Cunningham Kicks Bobcats Past Eagles

Saturday, September 24

Cheney, WA

4:05 PM PT/5:05 PM MT

Montana State University

at EASTERN WASHINGTON

Cody Kirk's 100-yard effort and Jason Cunningham's foot helped MSU beat EWU

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

9/24/2011 9:41:00 PM | Football

MSU becomes first visiting team to win on EWU's red turf

By: Bill Lamberty

Bobcat senior Jason Cunningham set a school record with five field goals and Montana State became the first visiting team to win on Roos Field's red turf, topping #21 Eastern Washington 36-21 on Saturday.

Cunningham's 5-for-5 night included two from 55 yards, making him 6-for-9 from outside of 50 in his Bobcat career.

"Jason is such a weapon for us, and has been throughout his career," said Bobcat coach Rob Ash. "He gave us such a lift in the first half with those long field goals."

If Cunningham provided fireworks for the Bobcats, Cody Kirk and Tray Robinson and MSU's offensive line worked like a sledge hammer. Montana State gained 266 yards on the ground, with Kirk rushing for 117 - his second game over 100 in the last three - and Robinson chipping in with 68. Quarterback DeNarius McGhee, who threw for just 150 yards, added 83 on the ground himself.

But to Ash, it all started up front. "Those guys up front - on both sides of the ball, really - did a great job," Ash said. "It was hot at the start of the game and the big guys were cramping, but they fought hard and opened holes and slowed Eastern Washington down and really made the difference."

Kirk got the Bobcats on the board early, capping the game's first drive with a 19-yard touchdown run. Eastern Washington answered in surgical fashion. Bo Levi Mitchell's 10-yard pass to Brandon Kaufman capped a three-play, 66-yard drive to draw the Eagles even. Cunningham's first 55-yarder gave MSU a short-lived 14-10 lead, and when Jordan Talley scored four-and-a-half minutes later the Eagles grabbed their only lead of the game.

McGhee scored on a one-yard run to give MSU a 17-14 lead with 5:08 to play in the half, then Cunningham drilled his second 55-yarder to give MSU a six-point cushion as the first half expired. Cunningham nailed two more field goals in the third quarter. After Talley scored again to cut MSU's lead to 31-26, McGhee found Elvis Akpla on a perfect pass for a 12-yard touchdown to give MSU an insurmountable lead.

The Bobcats captured their first win in Cheney since 1990, and dropped the defending FCS National Champion Eagles to 0-4 on the season. MSU is 3-1 overall, 1-0 in Big Sky play, and hosts explosive Sacramento State on Saturday at 1:35 pm.