Saturday, September 7
Dallas, TX
7 pm CT/6 pm MT
Montana State University
at
at SMU
A young June Jones made his debut at then Reno H. Sales Stadium with the Portland State Vikings.
Bobcat History Lesson: June Jones Debuts at MSU
9/6/2013 6:40:00 PM | Football
As June Jones prepares his SMU Mustangs for Saturday’s inter-sectional matchup with Montana State today, his mind probably didn’t wander back in time 38 years.
As June Jones prepares his SMU Mustangs for Saturday's inter-sectional matchup with Montana State today, his mind probably didn't wander back in time 38 years.
But if it does, it will provide quite a memory.
It was September 6, 1975, at then-Reno H. Sales Stadium, and Montana State overcame a 34-23 fourth quarter deficit to earn a thrilling 35-34 win over Portland State. Sales Stadium was in its third season as the home of Bobcat football, and one day earlier former Manson Family member Lynnette "Squeaky" Fromm attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford.
The Vikings' starting quarterback that day was Mike Gardner, but first-year coach Mouse Davis handed controls in the third quarter to little-known junior June Jones. As foreshadowing to what would be a fantastic run for Jones on the Park Blocks, his first play was a 79-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Stoudamire that gave the Vikings a 28-20 lead. A 60-yard run by Gene Woodard early in the fourth quarter bumped PSU's lead to 34-23, but MSU blocked the extra point. That set the stage for an unlikely Bobcat comeback.
Mike Holder marched the Bobcats 79 yards, and Steve Kracher rumbled four yards for the score to cut the lead to 34-29. Jones had the Vikings on the move again in the game's closing minutes, but Don Ueland intercepted a pass at the Bobcat 26 to set the stage for the late-game fireworks. Holder completed a 48-yard pass to Ron McCullough on third-and-two from to set the Cats up at the Vikings one-yard line and Holder scored two plays later to give MSU a 35-34 lead.
June Jones missed Stoudamire open in the middle of the field a couple of times, but four incompletions ended Portland State's hopes for a victory. Jones finished his debut 4-for-12 with the crucial interception, one touchdown pass, and 100 yards passing. Kracher, MSU's star tailback, rushed for 148 yards, while Holder was 10-for-20 for 198 yards passing.
While his squad won the game, Bobcat coach Sonny Holland clearly remembers the visiting quarterback. "He could really throw it."
(Thanks for MSU alum Chris Walterskirchen of The Missoulian for information relating to this story)
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