Cunningham kicks Bobcats past Drake
9/18/2010 6:11:48 PM | Football
Rob Ash couldn’t wait for Saturday’s game to start.
The four-year Montana State head coach was facing Drake, the team he left in 2006 after 18 years at the helm.
“It was tougher in the hours leading up to the game than the game itself,” Ash said after guiding the Bobcats (2-1) to a 48-21 win. “Once we kicked off it was just another game. I just wanted the game to get started and once i
The four-year Montana State head coach was facing Drake, the team he left in 2006 after 18 years at the helm.
“It was tougher in the hours leading up to the game than the game itself,” Ash said after guiding the Bobcats (2-1) to a 48-21 win. “Once we kicked off it was just another game. I just wanted the game to get started and once it did it was all right.”
Orenzo Davis scampered for 160 yards and two touchdowns and Jason Cunningham booted a school record five field goals to key the nonconference win for MSU, now 2-1.
The Bobcats had trouble finding the end zone early and relied on Cunningham's strong leg. His first field goal traveled 55 yards, third best in school history. He connected early from 32 and 20 yards to give MSU a 9-0 lead. In the second half, the junior made good from 28 and 36 yards.
“We have to finish drives,” MSU red-shirt freshman quarterback Denarius McGhee said. “We can't just kick field goals. We want to dominate the scoring.”
McGhee hit 19 of 25 passes for 250 yards, including a scoring strike to Everett Gilbert from 21 yards in the third quarter. Gilbert led all receivers with 78 yards on five catches.
“We have to have that killer instinct when we get in the red zone,” McGhee said.
After Drake's Dan Hohenstein scored on a 10-yard pass from starter Mik Piatwkoski to cut the lead to 9-7, Davis scored on a nifty run from 15 yards out where he broke several tackles. The Bobcats took a 16-7 lead into the locker room at halftime and were not challenged in the second half.
“Our team has done a good job of responding after the other team scores,” Ash said.
The Bulldogs were hurt when Piatkowski left the game in the second after taking a later hit from the Bobcats. The junior signal caller finished 11 of 19 for 131 yards and the one score. He had a chance for another touchdown, but had a pass intercepted by Arnold Briggs in the end zone in the first quarter.
Back-up quarterback Cody Seegar filled in the rest of the way for the Bulldogs (1-2), even scoring on an 8-yard run late in the third quarter. Seegar finished with 13 completions in 29 attempts.
The Bobcats last touchdown came on a 5-yard pass from Cody Kempt to DeSean Thomas.
MSU starts Big Sky play next week when Eastern Washington comes to town. Drake of the Pioneer League travels to Valparaiso.
t did it was all right.”
Orenzo Davis scampered for 160 yards and two touchdowns and Jason Cunningham booted a school record five field goals to key the nonconference win for MSU, now 2-1.
The Bobcats had trouble finding the end zone early and relied on Cunningham's strong leg. His first field goal traveled 55 yards, third best in school history. He connected early from 32 and 20 yards to give MSU a 9-0 lead. In the second half, the junior made good from 28 and 36 yards.
“We have to finish drives,” MSU red-shirt freshman quarterback Denarius McGhee said. “We can't just kick field goals. We want to dominate the scoring.”
McGhee hit 19 of 25 passes for 250 yards, including a scoring strike to Everett Gilbert from 21 yards in the third quarter. Gilbert led all receivers with 78 yards on five catches.
“We have to have that killer instinct when we get in the red zone,” McGhee said.
After Drake's Dan Hohenstein scored on a 10-yard pass from starter Mik Piatwkoski to cut the lead to 9-7, Davis scored on a nifty run from 15 yards out where he broke several tackles. The Bobcats took a 16-7 lead into the locker room at halftime and were not challenged in the second half.
“Our team has done a good job of responding after the other team scores,” Ash said.
The Bulldogs were hurt when Piatkowski left the game in the second after taking a later hit from the Bobcats. The junior signal caller finished 11 of 19 for 131 yards and the one score. He had a chance for another touchdown, but had a pass intercepted by Arnold Briggs in the end zone in the first quarter.
Back-up quarterback Cody Seegar filled in the rest of the way for the Bulldogs (1-2), even scoring on an 8-yard run late in the third quarter. Seegar finished with 13 completions in 29 attempts.
The Bobcats last touchdown came on a 5-yard pass from Cody Kempt to DeSean Thomas.
MSU starts Big Sky play next week when Eastern Washington comes to town. Drake of the Pioneer League travels to Valparaiso.
The four-year Montana State head coach was facing Drake, the team he left in 2006 after 18 years at the helm.
