Bobcats Hold Off UNC Upset Bid

Saturday, November 2

Greeley, CO

1:35 PM

Montana State University

7-2 , 5-0

at Northern Colorado

1-8 , 0-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Montana State

Northern Colorado

Cody Kirk and the Bobcats battled to a win Saturday

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

11/2/2013 5:48:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Kirk, Stout Defense Boost Bobcats to win

By: Bill Lamberty

Rob Ash has seen it plenty of times.

"It happens every weekend in college football," Montana State's seventh-year coach said after his team escaped Northern Colorado with a 35-28 win on Saturday. "Good teams go on the road are lose to a team that might not have a great record but prepares well and plays hard."

But it didn't happen in Greeley on Saturday, largely due to a Bobcat defense that held Northern Colorado to 76 second-half yards and some inspired play by running back Cody Kirk. The senior from Frenchtown rushed for 180 yards and scored two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 6:35 to play. Kirk followed that score with a two-point conversion catch that gave MSU its final margin of victory.

"Cody Kirk put the team on his shoulders and carried it" in the fourth quarter, Ash said. "DeNarius (McGhee) made some big plays, too. It was outstanding."

Kirk's clinching score came after UNC quarterback Seth Lobato scored on a one-yard run to give the Bears a 28-27 lead. That play capped a crazy flurry in the second half which saw MSU hold a 27-14 lead with the ball in UNC territory after a Brad Daly interception with 6:01 to play in the third quarter. But the Bears defense stiffened and Northern Colorado scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions early in the fourth quarter to grab a lead.

The first half began with a bang. Montana State marched 79 yards in eight plays to score on the game's first drive. McGhee was five-for-five on that drive, throwing for 59 yards. Johnson scored from 13 yards out to give MSU a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Luke Halliburton recovered a Dmitri Stimphill at the 14-yard line to give MSU possession deep in Bears' territory. On the first play, McGhee found Jon Ellis on a 14-yard strike.

Facing a 14-0 deficit, Northern Colorado responded. The Bears marched 75 yards in 10 plays, with Seth Lobato connecting on all five of his pass attempts and Tromaine Dennis scoring on an eight-yard run.

Dropped passes kicked MSU out of its next drive, and after a personal foul set UNC up on its own 40 the Bears began a 14-play drive that ended with a four-yard Lobato touchdownpass to Quinn Zamora. That tied the score at 14 early in the second quarter. For the second time in the half MSU made a play on a kickoff, with Johnson's 99-yard return giving MSU the 21-14 lead it would carry into intermission.

The main characters battled to nearly a statistical draw in the first two quarters. Cody Kirk rushed for 60 yards for the Bobcats, while Tromaine Dennis had 62 for UNC. McGhee threw for 109 yards on 11-for-17 passing, while Lobato was 17-for-23 for 154 yards.