Saturday, September 14
Macomb, IL
2 p.m.
Montana State University
2-1
23
at
14
Western Illinois
0-3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Montana State
7
0
10
6
23
Western Illinois
0
7
7
0
14
Photo by: Garrett Becker
Montana State Holds Off Western Illinois in Road Victory
9/14/2019 6:13:00 PM | Football
Montana State remained poised late and kept Western Illinois off the scoreboard in the fourth quarter to pick up a 23-14 nonconference football win on Saturday
MACOMB, Ill. – Montana State remained poised late and kept Western Illinois off the scoreboard in the fourth quarter to pick up a 23-14 nonconference football win on Saturday, Sept. 14, at Hanson Field.
The Bobcats jumped out of the gate with momentum. After the MSU defense drove Western Illinois back 13 yards on its opening drive, the Bobcat offense responded. A 10-play, 64-yard drive was highlighted by three Casey Bauman completions. The Bobcats found the end zone when Logan Jones burst through the MSU offensive line on a 14-yard touchdown run.
The Montana State defense kept Western Illinois off the field throughout the first half. Four of the Leathernecks' first five drives ended with punts. MSU's Chase Benson forced a fumble on WIU's fourth drive which Brayden Konkol recovered.
Western Illinois tied the score at 7-7 with a 65-yard touchdown pass mid-way through the second quarter. The score remained square heading into the second half.
Montana State re-gained the lead on its opening second half drive. The Bobcats moved into the WIU red zone when Bauman connected with Travis Jonsen for a 46-yard strike. MSU drove down to the WIU 2-yard line, but an errant snap forced the Bobcats to settle for a Tristan Bailey 27-yard field goal.
The MSU defense held Western Illinois to just one first down on its ensuing drive. Following a Leathernecks punt, the Bobcats capitalized. Jones ripped off an 87-yard rushing touchdown to put Montana State up 17-7.
The Leathernecks wouldn't go away easily. WIU came right back to complete an 8-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that spanned just over 4 minutes. The score remained 17-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
Western Illinois began the fourth quarter driving into the MSU territory. The Leathernecks reached the Bobcat 22-yard line, but that's where the drive would end. WIU quarterback Connor Sampson was intercepted by MSU cornerback Damien Washington. He returned the pick to the Western Illinois end zone, but a holding call forced MSU to take over on its own 30.
Special teams played a big role in the final 12 minutes of the game.
MSU's offense was unable to get anything going and went 3-and-out on its next drive. Jered Padmos was forced to punt, but his boot glanced off a Leatherneck back and MSU's JoJo Henderson pounced on the live ball. Bailey eventually put Montana State ahead 20-14 behind a 41-yard field goal at the 11:13 mark in the fourth quarter.
Another drive brought Western Illinois into MSU territory. The Leathernecks drove 42 yards but had to settle for a field goal attempt. A 35-yard attempt sailed wide right to give Montana State the ball back.
Montana State was able to move the ball down field thanks to roughing the passer and defensive pass interference calls on its ensuing drive. Facing fourth-and-5, the Bobcats sent Bailey on to the field who completed a 47-yard field goal with 2:40 left on the clock. It put MSU up by two possessions, 23-14.
The Bobcat defense remained strong late. The Leathernecks' final drive ended in a 3-and-out and Montana State wrapped it up in the victory formation.
Montana State narrowly outgained Western Illinois (443-437), but did most of its work on the ground with 194 yards rushing. Jones was MSU's top ball carrier with 167 yards rushing on 21 carries. Jonsen led the team with 6 receptions and 71 yards receiving, while Coy Steel (5 receptions) and Kevin Kassis (4 receptions) followed.
Casey Bauman went 16-for-30 through the air for 149 yards passing.
Bryce Sterk notched a team-high tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack. Michael Jobman had five tackles on the Bobcat defensive side and Jahque Alleyne earned a sack. Konkol and Washington each had two pass breakups.
Montana State improved to 2-1 overall and Western Illinois dropped to 0-3. MSU returns to Bozeman for its next two games, first taking on Norfolk State at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21.
The Bobcats jumped out of the gate with momentum. After the MSU defense drove Western Illinois back 13 yards on its opening drive, the Bobcat offense responded. A 10-play, 64-yard drive was highlighted by three Casey Bauman completions. The Bobcats found the end zone when Logan Jones burst through the MSU offensive line on a 14-yard touchdown run.
