Bobcats Ride Kirk to Road Win at NC

Saturday, October 22

Greeley, CO

1:35 pm

Montana State University

at NORTHERN COLORADO

Bobcat running back Cody Kirk

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

10/22/2011 7:55:00 PM | Football

Sophomore running back gains 202 yards rushing against Bears

By: Bill Lamberty

Cody Kirk rushed for 202 yards and Montana State survived a game effort from Northern Colorado in a 31-21 win over the Bears in Greeley on Saturday.

Kirk's effort gave MSU its first 200-yard rusher since Demetrius Crawford in 2008, and helped the Bobcats overcome a season-high 11 penalties and three turnovers, which matched the season's most. The Frenchtown product extended his sensational sophomore season, raising his rushing total to 930 yards and his rushing touchdown count to nine. Most of the yards came after a red zone fumble on MSU's second drive of the day.

"I thought Cody did a nice job rallying from an unusual turnover," said Bobcat coach Rob Ash. "He really used it as a motivator to make up for the mistake. He is one of the best finishers, and runs his best at the end of games."

The Bobcats rushed for 308 yards on Saturday, the team's most this season, and gained 496 total yards. DeNarius McGhee threw two interceptions, his first multiple-interception game against a non-Pac 12 opponent, but he still managed an efficient game. McGhee was 16-for-23 passing for 188 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 30 yards.

Kirk's four-yard run early in the first quarter opened the scoring, and after Dave Eden's 40-yard field goal brought Northern Colorad to within 7-3 three minutes into the second quarter Everett Gilbert scored on a six-yard run, then Jason Cunningham nailed a 31-yard field goal to give MSU a 17-3 lead. But Seth Lobato's 20-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Walker late in the second quarter.

The Bears opened third quarter scoring with another Eden field goal, but McGhee answered with a six-yard scoring strike to Elvis Akpla. That touchdown pass gave McGhee scoring strikes in all 20 of his games as a Bobcat, and also extended Akpla's touchdown catch string to seven games.

Walker caught another touchdown pass late in the third quarter, this one a five-yarder, but Montana State marched 54 yards midway through the fourth quarter, with McGhee connecting with Tanner Bleskin on an 11-yard touchdown score to create a cushion for MSU, and close the scoring.

The Big Sky Conference sack leader entering the game, MSU registered four on Saturday. Zach Minter got two, with Jody Owens and Brad Daly adding one each. Daly also hurried the quarterback twice.

Montana State's win raises the Bobcats Big Sky-best record to 7-1 overall, and 5-0 in the league. The Bobcats host Idaho State next Saturday at 12 noon in Bobcat Stadium.