BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: With 24 Days Left Until the Gold Rush, Let's Tip the Cap To Kenny Qualls
8/6/2018 12:03:00 PM | Football
Lane Sumner is a promising Bobcat back from familiar territory for MSU fans
August 6: Bobcats by the Numbers takes a look at current and past Bobcats whose jersey numbers correspond to the number of days remaining before Montana State opens the 2018 football season against Western Illinois in Bobcat Stadium's annual Gold Rush game on August 30.
#24
Lane Sumner, RB: Sometimes, for no good reason other than luck or timing, a college athletics program finds a sweet spot recruiting a certain community or area. Huntley Project High School has become a sweet spot for the Cats. Since Taylor Dees joined the program in 2010 the MSU roster has featured at least one former Red Devils star each season, and the most recent player to make that transition is Lane Sumner. He brings a strong record of success to the Cats, rushing for 1,592 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior, 994 yards one season earlier. He was a two-time state 100m champion, as well. Sumner has also turned heads in fall camp for his ability to produce in MSU's inside zone run scheme.
Spotlight – Kenny Qualls: Sometimes when you line up next to a legend you can play excellent football without a lot of notice. That was Kenny Qualls' fate for two seasons at Montana State. Well, almost two seasons. Qualls was an exceptional safety who played in the same backfield as MSU legend Kane Ioane, and looking back he was also flanked by a pair of exceptional corners in Jay Hackett and Kahiam Hunter. That was an incredible secondary, and all in all one of the school's most talented defenses. Qualls was third on the team with 78 tackles as a senior, recovered a couple of fumbles and broke up four passes. He finished that season as Second Team All-Big Sky, although he was a player that never generated a lot of buzz. Not until November 22, 2003, that is, when Qualls turned in a difference-making play in the Bobcats' wonderful 27-20 win over the Grizzlies. With the Cats trailing 10-6 after the initial energy jolt of Corey Smith's opening kickoff touchdown return, and Montana driving, Qualls stepped in front of a Craig Ochs pass and dashed 54 yards for a touchdown. That gave the Cats a 13-10 lead they carried into halftime, and late in the third quarter Bruce Molock powered in from one yard out for a 20-10 lead. Travis Lulay's score on MSU's next drive gave the Cats a 27-10 lead, and MSU held on for the emotional, stirring victory. Kenny Qualls was part and parcel of two excellent Bobcat defenses, and regardless of the publicity he garnered he will always be remembered for making one of the memorable plays in the recent history of Bobcat football.
Chronology: Earl Keyes (1926), Carl Larson (1930), Chris Nagel (1931), Bill Stebbins (1934), Donald Douglas (1937), Ray Duley (1940), Leland Casscaden (1941), Jack Davis (1946), Barney Berger (1947), Jim McGillen (1948-50), Don Knechtges (1953), Jack Santos (1955), Frank Landon (1956), Jack Cameron (1959), Lewie Roberts (1967-68), John Emmert (1970-71), Glenn Sattoriva (1972), Bruce Robinson (1973), Tom Kostrba (1974-76), Steve Roderick (1977), John Johnson (1978), Skip Higgins (1979), Tom Mahlum (1980-84), DeWayne Smith (1985), Bob Kimball (1986-88), Si Ryan (1989-92), Markcole Mitchell (1993), Mark Rollins (1994-98), Scott Turnquist (1999), Marcel Dunn (2000), Marcus Davis (2001), Kenneth Qualls (2002-03), Daniel Ashley (2004-05), Michael Beach (2006-07), James Andrews (2008-12), Bryce Alley (2014-17), Lane Sumner (2018-)
#24
Lane Sumner, RB: Sometimes, for no good reason other than luck or timing, a college athletics program finds a sweet spot recruiting a certain community or area. Huntley Project High School has become a sweet spot for the Cats. Since Taylor Dees joined the program in 2010 the MSU roster has featured at least one former Red Devils star each season, and the most recent player to make that transition is Lane Sumner. He brings a strong record of success to the Cats, rushing for 1,592 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior, 994 yards one season earlier. He was a two-time state 100m champion, as well. Sumner has also turned heads in fall camp for his ability to produce in MSU's inside zone run scheme.
Spotlight – Kenny Qualls: Sometimes when you line up next to a legend you can play excellent football without a lot of notice. That was Kenny Qualls' fate for two seasons at Montana State. Well, almost two seasons. Qualls was an exceptional safety who played in the same backfield as MSU legend Kane Ioane, and looking back he was also flanked by a pair of exceptional corners in Jay Hackett and Kahiam Hunter. That was an incredible secondary, and all in all one of the school's most talented defenses. Qualls was third on the team with 78 tackles as a senior, recovered a couple of fumbles and broke up four passes. He finished that season as Second Team All-Big Sky, although he was a player that never generated a lot of buzz. Not until November 22, 2003, that is, when Qualls turned in a difference-making play in the Bobcats' wonderful 27-20 win over the Grizzlies. With the Cats trailing 10-6 after the initial energy jolt of Corey Smith's opening kickoff touchdown return, and Montana driving, Qualls stepped in front of a Craig Ochs pass and dashed 54 yards for a touchdown. That gave the Cats a 13-10 lead they carried into halftime, and late in the third quarter Bruce Molock powered in from one yard out for a 20-10 lead. Travis Lulay's score on MSU's next drive gave the Cats a 27-10 lead, and MSU held on for the emotional, stirring victory. Kenny Qualls was part and parcel of two excellent Bobcat defenses, and regardless of the publicity he garnered he will always be remembered for making one of the memorable plays in the recent history of Bobcat football.
Chronology: Earl Keyes (1926), Carl Larson (1930), Chris Nagel (1931), Bill Stebbins (1934), Donald Douglas (1937), Ray Duley (1940), Leland Casscaden (1941), Jack Davis (1946), Barney Berger (1947), Jim McGillen (1948-50), Don Knechtges (1953), Jack Santos (1955), Frank Landon (1956), Jack Cameron (1959), Lewie Roberts (1967-68), John Emmert (1970-71), Glenn Sattoriva (1972), Bruce Robinson (1973), Tom Kostrba (1974-76), Steve Roderick (1977), John Johnson (1978), Skip Higgins (1979), Tom Mahlum (1980-84), DeWayne Smith (1985), Bob Kimball (1986-88), Si Ryan (1989-92), Markcole Mitchell (1993), Mark Rollins (1994-98), Scott Turnquist (1999), Marcel Dunn (2000), Marcus Davis (2001), Kenneth Qualls (2002-03), Daniel Ashley (2004-05), Michael Beach (2006-07), James Andrews (2008-12), Bryce Alley (2014-17), Lane Sumner (2018-)
Players Mentioned
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