Montana State University
Washington State
Washington State Escapes with Victory over Bobcats
9/11/2010 9:33:58 PM | Football
Washington State rallied from a 22-7 fourth quarter deficit behind three interceptions off deflected passes. The Cougars scored ten points off the first two picks and iced the game on the third to escape with 23-22 victory over Montana State, Saturday at Martin Stadium.
Washington State-Montana State Stat Package
Washington State rallied from a 22-7 fourth quarter deficit behind three interceptions off deflected passes. The Cougars scored ten points off the first two picks and iced the game on the third to escape with 23-22 victory over Montana State, Saturday at Martin Stadium.
For three quarters it was all Montana State (1-1) as the Bobcats racked up 323 yards of total offense, while holding Washington State (1-1) to just 263 yards.
MSU opened the scoring on a Jason Cunningham 31-yard field at the 9:25 mark of the first quarter. A 23-yard Cunningham boot put the Bobcats up 6-0 six minutes later, before WSU's James Montgomery gave the Cougars its first lead at 7-6 on a 3-yard run.
The Bobcats quickly marched down the field on its next possession as freshman Denarius McGhee connected with Elvis Akpla on a 13-yard touchdown strike. The drive covered seven plays and 95-yards.
MSU entered intermission with a 13-7 advantage.
At the 8:02 mark of the third stanza, MSU struck again on a 47-yard flea-flicker from McGhee to a wide-open Julius Lloyd, who got behind the Wazzou secondary.
A Cunningham 29-yard field goal at the 6:26 mark of the third quarter put MSU up 22-7, and would be MSU's last points of the game, as WSU rallied for the win in the final stanza.
For the game, MSU had 407 yards of total offense, while WSU ended with 316 yards. McGhee finished the game completing 24-of-37 attempts for 266 yards.
Orenzo Davis highlighted the Bobcats' ground game producing 67 yards on 10 carries.
Defensively, Montana State was paced by its line-backing trio of Clay Bignell, Alexi Grosulak and Jody Owens, who combined for 24 tackles, two sacks, five tackles for loss and one interception.
MSU will host Drake next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Bobcat Stadium.