The Montana State defense kept Western Illinois off the field throughout the first half. Four of the Leathernecks' first five drives ended with punts. MSU's Chase Benson forced a fumble on WIU's fourth drive which Brayden Konkol recovered.
Western Illinois tied the score at 7-7 with a 65-yard touchdown pass mid-way through the second quarter. The score remained square heading into the second half.
Montana State re-gained the lead on its opening second half drive. The Bobcats moved into the WIU red zone when Bauman connected with Travis Jonsen for a 46-yard strike. MSU drove down to the WIU 2-yard line, but an errant snap forced the Bobcats to settle for a Tristan Bailey 27-yard field goal.
The MSU defense held Western Illinois to just one first down on its ensuing drive. Following a Leathernecks punt, the Bobcats capitalized. Jones ripped off an 87-yard rushing touchdown to put Montana State up 17-7.
The Leathernecks wouldn't go away easily. WIU came right back to complete an 8-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that spanned just over 4 minutes. The score remained 17-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
Western Illinois began the fourth quarter driving into the MSU territory. The Leathernecks reached the Bobcat 22-yard line, but that's where the drive would end. WIU quarterback Connor Sampson was intercepted by MSU cornerback Damien Washington. He returned the pick to the Western Illinois end zone, but a holding call forced MSU to take over on its own 30.
Special teams played a big role in the final 12 minutes of the game.
MSU's offense was unable to get anything going and went 3-and-out on its next drive. Jered Padmos was forced to punt, but his boot glanced off a Leatherneck back and MSU's JoJo Henderson pounced on the live ball. Bailey eventually put Montana State ahead 20-14 behind a 41-yard field goal at the 11:13 mark in the fourth quarter.
Another drive brought Western Illinois into MSU territory. The Leathernecks drove 42 yards but had to settle for a field goal attempt. A 35-yard attempt sailed wide right to give Montana State the ball back.
Montana State was able to move the ball down field thanks to roughing the passer and defensive pass interference calls on its ensuing drive. Facing fourth-and-5, the Bobcats sent Bailey on to the field who completed a 47-yard field goal with 2:40 left on the clock. It put MSU up by two possessions, 23-14.
The Bobcat defense remained strong late. The Leathernecks' final drive ended in a 3-and-out and Montana State wrapped it up in the victory formation.
Montana State narrowly outgained Western Illinois (443-437), but did most of its work on the ground with 194 yards rushing. Jones was MSU's top ball carrier with 167 yards rushing on 21 carries. Jonsen led the team with 6 receptions and 71 yards receiving, while Coy Steel (5 receptions) and Kevin Kassis (4 receptions) followed.
Casey Bauman went 16-for-30 through the air for 149 yards passing.
Bryce Sterk notched a team-high tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack. Michael Jobman had five tackles on the Bobcat defensive side and Jahque Alleyne earned a sack. Konkol and Washington each had two pass breakups.
Montana State improved to 2-1 overall and Western Illinois dropped to 0-3. MSU returns to Bozeman for its next two games, first taking on Norfolk State at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Team Stats
MSU
WIU
Total Yards
343
337
Pass Yards
149
281
Rushing Yards
194
56
Penalty Yards
92
105
1st Downs
18
15
3rd Downs
2
5
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
29:06
30:54
1st Quarter
MSU 7, WIU 0
MSU - JONES, Logan 14 yd run (BAILEY, Tristan kick), 10 plays, 64 yards, TOP 3:55
2nd Quarter
MSU 7, WIU 7
WIU - Houston, Dennis 65 yd pass from Sampson, Connor (Erickson, N. kick) 2 plays, 71 yards, TOP 0:53
3rd Quarter
MSU 10, WIU 7
MSU - BAILEY, Tristan 27 yd field goal 9 plays, 71 yards, TOP 3:23
MSU 17, WIU 7
MSU - JONES, Logan 87 yd run (BAILEY, Tristan kick), 1 plays, 87 yards, TOP 0:12
MSU 17, WIU 14
WIU - Drake, Jared 3 yd run (Erickson, N. kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:01
4th Quarter
MSU 20, WIU 14
MSU - BAILEY, Tristan 41 yd field goal 4 plays, 1 yards, TOP 0:47
MSU 23, WIU 14
MSU - BAILEY, Tristan 47 yd field goal 10 plays, 50 yards, TOP 4:17
Game Leaders
CMP
16
TD
0
YDS
149
INT
0
Players Mentioned
S
/ Football
K
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
CB
/ Football
DE
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RB
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QB
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WR
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S
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P/K
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DE
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CB
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