New head coach Jeff Choate and JP Flynn celebrate MSU's home win on Saturday.
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Walker's interceptions help Choate get first win
9/10/2016 6:24:00 PM | Football, General
The 2016 Bobcats are a young bunch, but John Walker is a savvy veteran and it showed on Saturday as the transfer from Colorado came up with two interceptions to propel Montana State to a 27-24 win over Bryant in its home opener.
Up to 16 freshmen saw action against Bryant, including backups Chris Murray at quarterback and Anthony Pegues at running back and regulars Jered Padmos at punter and Marcus Ferriter at defensive end. While the kids all contributed, it was Walker, who finished at Colorado with a degree in one hand and a year of eligibility in the other, who stepped up when the Bobcats (1-1) needed it most.
Bryant (1-1) had just scored a touchdown on a 40-yard fourth-down pass from Dalton Easton to Jean Constant to trim the lead to 27-24. Constant then recovered the ensuing onside kick that completely caught the Bobcats unprepared.
Now Bryant was edging toward the goal line when Easton lofted the ball into the end zone. Walker, who corralled an errant pass in the first quarter at his own 3-yard line, soared for the jump ball, bringing it to his chest as he rolled on to the blue end zone turf with less than five minutes to play.
The Bobcats then ran out the clock, including a gutsy call on fourth and 1 from near midfield with just over a minute to go. On that play senior running back Gunnar Brekke barreled forward for the needed yardage and the 18,867 gold-clad Bobcat fans let go a collective sigh. More importantly, new MSU coach Jeff Choate celebrated his first victory as the guy in charge.
Walker's two interceptions were part of an opportunistic defense that collected five takeaways in all. Mac Bignell recovered a fumble in the second quarter that led to a Tyler Bruggman to Mitch Herbert touchdown pass, and gave MSU a 14-3 lead. The game's first touchdown came on a Bruggman 10-yard pass to John D'Agostino.
The Bobcats led 14-10 at the half. Shortly after the MSU Spirit of the West marching band members excited the field at halftime in their new uniforms, MSU bumped the lead to 21-10 on a Brekke 5-yard scoring run which came after Bryant's punter mishandled a snap. Bryant trimmed the lead to 21-17 just before safety Bryson McCabe got MSU's second interception and third turnover, setting up a 1-yard score by Nick LaSane.
The Bulldogs from Smithfield, R.I., kept battling back, but in the fourth quarter Fletcher Collins stripped the ball from a Bryant receiver and recovered it for the fourth turnover. Walker's second interception gave MSU five takeaways for the game. The three interceptions matched the entire total from last season and gave MSU four for the season.
Bryant won the statistical battle, finishing with 452 total yards to 265 for MSU. The Bobcats were playing without running back Chad Newell who totaled 105 yards in the season-opening loss at Idaho a week earlier. The senior injured his hand in that game and wasn't in uniform, but Brekke and LaSane filled in admirably, totaling 99 yards and the two touchdowns on a combined 24 carries.
Except for the three interceptions, Easton had a nice game for Bryant, hitting on 26 of 44 passes for 368 yards and two scores. Taylor Brathelette hauled in eight balls for 161 yards and Constant had another 99 yards on four catches.
In addition to the five takeaways, the Bobcats were led on defense by Mac Bignell with eight tackles and a sack. Grant Collins also recorded a sack.
Bruggman finished the day with 14 completions in 28 tosses for 126 yards. His favorite target was D'Agostino with four catches while Herbert had a team-high 35 yards. Herbert's scoring reception was this 13th of his career, putting him seventh on MSU's all-time list.
The Bobcats are home again on Sept. 17 against Western Oregon while Bryant plays host to Brown.
Up to 16 freshmen saw action against Bryant, including backups Chris Murray at quarterback and Anthony Pegues at running back and regulars Jered Padmos at punter and Marcus Ferriter at defensive end. While the kids all contributed, it was Walker, who finished at Colorado with a degree in one hand and a year of eligibility in the other, who stepped up when the Bobcats (1-1) needed it most.
Bryant (1-1) had just scored a touchdown on a 40-yard fourth-down pass from Dalton Easton to Jean Constant to trim the lead to 27-24. Constant then recovered the ensuing onside kick that completely caught the Bobcats unprepared.
Now Bryant was edging toward the goal line when Easton lofted the ball into the end zone. Walker, who corralled an errant pass in the first quarter at his own 3-yard line, soared for the jump ball, bringing it to his chest as he rolled on to the blue end zone turf with less than five minutes to play.
The Bobcats then ran out the clock, including a gutsy call on fourth and 1 from near midfield with just over a minute to go. On that play senior running back Gunnar Brekke barreled forward for the needed yardage and the 18,867 gold-clad Bobcat fans let go a collective sigh. More importantly, new MSU coach Jeff Choate celebrated his first victory as the guy in charge.
Walker's two interceptions were part of an opportunistic defense that collected five takeaways in all. Mac Bignell recovered a fumble in the second quarter that led to a Tyler Bruggman to Mitch Herbert touchdown pass, and gave MSU a 14-3 lead. The game's first touchdown came on a Bruggman 10-yard pass to John D'Agostino.
The Bobcats led 14-10 at the half. Shortly after the MSU Spirit of the West marching band members excited the field at halftime in their new uniforms, MSU bumped the lead to 21-10 on a Brekke 5-yard scoring run which came after Bryant's punter mishandled a snap. Bryant trimmed the lead to 21-17 just before safety Bryson McCabe got MSU's second interception and third turnover, setting up a 1-yard score by Nick LaSane.
The Bulldogs from Smithfield, R.I., kept battling back, but in the fourth quarter Fletcher Collins stripped the ball from a Bryant receiver and recovered it for the fourth turnover. Walker's second interception gave MSU five takeaways for the game. The three interceptions matched the entire total from last season and gave MSU four for the season.
Bryant won the statistical battle, finishing with 452 total yards to 265 for MSU. The Bobcats were playing without running back Chad Newell who totaled 105 yards in the season-opening loss at Idaho a week earlier. The senior injured his hand in that game and wasn't in uniform, but Brekke and LaSane filled in admirably, totaling 99 yards and the two touchdowns on a combined 24 carries.
Except for the three interceptions, Easton had a nice game for Bryant, hitting on 26 of 44 passes for 368 yards and two scores. Taylor Brathelette hauled in eight balls for 161 yards and Constant had another 99 yards on four catches.
In addition to the five takeaways, the Bobcats were led on defense by Mac Bignell with eight tackles and a sack. Grant Collins also recorded a sack.
Bruggman finished the day with 14 completions in 28 tosses for 126 yards. His favorite target was D'Agostino with four catches while Herbert had a team-high 35 yards. Herbert's scoring reception was this 13th of his career, putting him seventh on MSU's all-time list.
The Bobcats are home again on Sept. 17 against Western Oregon while Bryant plays host to Brown.
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