russell Hill pass by Jeff Price. Cody Kempt found DeSean Thomas in a crease down the center of the field four plays later for a 21-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead.
After forcing a three-and-out possession on Idaho State's next drive, Kempt scampered 13 yards on a zone read option play to give the Bobcats a 21-7 lead.
As typically happens in the MSU-ISU series, a defensive or special teams score played a big role. With Idaho State punting from its own end zone midway through the third quarter, Jesse Anderson blocked his second career punt and the ball squirted out the back of the end zone for a safety.
Special teams played a large role throughout the game for the Bobcats. Punter Eric Fisher had a spectacular day, averaging 47.1 yards on seven punts, nailing ISU inside the 20 three times and drilling a 70-yarder that was downed inside the three. That was tied for the seventh-longest punt in MSU history. Tyler Lulay returned four punts for 69 yards, an average of over 17 yards a return, and freshman place kicker Jason Cunningham was four-for-four on PATs and hit a 50-yard field goal. That was MSU's longest field goal since 1998.
MSU now stands 3-2 on the year, 1-0 in league play, while ISU drops to 0-5, losing its ninth straight game. Weber State comes to Bobcat Stadium next Saturday, fresh off this week's thrashing of Montana.
"I don't think much needed to be said," Ash said after Montana State finished a 33-21 Big Sky-opening win over the Bengals in Holt Arena on Saturday. "They knocked us right off the ball, they went right down and scored, it was a great drive by them. But it's funny how football works, it was probably just what our defense needed to wake our guys up and let them know we were in for a fight."
It might have been just what the Bobcat offense needed, as well. MSU marched the Bobcats 83 yards in 12 plays to tie the score, which launched a seven-minute spurt in which MSU took control of the game with three touchdowns. "For our offense to answer right away was huge," Ash said. That kept Idaho State from getting more out of that (opening touchdown) than just the seven points."
Demetrius Crawford scored MSU's first touchdown on a 12-yard run. The senior running back finished the day with 76 yards on 24 carries. On MSU's next possession, the Bobcat defense turned the game around with an interception of a Russell Hill pass by Jeff Price. Cody Kempt found DeSean Thomas in a crease down the center of the field four plays later for a 21-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead.
After forcing a three-and-out possession on Idaho State's next drive, Kempt scampered 13 yards on a zone read option play to give the Bobcats a 21-7 lead.
As typically happens in the MSU-ISU series, a defensive or special teams score played a big role. With Idaho State punting from its own end zone midway through the third quarter, Jesse Anderson blocked his second career punt and the ball squirted out the back of the end zone for a safety.
Special teams played a large role throughout the game for the Bobcats. Punter Eric Fisher had a spectacular day, averaging 47.1 yards on seven punts, nailing ISU inside the 20 three times and drilling a 70-yarder that was downed inside the three. That was tied for the seventh-longest punt in MSU history. Tyler Lulay returned four punts for 69 yards, an average of over 17 yards a return, and freshman place kicker Jason Cunningham was four-for-four on PATs and hit a 50-yard field goal. That was MSU's longest field goal since 1998.
MSU now stands 3-2 on the year, 1-0 in league play, while ISU drops to 0-5, losing its ninth straight game. Weber State comes to Bobcat Stadium next Saturday, fresh off this week's thrashing of Montana.
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