McGhee, Kirk Spark Bobcats to Road Victory

Saturday, September 28

Grand Forks, ND

2:35 PM (CDT)

Montana State University

at North Dakota

Cody Kirk scored five touchdowns Saturday

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

9/28/2013 5:38:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Surprise start from McGhee and dominating performancy by Kirk lead the way

By: Bill Lamberty

DeNarius McGhee provided the spark and Cody Kirk the hammer as Montana State scored a 63-20 win over North Dakota in Grand Forks to open Big Sky play for both teams.

McGhee earned the start after missing two games with a shoulder injury, and his impact was obvious from the outset. The Bobcats scored on their first two drives of the game and after North Dakota trimmed the lead to 14-7 the Cats exploded for 28 unanswered second-quarter points to build a 42-7 lead at the intermission.

"I don't think it had to do with me," McGhee said when asked if he keyed MSU's quick start. "I just think we got off to a fast start."

The story of the game was written before halftime, and while Cody Kirk scored five touchdowns in the first two quarters to tie a school record its main author was McGhee. The senior signal caller threw for 194 yards and rushed for 20, but MSU coach Rob Ash praised him for providing much more than numbers.

"I think he (provides energy)," Ash said of McGhee. "He's a very exuberant young man. He's very much in command."

While McGhee may have been the fuel for five offensive touchdowns in the first half – James Nelson returned a fumble 45 yards, as well – Kirk was the finisher. The senior running back had 99 yards at the intermission, but scored five touchdowns. Tanner Bleskin also caught 108 yards worth of passes in the first half, the second of which was a vintage McGhee-to-Bleskin connestion.

On the first play of MSU's second drive of the game, with the Cats up 7-0, McGhee dropped to throw and was pressured. He scrambled, changed directions, and heaved the ball across field to a wide open Bleskin. Tanner Bleskin raced 64 yards to the UND 1-yard line, and Kirk scored one play later.

"Those two guys have done that a lot of times together," Ash said. "Not just in games, they spent so many hours working out together on the scout team and in the summer."

Ash was pleased with the play of his offense, but astonished by his defense. "To me that was the most remarkable thing that happened today," Ash said of MSU's holding UND's outstanding wide receiver Greg Hardin to no catches and the Green and White to just 85 yards passing. "(Hardin) is a fabulous player and I thought our secondary guys played really well."

While most noteworthy for McGhee's return, Saturday's game also provided some memorable milestones. Kirk's five touchdowns extend his school career record to 39. Tanner Bleskin caught six passes for 147 yards, and his 166 career catches is now second in school history, three from Joe Bignell's 169. Brad Daly's sack moves him into a 10^th-place tie on the single-season list (eight) and into a fourth-place tie on the career list. And Cody Kirk's 104-yard effort moved him to within 15 yards of becoming the second Bobcat in history to pass the 3,000-yard rushing mark.

For Kirk, getting the win – and getting the ground game on track – mattered a good deal. "That's something we need to get going," he said. "That was a big motivation for us this week."

Montana State raises its record to 3-2 overall, 1-0 in Big Sky play. The Cats host NAU next Saturday. North Dakota falls to 2-2 on the season, 0-1 in the league.