Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Defense Tosses Shutout as MSU Tops Western Oregon 55-0
9/17/2016 6:46:00 PM | Football
MSU creates five takeaways for second straight week
It took Montana State's defense a full quarter to create a turnover against Western Oregon on Saturday. From that point on, according to Bobcat head coach Jeff Choate, "It was like a feeding frenzy."
MSU registered five takeaways for the second straight game, turned them into 24 points, and after a competitive first quarter cruised to a 55-0 home win in Bobcat Stadium. The Cats forced three fumbles, recovering two, and intercepted three passes.
"Getting a shutout is hard no matter who you're playing," said corner John Walker, who intercepted a pass and now has three in the last two games. "I'm not sure I had one the whole time I was at Colorado."
MSU's defensive playmaking wasn't limited to turnovers. Three different players logged one sack each, and the team had eight other tackles-for-loss. MSU limited the Wolves to eight first downs, the fewest by a Bobcat opponent since the 2008 season opener, when Fort Lewis converted that many.
The game looked like anything but a runaway through the first quarter. MSU led 3-0, but the field goal came after Johnny D'Agostino's blocked punt set the Cats up at the WOU three-yard line. Gabe Peppenger's kick ended the quarter.
Soon, the frenzy began. On Western Oregon's first play of the second quarter Jessie Clark sacked Phillip Fenumiai at the Wolves three, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Marcus Ferriter. Freshman quarterback Chris Murray scored the first of his three touchdowns on the next play, and the Cats led 10-0. After forcing a three-and-out, the Bobcat defense turned the ball over to the offense at the WOU 48, and five plays later Murray scored again, boosting the lead to 17-0.
In all, Montana State scored 31 points in the second quarter. That is tied for the third-most points MSU has ever scored in the second quarter, or any quarter. The Cats tacked on 21 in the second half, but that came long after the game had been decided.
Several Bobcats had outstanding individual days. Mitchell Herbert caught six passes for 100 yards, pushing him past the 1,000 yard mark for his career. Tyler Bruggman threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns, both career highs. And while Walker was picking off the third pass of his three-game Bobcat career, West Wilson and Josh Hill each snagged their first.
Saturday's win was Montana State's first shutout since beating Colorado Mesa 26-0 in 2013, which was also the last time the Cats held a team under 200 total yards. It raises the team's record to 2-1 on the season, as it prepares to host North Dakota for Homecoming next Saturday. Kickoff is 2 pm.
MSU registered five takeaways for the second straight game, turned them into 24 points, and after a competitive first quarter cruised to a 55-0 home win in Bobcat Stadium. The Cats forced three fumbles, recovering two, and intercepted three passes.
"Getting a shutout is hard no matter who you're playing," said corner John Walker, who intercepted a pass and now has three in the last two games. "I'm not sure I had one the whole time I was at Colorado."
MSU's defensive playmaking wasn't limited to turnovers. Three different players logged one sack each, and the team had eight other tackles-for-loss. MSU limited the Wolves to eight first downs, the fewest by a Bobcat opponent since the 2008 season opener, when Fort Lewis converted that many.
The game looked like anything but a runaway through the first quarter. MSU led 3-0, but the field goal came after Johnny D'Agostino's blocked punt set the Cats up at the WOU three-yard line. Gabe Peppenger's kick ended the quarter.
Soon, the frenzy began. On Western Oregon's first play of the second quarter Jessie Clark sacked Phillip Fenumiai at the Wolves three, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Marcus Ferriter. Freshman quarterback Chris Murray scored the first of his three touchdowns on the next play, and the Cats led 10-0. After forcing a three-and-out, the Bobcat defense turned the ball over to the offense at the WOU 48, and five plays later Murray scored again, boosting the lead to 17-0.
In all, Montana State scored 31 points in the second quarter. That is tied for the third-most points MSU has ever scored in the second quarter, or any quarter. The Cats tacked on 21 in the second half, but that came long after the game had been decided.
Several Bobcats had outstanding individual days. Mitchell Herbert caught six passes for 100 yards, pushing him past the 1,000 yard mark for his career. Tyler Bruggman threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns, both career highs. And while Walker was picking off the third pass of his three-game Bobcat career, West Wilson and Josh Hill each snagged their first.
Saturday's win was Montana State's first shutout since beating Colorado Mesa 26-0 in 2013, which was also the last time the Cats held a team under 200 total yards. It raises the team's record to 2-1 on the season, as it prepares to host North Dakota for Homecoming next Saturday. Kickoff is 2 pm.
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