DeNarius McGhee led the Cats to a home win Saturday
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
DeNarius McGhee Leads Bobcats to Home Win
10/26/2013 7:52:00 PM | Football
Cody Kirk, Shawn Johnson prove too much for UC Davis
DeNarius McGhee completed 15 of his 20 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns and the Bobcat defense held UC Davis to 152 yards and six first downs in the second half, as Montana State topped the Aggies 34-17 in sun-splashed Bozeman on Saturday.
MSU's senior air-and-ground tandem of McGhee and Cody Kirk (119 yards rushing) countered the outstanding play of UCD running back Gabe Manzanares. The junior Aggie rushed for 179 yards to allow UC Davis to keep the game close.
That point was not lost on Ash. "As I watched this play out," MSU's seventh-year head coach said, "I kept thinking that this would be a very tough team to play when they're ahead."
Thanks to big plays by the Bobcats to open and close the first half, UC Davis never did grab a lead. McGhee connected with Shawn Johnson on a 47-yard touchdown pass less than two minutes into the game to get the Bobcats an early lead, and early in the second quarter Chad Newell caught a one-yard pass from McGhee to build the lead to 14-0.
The Aggies answered, largely on power running by Manzanares. He fueled a 69-yard drive the resulted in a field goal, then scored on a nine-yard run with 1:57 left in the half to trim MSU's lead to 14-10.
McGhee, however, was not finished. He found Cody Kirk for a 13-yard completion on the first play of the drive, then hooked up with Shawn Johnson on a 45-yard completion on a wheel route to give MSU the ball at the UC Davis 12. Kirk scored on his third carry from that point, and the Bobcats led 21-10 at the intermission.
"I thought that was huge," Ash said of MSU's score just before halftime. "But I really thought the opening touchdown drive was huge, too."
While MSU's offense provided more than enough firepower for the win, the Bobcat defense was stout. Brad Daly registered three tackles-for-loss and two sacks, and Preston Gale forced a fumble on a sack that effectively ended UC Davis' chances to win. Saturday's game marked Gale's first extensive action of the season, after he was injured late in the preseason and then reinjured earlier this fall.
"I'm really happy for Preston," Ash said. "I thought he played very well, and for a guy who has missed half his senior season, I feel very good for him."
Montana State raises its record to 6-2 overall, 4-0 in Big Sky play, with the victory. MSU and Eastern Washington are the league's only remaining undefeated squads in conference play. The Aggies now stand 3-6 overall, 3-2 in the Big Sky.
MSU's senior air-and-ground tandem of McGhee and Cody Kirk (119 yards rushing) countered the outstanding play of UCD running back Gabe Manzanares. The junior Aggie rushed for 179 yards to allow UC Davis to keep the game close.
That point was not lost on Ash. "As I watched this play out," MSU's seventh-year head coach said, "I kept thinking that this would be a very tough team to play when they're ahead."
Thanks to big plays by the Bobcats to open and close the first half, UC Davis never did grab a lead. McGhee connected with Shawn Johnson on a 47-yard touchdown pass less than two minutes into the game to get the Bobcats an early lead, and early in the second quarter Chad Newell caught a one-yard pass from McGhee to build the lead to 14-0.
The Aggies answered, largely on power running by Manzanares. He fueled a 69-yard drive the resulted in a field goal, then scored on a nine-yard run with 1:57 left in the half to trim MSU's lead to 14-10.
McGhee, however, was not finished. He found Cody Kirk for a 13-yard completion on the first play of the drive, then hooked up with Shawn Johnson on a 45-yard completion on a wheel route to give MSU the ball at the UC Davis 12. Kirk scored on his third carry from that point, and the Bobcats led 21-10 at the intermission.
"I thought that was huge," Ash said of MSU's score just before halftime. "But I really thought the opening touchdown drive was huge, too."
While MSU's offense provided more than enough firepower for the win, the Bobcat defense was stout. Brad Daly registered three tackles-for-loss and two sacks, and Preston Gale forced a fumble on a sack that effectively ended UC Davis' chances to win. Saturday's game marked Gale's first extensive action of the season, after he was injured late in the preseason and then reinjured earlier this fall.
"I'm really happy for Preston," Ash said. "I thought he played very well, and for a guy who has missed half his senior season, I feel very good for him."
Montana State raises its record to 6-2 overall, 4-0 in Big Sky play, with the victory. MSU and Eastern Washington are the league's only remaining undefeated squads in conference play. The Aggies now stand 3-6 overall, 3-2 in the Big Sky.
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