Bobcats Claim Share of Title with Win over Wildcats

Saturday, November 5

Ogden, UT

1:35 PM

Montana State University

at WEBER STATE

DeNarius McGhee threw for 310 yards on Saturday

11/5/2011 5:42:00 PM | Football

MSU uses second half surge to race past Weber State

By: Bill Lamberty

In the end, it looked normal. For much of the day, though, it was anything but.

Behind DeNarius McGhee's first 300-yard passing day of the season, Montana State claimed at least a share of its second straight Big Sky Championship in blustery Ogden, Utah, Saturday. But a dominant second half – MSU outscored the Wildcats 24-0 after the intermission, and out-gained 270-to-102 – helped MSU overcome a shaky first half.

McGhee turned the ball over four times in the game's first 20 minutes, and Weber State turned those miscues into 14 points. The Wildcats 21-10 and possessed the ball after McGhee's second turnover at one point in the second quarter, but MSU's defense forced a missed field goal and the Bobcats responded with a 10 play, 69 yard touchdown drive.

“I felt that we were fortunate to be only down by four at halftime as poorly as we played in the first half,” said MSU coach Rob Ash. “We needed to take care of the ball and we needed to fit the run gaps better, and we took care of those issues.”

Josh Booker was the main beneficiary of MSU's sloppy ballhandling in the first half, gaining 94 yards and touchdown runs before halftime. He finished with 121 yards and two touchdowns.

McGhee threw a pair of picks in the first 20 minutes of the game, one of which led to a Wildcats touchdown. Montana State scored on a 26-yard pass from McGhee to Kruiz Siewing, and on a one-yard Tray Robison touchdown run. Weber State out-gained MSU 227-to-198 in the first half, 157-to-53 on the ground.

The Bobcats' staunch defense turned in an outstanding effort in keeping the game close in the first half, and allowing the offense to pull away in the second. Caleb Schreibeis finished with nine tackles, 1.5 for a loss, while Brad Daly registered 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble.

In all, MSU held Weber State to just 329 total yards, and three turnovers.

The win gives MSU a share of the Big Sky title, but the Bobcats battle the Grizzlies in two weeks – after next week's bye – with the crown on the line.