Seniors lead Bobcats past Grizzlies

Saturday, November 18

BOZEMAN

12 pm

Montana State University

5-6 , 5-3

Montana (Senior Day/BOTW)

7-4 , 5-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Montana

Montana State

The Great Divide trophy stays in Bozeman after MSU's home win.

Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez

11/18/2017 3:55:00 PM | Football, General

Box Score

By: Paul Burns

It was a senior moment, one a long-time coming.

Led by a group of hardcore seniors, the Montana State Bobcats defeated Montana 31-23 Saturday afternoon in Bozeman, the first Bobcat home win over their cross-state rivals since 2005.

There were several senior moments, the first coming from linebacker Mac Bignell. On fourth down, with the Bobcats holding a 7-3 lead in the second quarter thanks to a touchdown run by true freshman Troy Andersen, Bignell broke through the line and tackled Samori Toure for an 8-yard loss. Three plays later, another senior, running back Nick LaSane squeezed through an opening and burst 71 yards to give the Bobcats a 14-3 advantage.

LaSane, who ran for a career best 184 yards a week earlier, led all runners with 121 yards. Overall, the Bobcats totaled 322 yards on the ground as the Bobcats (5-6) defeated the Grizzlies (7-4) for the second straight time. Andersen's second score made it 21-13 at the half.

Gabe Peppenger's 20-yard field goal following a 30-yard reception by senior Mitch Herbert put the Bobcats ahead 24-13. Herbert finished with four catches for 55 yards, giving him 1,864 receiving yards in his career, good for fifth on the all-time Bobcat list.

The seniors weren't done. Later in the third quarter, senior Khari Garcia intercepted the fourth pass of his career, the first of two turnovers the Bobcats collected in this, the 117th meeting between the two schools.

The Grizzlies cut the lead to 24-16 on Brandon Purdy's third field goal to open the fourth quarter. Murray directed another Bobcat drive, finishing it off with a 4-yard dash up the middle, putting the game out of reach at 31-16. The sophomore finished with 99 yards on the ground and another 98 through the air.

Montana wasn't done. Following Murray's score, the Grizzlies went 67 yards in 55 seconds to narrow the gap to 31-23. But on their next possession, a fumble by quarterback Gresch Jensen was recovered by Bignell. UM's final chance for a win came in the waning seconds, but freshman Tyrel Thomas, who had a handful of pass breakups, got his hand in on one more pass on UM's final play to knock the ball away and ice the win.

As the final seconds ticked down, the 19,907 fans stormed the field and celebrated the presentation of the Great Divide trophy to the elated Bobcats, seniors and all.