BOBCATS AT A GLANCE: MSU 35, Sac State 13

Saturday, October 10

5:10 pm

Montana State University

3-2 , 2-1

SACRAMENTO STATE

1-5 , 0-3

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Sacramento State	7	3	3	0	13
Montana State	14	7	7	7	35

Dakota Prukop points to victory Saturday

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

10/10/2015 9:46:00 PM | Football

Box Score

MSU rides quick start to big win over Hornets

By: Bill Lamberty

Dakota Prukop threw for 277 yards and rushed for 69 more, leading Montana State to a 35-13 win over Sacramento State in Bozeman on Saturday. More important than the final numbers was the damage Prukop and the Bobcat offense did early, scoring two touchdowns in the game's first four minutes. That 14-0 lead was challenged in the second quarter, but when Prukop scored from three yards out just less than three minutes before halftime to build a 21-10 lead the Hornets never again mounted a serious threat. Chad Newell rushed for 68 yards, and Mitchell Herbert caught four passes for a career-high 115 yards. Jordan Robinson rushed for 108 yards for Sacramento State, while Kolney Cassel threw for 193.

Team Records: Montana State is now 3-2 on the season, 2-1 in Big Sky play, while Sacramento State falls to 1-5 overall, 0-3 in the league.

The Numbers at a Glance: Montana State surpassed 500 yards in total offense for the fourth straight game, gaining 511… The team rushed for 234 yards, pushing the Cats past the 200-yard mark for the third time this season… Mitchell Herbert's 115 receiving yards was a career high… Blake Braun became the 11^th different Bobcat to make his starting debut on defense this season, and logged six tackles… Jordan Robinson gained 108 yards on the ground for Sac State, and an individual has rushed for at least 100 yards against the Cats in three straight games.

Records Watch: Dakota Prukop's two rushing touchdowns gives him 18 as a Bobcat, tied for ninth-most in school history… he has now accounted for 19 TDs this year, two shy of ninth place in school history for a single season.

Where it Turned: There are less plausible arguments than those for the second play of the game, when Mitchell Herbert followed great blocks by Mitch Griebel and Justin Paige for a 79-yard touchdown, but Prukop's three-yard run late in the second quarter seemed like a dagger. The Hornets had drawn to within 14-10 and stopped MSU on four straight possessions when the Cats marched 86 yards in seven plays for the score. Sacramento State never seriously threatened again.

What it Means: The Cats regained a toe-hold in pursuit of a league title and an FCS Playoff berth, but more significant may be the rebound performance by MSU's defense. The Cats limited Sac State to 385 yards and one touchdown, executed a goal-line stand late in the game, and held an opponent to 13 points or less for the first time in 11 games.

What's Next: Montana State visits nationally-ranked Portland State next Saturday in a game televised regionally on ROOT Sports. Sacramento State visits Southern Utah.